Off Topic topics off topic

[coriolis]

This is an informal poll. Does it bother you when the topics go off on tangents? I think that we get some of the most entertaining and revealing discussions this way. Or is it the bane of the boards? Let's have your thoughts.

[mf_dolphin]

I love topic drift! Sometimes it gives your real insight into people's personalities

[coriolis]

Storm Crazy Iowan's wildly popular "Girls night out" is the direct result of topic drift. I know, it was my inoccuous thread about the picture gallery that got HIJACKED by a bevy of girls gone wild. Right Breeze?

[rainstorm]

SEX!! oops, thats not what the topic is about. am i getting off the subject? to be serious, i think it is cool to talk about anything

[ColdFront77]

It is nearly impossible to keep a thread on topic, the general discussion of a thread is what the title of the topic is.

Just like in "real" conversations, there are chain reactions, going from one topic to another.

[weatherlover427]

I don't mind these tangents either ... IMO, it shows me that we have a very lax board.

[azskyman]

Sometimes a single comment in a thread of dozens of responses spins off the next topic. That's a freedom I have come to appreciate here that was truly missing at weather.com.

For the most part, the threads are self-policing. What I mean by that is that even though they may head off in potential dangerous directions, they nevertheless can get brought back to a reasonable and responsible place by those who participate...NOT necessarily the admins.

That's the sign of very healthy discussion with very healthy people.

[coriolis]

To paraphrase Alfred E Neuman: What, me healthy?

[isobar]

LOL rainstorm!

Getting off track can be interesting and fun, Lord knows I'm guilty, but I try to be respectful of the person who started the thread. They oughta have the right to say, "What happened to my thread??" I think most people here are easy going enough not to mind too much.

[streetsoldier]

Thank God, most people do not have "linear mentalities"; it is a tribute to the posters that we are able to "change horses in midstream" without difficulty.

[JQ Public]

I like it. B/c alot of posts can be quick answer posts...so elaborating on the topic provided just gives people more to talk about and more to learn about eachother. I definitely like topic drift hehe.

[ColdFront77]

Great point, Steve. Topics drifts do lead to new topics, which makes this site more and more interesting... if that is even possible.

[breeze]

LoL....coriolis!

Well, think about a bar....anyone here who's
ever graced the doors to one knows the
conversation around the bar...it's certainly
"off-topic", everchanging, and encompasses
weather, politics, family, etc., etc...

Same in Off-Topic - you have a group of folks who
enjoy chattering about various subjects, and, yes,
being humans, it can drift!

Like Bill suggests, thank God we are allowed to do that -
otherwise, if we followed a topic down to the subject,
every time, we would resemble "Data" the android,
on Star Trek - Next Generation! Data is a cool android,
but, hey...I wanna be human!

(Are you still stewing over that kidnapped thread, btw?)
LMAO!!

[coriolis]

Nah, I just thought it was really funny and bring it up every once in a while for a chuckle.

How bout them dawgs?

[ColdFront77]

.....and it has been said that Data from Star Trek has Asperger's Syndrome. 8)

I agree, Ed.

[Stephanie]

LoL....coriolis!

Well, think about a bar....anyone here who's
ever graced the doors to one knows the
conversation around the bar...it's certainly
"off-topic", everchanging, and encompasses
weather, politics, family, etc., etc...Same in Off-Topic - you have a group of folks who
enjoy chattering about various subjects, and, yes,
being humans, it can drift!

Like Bill suggests, thank God we are allowed to do that -
otherwise, if we followed a topic down to the subject,
every time, we would resemble "Data" the android,
on Star Trek - Next Generation! Data is a cool android,
but, hey...I wanna be human!

(Are you still stewing over that kidnapped thread, btw?)
LMAO!!

I like that analogy! I think all of the topics whether they stay "on course" or drift helps us to open our mind to other ideas, opinions, etc. They may even have you think of that topic in a totally different way. I don't mind the topics drifting. Besides if the person wants to revisit that subject, they can just repost another topic.

[azsnowman]

Tsk, tsk rainstorm, SEX????? "LOL!"

Ahem, *clears throat* I agree with Azskyman, that's what's missing from weather.com, I mean, we're ALL weather nutz here but geeesh, you can only talk about the weather SOOOOOooooo much!

Dennis

[coriolis]

Yeah, it's like they say:

Everyone always talks about the weather, but nobody ever does anything about it.

I like that. Time to change the old signature line!

[chadtm80]

I love getting off topic, I mean this is the "off topic" section.. hehehe Thats what makes this board so much fun... On topic is for at work... This is our free time, Lets make it fun!!! If we wanted boring "on topic" stuff we would post at that "other" board

[Pro-Storm]

If we wanted boring "on topic" stuff we would post at that "other" board

And this statement alone is why I'm here with the finest group of people on the internet.........thanx S2K! :38: