Topic: TL;DR: No, you don't have to LOVE Nintendo to post here, and derailing threads by calling out fellow users as trolls may get you temp-banned

I think I only got into one argument after that I've done what I can to avoid arguments I either don't reply anymore or I just say that I don't want to argue, anyways I'm sorry if I caused any problems here but I'll try to do my best to keep myself (and if I can others) out of trouble. I'm also scared of "the one" coming after me XD

Is passive agressive sarcasm and ad hominem attacks still cool though?

@edhe: it depends on the situaion — that kind of thing is very borderline. if you find it questionable, report it, but under most circumstances as long as no one's being directly attacked, we may merely step in to ask people to chill and focus on the topic at hand, not one another.

"When one person makes an accusation, check to be sure he himself is not the guilty one. Sometimes it is those whose case is weak who make the most clamour." - Piers Anthony

I just wanted to ask what is the extent of this.

Some view that (best example possible) threads going into iOS discussion is deviating far away from the topic that is at the top of the page. If the topic has flowed that way do you just let the discussion carry on or does someone step in?

_{obviously if i just posted gaga in a thread randomly (as awesome as that would be) it would be deemed off-topic.}

I'm guessing it would depend on how the topic "flowed." If someone just randomly posted something about iOS only to get an emotional reaction from another, then yeah, that is off-topic IMO. However, if iOS comparisons are made logically (Ex: comparing an iOS game to a relevant touchscreen game with similar controls) then I suppose it is all well and good just so long as it doesn't blow up into an "I'm right, you're a troll" kind of argument.

sorry, i didn't see this when you posted it, apparently — it depends on the situation. did someone bust into the 3DS Friend Codes thread with a rant about their day at school and how their teacher assigned too much homework, or did that same person decide to share their PSN/XBLA user information as well as their 3DS FC and a few other users joined in to share their other-console info? or in another case, has a topic derailed into yet another tail-chasing argument between rabid fans from both sides of the tangent, or is it a mature discussion between individuals who are honestly listening to each other and countering one another's points like rational human beings?

in short, each situation is different, and that particular rule gives us just enough leeway to cover not only users with nothing better to rebut an argument with 'go away troll', but also useless 'first comment' replies, users flooding articles with silly statements for the lulz (it happens, especially now with the live-comment system), people with nothing better to do but advertise other websites or products in our article and forum threads, and other useless BS.. To be honest, until a thread is reported (thus letting me know that someone's having a problem), I'm more likely to let tangents slide as long as they've had something to do with the natural flow of the discussion.

Thank you kitty! Puts up shield

Out of curiosity, what does tl;dr stand for?

turtlelink; don't read

lol

Wait turtle link don't read? Don't you mean turtle link don't roast?

Nice

Why is this thread derailing ?
Did you guys learn nothing from the dragon! ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

Yeah guys let's get back on topic and talk about why talking about Nintendo badly is being talked about so much.

Probably because Nintendo is bad in a lot of people's eyes

42.
_{just because}

what, no rabbits?

and can you guys be serious for once?

I understand everything now.

Why So Serious?