Derailed topics?

PeterPan · Post by **PeterPan** » 20 Feb 2007, 11:00

Some little questions:
How hard may we/should we/ stay tuned to the topic of a thread?
I have often experienced that a thread find back to its basic topic itself.
So I share Heather's opinion in "Blyton on TV" apropos of the directons
topics can run sometimes.
Heather:
Threads often get derailed and go in another direction. Sometimes they come back on topic again, and sometimes not. Look at the "Happy Birthday Anita!!" thread in the "General Natter" section as an example.

What do you think about it?
What do you wish?

I for myself like the open variant that means in my opinion no muzzles
(allegoric!!!)and no bad conscience if I would lose track of.......

Post by **Anita Bensoussane** » 20 Feb 2007, 14:04

It doesn't bother me at all if threads stray from the original topic. Contributors are free to bring them back on-topic as they wish. Besides, it's often in the little asides and digressions that we get to know people better.

Anita

Ming · Post by **Ming** » 20 Feb 2007, 14:07

I agree with Anita. That's the time we get to know people better, and what does it matter if topics go derailed anyway?? It'll be like an office if we have to stay "on-topic" all the time.

George@Kirrin · Post by **George@Kirrin** » 20 Feb 2007, 14:23

I have to say I'm with Peter on this one.

Not so important in the general natter topics, which is the place designed for getting to know each other better, but for threads relating to specific Blyton areas then excessive derailed should be avoided. This is how I work on the other sites I work on and it is well accepted.

The odd OT remark is ok, but anything more should be kept to the general natter pages. In my opinon anyway...

Moonraker · Post by **Moonraker** » 20 Feb 2007, 14:31

George@Kirrin wrote:I have to say I'm with Peter on this one.

Not sure about that. I thought Peter said he didn't mind them getting de-railed.....??

I'm certainly with Anita and Ming on this one. As Anita said, the instigator can always bring it back on-topic.

I find the most interesting and entertaining posts are the ones which wander from the topic. Any absurd ruling which made this not allowed, would make me disobey all the time!

Rules are followed by fools, but guide the wise

Ming · Post by **Ming** » 20 Feb 2007, 14:33

Nigel, I agree with every word of your post! I'd surely disobey too!

Viking Star · Post by **Viking Star** » 20 Feb 2007, 15:05

moonraker wrote:
George@Kirrin wrote:I have to say I'm with Peter on this one.

Not sure about that. I thought Peter said he didn't mind them getting de-railed.....??

I'm certainly with Anita and Ming on this one. As Anita said, the instigator can always bring it back on-topic.

I find the most interesting and entertaining posts are the ones which wander from the topic. Any absurd ruling which made this not allowed, would make me disobey all the time!

Rules are followed by fools, but guide the wise

Yes my reading of Peter Pan's message is that he doesn't mind threads being derailed. Me neither. I think it's quite amusing, especially when the thread hasn't quite been derailed, but I can see that it's about to be by a throwaway comment at the end of someone's message. And I loved Anita's long drawn out birthday - methinks the celebrations may not quite yet have abated!

More cake Anita?

George@Kirrin · Post by **George@Kirrin** » 20 Feb 2007, 15:10

Apologies I misread Peters post

I stand alone then it appears that I find persistant OT remarks in threads about a particular subject off putting. The odd remark is fine, but anything that then runs for pages irritates me

Order is only a rebel rousers shout from anarchy... I never saw you as a rebel Nige... sadly seems I was wrong.

Post by **Anita Bensoussane** » 20 Feb 2007, 15:15

You may not be alone, George, as I'm sure there are others who will want to respond to this but haven't had the chance to do so yet. I hope anyone else who does find off-topic posts off-putting will say so - otherwise we'll never know!

[Viking Star:] "More cake Anita?

"

Why not?

Anita

Moonraker · Post by **Moonraker** » 20 Feb 2007, 15:19

George@Kirrin wrote: The odd remark is fine, but anything that then runs for pages irritates me

Chill out, old girl! The only way I could see it could irritate, is if a serious question was asked, say about the name of a book, which was then ignored and everyone was talking about something different. However, ramblings that go off on a tangent, following on from a previous post are entertaining!

George@Kirrin wrote:Order is only a rebel rousers shout from anarchy... I never saw you as a rebel Nige... sadly seems I was wrong.

I think you've been in the Force too long, Zoe!

Anarchy - it's not the law, it's just a good idea.
Unknown

Viking Star · Post by **Viking Star** » 20 Feb 2007, 15:22

Anita Bensoussane wrote: [Viking Star:] "More cake Anita? "

Why not?

Anita

Glad to see you've got your appetite for birthday cake back, Anita.

Tinker · Post by **Tinker** » 20 Feb 2007, 20:04

Viking Star wrote:
Anita Bensoussane wrote: [Viking Star:] "More cake Anita? "

Why not?

Anita
Glad to see you've got your appetite for birthday cake back, Anita.

Why, did you go off the buttercream icing?

PeterPan · Post by **PeterPan** » 20 Feb 2007, 22:18

It seems that I hit some nerves with opening of this topic.
I don't mind if a topic runs off the track but in my opinion the admins and
mods should come to a solution for this matter.
Have you ever noticed to construct a chat room or reserve a topic for those purposes?
But please reason out it again and again.
Limited to this possibilities of communication there is less creativity and fun.This is my own opinion and experience.
One courteous request

Defiance and resistance don't help on.Only arguments are counting.
Savvy?

PeterPan · Post by **PeterPan** » 20 Feb 2007, 22:22

For Anita only:
I'm keen on your much-lauded cakes and crackers!

Lucky Star · Post by **Lucky Star** » 21 Feb 2007, 00:09

Its hard to say. Often the most interesting threads are those which get derailed, on the other hand if the original subject of the thread was intersting then it can be a little annoying .

That said, the instigator of the thread (or anyone else for that matter) can always step in and bring it back On Topic. The freewheeling nature of these forums are part of their attraction, it is rare that a post gets completely and utterly derailed, they usually come back On Topic at some point.

Sorry, I'm fence sitting a bit here, I see George@kirrin's point but personally enjoy some of the tangents that we shoot off on.

Derailed topics?

Derailed topics?

Post subject: Re: Derailed topics?