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Do you mean, for example, when someone asks a question about a problem using a mandrel that the first several responses rag on mandrels and start touting the virtues of turning between centers?

Or do you mean, for example, when the OP asks about finishing pens with CA and boiled linseed oil that the first several responses question the use of CA and challenge the original poster to stop using boiled linseed oil and go with
CA sans oil?

Or do you mean, for example,... Why not just answer the question!!!

Do a good turn daily!
Don

Smitty37 said:
Has anyone else noticed the frequency in which the responses to an OP are completely out of whack with what was said in the OP. It seems to to me that's happening more and more.

Am I the only one seeing this?
Click to expand...
 
No, you're not the only one. I think many of us get sidetracked by an off-hand comment and then the thread gets hijacked.

If you've seen the movie 'Up' there is a scene where the dog is talking and suddenly gets distracted when a squirrel runs by. At my last job, when a discussion got hijacked in a meeting, someone would invariably yell "squirrel" to get everyone back on track. Perhaps we need that here:wink::wink:
 
Your not the only one to notice. It does happen a lot. I have seen (rarely) where the OP had to state in the thread that a post was off topic and things needed to be addressed to the topic at hand. I recently asked a question on a machinist forum and had my answer by the 3rd reply. The next 18 posts in the thread had nothing to do with the original topic at all.
Partly it happens because a lot of people just want to say something as opposed to having something to say. I have suspected some members of " drinking and typing". Although sometimes some of the hijacked threads are more interesting than the original subject.
 
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Smitty37 said:
Has anyone else noticed the frequency in which the responses to an OP are completely out of whack with what was said in the OP. It seems to to me that's happening more and more.

Am I the only one seeing this?
Click to expand...

Well, I don't think that anyone has the magic solution for this, is just a simple fact of life and the nature of humans to "respond" to any issue, in more than one way, that has a lot to do with is going on in "ones" life, and like it or not, accept it or not, we all, no exceptions are guilty of such.

It would be unrealistic to believe that, certain particular topics, wouldn't attract controversy, there is also unrealistic to be believe that we all are capable to have the same response in a good day, and on a bad day, is also my believe that, would be unrealistic to deny such reality...!

Topic determines in 95% of times, the "direction" the Opening Post will take and is not as easy as some people may think, to determine when a thread has been hijacked. I have a great problem with this word, and how is so freely used when in my view, the majority of cases, is the interpretation and understanding of the question or subject, in the first place, that can cause the issue to take a different direction than the one intended by the poster and this is when, I believe, is important that the Opening Poster, has the right tools and willingness to, bring the attention of ALL "participants" of the unwanted deviation to the original subject.

This is where, things get interesting, why...??? because often mods come along and "close" or delete threads/posts when in my view, "they" should be contacting the Opening Poster and encourage/guide him/her to bring the subject inline with the poster intentions, themselves and therefore using the "moderation skills" to show people how its done.

Now, is this everyone's cup of tea...??? off-course not, is this something that can be learn and then implemented by "almost" anyone...??? I do believe so...!

This could go on, and on but, tell me something Smithy, is my response/reply, within/in-line with your intentions as the Opening Poster, or I did go in a totally different direction...???:wink::biggrin:

Isn't this a good opportunity, to give some "positive" and constructive guidelines to all the new posters/members that may not know how to handle these situations...???:smile:

Cheers
George
 
forum

You're right Smitty. There been MANY an instance where I read the op and was going to comment, but by the time I got to the last post the conversation was either off track or too much bickering going on for my taste. I am NOT the un-confrontational type, but don't understand people thinking their opinions are the end-all be-all answer to the questions posed. While I wholeheartedly agree everyone's entitled to their opinion, the use of IMHO could be used more and some off-hand snide remarks could be better off left unsaid. FWIW and IMHO..George
 
Smitty37 said:
Has anyone else noticed the frequency in which the responses to an OP are completely out of whack with what was said in the OP. It seems to to me that's happening more and more.

Am I the only one seeing this?
Click to expand...

I don't find it to be happening more often, but it happens everywhere.
Each response is not tied to the OP, but to what comes after. That's just
human nature.. and the nature of forums in general.
I think the only way to stop it would be if nobody could see the replies.
Then it could never form a 'track' .. so it couldn't get 'off-track'.
Of course, then it would be less 'forum' and more like a test.
 
I agree that many OP are overlooked and not answered correctly, or with ANYTHING pertinent most of the time. I can understand, to an extent, converstation continuing after the question has been answered. Probably just due to people wanting to say something, in a digital age those who talked just to hear their own voice now just type to see their letters on a screen. the more replies you have, the more experience you have, right?
 
With out criticizing and without malicious intent I found that you Smitty are guilty of some of this very thing. In the thread on Pen State industries your reply to the Cheese steak and hoagies if off topic even if it is in response to another off topic post in the same thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by walshjp17 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Penguin View Post
They are Yankees, thought...maybe it just comes with being a Yankee.


Nah, they are Philadelphians ... the folks who threw snowballs at, and heaped boos on, Santa Claus during at least one Eagles game.

Full disclosure: I am a Philadelphian ... and I miss cheese steaks, hoagies, real soft pretzles and scrapple
Well most folks won't even know what scrapple is without running to google...some places say they have "Philadelphia" cheese steaks (but they don't). Good real soft pretzles and hoagies (although they might be called something else) can be found elsewhere.

Of course if you happen to be a New Yorker, finding "real" pizza can be a challenge as well. I Haven't found any in Delaware. Used to find some in Jersey though.
__________________
Does answering off topic posts constitute the same offense as posting the off topic post? Would we be better to just ignore those posts and take them up elsewhere in a thread of their own. I will acknowledge that you have on several occasions done just that. Started a new thread pursuing the new topic.
 
NewLondon88 said:
Smitty37 said:
Has anyone else noticed the frequency in which the responses to an OP are completely out of whack with what was said in the OP. It seems to to me that's happening more and more.

Am I the only one seeing this?
Click to expand...

I don't find it to be happening more often, but it happens everywhere.
Each response is not tied to the OP, but to what comes after. That's just
human nature.. and the nature of forums in general.
I think the only way to stop it would be if nobody could see the replies.
Then it could never form a 'track' .. so it couldn't get 'off-track'.
Of course, then it would be less 'forum' and more like a test.
Click to expand...

Perhaps this is GOOD!! Oftentimes, I have seen responses that do not reflect any of the prior comments. When the "conversation flows" from one post to the next, it implies people are READING before they TYPE!!


As to "padding post count", I can't IMAGINE anyone doing that (this should have been a separate post, but then it might have stretched the afore-mentioned imagination:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Ed
 
mredburn said:
With out criticizing and without malicious intent I found that you Smitty are guilty of some of this very thing. In the thread on Pen State industries your reply to the Cheese steak and hoagies if off topic even if it is in response to another off topic post in the same thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by walshjp17 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Penguin View Post
They are Yankees, thought...maybe it just comes with being a Yankee.


Nah, they are Philadelphians ... the folks who threw snowballs at, and heaped boos on, Santa Claus during at least one Eagles game.

Full disclosure: I am a Philadelphian ... and I miss cheese steaks, hoagies, real soft pretzles and scrapple
Well most folks won't even know what scrapple is without running to google...some places say they have "Philadelphia" cheese steaks (but they don't). Good real soft pretzles and hoagies (although they might be called something else) can be found elsewhere.

Of course if you happen to be a New Yorker, finding "real" pizza can be a challenge as well. I Haven't found any in Delaware. Used to find some in Jersey though.
__________________
Does answering off topic posts constitute the same offense as posting the off topic post? Would we be better to just ignore those posts and take them up elsewhere in a thread of their own. I will acknowledge that you have on several occasions done just that. Started a new thread pursuing the new topic.
Click to expand...
The OP doesn't mention anything about anyone being guilty of anything....It asks a question and this post is a perfect example of what I was asking about.

Re the post in the jeer you mention....It was deleted by a mod. I simply forgot that I was reading a jeer thread and not in casual conversation where the reply would have been OK because it indicated it was not replying to the OP.
 
I have noticed but it is not as bad here as some forums, try any sports forum the thread will be hijacked 4 or 5 times with garbage irrelevant to what the OP started with.
 
its_virgil said:
Do you mean, for example, when someone asks a question about a problem using a mandrel that the first several responses rag on mandrels and start touting the virtues of turning between centers?

Smitty37 said:
Has anyone else noticed the frequency in which the responses to an OP are completely out of whack with what was said in the OP. It seems to to me that's happening more and more.

Am I the only one seeing this?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Ouch...can't say how often I'm guilty of that one :frown: Thanks for getting that train back on the track Smitty!!
 
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