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Keeping on Topic?

lucylocket61

Expert
Messages
6,394
Location
Wrexham
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Why do we have to keep on topic and get mod warnings when we veer off for a while? Normal conversation meanders, sometimes side issues raise valid points which it is beneficial to explore. Often we find things are linked in ways we did not realise.

So what is the problem?
 
I don't know Lucy. I can see its important to keep on topic if its a thread that is someone asking for specific help but in the more general discussions ones I personally think there should be some reasonable leeway just to have a chat even if things meander around a bit. I think that generally is allowed to happen.

In that spirit did you see the forecast says it's going to be snooing over the weekend? Hope it does my dogs love it.
 

Completely agree. I have picked up snippets of really useful information from an off topic thread before now. Seems some of us are allowed to meander, others are not! There should be a one size fits all approach to how we are ALL treated on here. Like you say, if we are chatting with a group of people, the conversation can go of on all kinds of different tangents, and that is just life. Break out into a tangent here, and you may well get your knuckles rapped, yet we are all supposed to be adults. It would be nice to be treated like one!
 
I find it very frustrating. After a few years reading the forum a great deal becomes repetitive. Of course the newly diagnosed will come up with the same questions all the time and of course members will try to help where they can but sometimes there is notj=hing new for a considerable ime.
Then when a new and interesting thread is begun from which something helpful and informative might emerge - either direcly or indirectly- we find ourselves treated like naughty children who are about to start throwing toys at each other.
I supposse it depends what sort of a forum is required, A basic level information board or something to appeal to everyone.

It might be worth taking some time to decide where exactly to post on several levels. This site is in a leading position. If it wants to maintain that it must allow debate .

Time and again the same derailing tactics are allowed to succeed. Dillinger's post spells it out in words of one syllable {almost}
 
Is this keeping on topic in the keeping on topic thread Lucy or will it need to be moderated? :think:
 
Erm ... topic? What topic? :roll: :think: :crazy: :lol:
 
I think keeping on topic is a good principle to be maintained, as often the original poster OP asks a question but then the thread gets diverted by others opening up another discussion. This often leaves the original question unanswered and the poster frustrated. All too frequently it will be experienced board members who have diverted the thread, perhaps because they know each other (in an online way), have already discussed the issue being raised or want to emphasize a minor or esoteric question raised by the post.
Of course there are those who don't like the first answers to the question and set out to deliberately derail the thread.

I think the moderators should step in and try and keep topics on thread, especially if they are posted by newcomers. It's actually quite daunting to post on here for the first time and we should do everything we can to ensure new arrivals aren't put off.
 
I bought a mew shirt yesterday, its black and grey anyone else bought a new shirt recently?
 
no but I'm off to work shortly. On a Saturday too, should be against the law

Mary x
 
I have just de-iced my kids cars, it is a wee bit to cold for them.


Idiot Dad.
 
swimmer2 said:
Of course there are those who don't like the first answers to the question and set out to deliberately derail the thread.
Click to expand...
 


It all depends on whether the OP wants their thread to be derailed, if they don't like the direction that the thread is taking then they have every right to pm a moderator and ask that a warning is issued or for the thread to be deleted or locked, similarly if someone feels they are being attacked then it's only right that they report the offending posts and the moderators deal with it accordingly, being a moderator means you do need to be impartial in these matters and I have yet to see any heavy-handed moderation on the forum, if people want to raise valid points away from the topic being discussed then they have every opportunity to start a new thread.
 

:lol: +1
 
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