Frogboy Frogboy

NOTICE: Off topic Posting

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NOTICE: Off topic Posting

from WinCustomize Forums
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.

28,829 views 101 replies
Reply #51 from WinCustomize Forums Top
well I think, but not sure, that the few times I've gone a tad OT it was in a thread discussing it, the issue or a related issue to it, so maybe I havent actually done the deed and glad they do see a diffrence between Hijacking threads and natural drift which was my concern was all.

Of course those asking for free copies of WB I think DO deserve to be hijacked, beaten up, and forced into small tin cans and buried deep in the ground but thats diffrent.
Just Jess

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Reply #52 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ok i get the picture

So any1 seen any good movies lately?

just playin

what frogboy said does have merit but jam's remark also makes me think
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #53 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Of course those asking for free copies of WB I think DO deserve to be hijacked, beaten up, and forced into small tin cans and buried deep in the ground but thats diffrent - Jess McGuay

Here is where another one of my pet peeves come to play. No one deserves to be beaten up. On almost every post of these types many of the regulars jump down the posters throats normally by casting very snide and sometimes rude remarks. Its ok to inform this person that what they are doing is wrong and not acceptable. But to call the person names (lamer, idiot, lurker, etc etc) is just childish. I think this is were many problems starting occuring as it became acceptable to lash out at these people and that lashing out continued accross other threads. Treat people with the same respect that you expect to be treated.

Ok, I'm starting to drift off topic so I will end this here.

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Reply #54 from WinCustomize Forums Top
with regard to the concerns "can i say that" in a thread, common sense should be enough most of the time.

going back to when the message board first started, topic drift (slow drift over may posts, say 50) was normal, and no one minded. personally, the key point was the drift was slow and natural. if you came along afterwards you could read the thread, and it seemed to "flow"

but i think most people can appreciate that if most #5 has no obvious connection to the topic of the thread, this isn't that helpful.

if posts #6, #7 and #8 encourage this total shift of direction then we have a clear case of thread hijacking.

please note, this is just my personal opinion on this, not official policy

however, i think most of us who have read a lot of threads of late have seen this happen.
Reply #55 from WinCustomize Forums Top
doh!

that should have been:

(slow drift over many posts, say 50)
Reply #56 from WinCustomize Forums Top
agreed Feline. Its easy to see if its going OT and steer it back as well if its needed.

as for my "Free WB" poster comment I don't advocate name calling but they do amaze me asking here and should be discouraged.
Reply #57 from WinCustomize Forums Top
uh oh T-Man is turning this into a Religious discussion... hehe

okay here comes my "opinion" yeah I know it does not count but so what! hehe

I think this will be interesting to see when according to Brad's stats this site gets the most numbers obviously attempting to control a larger number of ppl w/ their various personalities and stuff should be a breeze...

The thing that caught my attention though if I found it also interesting that your own admins such a BoXXi got chastized (please spell check that chastize word for me Jafo) hehe
cuz he made a thread and got chewed out so what exactly is the rules for the visitors "and" Admins on your site regarding posting? is anyone allowed to be themselves? I remember way back being jumped on for going OT so I can relate, I think I out grew alot of that over the years and just jump in the threads that "feel" safe now, but over here after reading this today, I'm alittle nervous what is deemed safe?

but I'm merely typing my opinion, I could not stay away from here unless you banned me cuz my older brothers are all here now KISS

well g'luck Brad I doubt this will be an easy task for you but this site has it's own vibe going on anyway (nooo not a bad vibe or I would not be around just it's own vibe that's all)
Reply #58 from WinCustomize Forums Top
you need to get rid of that Baker guy he is always going OT! hehehe!
(sorry I could not resist)
/me KISS Baker
Reply #59 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Nehyah

Admittedly, I used to hang out here too much for my own good...I probably was one of the most notorious people here as far as going off topic is concerned (and giving people hugs and greeting people along with answering questions when I could or trying to cheer them up if they came onto a thread and seemed down and out). I dunno how many I entered 'early on' and went off topic ...but I used to make a lot of my own threads way back when too. Ah well, live and learn.

I've gotten my warnings before and I've taken heed. -Hence my lack of participation here except to occasionally request advice for skinning WB as I realize [now] this really isn't a place to socialize and make friends as I first mistakenly thought. Some community forums encourage more socializing and some don't. I purchased OD and submitted my work to help support as best I could and I will continue to try and do my best to help but I don't want to be considered intrusive. I got a little too excited in the beginning about WC and the people and it was a place I wanted to visit daily...but now I have greatly curbed my enthusiasm and participation as I realize this isn't a 'hang-out'. I now reserve my exuberance for the other forums I visit and I'm now an co-administrator of one myself (imagine that? ) so I understand how it is to be 'hall monitor' on a forum...

So, I'll keep my 'serious face' on for WC. If I slip and smile on occasion you may chastise me accordingly.

Over N out...

/me
Reply #60 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Angela I have to confess I giggled privately when I spotted you cuz you remind me of me when I first dropped into skin town... hehe

I never seen a prob w/ you, but I already knew some would have a prob w/ you so I sat back and watched as you got beat up alil I could not say anything but I always felt some of your pain w/ you

don't change who you are, if you get banned there's other sites as you said right?
Reply #61 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Shmoopy, I think that you are taking the words of the admins the wrong way. it is not the intention to keep people from socializing. It *is* the intention to allow people to start a thread and be able to discuss the topic without other people turning into a private chat or changing the topic drastically before discussions were ever made.

You could start a thread called "Chat with Shmoopy" and talk about what you wanted in it. You just can't change a topic called "what's cool in the next version of photoshop" into "Chat with Shmoopy". See the difference?

There are all sorts of OT threads on the board, and they are fine. We just don't want people hijacking the thread or changing the topics. (Natural drift is *OK*)
Reply #62 from WinCustomize Forums Top
well the prob w/ that Java is that when ppl spot Angela in a thread they jump to talk to her cuz they may wish to and then that's where the problem comes in...

If she does not have a "Chat w/ Shmoopy" thead and other members wish to say hello to her when they spot her, shall everyone squirm their fingers and feel the need to not socialize in a place that is a good place to do it?

anyways, I'm sure this will round out whatever way it is suppose to, me goes back to minding my own biz.
Reply #63 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I see your point Java and I also see Angela's dilemma... but I'm sure it will round out for her (I know I'll be afraid to say hello to her now when I spot her around) hehe

/me hates rules but understands the need for them too
Reply #64 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I see what you mean, Doreen, but you can say "Hi" without changing the thread. I can say: "We need to talk about keeping this thread on topic" then say: "BTW, Doreen, how is the JBM coffee?"

You can then say: "The JBM coffee is great". "You are right, we will keep this on topic."

what you wouldn't want to do is: "The JBM coffee is great".

Then I say: "I had some Hawaiian Kona yesterday"

Then you say: "Really, how is that?"

See the difference?
Reply #65 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like Nescafe
Reply #66 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just a statement nothing else
Reply #68 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Error? oh dear
Reply #69 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In the not quite so olden days, on another board in another galaxy far, far away, I recall when one on one OT conversations ensued or when a few offhand comments turned into a major thread hijacking, the posters who did want to discuss the topic of the thread would say, "Hey, take it to email you guys or start another thread." Well the OT folks might have thought that a tad too...blunt or rude, but on the other hand, as noted above, taking a thread off course for separate (and sometimes exclusionary) conversations isn't exactly the best of manners either.

Now there's a wide proliferation of various instant online communication tools (IRC, AIM, even using voice, etc.) from which to choose if folks run into one another and want to take the party to another table in a more private corner of the net. Or if it's open to all comers one can always simply start another thread here to continue a particular train of thought or just share silliness with like minded folks. (For ex, evidently the french fry thread has resonated with posters here, lol. Perhaps we can next have a dessert thread. Food is a fun subject and something all can relate to. )

So there many options to choose from when one runs into others here and wants to follow up on another conversational bent. I really don't see that there's much of a dilemma regarding how to socialize here or elsewhere when much of it IMO is just common sense and good manners. Just as it would (or at least should) be in "real life."

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Reply #70 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanky Doreen and KG. Having things explained that way I don't feel quite so criminal now and I'll be sure to not drift into idle chatter. I guess the term "thread hijacking" to me sounds hurtful as if I'm trying to be mean on purpose or being borderline criminal or something. After all the term "Highjacking" after 911 to me...well, I just feel such a strong term needn't be used in regards to going off topic on a forum. "Off topic chatting" or "thread veering" seems to be a kinder, gentler term?

Anyway, I know I'm not the only one who's done it and I probably won't be the last but I won't be the first any longer.

Angela, that made a whole lotta sense?
Reply #71 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Is this off topic? https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=8

OldSapphire comments
Reply #72 from WinCustomize Forums Top
They have been removed.
Reply #73 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Good, really bugs me that
Reply #74 from WinCustomize Forums Top
DM, you sounded like Yoda there for a minute

Shmoopy, glad that it makes a little more sense now. I guess that thread hijacking is just the most forthright term for it. It's not meant to mean malicious behavior, it's just meant that the thread was "taken over" (on purpose or not).
Reply #75 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yoda am i
Sound like him i do