Can't start a topic in Off-Topic Discussion

[LB13]

Hey, I was looking to start a new topic in Off-Topic Discussion when I noticed that I don't have a "new topic" option to select there. I thought maybe it's because I'm a rather new user, but I found at least one topic there that was started by a user who only made a single post on the forums. I've checked the FAQ and I couldn't find anything that was much help. Could anybody help me with this one?

[The Schofield Kid]

That?s weird. I can see it between ?notify? and ?new poll? . Like always.
Any one else not seeing new topic?

[Christopher]

That is strange. I can see the New Topic option as well.

[AKA23]

I can confirm that I also see the New Topic button.

[LB13]

Well that's strange. I've checked all the other boards and categories and I am able to start a topic in each one of them. It's only Off-Topic Discussion that only shows me "Mark as Read" and "Notify" buttons.

[Matt]

Deep in the recesses of my old brain, I seem to remember that this board was set up so that newbies couldn't start new topics in the Off Topic forum. I remember we were having non-Clint fans coming here and just either spamming the board or wanting to use our community to discuss their one (other) topic of interest ad naueseam. So it was set up to only allow seasoned board members the opportunity to start off-topic posts. Of course anyone who visits our board and is a newbie can start a Clint Eastwood topic, it's just the Off Topic forum that we were trying to hamper down.

I think Newbie status ends at 51 posts, so you can keep going for a little longer, or ask one of us to start a topic for you.