So, at least one person has definitely noticed, but others may have seen the trend coming.  Thread spamming is getting out of hand (and this isn't just me talking, quite a few have chatted about the amount).

By spamming in this context, I'm not talking about posting URLs to your website or some such crap.  I mean posting completely unrelated gibberish to a thread that really isn't benefited by your post.  For example, someone posts an application, and you ask questions of them which have no relevance to the application, the applicant, the Guild, or your position within it (which more often than not has been "not in it" from the spammers).

We're not trying to say, "If you're not in MG, you're not allowed to post!"  Far from it.  We encourage discussions, and if there's a discussion going on in someone's application thread, feel free to contribute.  Just make sure before you hit "Post" that you're actually contributing - asking the applicant's shoe size might get you a vacation from posting too 

Thread (ironically the thread is about threads going off topic) :
http://www.mercenariesguild.net/forum/index.php?topic=833.0

Starting to go off-topic here:
http://www.mercenariesguild.net/forum/index.php?topic=833.msg8526#msg8526

Complete change of topic starting here:
http://www.mercenariesguild.net/forum/index.php?topic=833.msg8530#msg8530

That particular thread, yes - I was certainly a part of changing the topic :>  However, it was a thread about how the topics change quite often during a thread, which made it more appropriate in a strange sort of way.  But I'm sure you realize that's not the kind of derailment I'm referring to.

Sorry I might have helped  I'll stop.

Well I agree that spam does suck. But in a way, as long as it's carrying a conversation it's fine.

However... "role playing" with /me and all that isn't a conversation.

What about the Off-topic section?
Will spam / changing topic / "/me" roleplaying be allowed?

I've noticed this on a number of sites outside of MG and it is really getting annoying.

Especially if you're struggling to carry on a normal thread and people come in and say stuff like "So, how's the weather?" "Oh, fine, what are you wearing?" "I'm wearing a shirt and shorts" "I'm wearing nothing" "O.O"

I sometimes call this hijacking although it's not really that bad. Just really annoying, especially the one line "O.O" or "lol" or even " " posts.

Eh, at least we have sensible conversation... well, mostly.

I personally do not have anything against the topic changing slowly over the course of a thread. It's too hard to always start a new one. If you think about real-life conversations, they tangent even if it's two people talking.

A little spam can't hurt

Oh, but you're wrong.  A little spam can give the wrong impression.  For example, looking at the 13 messages you posted in the last twenty minutes, I first thought you were trying to sell some penile enhancing drugs and somehow got past the registration system.  Then I realized that you're not a real spambot, but someone who for some reason posted one line messages, none of which had any useful content or meaningful thought behind them.  Essentially, 13 Me Toos.

While people love to see their forums being used, and I don't think there's an MG member around who wouldn't love to see good discussions going on here, nobody wants to read a bunch of Me Toos.  They might as well be spam - nobody asked for them, there's no real nutritional content to them, and they're just taking up space.  So before your spamming hurts you, think about what you're going to post.  Is there anything you're going to say that will benefit the conversation?  I'm not saying every post has to be 100% useful - everyone, myself included, posts the occasional "I lol'd" reply.  But posting 13 of them in 20 minutes... that's a bit much.

ok ok sry. you guys r serious lol.

While I was briefly tempted to simply reply with a 'me too', I realized I'd miss out on what I expect to be an excellent Christmas Card from Rocinante this year, so I decided not to reply.  Then I ran across this quality thread:


and decided I need to reply with a:

lol!