OP Decides Topic: Forum Custom Explored

[Technon]

It is customary on other forums that the OP (original post(er)) decides the topic of the thread.

I wonder if the same custom applies here, because it seems this forum rather has a custom that says "if someone who has made a lot of posts on the forum doesn't like the topic being set by OT, they can decide a new topic that they like better, even if it's not even it's not what the OP is looking for".

If that is not the case, you should make sure the ordinary custom of OP decides topic is upheld.

 

[mfb]

It can happen that the discussion drifts away from the original topic over time, especially in long threads. It is not always clear what is still close enough and what is not. We mentors evaluate this on a case-by-case basis.

 

[Rive]

Also, by the

General Contents Guidelines:

Please clearly state what you wish to discuss...

Sometimes the OP just does not really knows what he wish to discuss, given his limited knowledge about the topic - or about the rules on the forum. The mentors then giving a hand so the topic can go on, regardless the initial mistake.

 

[Borek]

Imagine someone states "I want to discuss 2+2=5", to which someone replies "2+2=4".

Is it a change of the topic? Sure.

Does it make sense to discuss the original question? No.

 

[anorlunda]

It is up to the OP to complain (via the Report button) if he/she thinks that the thread is drifting too far off topic.

It is very common that a good answer is given in post #2, and the OP loses interest in the rest of the thread. It is also common that the OP doesn't want just an answer, but a chatty discussion. Unless the OP complains, the mentors don't know if the OP cares.

On Slashdot, threads are nested. A reply to a reply is nested more deeply than a reply to the OP. A reply to the reply to the reply is nested even deeper. Each chain of nested replies becomes a branch, and the thread is more like a tree than a string. The user can choose which nesting levels to view. The OP can choose to view only level 1. PF does not have nested threads.