Hijacking a Thread

Subject: Hijacking a Thread
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 05:20 PM

"That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!"

I love Mudcat but like anything you care about it can be REALLY ANNOYING at times.

We've all seen it happen. In the middle of an interesting thread that the participants seem to be taking seriously, one of the resident "wits" makes a "clever" remark. Another "wit" responds in the same frivolous vein. They toss the ball back and forth a few times and yet another "wit" joins, AND THEY'RE OFF. Fifteen off-topic responses later they look around and wonder where everybody is.

Since the resident wits are long-established, revered, and respected MEMBERS, what can a mere GUEST do? Except complain in a new thread, or course.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: mousethief
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 05:22 PM

This reminds me of the story about the guy who goes to the doctor with a bandage tied around his head. The doctor says, "What seems to be the problem?" The guy says, "I have a toothache." The doctor says, "I'm not a dentist, I'm a doctor!" The guy says, "Yeah, but the dentist couldn't see me until tomorrow!"

Hahahhaa!

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Greyeyes
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 05:29 PM

Clever remark mousethief,whose turn is it now?

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: CarolC
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 05:38 PM

What is this thing, "talking seriously", that you speak of?

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: mousethief
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 05:41 PM

Oh Carol, he didn't say "talking" seriously, he said "taking" seriously. Like the meds my doctor prescribes. I take them. Seriously.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Greyeyes
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 05:50 PM

Enough of this frivolity already from you long-established, revered, and respected wits.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: GUEST,Bardford
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 05:55 PM

Takamine seriously?

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: CarolC
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 05:56 PM

Why thank you, Greyeyes, what a nice thing to say! Actually, I'm just a newbie with pretenses.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Greyeyes
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 06:01 PM

I promise not to tell.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: mousethief
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 06:03 PM

Guest Bardford, I'll takayours if I get to keep mine, too.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 06:11 PM

Mousethief, let me gibson thought to your proposal.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: GUEST,Bardford
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 06:13 PM

That last guest was me. Own up to your mistakes, that what I sometimes say.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: mousethief
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 06:15 PM

No problem, guest. I wasn't planning on going to the music store to tacoma new guitar any time soon. (Or do they have Tacoma guitars out your way? They're certainly invading the stores here!)

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: wildlone
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 07:04 PM

This is a thread hijack!!
Fly HERE . now

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 07:59 PM

GUEST,Russ: I agree with you. But, as you can see, it's hopeless.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: JenEllen
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 08:02 PM

Hey, those Tacomas are all right. If the gawds smile on me I'll be winning one from a drawing at the festival this fall!! Besides, Janis Carper makes fabulous noises with hers...

~Elle

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Max Tone
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 08:08 PM

Hey -- Pilot,
I've had enough of this space, take me to Amsterdam -------NOW!.............I might have said Bali, but Redgum said it all in "I've been to Bali, too".
Insomniac Comic's chat up line-----"to wit, to woo"
Rob

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: bbc
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 08:10 PM

Russ,

Many of us who used to be regularly participating members no longer are, for the same reason you state. Some are completely gone & some of us just lurk more than we post now. Mudcat still has some fine folks in it, but much of the joy is gone for some of us.

best to you,

bbc

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 08:11 PM

Russ, I bet you also do not appreciate someone tickling you in the middle of a serious conversation.

Little Neo

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 08:15 PM

Speaking of Star Trek did you see...

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 08:28 PM

At the same time Russ....
I do understand what you are referring to. If there is room for more discussion on a thread subject, but it has been hijacked, there is usually room to perform CPR and bring the topic back to life.
Length of thread & length of hijacking can also affect resuscitation.

Bonnie

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 09:15 PM

I know JUST what you mean, Guest Russ ... it is soooo ANNOYING! I just hate it when I sit down to be enlighten by the intellectual threads that I find here on Mudcat and right in the middle of a serious post (those are the ones I like best BTW) some smart ass pops in and makes me laugh ...jeez, I HATE IT when that happens! But seriously folks ... did you hear what Stock Day said when he was asked to change his name to Doris????..... 'QUE SERA SERA' ... maybe that's too Canadian for some of ya!!

Here's lookin' at yer bitter end ... LL

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 09:44 PM

Russ...you want a serious answer? I'll GIVE you a serious answer.....Truth is, human being's minds work differently! Often VERY differently....Don't you know people you meet everyday who can't take a joke and to whom you simply CANNOT make a pun or ironic or sacrastic remark? They just don't get it.

And there are others who take the world with a grain of salt and always seems to be 'massaging'(for want of a better term) the input of their lives. Comics page editors all over the country..(at least the U.S.), struggle constantly to please a variety or readers who have TOTALLY different ideas of what is appropriate, funny or interesting. Why should it be any different here? At a party, if some boor keeps making remarks in your conversation, you can usually just walk away or tell him to 'get lost'....but this is a ***DISCUSSION FORUM***, and the rules are a bit different. Sometimes you get the 'tone' you want, sometimes you don't.

It can be frustrating, but when you start what YOU consider a serious thread in a **PUBLIC** forum, you take the chance that some of the posters will not take the issue as seriously as you do. There a lot of very witty, bright people here who have discovered a new pasttime that beats video games and porno chat rooms as an outlet for their energies..(watch 'em run with THAT).....I suspect that in an un-moderated (read 'uncensored') forum, it will always be so.....

"If you cain't lick 'em......"...no...never mind...*grin*

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: CarolC
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 09:49 PM

bbc,

I'm sorry the joy has gone for you. When I first joined the Mudcat, it was a virtual war zone with members going underground because of being stalked in the Mudcat, and being threatened in the 3D world. If the worst you can say is that the Mudcat is too funny, I think things are in pretty good shape.

Personally, I prefer humor to war.

Best wishes,

Carol

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Troll
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 10:01 PM

Only 50% of what you said about us resident wits is true.

troll

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: WyoWoman
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 10:01 PM

You can always say, "Very funny, folks. Now, returning to my original question ...."

a thought...

ww

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 10:40 PM

Sorry.....Just checking in from the porn chat rooms.

Actually Russ, Bill has answered you quite well. Several years ago we began a long period of dealing with Music vs. BS threads and it was generally believed to be in bad form, poor taste, aggravating, angering, etc.....to some of our folks that anyone would make a joke on a serious music thread. This is a Folk and Blues Forum and some people are here strictly for the music end of things. Others have come for the music and also for the discussions and I suppose there are a few now who don't care about the music at all, but I doubt that number is significant. For BS and Music to live side by side we all agreed in one way or another to some basic "rules." They aren't written down, but they exist as a matter of courtesy and to keep the peace.

One of those unwritten rules is that no one pulls a hi-jack on a music thread. I think you'll find that the participants on any given music thread may make a few jokes here and there, but the focus is on answering the question, doing the research, etc. This is as it should be and that "agreement" has not been violated much to my knowledge and certainly we have far fewer debates over the "Music versus BS" issue.

BS on the other hand is simply BS. As Bill said, its a discussion forum and about anything goes. How can you categorize BS? "Hey man.....This is SERIOUS bullshit!!!" C'mon, gimmee peace.......geeeziz.......If you don't like the way a discussion is going, head it off elsewhere and if nobody goes along it could be because nobody cares. You know it works both ways of course don't you? AS one of your "chief offenders" I can tell you that I am often completely shut out. I make some joke and the sucker is completely ignored......and that's OK too. Its BS fer chrissakes! From another thread, you said:

From: GUEST,Russ Date: 17-Nov-00 - 12:50 PM

I am happy to let people leave. I've never been one of the "Please Stay" posters. I don't need additional participants to validate myself and my participation in Mudcat. If people have a problem with Mudcat it is truly THEIR problem.

I think you're right. BS is BS.......Let's not try to "qualify" it somehow. Change the subject as WW and others have suggested. You can bring it back if others agree and want to discuss it. Not in all, but in some, the thread has pretty well run its course by the time it gets nuts anyhow. If you want some real insight on how to keep a thread on track til YOU are done with it, go read the posts of McGrath of Harlow.....he's an expert!

I gotta' get back to Pornchat......I had a great talk going with a cross-dressing, transvestite, transsexual with a foot fetish, who's in to BDSM and necrophilia. Hope it hasn't left.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: MMario
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 10:53 PM

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 10:57 PM

"cross-dressing, transvestite" ....redundant...and there are always more in the wings...

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 11:11 PM

No Bill, this is a guy who usually dresses as a woman but gets his kicks by dressing as a guy on alternate Tuesdays. Says he lives in Silver Springs.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: MMario
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 11:13 PM

of course, if you have a problem with a thread being hi-jacked, you can always just hijack it right back, or just continue the discussion around under, between and across the jokes and irrelavent conversations, just as people do at cocktail parties, and other 3d conversations in crowded rooms.

Have I mentioned recently anyone is welcome to join in on the search for the "missing" DT tunes?

Considering the number of complaints I have seen posted re: not enough music discussions and postings on this forum there has been a surprising lack of numbers responding to this. Though I *really* appreciate those who have responded - they have *all* contributed a great deal)

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: CarolC
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 11:20 PM

MMario, when you say "missing DT tunes", do you mean tunes that were in the DT at one time and went missing, or tunes that have never been in the DT but that people are trying to locate to put there? (In all seriousness)

Carol

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 11:22 PM

Dear Spaw.
I am into masochism, necrophilia and bestiality - Am I flogging a dead horse????

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 11:27 PM

Yes Duck you are........and do you have any photos?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: GUEST,(Edgar A.)---a.k.a. Art Thieme ;-)
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 11:37 PM

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 11:45 PM

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 11:46 PM

this ought be kinky enough for even YOU spaw

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Nov 00 - 11:51 PM

LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!! Geez Bill, I dunno' what that is or where you found it........and I don't think I want to...But that is one of the greatest pix I have ever seen.....What a riot!!!!

So Russ.......How's this thread working out for you so far?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 04:01 AM

Jeezus H. Christ on crutches, BILL! Talk about hangin' by yer toenails ... what the SAM Hill is THAT! ...LL

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 06:17 AM

ROTFLMAO! That is a great picture. The whole hi-jack is funny. Details on that picture please!

Seriously, Guest Russ and all who are actually tuned in to the discussion, I have thought for quite a while that we need to take ownership responsibility of our threads. What I mean by that is once we post a message it is our responsibility to monitor the discussion and attempt to keep it on track. The original poster needs to make a point to stay in the discussion and act as a moderator.

That is the only way you have a chance to keep a discussion on the track that you originally intended for it to go.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Morticia
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 06:58 AM

Hey Spaw, that person in Silver Springs......can you tell him he left his best handcuffs here a couple of weeks ago......thanks.
BTW Russ, although I appreciate your point and hope you feel you have enough pointers now to help you get where you want to go in a discussion, I for one, came here for the music but have grown to love the diversions, wisecracks,pointless and fictitious anecdotes and one-liners....and have even made a modest contribution or two in my time.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: mkebenn
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 07:53 AM

Can someone answer Carol's question about missing songs? As I have stated before, I have a version of DT downloaded in '97 and wonder if it could be of service. Mike Bennett

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Allan C.
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 08:13 AM

Good one, Wildlone!

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: flattop
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 09:08 AM

Does one of the hijackers want to bring this thread down in Pague?

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 09:42 AM

I don't know that I really wanted to know all of that, but now that I do, I have no idea what to do with the info. Some things are better left unknown.

Morty, the guy says he'll pick up the 'cuffs on his next trip. He also wants to know if you got the black leather suspender belt and fishnets. Also, has your bum healed up yet?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 10:09 AM

Spaw,
When is Karen getting home. That was crude even for you. And NO FAIR. Bill D's blue clicky thing took me to an expired page. Help.
Russ, i have been guilty of taking a thread off in the wrong direction once in a while. I usually apologize about ten posts down. But I can't help it there are a bunch of followers here.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 11:24 AM

*grin*...you just go to AltaVista 'images' search, and type "dead horse"........and look thru lots of results...and Voila!

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 11:34 AM

I dunno Sins.......soon I hope. But which part was crude? Actually, I thought it all was.......Just wondering if you had a favorite though?(:<))

AND, you can see Bill's picture on the same site that flattop linked and his has a long story all about the "statue." And in the world of the completely bizarre, its got to be in the top ten somewhere!!!

Well, I'm off in search of even baser forms of total depravity............

Spaw

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Amos
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 11:40 AM

And your point is...?

A

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Banjer
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 11:41 AM

Firstly, whom are you calling a WIT? I will admit to half of that but not yet qualified as full wit. Why do you feel that the threads tend to creep? I have never seen any concrete evidence of any of that!! By the way does any one have a good recipe for gingerbread cookies? The Christmas Tree will be in the living room this year and Gingerbread cookies would go good with the atmosphere. Speaking of atmosphere, has anyone heard of any rain heading this way? It would raise hell with my plans for painting the house.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 12:12 PM

Since you're talking about Florida Banj, I was wondering if your county had any butterfly ballots? I ask this because no current Mudcat thread would be complete without some political shinola......Which makes me think too that since you are in Florida and all, have you considered starting a home business selling chad? You could paint your house red, white, and blue and then sell chad from everyone's favorite candidate!

Order today and get the complete "Presidential Chad Set" with chad from authentic Florida ballots of all the Presidential candidates. Individuals will be available, but the complete sets are in limited supply so order now!!!

Hey.....Pet Rocks? Mood Rings? This could be a winner!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Morticia
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 12:20 PM

Spaw, I'm doing fine thanks but it's going to take forever to get the jello off the ceiling.What is Chad?

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 12:30 PM

Chad, my dearest Morty, is the little paper that hangs below a punchcard that has been punched as is done in the voting machines used in Florida and other places. We have this major hoopla going on over whether a vote should be counted if the chad is attached to the ballot and not cleanly punched through. They have now named the various types of attachment and ruled on whether each type is or is not a vote. We have hanging chad, swinging chad, garage door chad, pregnant chad..............Its freakin' unbelievable!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Greyeyes
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 12:38 PM

So far I have avoided all threads which appear in any way connected to the US election. It appears I have acted wisely.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Troll
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 12:42 PM

"Spaw, yer too late. It's already on e-Bay.

troll *BG*

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Banjer
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 02:08 PM

Holy Threadcreep, Batman. It seems we've gone form dead horses through gingerbread cookies to christmas trees and on to butterfly ballot chad in three easy steps.Yes, Robin, that's got to be a record even for these wits, or half, whichever the case may be.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: MMario
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 09:08 PM

to carol and anyone else interested... when I talk about the missing tunes, I mean songs that have entered into the DT without tunes. As far as I know (dick or Susan could tell you better) the only tunes that have dropped out of the DT are ones where they have been notified of copyright conflict.

As far as the "missing tunes" search goes, i have been maintaining the list of those tunes which have and have not been found. I can provide them to anyone on request to either my e-mail account ([e-mail]) or through PM. I do need a valid e-mail adress to send them to.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 10:04 PM

I thought a CHAD was a scrawl on a wall which had a drawing of a brick wall and a bloke with a big nose WHICH HUNG OVER THE WALL sayIng "WOT NO" and some comment...... e.g. !"Wot no singing" or "|Wot no threaDCREEP", wot NO CATSPAW" OR WHATEVER!!!!

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Penny S.
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 06:24 PM

I first heard of Chad's in Naomi Mitcheson's Arthurian book "To the Chapel Perilous" and hadn't the foggiest idea what she was on about, having been born after their heyday.

Penny

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Amos
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 06:48 PM

It's a rainy night on the dark Miami waterfront, but halfway down the slippery soaking quai you'll see one sign of life - a naked 60-watt glowing over the dockside netrance to a nondescript warehouse. That's where I hang out, and where you'll find me if you brave the weather,

The names is Chad. Chad Mudcat. I'm known in this town, but only by the folks who count. It didn't used to be that way.

When I was born, my mother thought I was pretty cute; she'd faint now, but she's dead. She called me Dimpled. Dimpled Chad. My dad wasn't interested in that sentimental stuff, so he called me Swingng. AFte rmy rudimentary skills in baseball.

Years later, in college, I ballooned outsome, until I weighed about 320 pounds on a frame juts under six feet takk, They called me Pregnant.

That's all behind me now. On the Miami waterfront, I sahre the night winds and the dark places with Max the Knife, the Lonesome J-Class, and Peter the T -- lowlifes, underdogs, bottom-crawlers all. They don't call me any of them names; they'd be afraid. On the Miami waterfront the only nickname they can come up with me is Hanging. Hanging Chad, I've heard they call me. But never to my face. And so far, I've managed to keep them thoroughly disappointed.

But on this rainy night, I am putting down the hone, and I'm not so sure. I just heard from certain sources that a new face has appeared in certain circles, and been mentioning my name, someting I usually don't appreciate. Said he was maybe a dick by the name of Madison, and maybe I would want to do sumpn about him.

And maybe I will....

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Amos
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 06:49 PM

GOD I hate yptos!

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 06:53 PM

Since you're determined to keep the thread creep going MMario, I'll just say that I do keep meaning to weigh in with some tunes. I'm just a bit puzzled about how to submit them, so I'll PM you about that.

Getting back to the subject, Spaw's cross-dressing transvetite sounds a bit like the masochist who liked a cold shower in the morning. So he had a warm one.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Allan C.
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 07:00 PM

This thread is scurrying about like...like...well...take a look here:

http://members.tripod.com/earthdude1/headless_chicken/mike.html

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: DougR
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 07:10 PM

Guest Russ: As you must surmise by now, there is no way to do it. Naemanson's suggestion is probably a good one. The poster jumps back in and gets the posts back on track. Even that won't be easy though.

DougR

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 07:12 PM

CLICK HERE FOR ALLAN'S LINK

Geez Allan, I'd forgotten that one entirely. Do you remember when it first came up around here? I was trying to recall, but I can't place where the thing popped up first.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Allan C.
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 07:30 PM

Can't remember, 'Spaw. I first saw the picture in a Parade Magazine I found in an attic.

Speaking of attics:

http://www.rdg.ac.uk/AcaDepts/lk/images/triton2.html

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 07:42 PM

Amos, the image of a used-to-be pregnant Chad who "has it all behind him now" brings a lump to my throat.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 07:46 PM

Here's Allan's last link CLICK HERE

Spaw -- Allan's Official Blue Clicky Supplier

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Allan C.
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 07:52 PM

Thanks, 'Spaw. I guess you know about my disability, yes?

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 07:54 PM

"Transvetite" - now that is a typo with real possibilities. I'm not sure what it might be used to mean, but it's a word waiting for a meaning.

And thanks for the nod, 'spaw. How I see it is, if someone says something you want to reply to, you reply to it, regardless of whether there might be a whole bunch of other posts in between. It no different really from other settings where you're trying to communicate and there's a lot of noise..

Just because my letter box is full of junk mail and so forth it doesn't mean I can't reply to a letter. And in a crowded pub we can all be having different conversations with different people at the same time, and still exchange views and information and crosstalk with each other.

Except it's a lot easier here, because it stays put in black and white. It can help of course if you indicate what it is you are replying to, with a quote or a link. Otherwise it leads to misunderstanding as to who you are argeeing with or disagreeing with.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 10:24 AM

OK, I'm hijacking this thread, take it to Cuba, I've a bomb strapped to my waist....
We used to use the various Tavern threads for whimsy etc. not appropriate elsewhere then that got to be more serious, posting lyrics etc. That only leaves the NYCFTTS as a repository where half-wits like me can go for therapy.
Feel free to hijack any thread I've started and divert it to Heathrow or Azerbijan or wherever>
RtS

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 11:19 AM

I realize that I didn't make myself clear in the original post. It was fun to vent, but I should have done a better job of getting to the punch-line.

My post is not about me and my petty stick-in-the mud no-fun preferences. It is not about the quality of the off-topic postings. I am trying to put my finger on what I see as a deeper problem. Because of this problem I think the suggestions about wresting control of the thread back were naive. The problem as I see it is not that off-topic posts are annoying to some people like me who just don't get it. I think they can kill threads prematurely.

To be specific, I check the forum irregularly. Often, by the time I have a chance to check a thread I am following, it has grown a lot since my last visit. This thread is a good example of that. So, I either have to start at the top again, or if I have posted, start at my last post. As I am reading down the list of new postings, when I get to a long string of off-topic posts, I often eventually stop and abandon the thread. I almost did that with this thread. It has been my experience that a sufficiently long string of off-topic posts signals the end of the on-topic posts. I assumed that my behavior mirrored that of other readers who were interested in the topic of the thread rather than the asides. So, on some threads I have followed carefully, the off-topic posts have not been just a few weeds among the flowers, I think they have actually choked out the flowers. It seems to me that once the people who want to post on-topic have drifted away, they don't come back and won't respond to my renewed call for input

Sure, there's a lot of vagueness in the preceding. I haven't figured out what critical mass of off-topic posts it takes discourage people who want to post on-topic. But I think I see a pattern through a glass dimly and I am just reporting and complaining about it.

I do hope that no one really thought I was silly enough to think I could change this forum's behavior by venting. I'd just as soon try to organize a cat parade as get 'catters to do things my way.

Catspaw49, I meant what I said, and it applies as much to me as everyone else. Mudcat is great and if I have a problem with Mudcat it is MY problem. However, when this forum ceases to be of interest to me or annoys me sufficiently, I will simply stop posting. No preamble, no melodramatic farewell address. I am also not silly enough to think that my absence would be noted or mourned.

Aside from venting, I also posted to see if I was the only poster who cared. Apparently not, but I am clearly in the minority. I can live with that.

And I did learn a new (to me) unwritten Mudcat rule, no hijacking of Music threads.

This reply will also be a test of my claim. Is anybody here who cares to address the clearly stated topic of the thread?

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: MMario
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 11:33 AM

Russ, - basically everyone here HAS been addressing the main issue. the only way you CANNOT address the issue on this thread is to not post to it.

think about it.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Penny S.
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 01:38 PM

Transvetite - Rumanian yeast extract?

Penny

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: mousethief
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 01:47 PM

What was the point of this thread again?

Oh, and Penny -- nicely done!

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 02:22 PM

Blood Marmite...I like it. You could put it on black pudding, while drinking Bull's Blood.

I think there's a distinctiion between natural thread drift, which can come in any threads - for example one song leads to another etc - and the kind of thing Russ is pointing out as a problem.

I like the jokeyness, except when I don't. It's all a matter of how your funny bione is articulated. (I tend to agree with what CS Lewis once wrote about facetiousness being a substtute fr humour rather than a variety of humour, in which people talk about something as if it was funny without having gone through the process of saying anything funny about it in the first place.)

But it doesn't have to be a choice between jokes or discussion/exploration. You can have both at once. You can put in a joke, or a crack about, for example something someone has said that might have a meaning they hadn't meant it to have - and in the same post you can try to carry the topic of the thread forward.

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 05:34 AM

Russ,
I can only rephrase Jim Dixon above. I share your concern but if the party crowd has decided to use a thread for their fun there's nothing you can do about it except stop reading.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: CarolC
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 06:15 AM

Guest Russ,

I haven't had a problem with people hijacking my threads to an extent that would kill them. When my threads die it's because they've lived out their natural lives.

Sometimes people get off topic on my threads, but it never seems to last long enough to cause problems.

I don't know why this is, but you can check out my posting history and see for yourself. This applies to serious threads that I have started. In the case of threads that I start in a humorous vein, I welcome hijacking if it makes the thread more fun.

Carol

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 06:58 AM

There's a sort of sense of involvement in a thread you started. and maybe you make a bit more effort to nudge it in the direction you want and to refresh it if it's fading prematurely. But it's not a business of possessiion or having any rights to it. Essentially you let it go and see how it flies.

I mean if you were in a pub or somewhere and you'd started talking about something, and the conversation moved off onto something else, you wouldn't be saying "Here, this is my conversation, don't you go hijacking it".

You might say something like "To get back to what we were talking about, here's how I see it" - within limits. But you might say the same in a conversation that had started before you joined in. And you'd be taken aback if one of the the others said "No, this is my conversation, I decide what we're talking about."

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: LR Mole
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 11:15 AM

Chad Everett. Chad Mitchell. Chad Rachmeshachabednigo. Love, Bad Puns Waiting for the Next Hijacking

Subject: RE: Hijacking a Thread
From: Bert
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 12:07 PM

What happened to Matt_R & Lena? they need to see this thread.