Off Topic is occasionally acceptable

[Jeric 46,851]

I’ve seen an increase in users reporting that posts are off-topic. I want to clarify something regarding OT posts. 
 

https://mlpforums.com/guidelines/

 

That is the current Global Guidelines link. While it mentions pointless posts, it does not forbid off topic posts. It used to say that off-topic posts were subject to moderation. It was removed because one or two off-topic posts are not particularly harmful to the community and we didn’t want to seem too heavy handed.
 

Obviously Debate Pit requires on topic posting, and for clarity reasons I also tend to try and keep Feedback and Site Questions focused as well. Besides that enforcement of a “Stay on Topic” rule was effectively a killjoy. As long as the topic doesn’t veer completely off course and become hijacked, a simple aside and response are completely fine and won’t be moderated. If a topic becomes something new, staff should be splitting it off into its own new topic anyway.