Follows ups - useful side conversations or a total distraction?
Submitted: Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 07:16
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Member - Boobook
It seems to me that lots of threads have follow ups that distract from the OP's original post and steer the whole conversation into some off topic direction. Sometimes these OT followups get a life of their own and the OP is left without any decent answers to the original subject.
Often I read threads, only to find they are of no value unless you are interested in the hijacking follow up parts.
Frequently the follow ups lead to petty point making discussions. A recent follow up thread even had the topic of a few people complaining that they were missing out because private messages were sent. Nothing to do with the original post.
IMHO the whole follow up concept
ruins the original threads most of the time.
If someone really wants to discuss something off topic why not start their own thread. I don't think this is any individual, it is just
too easy for the original subject to get forgotten.
Have they outlived their usefulness? Am I alone in thinking this?
One or two other forums that are tightly mod'd like LCOOL keep on the topic and force users to start a new topic if the conversation strays. The threads are useful for years and stay alive and relevant.
Just a suggestion, but IMHO, if someone posts a follow up, then only the person being "followed up" can reply, and only once. Either that or just drop them altogether.
It would be much more user friendly to look at topics and hove some confidence that the subject represents the discussion. That is not really the case now. If someone really wants others to invest input into a subject then surely it is worth a separate thread.
What do others think?
Reply By: RMD - Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 08:08
Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 08:08
Boobook
Possibly I have been guilty of some divergence from the OP's original request but only to provide some info which contradicts some replies which seem too far fetched to happen or technically don't, can't, doesn't happen. Some technical advice given, if acted on would not be at all successful for the OP.
Often, replies if taken notice of, will lead the OP trying to make a decision, to be very confused and unsure and rendered unable to decide what to do to remedy their situation.
I see others also trying to save the OP from a wrong direction.
Not sure how to control or limit the issue though, without causing some folk to be feel hurt or the ego battered.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Baz - The Landy - Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 10:41
Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 10:41
Perhaps questions like this are symptomatic of a broader problem with internet forums – they are in decline due to having outlived usefulness as a way for people with common interests to communicate.
And all too often internet forums have become a place of angst, where different points of view trigger unsociable behaviours that are fostered by the anonymity the internet and a keyboard provide.
I don’t see any problem with a bit of banter here and there, it is certainly preferable to some of the inappropriate and, at times, rude responses that filter into some threads.
But we live in a "reality television" age where there appears to be an insatiable appetite for witnessing a spoil, a good old fashioned punch-up of sorts and this weighs on the
forum, and perhaps the willingness of some to contribute or even visit the site over time.
Mind you, I have always considered EO as far more than an internet
forum and for this reason I am pleased to see it morphing into something more relevant for our times and congratulate the EO team for taking steps in that direction…
The development of the Travel App is perhaps a pointer of the direction EO is heading and, consequently, that might mean the
forum becomes less relevant over time, both for the owners of EO, and for those visiting.
But that is my observation and it might be entirely off-mark…
Cheers, Baz – The Landy
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Michael H9 - Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 17:15
Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 17:15
So, what you are saying is that the whole
forum is becoming off topic? :-)
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Reply By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 13:46
Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 13:46
-
Hello Boobook,
I don't think you are "alone in thinking this" but I doubt that the matter could be changed. Our whole society seems headed into a 'combatant' rather than 'co-operative' ethos. Just view the popularity of the 'reality' TV productions! ("Reality"? Haha)
I guessed why you used MM rather than an open response and any advice that I might have offered the OP would likely be best kept private also.
I have even had some EO individuals contact me directly via email to seek electrical advice rather than become embroiled in the
Forum morass.
Of course, the EO
Forum is somewhat different to the more disciplined sites such as LCOOL. It is more of a social community and as such is open to frivolous comments, some being light-hearted but others, alas, being condemnatory.
Some
well respected Members have permanently departed the EO
Forum because of the criticism and lack of respect that they have suffered and we are the poorer because of that.
Boo, I really appreciate your experience and contributions along with the other 'elders' on this
forum. Don't let whingers get to you.
I could make a number of other points but Baz has done that for me.
p.s. Feel free to contact me by MM or email at any time. LOL
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Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 14:16
Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 14:16
That is true Allan. As you say LCOOL and EO are both very different, and along with one or two other forums, are my go to sites.
As a whole I think the EO community are
well wishing and the old Electrical / solar flare ups are rarer now days. A bit of banter is great and I am definitely guilty of that at times. The PM thing was the straw for me.
The reason I raised the issue is that as someone that has been using EO for quite a few years, I see the same old newbie questions over and over, they often don't get answered properly and seem to go down the old OT ratholes. As a result I don't even reply to them or even look at them now days. It is a waste of time. Searching for a topic isn't as useful as it is on some other forums because of the amount of non relevant dialog that you have to go through at times. Soooo people start a new thread and it all starts over again. Ok for newbies, not very interesting for oldies. IMHO the Follow ups are a large factor in that effect.
I still learn a lot from this
forum and its members but over the last year I have started a few threads that got totally hijacked and never got a full answer. A complete waste of my time and others who contributed.
Threads on any
forum can and do go OT but the followups are fuel on the OT fire IMHO.
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Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 14:19
Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 14:19
Maybe a good solution would be to have a button that says "allow followups Y/N"
That way the users get the choice of how their thread behaves??
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Reply By: pop2jocem - Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 15:03
Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 15:03
How about posting queries if so inclined, answering another's query to the best of ability if so inclined, or just reading to fill in time or whatever, and let David and Michelle decide how they would like EO to proceed and evolve.
Personally I find the content,
well most of it, informative or at very least entertaining.
If I find otherwise, there are many other forums from which to seek information, or just read for the entertainment value.
I would like to think that over the years I have not only gained knowledge, but contributed wherever possible.
Every
forum IMHO will have new members join and older members leave for whatever reasons. The Earth, hopefully, will keep turning and the sun rise and set for many a long year to come.
Cheers
Pop
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Reply By: Steve D1 - Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 16:14
Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 16:14
And now we have an entire thread, with nothing to do with camping, caravanning, or Exploring Aus. It seems to me you have just added another useless thread, with no real information people may be looking for.
Forums are meant to be a fun, community based discussion. For me, EO achieves that.
If all you want is tech info, on whatever the subject is, there are plenty of other resources for that.
I say leave it how it is. We have seen here in the past, and other forums, where the Mods take over, and not let the free talk flow. Many of them no longer exist. EO has had its share of un-rest over these type of actions over the years.
Steve
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Follow Up By: Member - mark D18 - Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 18:26
Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 18:26
Steve
Spot on.
Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - Outback Gazz - Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 19:00
Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 19:00
Not only that - a few months ago someone posted a thredd abowt pour speling !
Funny world we live in today !!
Happy and safe travelling
Gazz
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Follow Up By: Member - mark D18 - Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 19:07
Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 19:07
Gazz
You are off topic
I week ban for you from this
forum .
Cheers
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: RMD - Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 21:15
Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 21:15
About time pour spaling and punktewashun was made more better i reckun.
Use a dickshonary, Skewl shood hav tort peeple more better. sum of it is pour.
wif priyde u can b mor better.
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