Threads That Go Astray

[scottyrocks]

I dont mind threads going off topic. What I dont like is threads that do nothing but bash a topic-du-jour. Maybe its not even that. I guess its the way some folks rip at stuff, seemingly never thinking that someone else may have a different opinion. There are ways to criticize without being mean.

Did I just go off topic?

 

[rue]

Actually I think that's on topic


I brought this thread back up out of curiosity. Going off topic doesn't bother me, but then again I'm one of the offenders

 

[LizzieMaine]

There's a difference between discussing or even debating an issue in a thread and what might indelicately be called "thread crapping." That's when someone posts a thread saying, oh, something like "Who Likes Off-The-Face Hats," and hopes to get a lot of talk from fellow wearers and enthusiasts of the same, only to have someone post something like "Off the face hats make you look like you're wearing a stovelid on the back of your head. I hate them!" and the thread then degenerates into a debate, where it was only intended to be an appreciation. A little restraint and common sense would prevent that from happening, and would also prevent hard feelings from off-the-face hat wearers who don't appreciate the unsought criticism.

Thread-crappers come to the attention of the Bartenders pretty fast. Just in case they weren't aware of it.

 

[Tomasso]

but then again I'm one of the offenders

Ha! Try ringleader....

 

[rue]

:eeek: I never start it. I don't think....



By the way, that's the pot calling the kettle black Mr Tomasso

 

[Tomasso]

 

[scottyrocks]

There's a difference between discussing or even debating an issue in a thread and what might indelicately be called "thread crapping." That's when someone posts a thread saying, oh, something like "Who Likes Off-The-Face Hats," and hopes to get a lot of talk from fellow wearers and enthusiasts of the same, only to have someone post something like "Off the face hats make you look like you're wearing a stovelid on the back of your head. I hate them!" and the thread then degenerates into a debate, where it was only intended to be an appreciation. A little restraint and common sense would prevent that from happening, and would also prevent hard feelings from off-the-face hat wearers who don't appreciate the unsought criticism.

Thread-crappers come to the attention of the Bartenders pretty fast. Just in case they weren't aware of it.

And then there are those threads that start out crapping, like, for instance, naming something you'd never wear. Thats an open invitation for crappers.

 

[rue]

But it's fun.... admit it

 

[Tomasso]

IIRC, Marc started this thread/poll after being criticized on several occasions (by a few of the ladies ) for wandering off topic. Mind you, he was very entertaining when doing so but a sense of humor seemed to be lacking.

 

[LizzieMaine]

One could always start a "Who Hates Off The Face Hats" thread if one was so inclined, and then the likers and the haters could riff on to their hearts' content without interfering with each other.

I think a very good example of a thread that's avoided Thread Crapping is the Tattoo thread -- people who dont' care for tattoos simply don't post in that thread, or if they do nobody takes the bait and they're ignored. That's how it should be -- if someone wants to discuss a subject they should be able to without a lot of rubbish from the sidelines.

I also think there's a place for "Modern Things You Hate?" type of threads. Modern culture has a tendency to set itself on a very high horse in how it views the vintage era, and it does it good to get knocked off that horse now and again. Most of these threads are meant in fun, and they usually end up taking on a tongue-in-cheek tone. If people don't appreciate that type of discussion, well, don't read the thread. Go start one you *do* like.

 

[rue]

IIRC, Marc started this thread/poll after being criticized on several occasions (by a few of the ladies ) for wandering off topic. Mind you, he was very entertaining when doing so but a sense of humor seemed to be lacking.

I know.... I've been reading his threads and in fact found a quite a few (like the "blank" thread) that were so funny tears were coming down my face. I know there were some that were irritated by him, but even though I came after he stopped posting I miss his wit and I wish he'd come back.

One could always start a "Who Hates Off The Face Hats" thread if one was so inclined, and then the likers and the haters could riff on to their hearts' content without interfering with each other.

I think a very good example of a thread that's avoided Thread Crapping is the Tattoo thread -- people who dont' care for tattoos simply don't post in that thread, or if they do nobody takes the bait and they're ignored. That's how it should be -- if someone wants to discuss a subject they should be able to without a lot of rubbish from the sidelines.

I also think there's a place for "Modern Things You Hate?" type of threads. Modern culture has a tendency to set itself on a very high horse in how it views the vintage era, and it does it good to get knocked off that horse now and again. Most of these threads are meant in fun, and they usually end up taking on a tongue-in-cheek tone. If people don't appreciate that type of discussion, well, don't read the thread. Go start one you *do* like.

I hope I'm not a thread crapper. I try to stay away from threads that make me mad and you'll notice I don't post in them for the most part. There's one in particular going right now that I've chosen to ignore because I don't agree with it and I think that's what everyone should do when they feel that way.

 

[Tomasso]

I know.... I've been reading his threads and in fact found a quite a few (like the "blank" thread) that were so funny tears were coming down my face. I know there were some that were irritated by him, but even though I came after he stopped posting I miss his wit and I wish he'd come back.



There's one in particular going right now that I've chosen to ignore because I don't agree with it

I have a pretty good idea of the one to which you're referring.

 

[GamaH]

Well considering the fact that out of the 3 or so forums I visit, I only post in the Off-topic board for 2, I would say it doesn't bother me at all. As for the thread going off topic, more often than not it's hilarious.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

The off-topic threads here, are in fact, some of my favorites. A very off-topic thread that I was indeed a party to the crime in was my absolute favorite thread here. I made some good friendships from it and I think that a lot of us make friends with people here by getting a bit off topic and isn't that what the lounge should be about?

 

[Lady Day]

A lot of people use this forum as a jumping point for research. A lot of new people might not know it, but this board was created on a foundation of rich content intensive threads. So I see this place as a large data base, and yes, when someone is looking for information, its flustering to sift through pages of silly discourse that has nothing what-so-ever to do with the topic on hand.

Fluff threads go off topic all the time because that is their purpose. And for the haze that real conversations with people always go off topic, not really. People just move on to another topic. Want to do that, start another thread.

LD

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I think we need an 'off-topic' thread for those who just wish to converse lol

 

[Tomasso]

Isn't that the function of the Weather thread at this point. [huh]

 

[scottyrocks]

'Off-topic,' as it applies to the section, means off the topic of the golden era, as I understand it? So now threads that are designed to deliberately go off topic, whether golden era or not, should be posted in the 'Off Topic' section, along with threads that are off the topic of the golden era?:dizzy:

 

[avedwards]

Off topic can mean a variety of things. For example a thread about 1950s suits may end up going off topic in a discussion of 1950s cultural influences which would have some relevance to the original topic. On the other hand it can end up in a political discussion causing the thread to be closed.

I think there has to be some balance between how far off topic discussions should be allowed to go. I've seen a few short musical discussions in the "what are you wearing" thread as a result of instruments or posters people had in the background of their pictures. Discussions like that are completely harmless and don't distract from the thread's main topic. However if people want discuss off topic things for more than just a few posts they should do so in the observation bar.

 

[subject101]

and how is the weather in San Francisco this time of the year? I heard it's chilling in the mountains