Please Stay on Topic

[TotallyOz]

If a thread has been started on a particular subject, please stay on that subject. If you want to discuss something other than the topic at hand, please start a new thread. If the posts start to go off topic, I will move them to another thread to keep the original intent of the thread headed in the right direction. Thank you for your consideration.

 

Hugs,

[Gaybutton]

If a thread has been started on a particular subject, please stay on that subject. If you want to discuss something other than the topic at hand, please start a new thread. If the posts start to go off topic, I will move them to another thread to keep the original intent of the thread headed in the right direction.

You're going to be a busy man. If nothing else, my experience has taught me that getting people to stick to the topic is one of the most difficult things to do. An awful lot of people seem to think rules and requests apply to everyone except themselves.

[Bob]

I was going to add some information here about the price of tea in China but both Rich and Scooby smacked me upside my pointy head.

[Guest]

I shall try.

 

This can be difficult.

For example, a thread can start off discussing something like Thai health insurance, then someone replies extolling the virtues of the "free" NHS (taking the thread off topic). Then once it's off topic, it's almost impossible not to reply to correct any inaccuracies & provide the other side of the argument.

 

Deciding where to draw the line without killing debate can be difficult.

 

[NB: Responses regarding my "example" shall be off topic]

[Guest RichLB]

I don't think a thread straying off topic is as serious a problem than is a thread being used as a platform to get personal attention or trade quips with one or two friends ad infinitum. I've tried to warn about this both here and on GaybuttonThai and received little support from others so I've pretty much shut up about it (except for this response). I gave a couple suggestions on how to stop it like forbidding directing responses to a specific user by name, but that really made others angry (at least the ones who were - in my view - the primary culprits.) If you look over some of the threads here and on GB's board, you will know what I mean.

[PattayaMale]

I think what Scooby is saying is reasonable, if I understand it correctly.

 

One time I posted about a trip I took to Cambodia. There were a couple of replies adding some other information about things in Cambodia. The next post then said something like, "There are handsome boys in Vietnam and here is where to find them". The next few replies ended up talking about Vietnam.

 

Then as RichLB mentioned the next 5 or 6 posts were between 2 people. Each arguing their point until the Cambodia "Theme" was not even recognizable!

 

The poster that had information should have just started another post on Vietnam.

 

There are many other examples, but as Gaybutton said, it can be a difficult task.

[Guest beachlover]

I think Scooby may have been referring more so to the "contest" thread, which was detracted by debate over a PM between lvdkeyes and me.

 

Thanks for moving that to a separate thread BTW...

[Guest YardenUK]

I interpreted Scooby's post/thread as gently reminding posters that under "netiquette" rules, when a user wishes to go off-topic (on ANY thread) the correct procedure is to start a brand new thread, rather than 'hijacking' the topic of the thread in question B)

 

(When we all follow this established netiquette rule I think we may all find the search facility becomes a really useful tool of membership, as we can readily search for relevant information when we really need it).

[Guest]

You're going to be a busy man. If nothing else, my experience has taught me that getting people to stick to the topic is one of the most difficult things to do. An awful lot of people seem to think rules and requests apply to everyone except themselves.

 

I do think the rules apply to all others.

 

 

I was going to add some information here about the price of tea in China but both Rich and Scooby smacked me upside my pointy head.

 

Bob, stay with us. This thread is about Staying on Topic. A discussion on the price of tea in China or my favorite little tea store in Beverly Hills should not be discussed. Although, I did order my family a great gift basket from there for Xmas.

 

 

I think Scooby may have been referring more so to the "contest" thread, which was detracted by debate over a PM between lvdkeyes and me.

 

You think? Whatever gave you that idea?

 

I interpreted Scooby's post/thread as gently reminding posters that under "netiquette" rules, when a user wishes to go off-topic (on ANY thread) the correct procedure is to start a brand new thread, rather than 'hijacking' the topic of the thread in question B)

 

(When we all follow this established netiquette rule I think we may all find the search facility becomes a really useful tool of membership, as we can readily search for relevant information when we really need it).

 

Now, that is a thread I can agree with tonight. Thank you Yarden for expressing my thoughts before I could.

 

 

PS. Bob, that tea store I told you about is: http://www.lepalaisgourmet.com/

[Guest]

One time I posted about a trip I took to Cambodia. There were a couple of replies adding some other information about things in Cambodia. The next post then said something like, "There are handsome boys in Vietnam and here is where to find them". The next few replies ended up talking about Vietnam.

Then as RichLB mentioned the next 5 or 6 posts were between 2 people. Each arguing their point until the Cambodia "Theme" was not even recognizable!

The poster that had information should have just started another post on Vietnam.

 

The above example is one where I believe the subject MUST be kept on topic. Essentially, gay travel info on some of Thailand's neighbours is limited, so it's a useful resource if we can maintain dedicated threads for useful travel information. Ideally, these should be pinned.

 

At the other end of the scale, the "we had fun last night in **** gogo bar" post is nice to read, but the thread will date & there's no harm if it drifts off topic.