Thread drift

Stopping ALL off-topic posts would be a step back towards what some posters refer to as "The Nazi Days".

As a forum admin myself, I know full well how easy it is to take things too seriously, which ends up having a detrimental effect on the community. But really, stopping ALL off topic posts? I can't even believe it's being pondered. Get a grip.
 
Keep it as it is, if anybody wishes to return the topic back to the original point then they will. So too will the OP if he thinks his thread is drifting away. It's generally not a problem except giraffe rhino rhino orangutan...
 
Burnsy2023 said:
So, my question is: if we stopped all off topic posts why would it annoy the hell out of you and why would it be detrimental to the forum?
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No problems with stopping off topic posts. The problem is deciding what are off topic posts? What may at first appear as such may actually be a lateral approach to the topic and very much on topic. But that doesn't become clear until later in the thread. Equally, on many occasions apparently off topic rhetorical questions may ultimately be critical to the on topic debate.

So as I say no problems with tighter topic control provided that mods are prepared to work three of four times as hard making sure that what at first appears off topic really is off topic...........;):D
 
It would definitely be a much more a dull place to post :(

I agree with Greebo in that some of the best and more interesting threads have gone off-topic/been off topic.
 
The whole point of discussion is that it is organic, topics drifting from one thing to another is a natural progression, chucking in the odd random comment in GD is amusing.

If Mods began to remove posts they arbitrarily felt were off topic this forum would soon become as mundane as the others.

Basically, if it ain't broke don't fix it.
 
Burnsy2023 said:
As a whole OcUK is very lax on the way we deal with off topic posts. The mere thought of reigning this in, especially in motors caused an uproar.

However, there are other forums that are a lot stricter than us, and so I feel the pain of feeling constricted during discussions.

[Corsa]Fox, made the very poignant point of saying that thread drift is key to having good discussions and a community feeling. (I am paraphrasing and just adding bits as they fit, but the spirit of his point stands)

I'm not suggesting the modding here will change at all, I'm saying this as a normal member, not a Don.

So, my question is: if we stopped all off topic posts why would it annoy the hell out of you and why would it be detrimental to the forum?
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Massively. Thread drift is essential for interesting discussion, and unless objected to specifically by the OP should not be discouraged.

That is my view both as an ex-Don and a poster.
 
[Corsa]Fox;17875991 said:
Provided efforts have been made to help the OP if its a reasonable request, I see no issue.

If somebody asks what XYZ does, 3 people answer, then 100 people have a discussion about something vaguely related, whats the problem?

If I was to ask which hard drive is best and the first reply is about monitors which then drifts the entire thread, this is irritating.

If I was to ask about which hard drive is best, 15 people tell me the answer, then somebody mentions something else and off the thread goes, no problem.

If I was to ask GD which toilet paper is best and the first reply takes it off topic, again, no problem.

So I think it depends on the context :)
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Well said - I agree with this.

If somebody is after some serious advice, either on hardware in the relevant sections, or on "life" in GD (although why you would post for serious life advice in GD is beyond me!), they ought to get a few useful responses. If the thread then drifts, particularly in GD, this is fine - it's what makes these forums what they are. We would never have had the Khaaan! sig thread without drift, for example!
 
Should be considered on a thread-by-thread basis.

Some threads are awesome OT, others are just drivel.
 
[Corsa]Fox;17875991 said:
If I was to ask GD which toilet paper is best and the first reply takes it off topic, again, no problem.
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I buy Asda smart price stuff.

But when i have a poo i use the wet wipes cus they make my bum nice and clean and it feels like im wipeing with a cloud!
 
What fox said above, agree with that.

Some of the best threads in the Life forums are when the do go off on a tangent.
 
I know a bloke (although whether he is a bloke is questionable) who can get a MAC10 in under 3 minutes. Be warned though, if there are any lecturers with pony-tails in the vicinity it could take longer...
 
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