Too much time in Off Topic?

[catweazle]

I'm a member of several online forums, devoted to various subjects ( this us the only sexual one,).  Several of them  have off topic areas.  One of them has just closed the off topic area.

This was done due to a number of members adding nothing to the main subject of the forum, but (as one mod put it) "sitting in off topic all day ignoring why the forum exists  in the first place "

I rather suspect we have a number of members of UKP who  are just the same. There are some prolific posters in off topic  but their post (or review) count is minimal.

I'm no techie, but I believe  that bandwidth is an issue for all forum owners  and ( as in the case I mentioned  initially) off topic was using almost as much as the main forum.

Off topic here on UKP has its place.  I read it, I contribute to it, BUT I also post in the main forums.  Maybe, like the changes  recently instituted for PMs and Helpers, it is time for some sort of qualifying criteria to be allowed access to Off Topic?

I'm interested to see others' views.

[Blackpool Rock]

It's up to the owners who is allowed to view and post on what threads / areas of the site and accessibility to certain areas has been reassessed and changed numerous times.
It's now possible to view all of the site while not logged in including Off Topic but only a certain number of views per day.

I guess there are perhaps a couple of different scenarios here in that those who view reviews / regional boards to glean information and never give anything back are viewed as leeches.
Then there are the heroes of Off Topic who seemingly have plenty to say and it's often strong opinions but again give nothing back which is of use from a punting point of view, from recent threads many people tend to view these as Trolls 

I do agree with your sentiment but if the owners are happy to keep it the way it is then so be it however who know what may be decided in the future