| Early morning writer | 15 Sep 2015 7:02 p.m. PST |
So, you start a nice little topic in the hopes of getting some useful information or just to have a pleasant discussion and along comes some, well, someone who chooses to derail the topic for no useful purpose other than to, well, derail the topic. Yeah, yeah, freedom of speech and all that, of course. But should this really be tolerated or should there be some sense of proper behavior? Even on TMP? Seems a completely reasonable expectation but far too often doesn't happen – though not as bad as it once was. Thoughts? (And, Bill, no charge for the topic.) |
| tberry7403 | 15 Sep 2015 7:41 p.m. PST |
It's not a problem (as you noted) so no need of a fix. |
| Winston Smith | 15 Sep 2015 7:43 p.m. PST |
Define the "problem".
Define the point at which it kicks in. Btw I can't stand the Dallas Cowboys. |
| Dan 055 | 15 Sep 2015 7:45 p.m. PST |
I have noted the same thing, and it derails any chance of the topic being useful. Perhaps a way of deleting posts? Or a more courteous and respectful standard of posting? nah |
Just Jack  | 15 Sep 2015 8:05 p.m. PST |
"I can't stand the Dallas Cowboys." Amen!!! Nothing is worse than being a Steelers fan stuck in DFW… Oh, sorry ;) V/R,
Jack |
| thorr666 | 15 Sep 2015 8:09 p.m. PST |
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| CeruLucifus | 15 Sep 2015 8:10 p.m. PST |
Some forum interfaces deal with this by letting readers and the original poster click to promote or demote each post. Presumably the original poster carries more weight, and possibly topic editors. Demoted posts collapse so they don't take up space, but are still readable if you click to open them. Heavily demoted posts collapse more, are grayed out, etc. Whether the above is something Bill is able to add to next gen TMP, I don't know. I did suggest this once as a way to improve quality of topics … but the other TMPers who responded felt rather strongly that this was not the way to go. ("Please no Facebook Like buttons" was a representative response.) |
| Coyotepunc and Hatshepsuut | 15 Sep 2015 8:22 p.m. PST |
That was an awesome win the Cowboys pulled off Sunday. Seven seconds, and they score a touchdown! |
| StarfuryXL5 | 15 Sep 2015 8:49 p.m. PST |
So how safe is trip via Amtrak anyway? |
 ochoin | 16 Sep 2015 1:41 a.m. PST |
The Cowboys LOST on Sunday to the Broncos.
link Great game, though. With any luck, the Cowboys will fight their way back to the Premiership for a replay in a fortnight. |
martin goddard  | 16 Sep 2015 2:01 a.m. PST |
The cause is probably anonymity.With anonymity you can behave in any way you wish and are not confined by normal codes. You could possibly ask people to be "nice" when you start the thread? martin |
| Winston Smith | 16 Sep 2015 4:31 a.m. PST |
The originator of a thread has no proprietary rights over it and cannot claim to be able to police it to follow the path he wants it to. |
 etotheipi | 16 Sep 2015 5:45 a.m. PST |
Seems a completely reasonable expectation Yes it does. Perhaps the Internet isn't for you … |
| PatrickWR | 16 Sep 2015 6:08 a.m. PST |
You have identified a problem that has plagued the internet for 25 years. |
| ochoin | 16 Sep 2015 6:32 a.m. PST |
You have identified a problem that has plagued the internet for 25 years. The internet? Have you ever mapped the average "live" conversation? Exactly what happens in a hijacked thread happens when a group of people discuss anything. |
| Sergeant Paper | 16 Sep 2015 7:28 a.m. PST |
If the question is important, rephrase and ask again. I like pie, but not Zardoz pie. The Gun is not good pie filling! |
 Flashman14 | 16 Sep 2015 8:34 a.m. PST |
A derailment may not always be intentional. A thread that doesn't provide an answer means that everyone who saw ot didnt grasp the question or just doesn't know the answer. Happens all the time and is not a problem. Reword and try again. Make sure there is an answer. |
| RavenscraftCybernetics | 16 Sep 2015 9:05 a.m. PST |
OP- welcome to TMP.
What was your question again?
What is your favorite pie? |
| tberry7403 | 16 Sep 2015 9:50 a.m. PST |
The Gun is not good pie filling! Unless you're in jail. |
| Clays Russians | 16 Sep 2015 12:32 p.m. PST |
Thread-knapping….. When the narrative becomes pointless, frothic" a circular argument, idle and random points should be carelessly inserted for effect. Besides I loathe and despise football, collegiate professional youth, all forms, it bores my zeitgeist into primal viral ooooz. Like baseball tho, only thing I was any good at. Of course who is gonna bowel over a 140 pound 8th grader who plays catcher at 5 foot 10 inches. Nope no-one ever got past me when I had the ball……ever. Coach called me the Siegfried line. True story |
| (Leftee) | 16 Sep 2015 3:34 p.m. PST |
I have reached my level of tolerance for truck commercials. Can no longer watch (American) Football with any semblance of patience. Either they call a moratorium on these, or I cannot return to watching. Follow score on phone/computer. |
| Zargon | 16 Sep 2015 8:06 p.m. PST |
A, Zardoz holiday, B, like the term 'Frothic' thanks I shall use it in the future Clay Russkie :)
Finally what was the topic again? Not American play play rugby again? :D (running for the hills or a touchdown whichever closer :)
Cheers Early Morning you can't win! Eh? But you've made the point we're a rude bunch forgive us and post a really interesting article maybe we'll try better. |
| StarfuryXL5 | 16 Sep 2015 8:31 p.m. PST |
The Gun is not good pie filling! But the penis is …, oh, er … never mind. |
