The threads that are genuinely useless are those that don't spark debate or discussion. The threads that start with "NO DEBATE!" or "NO DISCUSSION!", or the ones that go:
"Oh man, dude x died"
"I didn't particularly like dude x"
"WHAT! THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR A CONSTRUCTIVE EVALUATION OF THE LIFE OF DUDE X. THIS IS A THREAD FOR COMPLETELY MEANINGLESS CONDOLENCES TO SHOW COMPLETELY SUPERFICIAL UNITY FOR A COMPLETELY OFFENSIVE DEGRADATION OF DUDE X AS AN INDIVIDUAL."


It is those threads that are useless, need to be closed, and the thread starters banned.
"Post your ..." threads are bordering on the acceptable, but those that end with ".. oh and to make this thread legal, post your ..." are thoroughly useless because without that addition, the thread probably would have sparked some discussion, but was purposefully corrupted in favour of another completely useless 'list' thread.

I suspect your social life is pretty bad. :p

Sometimes I think some people take Massassi too seriously.

If I followed such guidelines, I will be closing threads every waking hour.

The reason we all "scream" NO DEBATE is because we are all afraid that a debate will turn flamewar. History tells us that a good number of debates end up flamewars. Boriqua's Katrina thread is the latest example.

Interesting. I just came across this thread. I can see where some might think me responsible for flamebaiting. I usually intend to spark debate with some of my comments but I know that some members will take it further. The political and socialogical threads really are the ones that interest me most even though I came by this place because of JK. I think it's a slippery slope to simply say that someone should be banned for being "useless". I agree if the sum total of their posts are things like "***" and "OMG liek ***** wins". Maybe flamebaiting if it is so bad as to be insulting. Still, if someone is so easily baited that they insult others and bring a thread down with it maybe they should be the target. I think I've had my share of insults directed at me and I do my best to refrain from returning them in kind. I always get a little discouraged to see how people will make petty, personalized attacks on others. Then I wonder if I'm just not taking an internet forum too serious.

Really, is it just too hard to treat others with respect? Even on a forum?

What were you expecting? A whole thread full of 'unhappy' smilies?

This thread sucks.

Exactly.

Hmm...this divides my opinion. I'm all for banning people, but I'm also all for useless chaotic out-of-control debates.

As long as blunt "You're wrong, haha, you suck. *repeate swearing*" posts aren't made, so am I.

You just know that someone will reply to you with "You're wrong, haha, you suck. *repeate swearing*", so I shall mock them all before they do!

YOU'RE WRONG LOL YOU SUCK!

*bans self*

haha

i'll give you a hint, all four of them posted on this thread.

You think four people in this thread should be banned? What for? The paranoid in me would say you include me in the list but I don't think even those who disagree with me in debate threads would include me on that list.

I bet I'm on it. I bet I'm on both of Detty's secret lists too.

It's not something to be proud of.

Me, you, raoul, SAJN, temp, and kirby, probably.

SAJN and Kirby? No way. Raoul, maybe. You, yeah. Me, yeah. Ubuu, yeah. Tenshu, possibly. Mort, who knows, Temp, yeah, Obi, probably not (anymore). Okay, on second thought, maybe Kirb. Don't forget Bill, Rob, and Shintock.

Uh...yeah...SAJN and Kirby. Bill isn't ever serious enough to get in trouble, same with Rob, and Shintock sticks to the music forum.

SAJN isn't on it.

I already know I'm on Detty's list, and we've talked. I also know a majority of the other people on the list. I am ok with being on a list. I don't think I fit any of the complaints Detty's had in this thread.

Of course you don't fit the description. It's much too large for you.

But if you start banning people for saying nonsense... It just won't be massassi anymore would it? It'd turn into a deadly serious debating group. I always thought massassi was a place to have some fun and look at completely random things that well... are fun.

I'm all for banning people who deliberately start flaming, but not for posting useless funny remarks. Because that's the way it seems to be coming across.

I think Oxyonagon has hit the nail on the head there.
Should people really be banned for throwing in a one-liner?
If their just posting to stir up trouble or be annoying, then sure, reprimand them, ban them, remove their genitalia and nail it to the wall if you want.
But if someones just trying to light up the mood or something, I think banning is a little extreme.

I'm on everyone's secret list.

...but Victor Van Dort is :p

Also, I 100% agree with this:

I should say this one more time: by "Useless" [from what I and Detty talked about before this thread was made] he's talking about people who don't really contribute anything to a thread *EXCEPT* negative attacks or flames. Useless people doesn't exactly mean "one liners" or "unimportant posts." It means people who are specifically looking to detract from a thread.

"This thread sucks." is a great example.

JediKirby

Sometimes "This thread sucks" is said with great truth and even a bit of light-heartedness, though. The only examples I can think of that work all the time are things like "OMG U SUCK AND ARE WRONG I'M SO RITE :rolleyes:"

You can't have positive without negative.

Part of me doesn't mind allowing people to make an *** out of themself. They end up doing more harm for their side of the debate. I wish moderators would specifically scold individuals rather than just closing a thread with some general, blanket admonishment. Plus, a lot of times there is still a very valid debate going on that ends up being lost because an entire thread is closed because of some members choose to simply insult or go into all out defense mode.

Heh, sorry JediKirby I guess I wasn't paying enough attention to your previous posts., or I just forgot.

I say ban their useless asses and chuck their names on the ban list. Oh yeah, and BRING BACK THE BAN LIST.

The ban list was fun, but rather trigger happy.

[QUOTE=Dj Yoshi]Uh...yeah...SAJN and Kirby. Bill isn't ever serious enough to get in trouble, same with Rob, and Shintock sticks to the music forum.[/QUOTE]
**** that's not fair. I don't piss people off anymore?

Aww poor Bill.
*hands Bill some monkey poo*
Fling away friend, fling away.

Dilbert, f00!

I'm not on that list. And Detty is lying about SAJN, just so he doesnt feel like a victim. You know how sensitive some people get.

I've received a number of e-mails from Detty about my borderline behavior.

i'm not lying about SAJN.

Ya you are.