Why is hijacking becoming encouraged lately?

[Darrigaaz]

So it seems that the latest trend is thread hijacking. I personally find this a very rude thing to do on a public forum. What started out as a subforum for V4L products evolved into a more friendly atmosphere for the longest time. But in the last month or so, I've noticed more and more threads turning into garbage about cuteness, fluffiness, and general squee. Why are so many people then encouraging this behavior?

How would you like it if you started a thread with a question/concern/problem/idea/whatever, and a few posts down the line, <random Joe> says "I don't like this subject, this thread is now about <insertrandomjunkhere>". What gave <random Joe> the right to deem your subject not good enough to talk about? Why doesn't <random Joe> just start a new thread if he felt that his conversation matter is so much more important? Well, this is happening to a lot more threads than it used to. If you think a thread should die, don't post in it. If you think the subject is not something you want to talk about, don't read and respond to it.

I get that high post count, to some people, is like winning the Pulitzer prize, but for most of us, it's not something we even notice. If you feel like you must get your post count up, at least do it in your own threads. It's just bad forum etiquette to hijack somebody else's thread.

The only people who should have the right to call an end to a thread are the thread starter and the official mods.

Disclaimer:
This is all my personal opinion, and if you don't like it, you don't have to respond to it.
This is also not targeted to anybody in particular. If you feel that I'm talking solely about you, then you are wrong and need to think about why you feel like you fit into this category.

By the way, where's the DISLIKE button?

 

[genuinefraud]

What are you thoughts of Cat Juggling?

 

[Morandir835]

Darrigaaz sir I think this was already covered in a previous thread not more than a week old. The higher ups had no issue with the off topicness, so it's not worth bringing back up. It's the organic flow of the conversations.......

 

[AlmightyGod]

What are you thoughts of Cat Juggling?

Sounds dangerous!

Have you ever tried beating a dead horse? Not my idea of fun, but some people like to do it!

....sorry OP....I got OT........

 

[Nev]

I want a dislike button too....is that on topic?

 

[Darrigaaz]

Darrigaaz sir I think this was already covered in a previous thread not more than a week old. The higher ups had no issue with the off topicness, so it's not worth bringing back up. It's the organic flow of the conversations.......

Morandir, if you are talking about http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/vapor4life/181195-any-way-make-ot-sub-forum-something.html this thread, then I think you may want to re-read my thread.

I'm talking about intentionally derailing a thread, hence the term hi-jacking. I'm NOT talking about just having OT threads created (which was what that other thread was about). That other thread was talking about the sheer number of OT threads bumping other threads off the front page.

The higher ups had no issue with the off topicness, so it's not worth bringing back up.

I disagree. In the other thread, Chadley said, in response to the OT threads:

I think it is fine the way it is. The ot stuff does not bother me. I enjoy reading it

I didn't read that as being ok with hi-jacking somebody else's thread to turn it INTO an OT thread.

 

[Ethereal]

You have a very valid point mate but one thing I noticed very quickly when I joined this forum is that it's more of a chat room than other forums I visit. For example Helifreak is one of my favourite forums where people in the hobby go and help each other out with the technicalities of flying RC helicopters, and believe me it gets technical so it would indeed be very rude to start talking about fluffy bunnies when someone is trying to figure out how to build his $1000 helicopter. Here on the other hand isn't that technical and could get pretty boring with numerous threads about how to raise the centre post or how do you know when your carto is burnt out? Personally I like the friendly atmosphere and find people are very willing to help but then move on, but you do have a valid point.

 

[Kimmy]

My thoughts on this:

I don't have much time for the forum anymore...but I know it should be fun and enjoyable...not work-like and worrying about saying something that will offend someone. People choose to participate in this forum for enjoyment, and education along the way. When I first read this post, my first inclination was...WHO CARES? lol, just my opinion. & I think insinuating people are doing it to get there post count up is a little paranoid considering there is little to no evidence to suggest that--it could just be for enjoyment and entertainment.

 

[Darrigaaz]

You have a very valid point mate but one thing I noticed very quickly when I joined this forum is that it's more of a chat room than other forums I visit. For example Helifreak is one of my favourite forums where people in the hobby go and help each other out with the technicalities of flying RC helicopters, and believe me it gets technical so it would indeed be very rude to start talking about fluffy bunnies when someone is trying to figure out how to build his $1000 helicopter. Here on the other hand isn't that technical and could get pretty boring with numerous threads about how to raise the centre post or how do you know when your carto is burnt out? Personally I like the friendly atmosphere and find people are very willing to help but then move on, but you do have a valid point.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that we remove any OT freedoms. I just find it extremely rude when it's done purposefully because somebody doesn't like the thread. I believe they should have the right to create their own thread about their own views. This thread is a perfect example of deliberate trolling. The very first reply is a direct example of what I was trying to point out.

I can tell myself that genuinefraud was just trying to be funny, but because people interpret things differently across text than they do with verbal communication, I could just as easily tell myself that the reply was put there to intentionally upset me. It's just as easy to say it was a "slap in the face" reply than it was to say it was a poor attempt at humor.

If genuinefraud was really wondering what my take on Cat Juggling was, they could very easily have PM'd me, or created a whole new thread of their own to ask the whole family of their thoughts on Cat Juggling.

...but I know it should be fun and enjoyable... People choose to participate in this forum for enjoyment, and education along the way.

The forum should be fun and enjoyable, yes. But at the expense of intentionally upsetting another forum member?

 

[Clover~]

You guys are all giving me a headache... good luck.

 

[Kimmy]

We'll have to agree to disagree. What I got from this thread is your tired of people getting all fluffy and cute and off topic to get their post count up (based on no evidence indicating so). I didn't get from your thread people were upsetting forum members by doing so. I don't come by much, so maybe I don't know the entire story... No offense intended, but your thread comes off slightly presumptuous and a tad bit grouchy sounding.

 

[AlmightyGod]

You guys are all giving me a headache... good luck.

So, how do you feel about the dead horse thing?

 

[Darrigaaz]

I get that high post count, to some people, is like winning the Pulitzer prize, but for most of us, it's not something we even notice. If you feel like you must get your post count up, at least do it in your own threads. It's just bad forum etiquette to hijack somebody else's thread.

This small section of my original post was added because I was trying to come up with a reason somebody might feel justified with hi-jacking a thread. Post count and malice are the only two reasons I can think of somebody hi-jacking. I'm trying to be positive in thinking that people aren't going to be malicious just for the sake of their own enjoyment. If somebody can tell me a good reason to intentionally hi-jack a thread, I'm all ears.

 

[Clover~]

are you talking about like when someone tries to lighten the mood of an angry thread?

 

[bassthumper]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that we remove any OT freedoms. I just find it extremely rude when it's done purposefully because somebody doesn't like the thread. I believe they should have the right to create their own thread about their own views. This thread is a perfect example of deliberate trolling. The very first reply is a direct example of what I was trying to point out.

I can tell myself that genuinefraud was just trying to be funny, but because people interpret things differently across text than they do with verbal communication, I could just as easily tell myself that the reply was put there to intentionally upset me. It's just as easy to say it was a "slap in the face" reply than it was to say it was a poor attempt at humor.

If genuinefraud was really wondering what my take on Cat Juggling was, they could very easily have PM'd me, or created a whole new thread of their own to ask the whole family of their thoughts on Cat Juggling.



The forum should be fun and enjoyable, yes. But at the expense of intentionally upsetting another forum member?

At the expense of upsetting another forum member?
Sounds like that forum member needs to untwist their panties. I mean, if you're gonna get upset about something so small and silly, maybe an online forum isn't where you should be. Maybe jury duty?

Or how about this- CHILL OUT

 

[Darrigaaz]

are you talking about like when someone tries to lighten the mood of an angry thread?

I'm talking about all occurrences of it happening.

 

[Clover~]

oh well it that case...........unicorns and glitter.

 

[Who_Wants_To_Know]

Darrigaaz sir. I can understand the annoyance if you have a topic where you need a question answered and instead get a list silly pointless.

However, I have noticed that when a question is asked here, it gets answered. As the discussion continues it just goes whatever way it wants to, if it stays on the original topic it does, if not that's okay too.

If a topic really needs the attention from the family it gets it. Most of the people here are very respectful of each other, but in the end we are here to have fun. So if topics go a little off, they do, but they can always be driven back to the original topic if people feel more discussion is needed on it.

Nobody is stoping you from doing that if you feel the need.

 

[Morandir835]

Most thread jacks I've seen Darrigaaz sir is someone else mentioning they to are at a milestone. I truly don't see how that's a big issue. Going ot the way we do is somewhat like thread jacking because by the end of any thread it's not what it started as.... You are entitled to your opinion but I've never seen someone openly angry their thread went into a new direction. As Ethereal sir said, this place is more like a chatroom than a forum. It's what makes this place so attractive....

Post counts are just that, how active you are in the forum. Does it mean much, yes and no. I would like to think my constant jib jabber has resulted in a few things (like helping others, giving what advice I can, and providing a laugh which can be more help than can be measured). Do I post just to increase my count, no. The counter could disappear and it would mean nothing to me. If at the end of the day I felt I hadn't brought something good into someone else's life, that would depress me... Looks like we will have to agree to disagree on this one....

 

[bassthumper]

Most thread jacks I've seen Darrigaaz sir is someone else mentioning they to are at a milestone. I truly don't see how that's a big issue. Going ot the way we do is somewhat like thread jacking because by the end of any thread it's not what it started as.... You are entitled to your opinion but I've never seen someone openly angry their thread went into a new direction. As Ethereal sir said, this place is more like a chatroom than a forum. It's what makes this place so attractive....
Post counts are just that, how active you are in the forum. Does it mean much, yes and no. I would like to think my constant jib jabber has resulted in a few things (like helping others, giving what advice I can, and providing a laugh which can be more help than can be measured). Do I post just to increase my count, no. The counter could disappear and it would mean nothing to me. If at the end of the day I felt I hadn't brought something good into someone else's life, that would depress me... Looks like we will have to agree to disagree on this one....

I LOVE YOUR SIGNATURE!
BTW not to go OT (lol sorry) but is that two of the members of Coal Chamber on your avatar? If its who I think it is- I ate candy with that dude! lol