What is the main difference between the Bedlam forum and the Outside the Box forum? There doesn't seem to be a lot of difference. On both forums the topics seem to range through a wide variety and neither must refer strictly about Thailand.

I must say that since I first discovered "Bedlam" it has become my favorite forum on Thaivisa. An interesting topic doesn't get bounced because it doesn't refer strictly to Thailand. Many topics are universal and could relate to anywhere in the world, but if they get posted on "General" or one of the other forums they get closed. And, that is NOT a knock at the mods. It is just the rule. Here in bedlam the topics bounce all over the place and take on a life of their own.

Generally anything goes in Bedlam proper, within the usual constraints of the Monarchy question.

Serious questions can be posted, but have a tendency to be bedlamised within a very short time and so can be an annoyance to some.

OtB is for the more serious questions and answers and although wise cracks are tolerated, general Bedlamisation is frowned upon and again can be an annoyance.

The Monarchy has been discussed, but is locked and any relevant info can be posted to a Mod who then in consensus decide wether it is appropriate to be aired live.

The entertainment industry has been aired openly too, but has to be kept within certain protocols.

That's my take on it.

Moss is pretty much spot on.

Outside the Box is a relatively new addition to Bedlam, in response to request from members.

Bedlam allows non Thai related topics, and also a lot of humour (somewhat similar to the Pub, but at times members prefer to air these jokes or funny things with a smaller somewhat known group I suppose?)

But as you see, many threads often go off topic in Bedlam, but MODs dont really enforce the rule of keeping the discussions on topic 100%, and tend to let things slide somewhat. This led to some of the more serious topics that OPs want to have serious discussions getting derailed (and the annoyance to those that want a more meaningful discussion). On that basis, Outside the Box was formed.

so if I see a light hearted banter type thread, I see it fitting more in main Bedlam. (the liking Americans/Aussies/Brits in my opinion are also somewhat borderline and perhaps do not strictly belong in OtB either.......)

usually, any MODding required has tended to be the other way round. ie, if we see a serious topic in Bedlam we try to move it to OtB so members know they shouldnt add too much of the jokes/banter on that thread.

hope this helps

Thanks for the serious reply, because I really DID want to know. I seldom worry too much when topics go off the rails a bit because that happens all the time in real speech, but, it sometimes REALLY goes off track and never comes back to the original topic. And, that can be annoying to the original poster.

Thanks for the serious reply, because I really DID want to know. I seldom worry too much when topics go off the rails a bit because that happens all the time in real speech, but, it sometimes REALLY goes off track and never comes back to the original topic. And, that can be annoying to the original poster.

That reminds me of a joke I heard about a train..... but I can't recall the punchline at the moment.

OTB went very quiet for a while but was revived by Harcourt who took an interest in it.

I enjoyed it's revival for a while but I have limited internet time lately and believe that serious posts should be well researched before "facts" are presented.

Not that it seems to bother some posters.

OTB went very quiet for a while but was revived by Harcourt who took an interest in it.

I enjoyed it's revival for a while but I have limited internet time lately and believe that serious posts should be well researched before "facts" are presented.

Not that it seems to bother some posters.

It tends to get a little tedious when the only real issue is the exact meaning of a word used in a topic. When you start discussing semantics (is that the proper word?), or spelling, then I tend to nod off and wake up half an hour later looking at a blank screen.

Don't even attempt to read it, certain madness lies there.