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finely finding forum flaws | 9 comments (9 topical, editorial)

Re: finely finding forum flaws (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by TomW on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 09:40:52 AM MST
(User Info)

Hmm, just now noticing that?

#2 is because people click "reply to this" rather than "post comment".

"Reply to this" sticks it under the comment it is replying to.

"Post Comment" puts it on the end of the comments.

Its a user error.

I am not allowed to remove comments that are off topic.

A lot of good information arises from what I call "topic drift".

I already get enough grief over Editorial decisions. Deciding whats topical and whats not would just make it worse.

If I post a "thread hijacking" warning it generally leads to more and worse off topic drift.

Too bad people couldn't get clued in on etiquette before participating in forums. Then the place could be self regulating.

Anyway just because you brought it up.

This video should be mandatory watching for users of any forum:

http://boortz.com/more/video/how_to_behave_on_a_forum.html

TomW

"Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned."--Mark Twain

Re: finely finding forum flaws (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by ghurd on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 10:07:20 AM MST
(User Info)

I happen to like #2.

And I love that video. Had to keep rewinding to hear it over my own laughter.
G-

[ Parent ]

Re: finely finding forum flaws (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by Flux on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 10:11:07 AM MST
(User Info)

Difficult one, sometimes the drift off subject is a pain yet at other times it produces wonderful information that is more useful than the original discussion.

Second point, I tend to reply directly to a specific request or to an obvious diversion. Otherwise I tend to add it to the end.

Not sure if this is a good idea but it certainly sometimes goes wrong when it doesn't come out where it is intended and becomes totally confusing. I presume it goes wrong when someone else gets in first.

It's certainly easier to reply directly to something that is on the screen as you write than commenting on something at the end when the original is not visible.

Flux

[ Parent ]

Re: finely finding forum flaws (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by finnsawyer on Fri Feb 29th, 2008 at 08:20:12 AM MST
(User Info)

It certainly is legitimate for threads to have branches in them as different people may view an issue from different perspectives. As far as I am concerned, I prefer that users will respond directly to my comments as I always check responses to my comments first when logging in. Oftentimes I never return to the original thread and sometimes miss responses to my comments as a result. So be it.
GeoM
[ Parent ]

finely finding forum flaws | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 editorial)

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