"One question I can't answer is how to have a constructive discussion of a religious topic at Mudcat. Know what I mean? Is it possible to have a thread on a religious topic and begin by saying that we respect and acknowledge that many Mudcatters think religion is a bad thing, but we're not going to discuss that issue in that thread, because we want to discuss this survey...

Suggestions?

-Joe-"

Complicated. You will have to set up a whole new board with strict guidelines as to what can be discussed. You can't have a great big "democratic" board like this, in which thread drift is rife (just look at how all that consciousness/quantum theory bilge derailed the Delusion thread! But I'm not bitter...) and ringfence one particular discussion area for strict rules. You could start a separate forum, like Dale Wisely did on Chiff, but that was an absolute bloody disaster and he had to bury it ignominiously without trace.

Thread drift and thread-hijacking is a cheerful fact of life. Let's live with it.