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What do you guys really think about our almost inevitible going off topic? I know every once in a while someone will complain about it, but I curious to see what everyone really feels about it.

Who wants to be this goes ot aswell

It's only annoying to me when someone hijacks a thread I started. Even then a couple off-topic posts don't bother me too bad. Sometimes I'll even join in the off-topic post for the hell of it. I guess over all I'd say it's annoying sometimes but it doesn't get me angry.

I think it's a natural tendency, especially with the strong sense of familiarity (almost a sense of family) that we have here.

It tends to happen incrementally, too... like, one person will respond to a thread appropriately, but also mention something else that's slightly off-topic. Then someone responds to the off-topic portion of that post, and then pretty soon the entire thread has changed subjects.

We probably should try to control it, though, since it's already starting to interfere badly with the searchability of the forums. It really helps a lot when thread titles correspond strongly with thread content.

I don't know what a good way to fix the problem would be, though... I guess one would be to try very hard not to reply to an offtopic portion of a post. You could instead start another thread and just post a link to it in the first thread.

Another thing that can be done is for the original poster to change the title of a thread once the topic has become drastically different.

Common sense and self-restraint are probably the most important things we should try harder to exercise...

I agree with Vikash and I'll also add that it's probably common in Ashtray where it's seems the worst. The Ashtray text says to keep it realistic but I think it's gone beyond that at points, not that it bothers me or anything. I like Ashtray so don't get me wrong but sometimes things get weird in here.

Yeah... though the ashtray pretty much exists just for off-board-topic posts, so I guess it's not surprising that within the ashtray people venture off-thread-topic eagerly.

I should say that I didn't feel off-topicness was that big a problem until I stopped reading all the threads all the time. Now, I do find it a little frustrating not knowing what a thread is about even though I know the thread's title.

Thawa: I haven't yet checked to see if the part number is correct on the ecu. Hopefully tonight The speedo cable seems to work fine.

MK

Oh wait, yeah, off topic, i agree that it's a lot a sense of familiarity w/ each other. If there wasn't that, the replies would be more like that of nasioc.

I agree. I think it's symptomatic of our familiarity. On the one hand it makes threads less searchable, but on the other, the friendly conversational tone also gets people coming back here. Other sites hold no interest for me because they lack this, yet I find they aren't usually more informative or worse - you have a lot of self-declared experts passing off opinion as fact and arguing over it like it was a death-sentence trial.

Steve

evolutionmovement wrote:self-declared experts passing off opinion as fact and arguing over it like it was a death-sentence trial.

Steve

Exactly what we don't want/need

MK

I think there is a need for some thread moderation. Some of the threads go way out of hand and no one stops it. Of course, I don't want Nazis running the board, but someone that will step in to say "keep this on topic" or delete unneccesary replies here and there.

i don't think anyone would have any complaints with a fair (active) moderator.

I definitely don't think that post should be deleted, but warning to stay on topic would be fine.

MK

I only find off topic annoying when it happens on any of the technical threads.

LegacyPunk555 wrote:I only find off topic annoying when it happens on any of the technical threads.

I agree. Here, it's fun

I agree with every word of your analysis, Steve. You're right; the stuff that causes us to go off-topic is the same stuff that gives this place all the good properties we like about it.

It seems that everywhere else but here every thread turns into intense 10 page long drama/arguments, so I would have to say that going OT is much better than that...

I also like the close knit feel of this board. I think self moderation is a good thing, as is keeping technical discussions on-topic. It's also really helpful to have meaningful topic names. I like the idea about changing the topic name to reflect relevant information. Overall though, I'd say things are great here.

-Brian

It's just like the natrual flow of conversation.

Aye, the ashtray seems to be just a place to shoot the Sh*t...

Start on one topic, move to another, just like a real conversation would flow....

The other, more technical forums/threads have more of an agenda where someone needs advice regarding the state of their car and more people tend either to give the info they know or Stfu....

my .02$

Of all the canned peaches I've tried, I think the ones in heavy syrup are the best...

Yes, and my dog was whelping another brood last night, crazy bitch. Dolly, why do you mock me with that sheepish grin.

subyluvr2212 - Have you tried the ones from Libby's that come in juice? I think the juice is way better than heavy or light syrup.

Whores! All of you!

look who's talking

THAWA wrote:look who's talking

Shhhhhh!!!

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