OT #1 -- week ending Sun 13-Dec-09

Introducing a new Excelforum Tradition

The Off Topic thread

Off Topic is a weekly thread for all things that cross your mind and that you can not offload elsewhere. Each thread runs for a week and is started on a Monday.

Everybody can start a new OT thread, but please check that no other OT thread already exists for the current week, and please make sure to mention the closing date in the thread title. Maybe the friendly mods can close an OT thread after its use-by date has expired.

Of course, posters in the Asia/Pacific region have a much higher chance to start an OT thread, unless they're beaten by MDW returning from the opening of a new Mojito bar or DO working overtime.

What is this all about?

Well, we'll see, won't we?

When the forum runs slow, people tend to look at the Water Cooler more, trying to find distraction and fun in this forum.

Some OT stuff may be suitable for the Joke thread and should add to the valuable collection in there. Other stuff may be best suited in the Brilliant Threads or Bad Threads slot. Some stuff may not fit anywhere, and that's where the OT thread opens up.

So, not to clutter up other threads with friendly banter, here is the thread just for that.

Post what's on your mind (mind the gap!). Maybe set a challenge or a topic for a week and see what others think.

Topics can be anything. They don't have to be put on any official agenda, but maybe sometimes it will help to kick something off.

In other (non-Excel) forums, I found Foo and OT threads that really melded the community. Share (or don't and just read stealthily), read and enjoy, and get to know the other regulars on this forum a bit better.

A lot of posters here are slam-bam-Thank-you-Sir-([quote=teylyn]actually, it's "Ma'm"- cheers - teylyn[/quote]) in and out affairs. But some people stick around or come back for more. The Water Cooler and the OT threads can help tie valuable Excel afficionados to this forum.

Snoop around and see what's interesting.

Sooooooooo..... drrrrrummmmm rollllll

I'll kick off the inaugural OT thread and challenge you all to share some thoughts, things that pleased you this week, things that p*ssed you off, stuff that you always wanted to vent.

If nothing comes to mind, as a bonus for the first OT thread, I'll give three suggestions for possible topics to rattle your brains.

1. What annoys you most during the first 24 days of December?

2. Share your most embarrassing foreign-language experience!

3. What is your most-hated Excel/Office "helpful" feature?

In the now well-established tradition of seeding new posting areas, I'll kick off with a reply to my own thread.

If it dies, it dies. But maybe there'll be enough critical mass to keep it alive.

Long live the friendly banter.

cheers