Should there be 100% off-topic area?

[Indiepath]

There are some threads in General Chat area which seem to irritate some people (and certainly there's reason if you want to stay on indie games 100%).

Therefore, would there be need for off-topic area (General Chat description says that you can post off-topic material to general chat) or is it okay to post off-topic threads in general chat or should these kinds of threads (not relevant to indie dev) be simply removed?

Here are few example thread: (non-indie game dev threads)

Brain teaser... zen kôan
http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?t=928

Great Pollution!
http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?t=901

Your vote counts!
http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?t=706

And so on...

what should be done?
1) New Off-topic forum?
2) Nothing (General Chat for off-topic threads as currently is)
3) New guidelines for posting: no off-topic threads allowed.

[svero]

Well generally the threads are supposed to stay game related. Those threads you mention are indeed way off topic, but there hasn't been so many threads of that nature that it amounts to what I'd call a problem. I guess I'm saying I don't see a reason to change anything on it as long as it doesn't go overboard. A few ocassional off topic threads is ok.

But if we create another area specifically for off topic stuff I think that would actually encourage threads about other issues like politics etc.. and I don't think I really want to do that.

[Anthony Flack]

Excellent, I agree with that sentiment totally. Option 2.

[ggambett]

I also agree... I always thought that's what the General Chat forum was for. I don't think it has been abused so far.

[Mark Sheeky]

I thought general chat was supposed to be 100% off topic. Something about games and on topic should have to fit into another existing topic... Just my thoughts.

Mark
Sound Effects For Game Developers
http://www.indiesfx.co.uk

[Addictive 247]

I also think Option 2 as I don't think the forum has been abused so far

[exepotes]

my vote:

option 2... option 1 otherwise.

edit: oh, my dislexia...