Keeping Discussion On Topic Within Threads

[Irish Envy]

Since asking for feedback yesterday, I have received quite a few private message from everyone with some things they'd like to see improved here at IrishEnvy.com. While there were some good suggestions (some bad ones, too), the suggestion/feedback that came up most frequently was about discussions veering off-topic.

In going back and viewing several reference threads, I wholeheartedly agree with those that think we're killing certain topics by moving away from the thread's intended topic.

While I don't want to discourage posting, it can be frustrating for someone that is thinking they're going to read a thread about a certain recruit only to find out that the discussion is now veered off and into rivalry games, a different recruit, etc.

So, lets take a minute to come up and implement a simple framework that will help reduce thread hijacking and keeping discussions on topic so they can be fully discussed.

1) Make an effort to stick to the topic. You are adults (most of you at least) and you know whether or not something has nothing to do with the current thread you're in.

2) Have something similar but not directly related? Start a "Spinoff Thread." If you have something that is similar to the current topic but not directly related and fear that it could drive the current topic off path or kill it altogether, then just start a new thread with "Spinoff: [Amended Topic]" title.

3) Keeping personal emotion from destroying discussion. I think this is pretty self-explanitory and can really drown out/kill a good discussion.

The bottom line is we want to have a forum where people can discuss things without fear of having the discussions diluted or discounted because this will more then likely keep them from posting in the future. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to drop me a private message.

 

[irishwavend]

The weather in LA is great. Today, I wore a collared shirt and jeans while drinking plenty of booze in Manhattan Beach. BTW, Pete Carroll frequents West Hollywood...I know some people who have seen him out there with cutoff blue jean shorts and a tank top cut off above his belly button. I keeed, I keeed with you Svoboda.

 

[Fitzgerald]

Will there be an explanation as to why my innocuous and honest post (which happened to disagree with you on some points) is now gone?

I am going to venture a guess and say I have more messageboard experience than you. I've spent far too many hours on these things over the years, and I once moderated a board with over a million members. So I do have practical knowledge of what I'm talking about, ie you can't pander to lurkers, who are not part of the messageboard community, and that off-topic discussions are par for the course. Keeping a thread entirely on-topic, in fact, is deadly to the thread, and will exhaust its possibilities much sooner than would letting it run its course and go as the members would have it go.

Also, as I said, if members are complaining about threads veering off-topic, they are able to post on-topic and right the ship themselves. But the best way to kill a board is to stifle what discussion would naturally occur there.

Thanks, and I am hopeful that you won't delete this.

 

[Irish Envy]

Will there be an explanation as to why my innocuous and honest post (which happened to disagree with you on some points) is now gone?

It's not, you just can't locate your own posts. There is a duplicate post of this in the Recruiting forum as some members do not follow both forums. Some people don't get into recruiting, so I put a copy in both forums.

I am going to venture a guess and say I have more messageboard experience than you. I've spent far too many hours on these things over the years, and I once moderated a board with over a million members. So I do have practical knowledge of what I'm talking about, ie you can't pander to lurkers, who are not part of the messageboard community, and that off-topic discussions are par for the course. Keeping a thread entirely on-topic, in fact, is deadly to the thread, and will exhaust its possibilities much sooner than would letting it run its course and go as the members would have it go.

Venture as many guesses as you want, but I'm not handing out any cookies. I've been doing message boards since I was a young pup when I ran a WWIV BBS coming in at a blazing 1200 baud. I know a thing or two about these things myself.

Also, as I said, if members are complaining about threads veering off-topic, they are able to post on-topic and right the ship themselves. But the best way to kill a board is to stifle what discussion would naturally occur there.

Thanks, and I am hopeful that you won't delete this.

Some people aren't comfortable trying to right the ship, hence why they sent me private messages to discuss the issue. Thanks for the feedback, but I think we'll give my way a go until someone else pays the bills around here.