Sure, a parody thread is annoying and overdone, but so are many posters on this board.

I don't really understand why parodies are locked, even if they have the potential to be a good thread? If it's just because they are annoying - it's time to prune a LOT more than just parodies. If it is because they are uncreative - we might as well get rid of 4/5ths of the Otter farm.

It seems to me that often I'll play ideas off another thread. I actually haven't ever made a parody thread, so I'm not defending them because I make them. Truth be told, I'm often as annoyed as the next person, but as I say, there this a lot that is annoying.

If the substance is there and a catchy title for the thread will get people to look into it, why not let it stay?

IMHO, it appears that any that contain any actual substance are allowed to stick around. For instance, I started one titled "I just made my weekend" when I got Texas A&M/Notre Dame Football tickets to parody a certain smooth operator's thread where we discussed what happens when two schools with great football histories collide (and where fans of both schools mocked each other). But I can see why threads about the mythical "frat boy" or one's involving picking up street walkers (which is not legal, as prostitution can only occur in state-approved brothels) lack much substance.

These are frowned upon the same way their cousins, the "Boy did I hlve too much to frink tonihgt" threads are, and more recently the ubiquitous "ask me something" threads or any other 'look at me' thread. Ebb and flow.

I'm sure the mods would hear any request to close any thread started without a clear direction to keep them from clogging the forum. Just "report this thread to a moderator". I do. Then they can choose whether there is enough substance in the thread to let it continue or not.

Then again, I'm not a Mod, have never gone through Mod 'initiation'. So if I have said something wrong, anyone can feel free to correct me.

There is more to a thread than getting people to "look into it". I'm sure you would be annoyed if you got suckered into looking into threads that just said "made you look!".

Most "parodies" (I use that word very loosely in regard to what we usually see here) are feeble attempts that just change a letter or one word of the title. They are obviously designed merely to show the cleverness of the author. Rarely does the "parody" contain anything of substance that can be discussed and it quickly degenerates into a pad thread.

There have been decent parody threads created that fostered discussion and they have been allowed to stay open. But I would like you to think a bit about what would happen if parody threads became even more prevalent and started clogging the forums. I believe members would be annoyed to see so many unoriginal threads that were only created because someone thought of and posted an interesting topic but someone else could only mimic that effort.

I think that this is exactly what the marketplace of ideas here at DVDTalk is all about. If you post a thread (possibly a parody) and people don't like it--it'll quickly sink into the abyss of page three, page four, and beyond. Nobody will post in a thread that is simply annoying unless they are just wanting to pad away, in which case the thread turns from being a parody to a pad thread.

It appears that you are under the impression that DVD Talk is a completely free marketplace of ideas. If it were we wouldn't need moderators and DVD Talk would become another unfocused site filled with dreck. I don't think I need to elaborate on this point.

What distinguishes parodies from pad threads? Wouldn't pads also be subject to their natural fate in the "marketplace"? Aren't you the person who advocated suspending people who flaunt their padding? Why are pads (or the flaunting of them) worse than parodies, other than that you don't like them?

No no no, I wasn't very clear.

I would say that as long as something isn't going against explicit rules then it should be subject to the marketplace of ideas here. Such as, starting a thread that has a couple of words different than another thread.

Furthermore, pad threads don't just die because too many people around here are POST CRAZY. They like to see their name move ahead of other names in the top posters list. Therefore, categorically, pad threads function a much different purpose than any other type of thread. The idea behind the thread doesn't matter if people know they can just post and get out.

So, while a padder is not bringing anything to dvdtalk besides a higher post. A parody certainly has the opportunity to be a meaningful thread, right? If posters don't think it's of substance they won't post in it.

The issue here is really one of frequency. Like anything done too much, parody threads have (temporarily) worn out their welcome. As such, we're being much more strict with them until they start becoming much more infrequent or much more interesting.

You are correct about letting something live or die in the marketplace of ideas, but we feel that these threads (with rare exceptions which are then left alone) have become a little too similar to the pad threads. As such, they are going to be getting special treatment for a little while.

I realize that you may still think this unfair, but this, as with most things in the Other forum, is a compromise, and by definition, not everyone's going to be entirely happy with them. Hopefully, you can see that it's not a unilateral decision, and accept that we are doing what we can to maintain everyone's ability to enjoy some part of the Other forum.

That sounds good. Since this summer it has been a growing trend - perhaps just a phase that will pass before long.

For some reason I have this strong desire to start a "What's so wrong with a parroty thread?" thread. But I won't.

damn.. thats scarey..

this thread has been floating around a few days now.. and right before opening it.. i was getting that urge too.. then I open it, and see you said that.. thats some serious twilight zone s*** going on there

Move along. There's no twilight zone s*** going on here. Everything's normal. Just normal.