Forums, Reading, and Responses

Walks Backward

Walks Backward

Well-Known Member
I'm about to piss off the entire planet. But again, I don't care as I'm old and what-ya-gonna do? Send me to Vietnam? Ok, here goes...... Oh, and just to be sure of stuff, I'm just as guilty as anyone even when I try not to.... ok, here we go.....

When anyone. I mean anyone posts a thread in a forum about a specific topic, item, method, or anything, usually within 5 posts the others will begin with the following :

"I use _______________."
"I don't know anything about that, but I have________"
"Hey (another member's name) how's your (unrelated item) working for you? "

Often the photo posters dive in posting pictures of stuff so unrelated to the topic it actually becomes a sub-topic within the post. Comic photos appear. And within about 15 or so posts the entire thread has become a chat room about something 180 degrees out from what the original poster intended. Sound familiar? And yes, I've done it just like everyone else here. But I really try my best not to do it if at all possible.

Ok. Here's where y'all jump in and proclaim your minor involvement in this common manner of community conversion and all silently nod in agreement. Then within 10 posts or less, barring someone wanting to be a clown and posts some crap because "it's the internet. What do you expect? " the basic topic here will take on a whole new meaning.

Closing with this statement.
Yes, we all do it. Honestly most will do this and have no idea they are drifting. The forum atmosphere has created a pattern of " I got, I do, I use, I bought, I heard " etc. We are progressively programmed to respond in a manner of self-promoting speech. And remember, I'm just as guilty because the programming is effective!

See? Told ya I'm gonna piss everybody off.:cautious:
 
**sheepishly raises hand**

Yup, I'm guilty, too.

And, can you believe it, I don't even have a photo to post!

Drat!
 
I do that.
All the time.
In real life too.
Ooh Look, a bird!
I have blue socks on.

88328496.jpg
 
Lately I've deleted several replies before sending as they're not actually related to the topic of a thread I'm reading. Trying to reverse programming one post at a time.
 
Walks Backward said:
Lately I've deleted several replies before sending as they're not actually related to the topic of a thread I'm reading. Trying to reverse programming one post at a time.
Click to expand...

You have developed a condition known as forum fatigue. It can make you irritable. It happens to quite a few. Take a break and shoot some scorpions on the range. That'll cheer you up and make you feel like a new man Wade.;)


;>)/
 
I used to do it a lot...then I recognized I was doing it by having a couple of my threads ruined by others doing it.
So now I try and stop myself before I ruin a thread or take it far off topic. I've done the same as you with
the deleting of a post I started, realizing it was either off topic or selfish...ie instead of talking about the OP's item
bringing my own into the thread...

The worst for me is when people derail or start posting their own gear in someones NGD thread...say congrats,
compliment the gear and move on...
 
Thread drift. It's annoying when it happens at once, but as long as there are sufficient relevant replies before it starts, I don't see a problem with it. It's just what happens in normal conversation.

I agree about not raining on someone else's NGD parade. That's just mean.
 
I have been a member of forums where there was great dissapproval of such behavior and met with reprimand by the other members. In contrast, when I got to ETSG, I was very aware that it was a widely accepted practice. I prefer the ladder. The former was stuffy and led to a stfling atmosphere where you really had to measure your responses carefully . However, I am sure there is a happy medium somewhere! It is best to bear in mind the point of the OP when posting, for not to do so is rather rude.
 
Last edited:
Sp8ctre said:
The worst for me is when people derail or start posting their own gear in someones NGD thread...say congrats,
compliment the gear and move on...
Click to expand...

I certainly think you have a point, and I don't really disagree with you.

However, I started a couple new guitar threads over at ETSG back when I got my Jackson and my SG Original 2. Pretty quickly, others started posting pics of their similar guitars. I didn't take offense to it. I thought it was kind of cool, like others were trying to demonstrate a camaraderie or connection with me and my new guitar.

But, again, I can see your point.
 
Last edited:
Guilty as charged here too.
I view it a lot like Smitty above in post 11.
I get what you are saying; conversations do meander around mostly near the OP topic (and sometimes way off) and folks contributing similar items, etc.
Get any group discussion going and there are bound to be tangential branches of discussion.
I thought it just the nature of the forum environment; its just the normal noises in here.

If I lose interest in a thread because of it, I just ramble on.
 
DonP said:
If conversations here stuck strictly to every topic I would lose interest pretty quickly. In fact I probably wouldn't return.
Click to expand...
I agree somewhat with this. However if the OP asks a question that doesn't get answered that can be a problem. When that happens the OP or someone else should politely, possibly humorously, restate the question to get things back on topic.
 
Kerry Brown said:
I agree somewhat with this. However if the OP asks a question that doesn't get answered that can be a problem. When that happens the OP or someone else should politely, possibly humorously, restate the question to get things back on topic.
Click to expand...

Sure the question needs to get answered first, but after that - who knows?
 
A prime example in verbal communication in police work was having to repeatedly redirecting the witness or victim back to the offense or incident. People digress and wander from the primary topic and interject non-pertinent information that it actually confuses the facts. One of my neighbors has a horrible habit of continually talking over you and trying to tell you what he thinks what you must say. Obviously he learns little but believes he knows much. Sadly it's 90% wrong and often made up in his own mind.

The social media thing has infused the idea of self-promotion into conversion. Constantly posting as much personal ideas and conjecture, the original topic blurs and becomes obscure. It then takes on an air of "this is what I got/do/use etc." Again, programming from the social media sources and hardly anyone is immune. Oh well, I suppose I spent too many years trying to keep people on track so I could help them that I'm subconsciously still doing that in forums. Like Sgt Joe Friday always said "Yes ma'am. Just the facts ma'am.":D
 
Walks Backward said:
A prime example in verbal communication in police work was having to repeatedly redirecting the witness or victim back to the offense or incident. People digress and wander from the primary topic and interject non-pertinent information that it actually confuses the facts. One of my neighbors has a horrible habit of continually talking over you and trying to tell you what he thinks what you must say. Obviously he learns little but believes he knows much. Sadly it's 90% wrong and often made up in his own mind.

The social media thing has infused the idea of self-promotion into conversion. Constantly posting as much personal ideas and conjecture, the original topic blurs and becomes obscure. It then takes on an air of "this is what I got/do/use etc." Again, programming from the social media sources and hardly anyone is immune. Oh well, I suppose I spent too many years trying to keep people on track so I could help them that I'm subconsciously still doing that in forums. Like Sgt Joe Friday always said "Yes ma'am. Just the facts ma'am.":D
Click to expand...

Well, in British court rooms the oath is "The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth". So it is the middle bit that is the problem. When someone knows they must tell the whole truth they can't start editing bits out - so a load of irrelevant waffle is pretty much inevitable.
 
I like the happy medium approach too. Of course we should ost relevant replies, but don't feel as if you are headed to Auschwitz if you post a little humor or reply in a tangential fashion. Wade, you have valid points and concerns, and if any of us raise a stink to your message, they are a bit hard headed, narrow minded, childish or just combative by nature.

Obviously, if people can post within reason at least a hint of pertinent replies within the thread, I think we can handle not being stifling and yet still remain relative enough within most threads to accomplish most thread starter's intentions.

I also agree with most of what you say can be a benefit from keeping things on track and how some folks do as your friend/neighbor does and powers their way over all others' conversations or ideas to the point of either being rude, improper or just wrong.
I have experienced this type of action almost 95% of the time I try to speak orally one on one or in a crowd of people trying to converse and express a thought. Instead of being able to fully complete a sentence, I get stampeded or run off the track by people who can't simply let me complete my message. Often times they'd get an answer to the question they interrupt with, if they just let me finish talking.
 
Last edited:
Kerry Brown said:
I agree somewhat with this. However if the OP asks a question that doesn't get answered that can be a problem. When that happens the OP or someone else should politely, possibly humorously, restate the question to get things back on topic.
Click to expand...

No argument here, Kerry. Your suggestion seems a sensible and constructive approach.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top