the Otherpower.com Discussion Board || finely finding forum flaws

Front Page - [Homebrewed Electricity-- (wind) (solar) (hydro) (steam) (controls) (storage) (mechanical)] - Classifieds - Site News
Everything - Newbies - [Remote Living-- (housing) (heat) (light) (water)] - Rants & Opinion - Diaries - Our Products

finely finding forum flaws
By electrondady1, Section Rants & Opinion Posted on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 03:38:10 PM MST
bad habits

1/thread hijacking,
often a simple question is asked and before it is fully discussed someone
starts to talk about there own pet project.
it's discouraging and confusing for the original poster.
and is very confusing for anyone trying to do a google search at a later date.
2/as comments are added to a thread they are some times inserted rather than added to the bottom.
making things difficult to follow.
i love this forum.!

finely finding forum flaws | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 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 ]

Re: finely finding forum flaws (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by DanG on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 11:12:28 AM MST
(User Info)

before it is fully discussed someone starts to talk about there own pet project.

The only way I know to quench that 'me too' reflex is teach by example.

2/as comments are added to a thread they are some times inserted rather than added to the bottom making things difficult to follow.

I like viewing forums in a flat mode - strictly time sorted just because of what you noticed too. Tangents. People love asides (as insidious they are) perhaps as a result of asserting themselves over blaring televisions. Who here still tries to warn the hero about the villain lurking in the shadows? Often it seems to merely offer a qualified answer to a post must appear immature just as warning the road runner that the coyote is out to get them. I mean sure we all have the right talk loudly over the script TeeVee dialogs beamed into our homes so why not a computer screen?

Re: finely finding forum flaws (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by bob golding (photoman290 at yahoo dot com) on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 04:50:12 PM MST
(User Info)

i think the problem is not so much a problem as a "feature" of scoop. this off topic drift happens a lot in other forums i am on but its easier to ignore. not that i am in favour of changing anything. i dont find it a problem ,and tom does a great job already. if he had to do off topic drift correction as well he might need an office and a couple a of girls to keep up . opps off topic drifting again.

cheers
bob golding

Re: finely finding forum flaws (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by Norm (peppysue@suite224.net) on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 at 06:03:48 PM MST
(User Info)

Very good video Tom,,,right afterwards another
good video....recycling tvs....

( :>) Norm

Re: finely finding forum flaws (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by fcfcfc on Fri Feb 29th, 2008 at 12:22:58 PM MST
(User Info)

Hi: Well, off topic problem, I don't know if that happens too much really... Has anyone noticed the stock market recently. It has been very erratic and....

Re: finely finding forum flaws (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by SparWeb (sparweb at ANTISPAM_hotmail_com) on Fri Feb 29th, 2008 at 12:35:51 PM MST
(User Info)

OMG i luv yr video! I so agree LOL!

OOPS!

Sorry I'll use complete sentences from now on again!
Steven Fahey

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

Menu

� create account
� How to use the board
� FAQs
� search the board
� Google search the board
� Old Otherpower Board

Login

Make a new account

Username:

Password:

Total Views

��126 Scoop users have viewed this posting.

Related Links

� Also by electrondady1

You must be a registered user to post here. It's easy and free, and the link is on the upper right side of your page.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Postings are owned by the poster, but may be deleted or moved at the ADMIN's sole discretion. The Rest � 2003 Forcefield.
You can Email the board ADMIN here. PLEASE include the username you signed up with!