Off-topicness - a study

simu

This is not a thread for giving out about people going off-topic or about mods being too heavy-handed about people going off topic! Save that stuff for feedback!

Instead, I wanted to discuss off-topicness from a more intimate, subtle point of view.

Some openings:

The will to off-topicness

Do you find that you often have to hold yourself off from going off-topic? Is this urge to go off-topic stronger in certain forums than in others? Is there any correlation between your urge to go off-topic and the strictness of a forum's charter and mods? do certain posters inspire this urge more than others?

Coping mechanisms

How do you deal with these urges to go off-topic? Do you really ever take it to PM or to IM? Do you have more subtle ways of going off-topic without making it immediately apparent? What are your methods of camouflage? Do these vary from forum to forum?

Repercussions

Where does off-topicness go when it dies? Off to the heavens where the angels fry? Do you ever manage to channel your urge to go off-topic into valid new threads? How does this make you feel?

Phew! Many questions there but this is a big moment in academia - this area of study is just taking off and so, it is natural that there be far more questions than answers. No doubt, things will become more structured and normalised in future but for now, it's a free 'n' easy highway. Become a pioneer of that highway!

Agent Smith

just look at the trinity forum.....

simu

agent smith wrote:

just look at the trinity forum.....

Yah - I envy it tbh.







(Cm'on UCC and NUIG fora )

jimmycrackcorm

I need to get my glasses on for this one ... Oh Wait, I don't actually wear any.

Ozzy

Why the hell are Nintendo calling their new console Wii? That's just stoopid!!

StupidLikeAFox

This reminds me of a time when i was on holiday in Lanzarote. Whats your favourite holiday destination btw??

wb, col

simu

Oh! Case study then?

DonkeyStyle \o/

Ozzy wrote:

Why the hell are Nintendo calling their new console Wii? That's just stoopid!!

I've been wondering... do you pronounce it 'wee' or 'wye'?
Or are they more like roman numerals.
It's peaked my interest anyway, so I guess I'll just have to buy one and find out.

Tar.Aldarion

you pronounce it weeeeeeeee.


Did anybody have coffee and swear today?

DonkeyStyle \o/

simu wrote:

Oh! Case study then?

Briefcase or suitcase?
Start a poll methinks.

raheny red

I hate when I have an itchy arse in public - so so annoying :mad:

blu_sonic

there imo are 3 types of "off-topic" 1 is posted above.

1st the pointless off topic :

ozzy wrote:

Why the hell are Nintendo calling their new console Wii? That's just stoopid!!

The 2nd is the need to correct, ie. "you miss spelled stoopid its stupid". this ads nothing to the topic and breaks the flow

The 3rd is (IMO not off topic) the devolopment of a thread, ie. "yeah off topic posts suck, I was posting a thread on the soccer forum about Chelsea and now its Liverpool V Man U, I'm sick of seeing my threads go wild, this happen to anone else". Now this is of topic, but it related to the topic so IMO its the progression of a thread.

Ozzy

Very observant blu_sonic, looks like my test served it's purpose.

DonkeyStyle \o/ wrote:

I've been wondering... do you pronounce it 'wee' or 'wye'?

Pronounced 'wee' my friend. Like urine.
I know

StupidLikeAFox

talk about over analysing things.....