A request to my fellow AH denizens (stop thread hijacking)

[MediocreAuthor]

This is gonna come across as cranky, although that isn't my intent... really.

But can we, (as the cool kids of the AH), collectively try to stop having random, irrelevant conversations in threads that have a specific purpose? I'm sure I'm guilty of this too, but it is awfully obnoxious when I see a thread called something like:

"New Author needs advice on mastering tone"

It has 60 posts within, and I'm super excited to see the literary based conversation within... I open the thread, and the most recent post is:

"Yeah, I took my dog to the vet yesterday! It cost $390! Anyway, how was your weekend?"

Folks...
It's super easy to get sidetracked in a conversation with all of your friends, but everytime you post irrelevant comments in a relevant thread, you reduce the value of that thread for future users who want to discuss the topic.

Also, the rest of us who comment get a notification everytime someone adds, and as much as I love all of you, I don't wanna listen in on your chit-chat... Getting a notification each time your conversation gets another comment.

Now this thread will INEVITABLY get hijacked, and that WILL be very funny, but as long as it happens here and not on new authors' threads, I'll be happy.

Tl-dr: Can all of my AWESOME friends in the AH be even MORE awesome by refusing to hijack forum threads within AH? Love youuuuuuuu

 

[alohadave]

So how was your weekend?

 

[onehitwanda]

https://sd.keepcalms.com/i/careful-now-down-with-this-sort-of-thing.png

 

[MediocreAuthor]

So how was your weekend?

Well it would have been better, but I had to take my sister-in-law's dog to the vet! It cost $190. How about yours?

 

[MediocreAuthor]

"CAREFUL NOW. D̶O̶W̶N̶ UP WITH THIS SORT OF THING."

 

[TheRedChamber]

I mean, he's not exactly wrong...

Threads go where they go. Sometimes they veer off into unexpected but interesting directions, sometimes they're hilarious and irreverent, but...yeah maybe we could reign it in a touch sometimes

That said, it's rare that strong armed thread policing makes an online community better, so it's probably best left as a plee to the individual AH dwellers consiance

 

[onehitwanda]

UP WITH THIS SORT OF THING.

Matron!

 

[MediocreAuthor]

I mean, he's not exactly wrong...

Threads go where they go. Sometimes they veer off into unexpected but interesting directions, sometimes they're hilarious and irreverent, but...yeah maybe we could reign it in a touch sometimes

That said, it's rare that strong armed thread policing makes an online community better, so it's probably best left as a pleasure to the individual AH dwellers consiance

That's why I'm trying to ask nicely, for people to rein themselves in. Because in this lawless land, only self governance will do anything to help.

Also, who told you I was a "He"?

 

[TheRedChamber]

Also, who told you I was a "He"?

Careful now there, you wouldn't be hijacking this thread into a discussion of what assumptions we make about authors based on their usernames would you?

(Joking and oops sorry)

 

[Lifestyle66]

This is gonna come across as cranky, although that isn't my intent... really.

But can we, (as the cool kids of the AH), collectively try to stop having random, irrelevant conversations in threads that have a specific purpose? I'm sure I'm guilty of this too, but it is awfully obnoxious when I see a thread called something like:

"New Author needs advice on mastering tone"

It has 60 posts within, and I'm super excited to see the literary based conversation within... I open the thread, and the most recent post is:

"Yeah, I took my dog to the vet yesterday! It cost $390! Anyway, how was your weekend?"

Folks...
It's super easy to get sidetracked in a conversation with all of your friends, but everytime you post irrelevant comments in a relevant thread, you reduce the value of that thread for future users who want to discuss the topic.

Also, the rest of us who comment get a notification everytime someone adds, and as much as I love all of you, I don't wanna listen in on your chit-chat... Getting a notification each time your conversation gets another comment.

Now this thread will INEVITABLY get hijacked, and that WILL be very funny, but as long as it happens here and not on new authors' threads, I'll be happy.

Tl-dr: Can all of my AWESOME friends in the AH be even MORE awesome by refusing to hijack forum threads within AH? Love youuuuuuuu

These threads are like stopping to talk to someone at a party. You begin with a question or comment, then others join in and the initial conversation diverges as the other comments go off on tangents.

When my wife and I are leaving a party, it can take her 20 to 30 minutes just to say "goodbye" to a dozen people, with all of the tangents she delves into. To me, it's just saying a dozen times "Goodbye", which goes quickly. Then I stand nearby and wait.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

Careful now there, you wouldn't be hijacking this thread into a discussion of what assumptions we make about authors based on their usernames would you?

(Joking and oops sorry)

This thread has already been sacrificed upon the altar of "HiJack-sus: Demigod of Distraction."

Also, I'm only teasing,

You're TOTALLY fine. I'm not even saying that you're wrong. Or right.

I'm cis-gendered, I just like to maintain as much anonymity as possible online. When I write, my pronouns are aut/hor.

 

[Lifestyle66]

"CAREFUL NOW. D̶O̶W̶N̶ UP WITH THIS SORT OF THING."

Speaking of sorting, my wife is standing in front of the washer sorting clothes.

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't think this is going to happen, and there are some good reasons why it won't, and why it shouldn't.

First of all, I thinking hijacking sometimes makes threads more fun and interesting.

Second, there are a lot of "hit and run" threads, where a cranky OP starts the thread and then runs away. So why NOT hijack it? It's not like the OP has stuck around to pay attention to what people are writing.

Third, threads sometimes exhaust their usefulness, sometimes relatively quickly. So I see no reason why people shouldn't take the thread in a new and more interesting direction once its usefulness has been exhausted.

Granted, it gets pretty silly at times, but I personally don't see it as a big problem.

 

[TxRad]

Is there a reward for the return of hijacked threads?
(Asking for a friend)

 

[SimonDoom]

These threads are like stopping to talk to someone at a party. You begin with a question or comment, then others join in and the initial conversation diverges as the other comments go off on tangents.

When my wife and I are leaving a party, it can take her 20 to 30 minutes just to say "goodbye" to a dozen people, with all of the tangents she delves into. To me, it's just saying a dozen times "Goodbye", which goes quickly. Then I stand nearby and wait.

My ex was from a family from the Midwest, and they were all like that. Goodbyes would be interminable. You'd get half way to the door, and a new conversation would start. Then you'd be at the door, and a new conversation would start. I'd be staring at my watch. My family was totally different. Departures were cut and dried. Nice to see you! Time to get in the car.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

Granted, it gets pretty silly at times, but I personally don't see it as a big problem.

Big problem? No.
Little problem? Yes.

Worth avoiding? I say so. Although that is only my opinion

 

[onehitwanda]

Speaking of sorting, my wife is standing in front of the washer sorting clothes.

Is she stuck? Does she need help?

 

[MediocreAuthor]

Is there a reward for the return of hijacked threads?
(Asking for a friend)

My eternal gratitude

 

[AlinaX]

A little problem, perhaps, but as long as things don't get toxic I think the fun of derailments outweighs the downside.

 

[TxRad]

One word for ya Wanda: Plaid socks.

 

[onehitwanda]

One word for ya Wanda: Plaid socks.

https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/080/164/364.jpg

 

[MelissaBaby]

I don't think this is going to happen, and there are some good reasons why it won't, and why it shouldn't.

First of all, I thinking hijacking sometimes makes threads more fun and interesting.

Second, there are a lot of "hit and run" threads, where a cranky OP starts the thread and then runs away. So why NOT hijack it? It's not like the OP has stuck around to pay attention to what people are writing.

Third, threads sometimes exhaust their usefulness, sometimes relatively quickly. So I see no reason why people shouldn't take the thread in a new and more interesting direction once its usefulness has been exhausted.

Granted, it gets pretty silly at times, but I personally don't see it as a big problem.

I don’t see it as a big problem either.

Yet.

But it seems to me that serious threads quickly veering off into joking and flirting is far more common now than it has been in the six years I’ve been here.

Maybe we ought to ask Laurel for a new forum, the Authors Playground.

 

[MelissaBaby]

A little problem, perhaps, but as long as things don't get toxic I think the fun of derailments outweighs the downside.

I like to joke around myself, but it’s become pretty much a daily occurrence to open an interesting thread and see that it’s already been hijacked after only a handful of posts, and so I don’t contribute. I have definitely found myself posting less often because of it.

 

[onehitwanda]

Authors Playground.

https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1459432279ra/18611091.gif

It's actually a great idea though.

 

[TheRedChamber]

I don’t see it as a big problem either.

Yet.

But it seems to me that serious threads quickly veering off into joking and flirting is far more common now than it has been in the six years I’ve been here.

Maybe we ought to ask Laurel for a new forum, the Authors Playground.

Yeah seems like it started sometime last year. Maybe in August. Around the 13th I think.