Forums going off topic

[hhfarang]

There has been a lot of mod reminders lately about forums going off topic and things being posted in the wrong place.

First, I agree, and second, I am a prime offender. It seems forum writings, much like face to face conversations tend to wander as one is reminded of a different subject by the one being read.

I appreciate the attempt to try to keep the forum organized as I have been frustrated before trying to find something I had already read only to realize it was under a totally unrelated topic, but as I said this wandering kind of conversing is human nature and difficult to stop.

May I make a suggestion:

When a thread starts to wander off topic with more that one or two posts before getting back on, a Mod could just insert a post saying "New Topic Started in (insert section name here)" and move the off topic posts to a thread of their own named by the mod with a meaningful name or insert a post saying "Off topic posts moved to (insert thread and section name here)" if a current active thread already exists that the off topic posts directly pertain to.

I don't think anyone would mind and it would achieve the goal of keeping the forum organized.

Maybe that is difficult to do and too much work for the forum staff and if so just ignore this post but it may be an easier way to solve the problem than trying to change human nature.

As usual, thanks to all the mods and admins for a great forum and putting in the time and effort to make it so. I was a mod for a short while on another forum and I know what a pain in the ass the job (and some of the members ) can be.

[Siani]

I think that is an excellent idea

My husband thinks we should adopt it in the house too...I am always getting side tracked and going off topic!!

[dtaai-maai]

I'm glad you raised this, hhf. I feel quite strongly that a light touch is much more effective than over-moderation. The problem with what you suggest is how do the mods decide when a thread is straying off topic? I belong to a couple of professional forums that insist people stick to the point. There is very little in the way of chitchat, and that's necessary.

On this forum, if someone asks a specific question like 'where can I buy some shoes?', then someone mentions football boots and a discussion starts up on what a load of rubbish Arsenal are (for example... ), fair enough, it's way off topic and quite useless. But if there's a general topic like 'retiring to Hua Hin' or 'older men marrying younger women', then it's inevitably going to become a general conversation and wander here, there and everywhere. I really don't see a problem with that.

All are welcome to start new topics on any subject, we encourage this over steering an existing discussion into oblivion.

I would be equally careful not to moderate existing discussion into oblivion. There are recent new members apologising when they have nothing to apologise for. Let's not discourage them before they've settled in. It's quite possible there are lurkers out there who are too intimidated to post.

I say stick to the important stuff. Keep the trolls out, make sure that squabbles don't get out of hand. Speak softly (and rarely) and leave the big stick in the cupboard until it's absolutely necessary.

[JimmyGreaves]

Agree dtaai-maai.

It's called power, some individuals just like to display it more than others. Similar to football referees, you have characters who like to let the game flow and others who like to stick their oar in at every opportunity to let you know that they are around. Human nature.

On a personal note I prefer to let the game flow until it get's out of hand, like a conversation it's bound to take twists and turns. Just my 10 quids worth!

[Spitfire]

Yeah, agree with DM too, over moderation (and the forums that do it) just smacks of the 'nanny squad' to me, conversations should be allowed to flourish within reason.

Otherwise, conversations could become a little dull and boring with the threat of your post being moved and a new thread started at any deviation from the original topic. So long as the thread doesn't go way out off-topic then it should be allowed to meander a little.

Agree too that some posters, especially new ones, would be even more intimidated to post anything than they may be now.

I think there isn't much wrong with the way it's done now, sometimes a bit confused why threads get moved around, but not much else.

[Takiap]

To be honest, you could find a reason to say each and every thread on the forum is off topic or in the wrong place.

For example, if you look at the forum index, and you look at the section section called "Thai Style", the first subsection is titled:

"Life In Thailand, Opinion and Relationships"

Site admin themselves have summarized this as: -

General chat about life in the Land Of Smiles. Discuss expat life, relationship issues and all things generally Thailand and Asia related.


Now, I'm not having a dig, but yesterday when a member tried to discuss expat life in Thailand in the section, we found ourselves on the brink of World War 3

I found this rather strange as this section of the forum seemed to fit the bill perfectly, based of course on summary of the section.



Okay, now I'll go and have a nice cold Chang while I wait

[Spitfire]

Indeed Takiap, some of the forum descriptions on the index page of where to place content is ambiguously confusing I would have thought for some, and may need to be 'updated'.

For example, the 'Foo' forum description is another that is misleading in what it says is OK for within as it uses the word 'unmoderated' and 'say what you like', which is definitely not true.

[Lev]

Good thread, all is being taken onboard, keep the suggestions rolling.

[shunpike]

I too am wary of excessive moderation. I appreciate that the mods like to keep things neat and organized, but a bit of a ramble within a thread is often interesting. If the off topic stuff gets a bit too much I simply scroll ahead...no biggie.

[OscarMike]

I think the mods do a sterling job, too often we see topics about something in Hua Hin being turned into 'in the UK/US blah blah blah ......' and before you know it they're discussing copulation with ovis aries.

Keep it up.

[E-Dork]

too often we see topics about something in Hua Hin being turned into 'in the UK/US blah blah blah

And how dull and boring the site would certainly be if during a discussion about Hua Hin it was deamed illegal to venture off onto other topics... as if chatting over a beer.

[chopsticks]

There's less than 150 regular posters (ie.more than 100 posts) on this forum so it shouldn't be happening too frequently.

[E-Dork]

Who can name all 150 off the top of their head?

[Pleng]

E-Dork, you're straying off topic!