NOTICE: Off topic Posting
Tuesday, April 29, 2003 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I'm a cranky guy. Damn cranky.
And one thing that is making me really cranky is that people will make an intelligent post only to see it hijacked by people and turn it into something completely unrelated to what the original topic was about.
I've seen this trend growing lately and it is going to stop now. I don't care how long you've been around the community. If there is a conversation on say designing wallpapers and you turn it into a discussion about third party Photoshop filters, you stand the risk of losing your posting priviledges. If there is a post discussing the finer points of stock portfolios and you turn it into a tirade about Enron, you stand the risk of losing your posting access.
And that obviously goes for posts that are about somethign relevant that turn into cutesy quasi-private conversations between people inside of posts.
And if you want to discuss something, make a post. You can post about pretty much anything you want here in the sense that you can create your own thread. But don't hijack other people's threads. It's rude and it's unnecessary.
We will be adding a host of new forum features to help make having discussions easier to participate in over the long haul. But in the meantime, let's show respect to those who create threads by not immediately turning it into a tangential discussion.
And yes, obviously at some point in a long conversation you will have topic drift. But if you're on post 5 on a thread about HDTV standards, it's not cool to start posting about whether Burger King's Fries are better than McDonalds. Because 1) They're not and 2) it's off topic.
And one thing that is making me really cranky is that people will make an intelligent post only to see it hijacked by people and turn it into something completely unrelated to what the original topic was about.
I've seen this trend growing lately and it is going to stop now. I don't care how long you've been around the community. If there is a conversation on say designing wallpapers and you turn it into a discussion about third party Photoshop filters, you stand the risk of losing your posting priviledges. If there is a post discussing the finer points of stock portfolios and you turn it into a tirade about Enron, you stand the risk of losing your posting access.
And that obviously goes for posts that are about somethign relevant that turn into cutesy quasi-private conversations between people inside of posts.
And if you want to discuss something, make a post. You can post about pretty much anything you want here in the sense that you can create your own thread. But don't hijack other people's threads. It's rude and it's unnecessary.
We will be adding a host of new forum features to help make having discussions easier to participate in over the long haul. But in the meantime, let's show respect to those who create threads by not immediately turning it into a tangential discussion.
And yes, obviously at some point in a long conversation you will have topic drift. But if you're on post 5 on a thread about HDTV standards, it's not cool to start posting about whether Burger King's Fries are better than McDonalds. Because 1) They're not and 2) it's off topic.
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kona0197
Reply #22 Tuesday, April 29, 2003 7:55 PM
Reply #22 Tuesday, April 29, 2003 7:55 PM
I didn't want to bring up the fact he started it, it might make him mad.
@ #27
yrag2
Reply #29 Tuesday, April 29, 2003 9:14 PM
Reply #29 Tuesday, April 29, 2003 9:14 PM
He said he was cranky, not mad...you guys are off topic again!! 
TasT
Reply #30 Tuesday, April 29, 2003 9:23 PM
Reply #30 Tuesday, April 29, 2003 9:23 PM
Froggy's not near as cranky as he lets on, Just remember he walks softly and carries a big keyboard.......
da_zman20
Reply #31 Tuesday, April 29, 2003 9:32 PM
Reply #31 Tuesday, April 29, 2003 9:32 PM
I am on your side Jammeister ... no offense Frogboy, but that for the most part makes the messageboard fun converstaions that are spun off from other ones... but you are in charge, and you have never made a point before that I didn't agree with... so I will heed your advice... mostly because I want all of the bickering and fighting to stop... and maybe we will be able to control the Troll population a little better with these changes 
and no one will want to leave anymore And Every one can get ((Smooches)) and ((Hugs)) from the lively hearted ones (they know who they are) while listening to whitty Australian humor, and learning all about skinning. Anything that will make this message board better I will gladly be a part of
and no one will want to leave anymore And Every one can get ((Smooches)) and ((Hugs)) from the lively hearted ones (they know who they are) while listening to whitty Australian humor, and learning all about skinning. Anything that will make this message board better I will gladly be a part of
c242
Reply #32 Tuesday, April 29, 2003 11:38 PM
Reply #32 Tuesday, April 29, 2003 11:38 PM
Hm, I am partly with it. I often do not read threads anymore that initially interested me, because they turned into nonsense threads at some point... I just began to drive a board (german only) and have a special topic for nonsense threads. And I will keep an eye on nonsense-posters in other threads myself...
@Jam : That comparison with Nazi-Germany was somewhat rude and out of any context...
@Jam : That comparison with Nazi-Germany was somewhat rude and out of any context...
feline
Reply #33 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 3:49 AM
Reply #33 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 3:49 AM
this may sound a bit harsh, but having watched how the message board change over the last few months, i feel it is a required statement.
the topic of a thread always tends to slowly drift, but of late it really has been getting a bit extreme.
the suggestion of improvements and enhancements to the message board in the future is one that i am looking forward to with great interest
the topic of a thread always tends to slowly drift, but of late it really has been getting a bit extreme.
the suggestion of improvements and enhancements to the message board in the future is one that i am looking forward to with great interest
feline
Reply #34 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 3:52 AM
Reply #34 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 3:52 AM
feline - "this may sound a bit harsh"
i was referring to the original post by frogboy.
re-reading my post, perhaps it wasn't as clear as it could have been
i was referring to the original post by frogboy.
re-reading my post, perhaps it wasn't as clear as it could have been
JamMeister33
Reply #35 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 3:54 AM
Reply #35 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 3:54 AM
I apologise to you c242, as I said in an earlier post my comment was an unfair comparison....
MarkMcQ
Reply #36 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 3:55 AM
Reply #36 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 3:55 AM
I'm in agreement that some threads are going way off course, and turning into drivel.
Although I would say 3rd party PS filters were 'that' off-topic from wallpaper designing. (Unless we're talking about the real stuff decorators use)
Although I would say 3rd party PS filters were 'that' off-topic from wallpaper designing. (Unless we're talking about the real stuff decorators use)
GreyTata
Reply #38 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 4:24 AM
Reply #38 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 4:24 AM
Everything has to have rules. I'm a newcomer on this forum but I am also a moderator/owner on another kind of forum discussions (sport related ) and sometimes they also call me nazi...or communist...
But at the end and when necessary, is the only way to do things...
But at the end and when necessary, is the only way to do things...
queezendorf
Reply #39 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 4:30 AM
Reply #39 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 4:30 AM
I agree with Frogboy 'tho. There is a place for alternate topics, and that would be its own thread. It keeps it more organized in that sense. Right?
KarmaGirl
Reply #40 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 4:48 AM
Reply #40 Wednesday, April 30, 2003 4:48 AM
I believe that Frogboy is not referring to the natural shifts that a thread will take over time.
What he *is* referring to is how a lot of people will change to topic early on or start a one on one conversation (like they are on instant messenger) and totally hijack the thread.
the trend of changing thread topics and hijacking threads is becoming more and more abundant and it needs to be addressed before it becomes a larger problem.
I hate going to a thread on topic X only to find out that by the 10th post somebody has turned it into a personal discussion about topic Z that is totally unrelated to topic X. Threads will naturally shift over time, but that is different from totally changing the thread topic or hijacking the thread completely.
If you have been warned about doing that in the past, please keep that in mind when posting. if you get warned, please heed the warning.
What he *is* referring to is how a lot of people will change to topic early on or start a one on one conversation (like they are on instant messenger) and totally hijack the thread.
the trend of changing thread topics and hijacking threads is becoming more and more abundant and it needs to be addressed before it becomes a larger problem.
I hate going to a thread on topic X only to find out that by the 10th post somebody has turned it into a personal discussion about topic Z that is totally unrelated to topic X. Threads will naturally shift over time, but that is different from totally changing the thread topic or hijacking the thread completely.
If you have been warned about doing that in the past, please keep that in mind when posting. if you get warned, please heed the warning.
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Reply #21 Tuesday, April 29, 2003 7:54 PM