I am back it is about 6.00 am in the morning cant sleep so started reading all the threads. The first one I read was Forum Problems. I posted an answer to that and also that prompted me to post this decision on off topic threads.

I was talking to LCT'ers on this trip about this and everyone agreed this was probably the best thing to do.

I am going to set up a new sub topic for "Off Topic Posts". This will include all the threads about pets, jokes, birthdays, travel other than cruises. I really think this will be better for a mulitude of reasons.

(1) The obvious issue is for new comers who dont understand all the off topic posts and it does inhibit many from posting real cruise questions.

(2) The off topic posts are growing and I dont want to inhibit that because if you are all enjoying these then that is one of the purposes of this board. However, it makes cruise talk so long at times to dig through to the "meat" of the matter. I notice a lot dont post under jokes, or birthdays, I am one of those myself. I used to feel I had to respond to all of these O/T posts and wish people happy birthday etc. Obviously I saw these posts and to not answer I felt was rude. However, to be honest it takes a lot of time and I usually only post at night and found myself up to all hours and not tending to emails that were coming in so I finally only posted when I have time. There are an increasing number of these posts now. So this way if you have an interest in these aspects you can go to off topic posts. If not you dont have to dig through them all or feel badly that you did not respond. This may be a personal reason for me but others have expressed the same opinion. It does separate all those threads from the real business of the boards.

(3) Also at some point we may have to delete old posts and we dont want to lose any valuable cruise information. These OT posts do not need to be retained forever and this is a much easier way to handle deleting old material. It often seems that these posts are the ones with the most graphics as well. Birthday cakes, tea sets, pictures of pets and family. So this could help with our graphics issues.

I know some of you may not like having to open two different threads but I think this is the best decision for the majority of people. You cannot please all the people all the time. So I am going to ask John or Karen to start a new thread called

Off Topic Posts
Posts for birthdays, jokes, pet or personal posts, posts relating to anything other than posts about cruises.

Sounds like that will simplify getting around the board and finding cruise and travel information more easily. good idea!

Ngaire,

Spot-on logic w/Cruise focus while maintaining
communication momentum...thanks for all your support for making LCT--an extraordinary communication medium for/about cruising and life.

Ngaire,

Welcome home! Ditto to what Barbara and Wes said.

I think it is a great idea.

Absolutely dead-on. I've often felt the way you do, too.

Ngaire....as always, you make a good point!

Thanks for making the board function in such a seamless way - I think it will work best for all of us!

Middle of the road opinion here but it's certainly not worth getting into a cyber-debate over this.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...or the one...

R (K will get that last bit)

I think this is a GREAT idea. I'd hate to do away with all the OT's as we've learned so much about each other this way. This will make it so much easier for newcomers who have no idea what we're talking about!
As for deleting posts...do we need to keep old roll calls if space is needed? (I know nothing about megabite type things)

Everyone, please forgive me if I moved a post of yours that you didn't think was off topic. I started out reading them all before I moved them to the OT catagory but I had to start moving them on the basis of their titles as I was getting a little loopy!

I am about half way done and I will continue transferring them tonight.

R, S got it too! :D

No doubt, S, no doubt!

R

This S as well. Where's a pointy eared gremlin when you need one? ;)

Well, on the bright side...aaa can have another 20,000 post contest! We obviously had a few OT Posts.

Ngaire, I think this is a great idea. Sometimes it concerns me that new people would fail to post questions for fear that this is a little community within itself. Sorry to make reference to our old cc problems, but I think this is the perfect way to allow fun stuff about OT subjects as well as being more inclusive to new posters. Each topic has its purpose. I hope this new policy will invite (as most of of wish) both new members and veteran replies!

Ngarie,
Good idea, very easy to find the information now for cruising. And then other subjects- Amazing Race, computer questions, digital camera questions, etc. on the other area. Very organized and easy to use web page.
Jan

I really support this move.

Karen, some of the polls really are on topic. Cruise experience, how many booked, etc, give all of us an appreciation for the wealth of cruise experience here and our plans for future cruises.

Please give me guidance on which types of polls are OT and which would be allowed here.

thanks,

Marc, any poll that is cruise related is fine. Polls like how many pets we have and things like that can go in the OT catagory.

PS,
Robert, the Trek reference made me smile :)

OK...I really liked the "how many pets do you have?" poll...(no matter what category it ends up in)...where is it BTW? It was one of the most "responded to" polls yet. :D

Super to give OT a home of it's own!

Marcie, I didn't mean to diss your pet poll, I just used it as an example for Marc. :)

It's new home is in the OT forum.

Out of respect for Marc, don't forget the threads on the in-suite hair products etc. I know this is Marc's all time favorite! :banana:

Works for me as well! R, loved the reference. :)

Masaki

R,
Boy oh boy, did I get it!! ;)

Ngaire:

For what it may be worth, I think moving the "Off Topic" posts to a separate identified forum is a very good idea. This way, anyone new to the board can go to "Cruise Talk" for information directly relating to cruise experiences, and can go the the "Off Topic" forum to see what other interests cruisers on Radisson and Silversea have.

This is not a small matter to us, as we have always felt that one of the MAJOR reasons for our preference for Radisson has been how basically nice our fellow guests are on that line. So the "Off Topic" forum gives people new to luxury cruising a chance to get to know what their fellow guests will be like, in advance. When such people go to the "Off Topic" forum, they will learn that we are not "stuffy" as they might have believed, but instead love our animal companions, cars, birthdays, jokes, and (for most of us) informality.

The importance of one's compatibility with fellow guests is reinforced by the contents of another cruise board (Cruise Mates' Cruise Gripes forum), where the majority of "Gripes" are about fellow guests. Your "Off Topic" forum gives a prospective cruiser a chance to "get to know" what fellow guests will be like, before booking.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

I too think this is a great idea. When I first started reading CC, and started posting with questions, it was fairly cruise information-heavy (that was 1999). But later it got to be mostly chatter, and frankly, I was there for information. Later on it got intimidating (to me), since everybody seemed so clubby and even somewhat elitist.

But I have gotten to like the chatty side of this group; you're a nice bunch. So, we get the best of both worlds--quality information, and good fun. And I have not seen any sign of elitism either.

Works for me - it will certainly simplify things, and make it easier for find old posts for cruising stuff - and easier to find one's favorite OT posts
JoAnn

LCTer's are a very friendly, wonderful group of people. Not stuffy at all. I admit, I thought that Radisson would be a little too fancy for us when we took our first cruise. This will be a good place to check in on each other and keep the other "cruise talk" really that. Even when I wasn't posting I was checking in to see what was up with everybody. This is certainly one caring, down to earth group you organized, Ngaire. And you and Ken are the BEST! See you on 9/1/07! Judy

Has anyone done a cruise for their friends for a special event? I have 15 couples I want to pay for on a 3 or 4 day cruise out of Florida in Nov or Dec. I have never been on the less expensive lines i.e. carnival etc....but have been on 20 other cruises....We are not snobs just party people....we all winter in Miami area during the winter so it is not a problem leaving from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Any suggestions?

Well Carnival would definitely meet your "party" criteria. I think one of the newer ships, the Spirit or Destiny class would work best - we've been on Destiny a few years ago, and it was a party, but I actually like the Spirit Class ships a little better, they are a bit smaller, not much, but I liked the layout better and thought the rooms were a little nicer.
Royal Caribbean would probably also fit your needs, as well.

I went last year on Disney for 3 days with 35 relatives (onyl a handful were kids under 12)and we had a blast! My DH who is really not that fond of Disney in general, grudgingly admitted he had a great time and loved the ship. It was the perfect trip for so many people of varying interests to enjoy each other's company
------------
Helen

My first posting....loved the trip to S. Africa with Ngaire this fall....I miss the many friends we made....what is Ray and Pat's e-mail address? Has anyone taken a Galapagos trip with LCT? Would like to hear about it...thanks...love Ngaire's style!

Hi Mary Elaine, Happy New Year. Guess you decided against Dung Doll? It was great meeting you! Andi from Ivory Lodge

Welcome Mary Elaine and David! I am glad you made your first post!

As some one who has known Dave since about 1967 and Mary Elaine for not quite that long-- Welcome to LCT. It is about time you posted. Now you can keep up to date with all that is going on.

I think Pat will see this and can get in touch with you via the recent email both of you were copied on today.

A friend of Ralph and Carole's is a great friend, no doubt - Mary Elaine everyone loved you on Roar II, so I heard :) :app: Keep posting!!!!

Mary Elaine! It's about time you got here! Now find your way to our other forums and join in.

Nice to "see" you.

Mary Elaine, we haven't met but welcome to LCT.

Hi Mary Elaine - glad to see you here! Enjoyed meeting you & David at Lion Sands.

Ngaire that is a nice idea. I have an insomnia and most of the time I am using my wee hours till dawn reading forum threads. I love off topic discussions too. Count me in :)