News Advice: How to stop your thread from being hijacked

[alexandra]

Hello all

I just thought it may be useful to post some advice on how to stop your thread from being hijacked. I think we should:
* Ignore posts that do not address the topic of the thread, or
* Somehow get back on topic by posting a message that alerts readers to the fact that there has been another attempt at hijack and then bring it back on topic.

As someone has wisely pointed out in another thread, there seems to be a concerted effort by some members of PF (generally those who support the status quo) to hijack threads or take them off topic. It would be remiss of those who question the status quo to let this happen.

Taking a discussion off topic is just another propaganda technique. I am seriously worried about how effective this propaganda technique has proved to be. What do others think? We cannnot allow the stifling of real debate on pressing issues. Do you agree? I have proposed two solutions - but there must be more.

alex

 

[Lisa!]

Thanx alexandra. I hope it would work in GD too.

 

[Art]

Taking a discussion off topic is just another propaganda technique. I am seriously worried about how effective this propaganda technique has proved to be. What do others think? We cannnot allow the stifling of real debate on pressing issues. Do you agree? I have proposed two solutions - but there must be more.

alex

Perhaps whoever starts the thread should have the right to moderate it.

 

[Evo]

Anyone has the right to request that a thread get back on topic at any time.

If you feel someone is deliberately hijacking a thread, pm me or hit the "report post" button. I can delete or move posts that are truly off topic.

Threads wander off topic easily, just say something.

Lisa!, threads in GD are required to go off topic.

 

[vanesch]

Taking a discussion off topic is just another propaganda technique. I am seriously worried about how effective this propaganda technique has proved to be. What do others think?

Yes, but on the other hand, now we're all going to be afraid to say something that is initially related to the subject but drifts a bit of. I think it is quite natural that ongoing discussions evolve, and after 150 posts, what's being discussed has maybe not much to do anymore with how it got started. It all depends on whether this was a natural evolution or a "concerted effort".

 

[Art]

Anyone has the right to request that a thread get back on topic at any time.

If you feel someone is deliberately hijacking a thread, pm me or hit the "report post" button. I can delete or move posts that are truly off topic.

Threads wander off topic easily, just say something.

Lisa!, threads in GD are required to go off topic.

And bringing up GD in this thread is off topic too jk

 

[Evo]

And bringing up GD in this thread is off topic too jk

Yep, sorry Lisa!, you're off topic.

 

[pattylou]

I don't think it's intentional propaganda.

I think it is hard for someone with an opposing viewpoint tp stay "on topic" if the topic is "Bush is a crook."

I do think there are problems all around. The most frustrating thing for me personally, is lack of references. I asked one moderator three times for a reference on a claim (s)he made, and was not given the information, nor was the claim rescinded. It was a small point, hardly worth mentioning, but annoying in the extreme. I would consider an unreferenced claim to be propaganda, certainly.

So I would add

3: provide references. We all know we should, yet don't.

If a person has to make the effort to reference their information, it may slow down the flow (a bad thing?) but will increase the quality of discussion.

 

[Evo]

I asked one moderator three times for a reference on a claim (s)he made, and was not given the information, nor was the claim rescinded. It was a small point, hardly worth mentioning, but annoying in the extreme. I would consider an unreferenced claim to be propaganda, certainly.

I hope it wasn't me. If it was, I probably never saw your posts, otherwise I would have responded.

 

[Lisa!]

Here is a part of GD. So talking about GD couldn't be off topic at all! I think whenever an old GDer comes here, disaster gets started. They're perfect in hijacking the threads. For example I already hijacked this thread by bringing up GD. Sorry alexandra. It wasn't all my fault.
If the Mentors move the off topic replies to GD,...

Yep, sorry Lisa!, you're off topic.

And warn a member in the public is always off topic too!

 

[Hurkyl]

Another thing you can do as a poster is to avoid extraneous comments.

One thing I see frequently is that someone who wants to discuss issue X makes a tangential comment on issue Y. Others feel compelled to respond to the comment on issue Y, and the original poster feels compelled to defend his/her comment on issue Y, et cetera. In the end, issue X has been lost in the discussion on issue Y.

Another thing I see frequently is that someone is discussing issue X, and someone responds to issue X, mentioning issue Y. (i.e. hijacking) If I feel the desire to keep the discussion on issue X, my current approach is to simply remark that Y is irrelevant to X, and continue discussing X. It seems to be at least somewhat effective.

 

[Lisa!]

I'm feeling bad about myself now. I don't know if I ever hijacked a thread. But I do apologize if I ever did. I asked a question in "Now war is unpopular..." thread about good wars, was it off topic?

 

[Evo]

I'm feeling bad about myself now. I don't know if I ever hijacked a thread. But I do apologize if I ever did. I asked a question in "Now war is unpopular..." thread about good wars, was it off topic?

We've all hijacked threads in one way or another. Sometimes the new topic that evolves from the original is more interesting than the original topic. I've seen threads that were hijacked by the OP!

 

[nickdanger]

I thought this was the 'war is unpopular' thread. Could someone redirect me?

 

[Lisa!]

We've all hijacked threads in one way or another. Sometimes the new topic that evolves from the original is more interesting than the original topic. I've seen threads that were hijacked by the OP!

Now I feel better. Thanks, Evo. You know we can call it developing a discussion.

 

[alexandra]

Yes, but on the other hand, now we're all going to be afraid to say something that is initially related to the subject but drifts a bit of. I think it is quite natural that ongoing discussions evolve, and after 150 posts, what's being discussed has maybe not much to do anymore with how it got started. It all depends on whether this was a natural evolution or a "concerted effort".

This is a good point, vanesch. Of course ongoing discussions will evolve, and I guess my OP didn't make allowances for this. I really meant going way off topic without the discussion having evolved naturally to that point - like, for example, if the OP is about 'Third World Debt' and then someone posts a message about the price of fuel in the US and from that point on the discussion totally veers off (usually degenerating into a slanging match between two people and their various supporters).

 

[alexandra]

Anyone has the right to request that a thread get back on topic at any time.

If you feel someone is deliberately hijacking a thread, pm me or hit the "report post" button. I can delete or move posts that are truly off topic.

Threads wander off topic easily, just say something.

Thanks, Evo. I don't think this has happened much to any of the threads I've started, although some of them naturally evolved in the manner vanesch referred to (and that was fine). I've seen it happening in other threads, though. I just thought that rather than bothering you all the time, people who started threads could try to just nudge them back on track themselves if they went radically off topic.

alex

 

[alexandra]

Here is a part of GD. So talking about GD couldn't be off topic at all! I think whenever an old GDer comes here, disaster gets started. They're perfect in hijacking the threads. For example I already hijacked this thread by bringing up GD. Sorry alexandra. It wasn't all my fault.
If the Mentors move the off topic replies to GD,...


And warn a member in the public is always off topic too!

Lisa!, no-one was further from my mind than you when I posted this message. You are not a 'thread hijacker' I really enjoy reading your posts and your questions.

alex

 

[alexandra]

I don't think it's intentional propaganda.

I think it is hard for someone with an opposing viewpoint tp stay "on topic" if the topic is "Bush is a crook."

I do think there are problems all around. The most frustrating thing for me personally, is lack of references. I asked one moderator three times for a reference on a claim (s)he made, and was not given the information, nor was the claim rescinded. It was a small point, hardly worth mentioning, but annoying in the extreme. I would consider an unreferenced claim to be propaganda, certainly.

So I would add

3: provide references. We all know we should, yet don't.

If a person has to make the effort to reference their information, it may slow down the flow (a bad thing?) but will increase the quality of discussion.

I agree with you about the need to post references in many of the discussions we have here, pattylou - though perhaps not all (sometimes we are just giving our opinions about things). I guess those people who neglect to post references when the situation demands it only weaken the point they are trying to make because they are not backing it up. But I agree it is frustrating to read assertions that are just repeated ad nauseum without any evidence to back them up.

alex

 

[alexandra]

Another thing you can do as a poster is to avoid extraneous comments.

One thing I see frequently is that someone who wants to discuss issue X makes a tangential comment on issue Y. Others feel compelled to respond to the comment on issue Y, and the original poster feels compelled to defend his/her comment on issue Y, et cetera. In the end, issue X has been lost in the discussion on issue Y.

Another thing I see frequently is that someone is discussing issue X, and someone responds to issue X, mentioning issue Y. (i.e. hijacking) If I feel the desire to keep the discussion on issue X, my current approach is to simply remark that Y is irrelevant to X, and continue discussing X. It seems to be at least somewhat effective.

Well put, Hurkyl. I've also observed this behaviour - and your current approach sounds good.

 

[alexandra]

I thought this was the 'war is unpopular' thread. Could someone redirect me?

Hi nickdanger - many threads in this area seem to develop into arguments re- the popularity of war; hang around a bit and we'll get there

 

[DM]

If a person has to make the effort to reference their information, it may slow down the flow (a bad thing?) but will increase the quality of discussion.

Well, I think that providing references on a constant basis only to prove ones opinion sounds slightly extreme. I would agree with avoiding threads going off topic but imposing further policies such as 'always provide references' would in my opinion dwindle the amount of people from participating in the politics forum. Asked whether it would diminish the quality of discussion? Not necessarily. One is entitled to his/hers opinion. If I chose to say that Bush is a Nazi, I couldn't care less about posting references to support my statement. Instead of forcing and imposing this rule, it is preferred to ask the person if he or she could provide a link to a reference. There is a difference between 'having to' and 'choosing to', hence free speech.

 

[arildno]

I think it is very sad when others hijack a thread.
I only do so when I'm in the right mood.

 

[pattylou]

Well, I think that providing references on a constant basis only to prove ones opinion sounds slightly extreme. I would agree with avoiding threads going off topic but imposing further policies such as 'always provide references' would in my opinion dwindle the amount of people from participating in the politics forum.

Perhaps there is a happy medium here? Like providing enough references that you understand not to say something you *can't* back up?

If stating an opinion, say "This is my opinion?"

 

[DM]

Perhaps there is a happy medium here? Like providing enough references that you understand not to say something you *can't* back up?

If stating an opinion, say "This is my opinion?"

I would agree.

 

[Astronuc]

I think it is very sad when others hijack a thread.
I only do so when I'm in the right mood.

arildno, you're supposed to hijack threads. You're a Viking!

Hey, did I just hijack a thread? Sorry, you can have it back now.

 

[Yonoz]

* Somehow get back on topic by posting a message that alerts readers to the fact that there has been another attempt at hijack and then bring it back on topic.

I think it should be done politely, as evo said we all "hijack" threads (remember that discussion about TSM's removal?), let us not present our assumptions as to other people's motives as fact.

If stating an opinion, say "This is my opinion?"

Excellent comment. We should try to phrase our posts in such a way that will make it clear what is fact and what is our personal opinion.

 

[vanesch]

We should try to phrase our posts in such a way that will make it clear what is fact and what is our personal opinion.

It's my opinion that this is a fact

 

[Smurf]

(remember that discussion about TSM's removal?),

TSM was banned?

COME ON PEOPLE I JUST GOT BACK! YOU NEED TO TELL ME THESE THINGS!

 

[Smurf]

You know it's always the most interesting members who get banned... TSM, Saint, that other guy with the weird name.

Shame.

 

[pattylou]

You know it's always the most interesting members who get banned... TSM, Saint, that other guy with the weird name.

Rev Prez?

I'm (skirting a knucklerapping here and) wondering what thread I should look through to see just how naughty the smoking man was. Curious minds want to know.

 

[Smurf]

Rev Prez?

Not who I was thinking of, but him too!

 

[Evo]

Don't forget that when a member is banned, the offensive posts are usually deleted.

 

[Evo]

You know it's always the most interesting members who get banned... TSM, Saint, that other guy with the weird name.

Shame.

Hundreds of members have been banned and you probabaly wouldn't recognize most of them. Many of them get banned very quickly.

See how easily threads get off topic?

 

[Skyhunter]

Hundreds of members have been banned and you probabaly wouldn't recognize most of them. Many of them get banned very quickly.

See how easily threads get off topic?

I miss TSM as well.

Getting back on topic.

I would try communicating to the offending hijacker that they are hijacking my thread. I would also try and make a very interesting on topic post to direct the dialogue back to the original topic. Unless of course the new topic is more interesting, then I believe that the post colud be a moved to a new thread.

Isn't that correct Evo?

 

[Evo]

I miss TSM as well.

Even I miss TSM, though we disagreed on some things, I look at the "whole" person and don't let minor disagreements affect how I see a person. I enjoyed at lot of his posts, mostly outside of P&WA. However, no one is above the law, if you want to post here, you need to abide by the rules.

Getting back on topic.

I would try communicating to the offending hijacker that they are hijacking my thread. I would also try and make a very interesting on topic post to direct the dialogue back to the original topic. Unless of course the new topic is more interesting, then I believe that the post colud be a moved to a new thread.

Isn't that correct Evo?

It's funny that some of the more interesting threads have actually been the "off topic" ones.

Yes, threads that go off topic can be split off into a new thread.

 

[edward]

Just a little fun

I miss TSM as well.

Getting back on topic.

I would try communicating to the offending hijacker that they are hijacking my thread.

What thread, you call that a thread, that only shows that you don't know what you are talking about. Can you give a good source that would indicate to the average person that threads even exist?

I would also try and make a very interesting on topic post to direct the dialogue back to the original topic.

But your original topic wasn't even a topic it was just a suggestion that you may have once had a topic. Besides, without proving to me that topics exist everything you say is totally irrelevant to any topic.

Unless of course the new topic is more interesting, then I believe that the post colud be a moved to a new thread.

WHAT new thread? This is my thread now. You move your thread because you haven't convincingly displayed that you have the knowledge to even think of anything except garbage that does not even matter to anyone except communist sympathizing radical troublemakers.

Isn't that correct Evo?

How would EVO know? She is too brilliant to know anything about whatever it was that we were discussing before you started disagreeing with me.

 

[Art]

I think the best way to keep things on topic is that there should be a rule saying you are only allowed to post replies of one sentence which must reaffirm the thoughts of the OP. Comments such as "Yes I agree" "I think your post is wonderful" or even "hear hear" (that last one is for the British contingent) should be the only ones allowed. Anybody with a dissenting view should start their own damned thread!

 

[Evo]

What thread, you call that a thread, that only shows that you don't know what you are talking about. Can you give a good source that would indicate to the average person that threads even exist?

But your original topic wasn't even a topic it was just a suggestion that you may have once had a topic. Besides, without proving to me that topics exist everything you say is totally irrelevant to any topic.

Philosophy forum! (I'm not allowed to post in the philosphy forum because, well, uhm I suggested they use logic )

How would EVO know? She is too brilliant

hands one get out of banning free card to edward

 

[Townsend]

How would EVO know? She is too brilliant to know anything about whatever it was that we were discussing before you started disagreeing with me.

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5669/brownnose8cx.jpg

 

[pattylou]

Quote:
How would EVO know? She is too brilliant

hands one get out of banning free card to edward

I too, would just like to say, that I think Evo is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

 

[Evo]

I too, would just like to say, that I think Evo is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Slips two (yes two) get out of banning free cards into pattylou's computer.

See how easy it is guys?

 

[Smurf]

hey! I'm marrying you and have yet to see a single get out of banning free card.

 

[Evo]

hey! I'm marrying you and have yet to see a single get out of banning free card.

You have diplomatic immunity. Until you make me mad.

 

[Skyhunter]

What thread, you call that a thread, that only shows that you don't know what you are talking about. Can you give a good source that would indicate to the average person that threads even exist?

No! I will never reveal my sources!

But your original topic wasn't even a topic it was just a suggestion that you may have once had a topic. Besides, without proving to me that topics exist everything you say is totally irrelevant to any topic.

I thought that was the whole point? You better check my logic.

WHAT new thread? This is my thread now. You move your thread because you haven't convincingly displayed that you have the knowledge to even think of anything except garbage that does not even matter to anyone except communist sympathizing radical troublemakers.

Typical neo-fascist rant. Please provide some evidence to subsantiate your claims.

How would EVO know? She is too brilliant to know anything about whatever it was that we were discussing before you started disagreeing with me. [/QUOTE]
You disagreed with me first! Oh most brilliant and all knowing Evo please tell him it is my thread and he can just go start his own!

 

[alexandra]

Hey! You guys have *totally* hijacked my thread

 

[Skyhunter]

What thread, you call that a thread, that only shows that you don't know what you are talking about. Can you give a good source that would indicate to the average person that threads even exist?

No! I will never reveal my sources!

But your original topic wasn't even a topic it was just a suggestion that you may have once had a topic. Besides, without proving to me that topics exist everything you say is totally irrelevant to any topic.

I thought that was the whole point? You better check my logic.

WHAT new thread? This is my thread now. You move your thread because you haven't convincingly displayed that you have the knowledge to even think of anything except garbage that does not even matter to anyone except communist sympathizing radical troublemakers.

Typical neo-fascist rant. Please provide some evidence to subsantiate your claims.

How would EVO know? She is too brilliant to know anything about whatever it was that we were discussing before you started disagreeing with me.

You disagreed with me first! Oh most brilliant and all knowing Evo please tell him it is my thread and he can just go start his own!

 

[Evo]

Oh most brilliant and all knowing Evo please tell him it is my thread and he can just go start his own!

Darn, I'm running out of "get out of banning free" passes. <shoves the last one into Skyhunter's computer>

 

[Lisa!]

Wow what's going on here? Hijacking a thread by a Mentor?


Evo, you're wonderful!

 

[alexandra]

Wow what's going on here? Hijacking a thread by a Mentor?


Evo, you're wonderful!

It's Evo's fault my thread has been so hijacked? Evo! Actually, it's been rather fun watching the total degeneration of this thread (which was a really silly idea in the first place!) Well done, all

alex