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How do you feel about Topic Drift?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by The Electric Me, Apr 22, 2020.

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  1. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    OK, especially if it's a thread where the OP is looking for a specific answer or opinion about a specific problem. I try to NOT drift too far from answer.
    But, if you haven't noticed, I kinda like to write. Plus, I kind of look at what we are mostly doing here as just internet, cyber conversation and I believe conversation is a living entity.
    Which means to me, if a thread lives long enough it just IS going to drift.
    It's like sitting down in a Sports Bar to watch a game, thinking you are going to discuss the game, but somebody mentions their dog is sick, and the next thing you know you look up and it's 1/2 time and all you've talked about is puppies.

    That's not to say, I don't strive to put a thread in the proper forum, or if I do find I've led a thread significantly off topic, simply shutting up to let it perhaps right itself.

    But otherwise, I don't really sweat topic drift. To me it's a good sign that a website or forum is alive and active. So I generally bristle whenever someone posts a thread with a genesis post, then attaches caveats like, I only want this "type" of answer.

    I think with a thread, you have to do like Sting sang in the 80's, realize they are "Free, Free, Set them Free".
    And really? Some of the best discussions I've had at Prius Chat or elsewhere have been when the topic has became derailed like a run away train.

    So what think you? Violation of common decency? Disagree totally? I'm a rude bastard?

    Or do you just want to tell me about how your dog is sick, or about the new puppy?
     
    #1 The Electric Me, Apr 22, 2020
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I think it depends on the topic and the forum.

    If it's in a Prius technical forum and it's there because somebody's Prius doesn't work and they want to fix that, I think staying close to on-topic will be most helpful to the original poster and most helpful to later visitors who come to the thread because their Prius also doesn't work in a related way.

    Ok, I have seen threads like that branch into discussions of the comparative merits of different approaches to the problem brought up in the thread. Unless that goes completely off the rails I think that also qualifies as sticking to the thread; the original poster and the future visitors with similar problems deserve the chance to review that as they are making up their own minds what advice to follow first.

    If the thread is in Fred's, what do we ever do but drift?

    Even there, I think we naturally spiral around the topic in the thread title, even if the spiral gets wide at times. We don't tend to put our thoughts about beagle training into the thread on SARS-CoV-2, if for no other reason, at least because we don't expect anybody would look there to find our thoughts on beagle training.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Apr 22, 2020
  3. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    I think that drifting is a ridiculous "sport"....albeit slightly more entertaining than NASCAR....another "Non Athletic Sport"...if not completely "Centered Around Rednecks."

    The "wikis" say that drifting is "...a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, with loss of traction, while maintaining control and driving the car through the entirety of a corner." which itself is interesting because over-steering is neither driving nor is the car "in control" per-se.

    However (comma!) I'm not willing to go so far as to say that drifters are collectively "violate common decency" or are more or less rude than others in their cohort....and they have a following (sorta) and there might even be some basic skills involved........besides marketing for tire company or other.

    I'm more or less a live and let live kinda guy.
    I say leave them alone.

    JMHO....
     
    #3 ETC(SS), Apr 22, 2020
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    inevitable
     
    #4 bisco, Apr 22, 2020
  5. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I agree with this.
    And in any thread, I honestly try to not drift or at least tie whatever sometimes seemingly tangent I have gone on, back to some direct response to either a specific post or the thread.
    Yes, I would suspect if you want to know how to get your stuck rear hatch open, you don't want to hear about much of anything else.
    So I'm not advocating for or supporting purposeful track switching here.
    But like I said, this is conversation, and I think that means it's a living thing. So I have seen threads that start with "Help! I can't open my Rear Hatch" evolve into discussions as divergent as battery replacement or fuse location, etc, etc.
    But I do respect this is a specific automotive forum, and set up to be as such.

    I do think the standards are different in FHOP.

    There have been times when I think I've nearly subconsciously drifted within a thread. If I noticed I've done that? I just pretty much shut up. The natural momentum usually rights the conversation.
     
    #5 The Electric Me, Apr 22, 2020
  6. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Topic drift has happened on absolutely all messaging platforms I have ever been associated with....all the way back to BBS days ( you know...in the dial up modem days ).

    Edit : Yes..I guess I am revealing my age here..haha. (y)
     
    #6 farmecologist, Apr 22, 2020
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  7. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    My puppy hates cars and hides when she thinks I am going to put her in a car.

    But, given the choice she prefers the Prius over the Outback....maybe 'cause the Prius is red...:giggle:
     
    #7 cyberpriusII, Apr 22, 2020
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Dogs are colour-blind? :whistle:
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Apr 23, 2020
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  9. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    Shhh, don't let her hear that....she'll get a complex
     
    #9 cyberpriusII, Apr 23, 2020
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Our dog (more so in past) used to go batty whenever a Prius rolled by. Maybe Camry Hybrids too. REALLY (straining on the leash, front legs airborne) wanted to meet-and-greet. Not sure exactly why, could be his first owners took cabs a lot, and he can recognize that inverter whine. Didn't matter what colour btw.

    Oh, am I drifting...
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Apr 23, 2020
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    king of drift :cool:
     
    #11 bisco, Apr 23, 2020
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  12. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Squire of squirrels.....
     
    #12 ETC(SS), Apr 23, 2020
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  13. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    I use a drift stuck in the rotor when I'm loosening or tightening an axle nut.
     
    #13 El Dobro, Apr 23, 2020
  14. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I try to stay focused until the OP gets the answer they deserve/want/need.

    Then I go on tangents about some part of the topic that interests me.

    My metaphor is cigarette smoke; it goes straight until some point, then it is all over the place.

    [​IMG]
     
    #14 JimboPalmer, Apr 23, 2020
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  15. I'mJp

    I'mJp Senior Member

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    The Reynolds number

    Reynolds number - Wikipedia
     
    #15 I'mJp, Apr 24, 2020
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  16. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I know that's what the vets say.
    But every dog I've ever talked to denies it.
     
    #16 The Electric Me, Apr 24, 2020
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  17. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    #17 JimboPalmer, Apr 24, 2020
  18. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Dogs are color blind when it comes to people.....................
     
    #18 Montgomery, Apr 24, 2020
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  19. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The Reynolds Pamphlet.
     
    #19 ChapmanF, Apr 24, 2020
  20. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    People say dogs are smart. But they are also very wise.
     
    #20 The Electric Me, Apr 24, 2020
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