Levels of posting on-topic and off-topic

[Alolan_Apples]

One of the common rules when having a conversation is to stay on-topic. Online forums are definitely not exempt from this. You can get warnings, moderations, and bans if you repeatedly post off-topic (not just here, but anywhere). And do you know what happens if everyone starting going off-topic (either through spamming or just posting off-topic)? The thread gets closed, and the topic of the thread becomes a forbidden topic until the community improves (which takes like six months to one year for that to happen).

Here is a useful guide of what I would consider on-topic and off-topic. The first part is talking about how related the topic is. The second part is talking about how much of a post or thread is on-topic.

Levels of on-topic posting:

• Level 1 - Strict: These posts are not just on-topic, but they go EXACTLY how the topic title says. If the on-topic posting rule expects this level, even posts that are related to the topic can be classified as "off-topic". It's like comparing red delicious apples to other red delicious apples, regardless of when they're grown, how big they are, and where they're grown.
  Example: A thread's title is about a certain character or scene in some movie or TV show episode. Talking about your opinion on the whole episode or movie would be irrelevant, but talking about what you think of that specific scene is relevant. Talking about another scene in the same movie or episode is also irrelevant.
• Level 2 - Generally relevant: These posts are related to the topic title. You can make these posts without getting off-topic moderations. They are discussion friendly, even if they don't go exactly how the topic title says it. It's like comparing apples to apples when they aren't the same type of apples.
  Example: A thread is discussing how sequels, remakes, reboots, and spin-offs are ruining film and television. You talk more about one movie franchise and how it's being ruined by sequels rather than going with the broader definition.
• Level 3 - Somewhat relevant: This is when it starts to go off-topic. Granted, it still has relation to what the topic title is discussing as it can be an interesting connection, but it's not even 75% related to that the topic is about. It's like comparing apples to pears.
  Example: A thread is discussing a certain cartoon and how it's going downhill or how it's not enjoyable. A post about another cartoon of the same channel going downhill or just the entire channel in general going downhill would be under this category.
• Level 4 - Irrelevant: This is when it's universally considered off-topic. It may be under the same category as what the topic is, but it's still off-topic and a forum violation. It's like comparing apples to oranges.
  Example: A thread is discussing football or a certain football team. Any post about baseball, basketball, spectator incidents, or your opinion on sports in general would be classified as this.
• Level 5 - Absolutely no connection: These posts are not just off-topic, but are ugly. They completely have no relation to the topic. In fact, one post like this would disrupt everyone that reads the topic. It's like comparing apples to blocks of steel.
  Example: A thread is discussing a video game and how to complete it. You bring up a celebrity scandal, and you were intending to discuss it in this specific thread.

Content Matter:

• Completely on-topic - 100% of the post is on-topic, even if part of it is a Level 1 post and the rest is a Level 2 post.
• Mostly on-topic - at least 67% or more of the post is on-topic through Level 1 and 2, with the minority of the post being Level 3, 4, or 5. Some forums wouldn't allow even a small part of the post being off-topic, but this is a safe level.
• Mildly on-topic - between 33% and 67% would be on-topic through levels 1 and 2 while the rest is off-topic through the other levels.
• Mostly off-topic - less than 33% of the post is on-topic, but part of it is at least on-topic. The most lenient of the forums would allow posts like these, but it's still not safe since it could throw people off-topic.
• Completely off-topic - 100% of the post is off-topic, whether if it's a level 3 post, level 4 post, or level 5 post. It's a rule violation no matter what.

Hopefully this guide is helpful to you.