Do all topics run off topic?

[Immutep]

Hi, as you can tell by my join date, i'm fairly new around here. But one thing that's stuck out to me is that every thread i've read seems to have at least two, usually more regular posters on their that start really just talking about something totally irrelevant, then seem to spark up a conversation within the topic that has nothing to do with what the OP had in mind. What i wanted to know was, does this always happen, or am i just looking at all the threads that do this?

P.s. please don't start talking about how a wizard/cleric/druid/whatever is the best choice for powergaming or something similar. I know i've probably asked for it.

[Telonius]

Well, sometimes they ...


Ooo! Look! Butterfly!



Seriously though, most topics do generally drift or die.

[lisiecki]

Hi, as you can tell by my join date, i'm fairly new around here. But one thing that's stuck out to me is that every thread i've read seems to have at least two, usually more regular posters on their that start really just talking about something totally irrelevant, then seem to spark up a conversation within the topic that has nothing to do with what the OP had in mind. What i wanted to know was, does this always happen, or am i just looking at all the threads that do this?

P.s. please don't start talking about how a wizard/cleric/druid/whatever is the best choice for powergaming or something similar. I know i've probably asked for it.

All threads decend in to how overpowered magic is
OR
Posters going on and on about there 13 doctorates in every subject that could possibly be related to the thread

[Glimbur]

You know who could stay on one topic and get his point across? Hitler.

Seriously, though, the problem is that in any logical discussion lots of assumptions are made. Sometimes people disagree with those assumptions and so they effectively start a new topic in that thread to talk about that. Or they bring in baggage from other threads (see: Monk v Wizard).

[Inyssius Tor]

Hi, as you can tell by my join date, i'm fairly new around here. But one thing that's stuck out to me is that every thread i've read seems to have at least two, usually more regular posters on their that start really just talking about something totally irrelevant, then seem to spark up a conversation within the topic that has nothing to do with what the OP had in mind. What i wanted to know was, does this always happen, or am i just looking at all the threads that do this?

P.s. please don't start talking about how a wizard/cleric/druid/whatever is the best choice for powergaming or something similar. I know i've probably asked for it.

I think it could be reasonably said that this happens to all threads which don't die within fifteen posts. On every forum I've ever encountered, in fact. The signal-to-noise ratio is regrettably pretty low here, but it's apparent all over the internet.

And this probably ought to go in Board/Site Issues.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Really, I look at topics as a conversation between the posters, and when was the last conversation you had that stayed on the same topic it started on?

[Vortling]

Threads are like real life conversations. They won't stay on topic unless you have someone very forceful holding them there.

[Immutep]

I'm not saying by any means that this is solely happening on this forum, just that it is a bit more annoyingly done here. On other hobby forums i've joined the topic isn't RPG so it's much less distracting i think. Some of these posts could really shine if the OP's question or idea is adhered to so to see it debase into other topic trivial matters is much more upsetting i think.

[Tacoma]

Topics are often resolved to the satisfaction of the Latter Poster, and so he makes a minor point that hasn't yet been addressed.

Often this minor point sparks a longer conversation because it's simply more interesting than the OP's point / question.

And others post to prove some people wrong or answer their unassociated questions.

Batman makes a frequent appearance. And so do people who think it's still clever to throw tired old memes around.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

I'm not saying by any means that this is solely happening on this forum, just that it is a bit more annoyingly done here. On other hobby forums i've joined the topic isn't RPG so it's much less distracting i think. Some of these posts could really shine if the OP's question or idea is adhered to so to see it debase into other topic trivial matters is much more upsetting i think.

This forum is actually pretty good with staying on-topic compared to a lot of others. You really need to check out 4-chan. Or don't, if you value your sanity.

[AKA_Bait]

Yeah. Sometimes topics do end up derailed by other discussions or just plain silliness (like the Snuggles thread). However, I've also seen topics that stay mostly on point for as many as 10 pages if the topic is particularly contentious and complex.

Personally, I tend to just skip the off topic comments unless they are really funny or interesting.

[mikeejimbo]

You know who could stay on one topic and get his point across? Hitler.

I see Godwin's Law has been invoked.

I think the problem is that people are deceived. They believe there are infinitely many topics. In reality, there are only a finite number of meta-topics.

[KIDS]

That is because everyone is in ur topic, off-topicing ur posts...

[Tacoma]

Speaking of meta-topics, there are really only four types of dramatic theme. This seems appropriate to a roleplaying board, so here goes:

Man vs. Man
Man vs. Elephants
Pac-Man vs. Elephantitis
Ms. Pac-Man vs. Internet Memes

[Tokiko Mima]

Hi, as you can tell by my join date, i'm fairly new around here. But one thing that's stuck out to me is that every thread i've read seems to have at least two, usually more regular posters on their that start really just talking about something totally irrelevant, then seem to spark up a conversation within the topic that has nothing to do with what the OP had in mind. What i wanted to know was, does this always happen, or am i just looking at all the threads that do this?

P.s. please don't start talking about how a wizard/cleric/druid/whatever is the best choice for powergaming or something similar. I know i've probably asked for it.

How often do you wander into a conversation that's exactly what you want to talk about? Don't you usually find that you have to nudge a discussion one way to make it fit what you want to talk about.

Within a certain limit, I consider it sort of the OP's responsibility to keep a thread on topic, if they want to keep a thread on topic. If the OP has further questions or isn't satisfied with their answers, they should ask more specific questions or refine their question. Keep in mind, you're asking your questions to a forum that's a bunch of unpaid bored people who love to discuss D&D and RPG's in general. If they weren't like that, they'd be reading about Hello Kitty's new releases or macrame or whatever. They answer your questions because it amuses them, and if they bend the thread to be more amusing, that's the price of admission.

Obviously, you can't start doing 180's on every topic so there are limits, but once the OP has been addressed, and the question answered I don't see a compelling need to stay exactly on topic. Sometimes the interesting context will be the hijack itself.

For example, an OP asks 'Hey, what's the best 1st level spell for a wizard?' and get's answered 'Sleep, duh' then a hijacker comes on with a rant about the Logic Ninja's Batman Wizard stereotype being overused and someone else asks where they can find more Batman Wizard information. If they had stayed on topic, the OP might never learn there was a spell by spell guide for Wizards, with save or die, save or suck, and no save spells detailed.

[sebsmith]

If you want to learn more about how forum topics operate, the best source I found was here.

[Kris Strife]

You know whats awesome? Pie. I want to go into a resturant and order Pi meals with e sides and -i^2 drinks.

[monty]

You know whats awesome? Pie. I want to go into a resturant and order Pi meals with e sides and -i^2 drinks.

Just make sure you get square meals. Because, you know, pi r^2.

[Tacoma]

Whereupon the waiter brings you just about three meals, a crumb of a baked potato on the side, and throws a pitcher of ice water on you.

Roll for Sense Motive to see if he's upset.

[Waspinator]

I give this topic my seal of approval.

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[Tacoma]

That seal of approval is hideous. It gets my club of disapproval (+1).

[Moff Chumley]

@OP: You were asking for this.

[Yukitsu]

I see Godwin's Law has been invoked.

Godwin's requires comparing a poster to Hitler, not just saying his name. He's not Hastur. Now Hastur, that's a guy with class. If you want something done, all you have to do is call up Hast...

[Ravens_cry]

"Glory Unto Good Cat,Who Shoveth rex's Heads Dost Where Hence The Suns Rays Dost Not Be Visible Verily Upon his Native Anatomy."
Neener Unto The Rexites 17:56

[Kris Strife]

Whereupon the waiter brings you just about three meals, a crumb of a baked potato on the side, and throws a pitcher of ice water on you.

Roll for Sense Motive to see if he's upset.

The number e is actually approximately equal to 2.17

[monty]

I give this topic my seal of approval.

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[monty]

The number e is actually approximately equal to 2.17

[mathgeek]An approximation to three significant figures would be 2.72, actually.[/mathgeek]

[Prometheus]

Question: Do all topics run off topic?
Answer: Yes.

[Matthew]

Some do, some do not. Saph's campaign report thread seems to have been pretty much on topic for five pages or so. Sometimes you can stop a derailment by starting another thread on the topic that is suddenly dominating the thread. Honestly, though, the topics tend to run in cycles with the same ones coming up time and again.

[Thurbane]

I used to have a dog named Segue. Speaking of dogs...