How do we get off topic-so easily?

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Basically... the thread title. We seem to meander and wind our way through subjects. How? And truly, is this a good thing?

Maybe we should seriously take a look at this, our dynamic and flow and ebb and... stuff.

[Tsukiyumi]

I've noted that it tends to happen mostly when discussion on the topic has reached an impasse. Not always, but often.

[Captain Picard's Hair]

So, we've just gotten a nice "painting" of snow here in New York. Did you know that some believe the ancient Romans mixed fresh snow with fruit to form what may be a precursor to modern ice cream?

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C'mon, you had to know this was coming eventually.

[Lazar]

Mmm, ice cream. He was asking for it.

[Captain Picard's Hair]

OK, seriously, how would you propose to enforce such a "rule?" It's just like in real life, where you just have to let conversations flow as they will. Everyone brings their own perspective to a thread and may post something nobody else may have thought of; threads will then follow these unpredictable paths.

Besides, unpredictability makes this place more fun.

[Aaron]

All it would do is keep the mods busy splitting threads.

[Teaos]

The Mods/admins had this same debate awhile back. We basically decided if a topic went off topic and seemed to stick to a new topic we'd split it off, as we have done a few times. We're not going to stop topics shifting topic but if they do we may split it for ease of access.

But Tsu's mainly right in the fact that topics only tend to wonder when the original topic is no longer relivant or interesting.

[Tsukiyumi]

Besides, if someone comes up with something new to add, we can always go back on topic.

[Tiberius]

How about we just practice a bit of self-discpline? And if there is a valid point to make that is off topic, make a new thread and post a link to it. It's not that hard, it's the way it's done on every other forum site I am on...

[Reliant121]

I don't mean to sound rude, but I don't particularly want to turn DITL into the land of conversationalist policing. We go off topic, Aye. What's wrong with that? It rarely affects the actual discussion, as the discussion has normally become stagnant anyway.

[Teaos]

The unofficial moto of the the mod team around here is "We're not the posting police"

[Reliant121]

The unofficial moto of the the mod team around here is "We're not the posting police"

As it should be, unless you want to turn DITL into being a nazi regime.

[Teaos]

Do we... Nah Mikey would never go for it.

[Mark]

My personal opinion is that threads should be allowed to take a life of their own after a certain point. I mean, if the thread topic is "Can the Cheyenne's Saucer separate" , and Tsu and I start cracking jokes about a topless ship, I mean........we're having fun. But, usually, if people ACTUALLY READ the entire thread, it's pretty easy to see how we got to where we are at.

[Teaos]

Striker I hope you dont mind but I'm gonna edit in a poll into this. I'd like to see where the numbers stand on this.