finely finding forum flaws

[electrondady1]

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.!

   

[TomW]

e;

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.

#1

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

[ghurd]

I happen to like #2.

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

G-

[Flux]

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

[DanG]

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

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?

[bob golding]

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

[Norm]

Very good video Tom,,,right afterwards another

good video....recycling tvs....

[finnsawyer]

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.

[fcfcfc]

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....

[SparWeb]

OMG i luv yr video!  I so agree LOL!

OOPS!

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