Off topic

[GOD]

Personaly i dont believe in off topic . If someone goes off topic one doesnt have to go with him . One can just carry on talking as if it haddnt happened . Trying to impose on topic is the first step to controll and censorship to me . Whos going to judge ? To what standards . Lets be big boys and girls deal with things as they are and not start creating a cast system .

 

[Forkbender]

Look at page 4 of any thread and it will never be about the subject in the title. I think most off topic discussions deserve their own threads, just to have information ordered in a way that is clear to everybody. If I want to find information about growing weed, I want the title to say that and not filter through topics on smoking methods. I agree that we are grown up and can just stay on topic if we want it, but sometimes interesting discussions obscure the original subject.

 

[GOD]

Open a new thread ? The site is full of threads with the same questions so who cares . We should learn to live with things as they are and not introduce empirical standards .


But if we do introduce rules about it can i be "Der FÜhrer" who decides ?

What about introducing sunday services and all having to prove that we have prayed today , or killing all people with green socks.........

 

[Forkbender]

I don't think that was my point.

I said we could split threads if people think the original topic and the off topic both deserve attention. Sometimes interesting discussions evolve that have nothing to do with the original subject and we have the ability to move part of a topic to a new thread. There is no need to plan all this in advance and make rules about it.

If for example at this point in the discussion we start to discuss green sock fetishes and how incredibly wrong that is, and this would evolve into a discussion of several pages, we could split this topic into the original question and a new topic about green socks which would consist of all the posts about green socks originally posted below.

I'm not saying that it is a must, I'm saying that it would help everybody if information is found in a logical place.

 

[GOD]

I agree , but one will have to be very carefull doing it .


A few days ago a thread was split and people were told to post in an alternative thread...... some did and some didnt . = it didnt work . Maybe we could hire a few skinheads or rockers to enforce it ?

Now i want go of topic from the off topic theme and be off topic and talk about green socks please .........

 

[Caduceus Mercurius]

I agree with GOD's first post here. I understand Forkbender's concern, but very often it's impractical to split a thread, because it didn't go off-topic all of a sudden, but gradually. For example, a discussion about the manufacture of a certain psychedelic compound may lead to a discussion of amino acids, which in turn leads to a discussion about nutrition or bodybuilding Such gradual deviations from the topic at hand are very common. When someone opens a new topic with a question, the most knowledgable members on this site will generally have answered it on the first one or two pages. It's only natural that after a few pages like that the discussion deviates from the topic a bit. So if you want to read a thread on the growing of weed, it's better not to open page 4 first.

 

[GOD]

Shit . And i wanted to be the Fuhrer . I was already planning invading poland .

Is this off ? or on ? topic ?

Deviate - deviant - devious

reminds me of

Domaene - dominion - dominate - domminoes

 

[Forkbender]

the most knowledgable members on this site will generally have answered it on the first one or two pages.

I agree and that is why my post is on the first page. :wink:

 

[GOD]

I have a realy big spot on me bum so i have to stand up all day and sleep on my stomach . Its big . I look like the hunch bum of notre dam .



Was that off topic ?

 

[mysticwarrior]

Indeed in some way it's natural, that some topics finally go off-topic. And this doesn't have to be wrong. But if we take a look at the SEX thread, then to me it obvious, that everything that happened in that topic is just to far off-topic. I believe that a lot of people where a little frustrated about that. I think in such a case, an moderator can easily split up the thread, so everyone can say what they want to say. Without wasting the time from someone, who's interested in that thread.

 

[Caduceus Mercurius]

But if we take a look at the SEX thread, then to me it obvious, that everything that happened in that topic is just to far off-topic.

Part of it, but when the original poster returned, it went on topic again. And even between the off topic debate there were some useful posts.

 

[GOD]

Yes Because i Pmd him after he hadnt posted for a while and said take no notice of the thread going off topic just post your posts and you will get answers . Its that easy to get a thread back on topic . We just use our brains and stop complaining like snoty kids throwing a tantrum .

 

[Guest]

Personally I don't think that being offtopic is a bad thing as long as it doesn't prevent the topic concerned to be able to return on the initial subject, should someone wish it.

IMO offtopic is the sign that we have a living, participating community, not simply an encyclopedia.

 

[????????]

i remember several really good discussions that happened off-topic. i think the best method to follow is that if you feel some subject is currently being discussed but is not getting the attention you'd like = you start a new topic with said subject.