Staying On Topic.

[Mercedes01]

Every forum I've been affiliated with I always have a bad habit of going off topic.

It doesn't feel bad to me but it is to some people.

My way of thinking has always been when I run into a mate we start off with one
topic and an hour later we've discussed 50 topics.

One topic on one thread is so hard for me to do simply because I might see some thing
funny in a sentence and things like that.

Your thoughts please

 

[michonne]

I think it's great when a thread takes on a life of its own....even if that means going off topic!! I loved the threads in our first forum home together that went on for days and pages....I'd look forward to catching up when I logged on in the morning....it was fun

 

[Mercedes01]

I think it's great when a thread takes on a life of its own....even if that means going off topic!! I loved the threads in our first forum home together that went on for days and pages....I'd look forward to catching up when I logged on in the morning....it was fun

Those were the good old days

 

[michonne]

Those were the good old days

So true!! Back when that place was just about flirting and having fun with your friends!!

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

It can get confusing for newcomers to the thread and everyone not involved in the side conversation that has nothing to do with the original topic, but I suppose it depends on what the topic actually is about.

Typically staff members want to split off side conversations so everything makes sense to everyone and anyone can jump right into a conversation without feeling lost or left out.

 

[michonne]

It can get confusing for newcomers to the thread and everyone not involved in the side conversation that has nothing to do with the original topic, but I suppose it depends on what the topic actually is about.

Typically staff members want to split off side conversations so everything makes sense to everyone and anyone can jump right into a conversation without feeling lost or left out.

Given the sheer volume of threads here, and the wide variety of topics a few threads going off topic should not be too big a deal.....everyone can not fit in everywhere....for example, the politics threads don't interest me in the least, so I simply don't post there....

I wish there was more continuous conversation here....you never really get a chance to know the other posters....I'm glad my friends are here...I really wish this place was more conversational. Sometimes the threads that ended up going off topic led to conversations where people who had seen other posters names actually got into a conversation with them....it led to a lot of forum friendships, some of which carried over into real life...it was nice, I miss that :nope:

 

[mrldii]

I've always thought that online discussion boards mirror real-life discussions, in that a couple of people start talking about a topic and as more people join in and more thoughts are added, the conversation drifts from the original topic.

Out of all the discussion boards I've participated in, Off Topix seems to be most interested in commenting ONLY to the original post; there is very little discussion or sharing of ideas back-and-forth amongst the posters. Most (NOT all) people seem to come in, read the OP only, make their comment in response to the OP and then go away. Many of the threads seem more like Union Meetings where votes are cast rather than actual discussions on topics, ideas, or thoughts...where people might actually learn something from/about each other.

*Luckily* I'm the type of poster who can *seem* to *make* others break out of their shells and have something to say...particularly AT me, whether they're actually interested in discussing the topic on this discussion board, or not. It can get *lively*, letmetellyou.


:fighting:

 

[michonne]

I've always thought that online discussion boards mirror real-life discussions, in that a couple of people start talking about a topic and as more people join in and more thoughts are added, the conversation drifts from the original topic.

Out of all the discussion boards I've participated in, Off Topix seems to be most interested in commenting ONLY to the original post; there is very little discussion or sharing of ideas back-and-forth amongst the posters. Most (NOT all) people seem to come in, read the OP only, make their comment in response to the OP and then go away. Many of the threads seem more like Union Meetings where votes are cast rather than actual discussions on topics, ideas, or thoughts...where people might actually learn something from/about each other.

Couldn't have said it better myself.... I miss the banter....I don't particularly want to attend the Union Meetings

I really wish these threads were more conversational....I'd definitely spend more time here....perhaps get to know a few of the posters....as opposed to reading and making my solitary comment

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I wish there was more continuous conversation here....you never really get a chance to know the other posters....I'm glad my friends are here...I really wish this place was more conversational. Sometimes the threads that ended up going off topic led to conversations where people who had seen other posters names actually got into a conversation with them....it led to a lot of forum friendships, some of which carried over into real life...it was nice, I miss that :nope:

I've always thought that online discussion boards mirror real-life discussions, in that a couple of people start talking about a topic and as more people join in and more thoughts are added, the conversation drifts from the original topic.

Out of all the discussion boards I've participated in, Off Topix seems to be most interested in commenting ONLY to the original post; there is very little discussion or sharing of ideas back-and-forth amongst the posters. Most (NOT all) people seem to come in, read the OP only, make their comment in response to the OP and then go away. Many of the threads seem more like Union Meetings where votes are cast rather than actual discussions on topics, ideas, or thoughts...where people might actually learn something from/about each other.

*Luckily* I'm the type of poster who can *seem* to *make* others break out of their shells and have something to say...particularly AT me, whether they're actually interested in discussing the topic on this discussion board, or not. It can get *lively*, letmetellyou.


:fighting:

I don't think any of that has anything to do with the rare splitting of topics, that may just be a result of some of our members personalities.

Also the software we were on before (MyBB) gave no notification on replies, quotes or anything like that. Members had to be really interested in a topic & keep maunally checking back on it to keep it going. Now that were on Xenforo and are notified by everything, I have noticed an increase in the back & fourth chatter.

 

[michonne]

I don't think any of that has anything to do with the rare splitting of topics, that may just be a result of some of our members personalities.

Also the software we were on before (MyBB) gave no notification on replies, quotes or anything like that. Members had to be really interested in a topic & keep maunally checking back on it to keep it going. Now that were on Xenforo and are notified by everything, I have noticed an increase in the back & fourth chatter.

Amen!!

Maybe we'll see a change, more back and forth banter...how long have you been using XenForo??

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Amen!!

Maybe we'll see a change, more back and forth banter...how long have you been using XenForo??

About a month now.

 

[mrldii]

I don't think any of that has anything to do with the rare splitting of topics, that may just be a result of some of our members personalities...

Where - in the OP - was "splitting of topics" mentioned? The OP was lamenting that she's always had a hard time staying on topic and wondered if anyone felt similarly...or differently.

Please stay on topic, goshdarnitalltohell!!!


Oh, look at that! You agree with the OP and a few of us that it CAN BE difficult to stay on topic, after all!

 

[michonne]

About a month now.

So there's hope perhaps we can get some convo's going and start to create a community here

 

[michonne]

Where - in the OP - was "splitting of topics" mentioned? The OP was lamenting that she's always had a hard time staying on topic and wondered if anyone felt similarly...or differently.

Please stay on topic, goshdarnitalltohell!!!


Oh, look at that! You agree with the OP and a few of us that it CAN BE difficult to stay on topic, after all!

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Where - in the OP - was "splitting of topics" mentioned? The OP was lamenting that she's always had a hard time staying on topic and wondered if anyone felt similarly...or differently.

Please stay on topic, goshdarnitalltohell!!!


Oh, look at that! You agree with the OP and a few of us that it CAN BE difficult to stay on topic, after all!

I'm on topic I think...

Anyway it does really depend on the topic though. Like for example, if you find yourself discussing what brand of creamer you like in your coffee in a thread about the death penalty, that side conversation about the creamer will probably be split off and moved to the Food & Drink forum.

 

[Sinon]

Generally, if I enter a thread based on the premise of say, abortion, I don't expect it to have three pages of people spamming emoticons and talking about the movie they say at the cinema last week. If it's that hard to stay on topic, stay out entirely.

Alternatively, close down the entirety of the forum and replace it with a single forum section, with a single thread. "The talk about anything" thread. Problem solved.

 

[~KAGE-008]

Alternatively, close down the entirety of the forum and replace it with a single forum section, with a single thread. "The talk about anything" thread. Problem solved.

We have the Chit Chat thread for that.

 

[Felly]

I think it depends on the topic and how off topic they're going. If it's just a little bit and it's still relevant somewhat to the original topic, then I'll just let it go, but if it's completely irrelevant to the topic at hand, then I'll probably step in and ask the offending members to take the conversation to a new thread or to a private conversation between the two of them.

 

[Smiley]

Personally, I don't have a problem with people sidetracking from the original topic too much, but, as Nebulous said, it can be confusing for someone who just joined in and wishes to participate in the conversation about the original topic since they could end up digging through the thread, sifting through the off topic stuff that doesn't concern them just to find the last relevant post.

It wouldn't be much of a problem with small threads that have only 2, maybe 3 or 4 pages of replies, since it wouldn't take long to go through such small amount of posts, but imagine the pain of sifting through a thread that managed to accumulate dozens of pages of replies, just to see how far has the original conversation gotten before picking up where the last poster left off.

 

[DrLeftover]

Did you see Bruce Jenner changed his hairstyle and now he looks like one of those Cardassian women from that show he was on?