NOTICE: Off topic Posting

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.

28,958 views 101 replies
Reply #1 Top
All I can say is I'm afraid to make a comment or remark on anything at all....
Is this a message board or is this Nazi Germany?

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Reply #2 Top
Jam he has a point but yes getting a little carried away now
Reply #3 Top
I have read your post and will follow it to a t. thanks frogboy.
Reply #4 Top
If anyone has wondered why I have been rather silent recently, this should answer the question succinctly....
I'm afraid to say anything at the risk of being censored and/or penalized.


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Reply #5 Top
Not so much watch what you say but more of keeping it focused on subject in hand
Reply #6 Top
thats fine with me, and for those of you who think this is a bad idea, there is nothing to stop you from starting a new thred about it.
Reply #7 Top
Brad maybe overdoing it with the rules that he has set, but perhaps it is needed at this time. In my opinion the Message Boared has turned to crap lately, with all the fighting, bickering, accusations, spammers and most importantly, Hijacking.

And for the record I have been guilty once or twice of everything I mentioned above.

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Reply #8 Top
JM...no, it's not.
It's probably my fault that sparked this thread...effectively the Magazine article thread got diverted to a the topic of copyrights etc...was a pretty 'rapid' drift and no help to the original topic.

It WOULD have been better/more appropriate to take it to its own thread and leave the original on target.

My mistake.

That said, with the site actually being a 'private place' accessible to the public, it is not a matter of 'free speech' or inflammatory references to 'Nazi Germany', but merely an in-house policy to adhere to.

I'll do what I can to keep things on-track...
Reply #9 Top
I apologise for the inappropriate comparisons....
I do agree with the gist of the message, I just felt that it was a bit heavy handed if you will....



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Reply #10 Top
A cranky frogboy can't be good...

K... Read it got it... think I'm safe.

I try to be good, but it's hard when you're a jabber jaws like me
Reply #11 Top
I will admit, it's very fun/tempting at times to go off topic... and even funner to read, but I also see where our Frog is coming from.

/me readily awaits curious new buttons popping up around here...
Reply #12 Top
No, this is not nazi germany. For my part, I've found the ever increasing random, off-topic conversation drifts irriating, making me less interested in following the threads on this board beyond the first post or two of any given topic.

And having admins shepard and handle off-topic posts and thread-drifs is a common practice on many boards to prevent entropy. So far this place has been pretty lax in this area when compared to another board I particpate in.

I really wish this board had a few segregated areas, one for off-topic chatter, another for help, and so on.
Reply #13 Top
I would have to agree with Frogboy. McDonald's fries are solidly superior to Burger King's.
Reply #14 Top
Now no hijacking Baker.... Everyone should try Jack In The Box

But seriously, I agree with Frogboy.
Reply #15 Top
@ bakerstreet

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Reply #17 Top
That's what I was trying to say with tact.
Reply #19 Top
I also agree that McDonalds Fries are far superior to every fast food resturant with the exception of Arbi's

Oh and by the way I agree on that other thing too......

Reply #20 Top
BTW I started a fry thread so we don't get in trouble by hijacking or talking about off post stuff here on Frogboy's thread.
Reply #21 Top
How could we get in trouble he started it!
Reply #22 Top
I didn't want to bring up the fact he started it, it might make him mad.