The action of Thread Hijacking or Thread Drifting with Off Topic Messages DOES NOT make the CT90-CT110 Forum a valuable place for CT'ers to get information, help, or assistance in the present or in the future.
Threads can live forever and our CT90-CT110 Forum is completely open to the public.
Hijacking a thread or starting a thread drift is not considered good forum etiquette.
There are several definitions/methods of hijacking a thread or creating thread drift.
Several examples;
1) Asking a new question that is completely off topic to the original thread post.
2) Two or more members begin “chatting” in a separate “personal” conversation that really should be done in Private Messages or via email.
3) A member gets insprired by something in a thread and just wants to make a comment that is slightly off topic. Then, along come 10 more members who comment on the off-topic comment.
And, there are plenty of other possible examples... I don't want to give you any new ideas.
Why the concern about “Hijacking Threads” or "Thread Drift"?
Here are a few examples, I know there are others.
1) It isn't fair to the originator of the thread, since many original authors are reluctant to interrupt an ongoing conversation, even if it's just to return to the title topic. Additionally, the original author can end up confused or disrespected by the direction a thread takes.
2) Our CT90-CT110 Forum is becoming (or has become) a valuable resource that is easily searchable. When a thread is diluted with off topic comments, it ceases to function in that way.
3) Spliting a thread into it's relevant topics is not a lot of fun for the Admins. Sometimes deleting messages is necessary to preserve thread integrity or modifying messages is necessary to make a specific message fit within a newly split thread. The Admins do not like to delete messages or modify messages in any way.
4) You disgrace yourself when you are a hijacker and or a participating member of a hijack. Your otherwise excellent messages of sharing your CT wisdom can become circumspect to other members.
5) You might think it's OK to hijack your own thread. The thought process might be something like "I started this thread, I'll discuss what I please". This is self-defeating, since once a thread is off-topic most will lose interest and never return, even if it drifts back. You can very easily tarnish your otherwise excellent reputation.
I know we are a community of friends that often want to share interesting things with each other, and I understand that it's just natural to do so between friends.
If someone goes on a tangent occassionally that's understandable, but an effort should be made to get back to the topic rather than continue to a full-fledged hijack. You can police your own messages. And, you can notify an Admin about what you think are Thread Hijackings or Thread Driftings. Send a PM to the CT Web Guy by clicking the "More" under my user name and then select "Mesage Me".
I ask that you think carefully when you make a new message in an existing thread... and ask yourself this question...
"Is my message going to be On Topic"?
If not, maybe you should either;
1) Send your words via the Private Message system to any forum member you intend to respond to without telling the entire world, or,
2) If you still want the entire world to hear what you are saying, then think about starting up a new thread in The Campfire category.
You are welcome to use the Private Message system to send other members special notes about anything you want, and while The Campfire is a category that does have a few limitations...
"A place where we can kick back and talk about the things that don't seem to fit in any of the other categories. A place to relax and discuss.... "Non-CT" ideas. Stay away from things that could be offensive, please NO violence, weapons, politics, insults, issues of ethnicity, etc. If you have to think about it, it's probably not right anywhere on this forum. There are plenty of other places on the web for that kind stuff."
...The Campfire category can be used for these personal "Off Topic" ideas within the above guidelines.
With your help we can all make the CT90-CT110 Forum THE BEST place on the internet for CT'ers.
