I have just been warned about highjacking threads and since I don't understand enough about computers to know what is considered part of the same topic and what isn't, I will not be posting here anymore. Thanks to all who have helped me in the past.
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The Thread Highjacking Thread About Hijacking Threads
(56 posts) (19 voices)-
SeniorCitizen
MemberOh No, Terri! Just seeing your name makes me smile!
Please reconsider. If you don't know about something there is certainly someone on this forums who will help you learn. -- Linda
Posted 14 years ago # -
SeniorCitizen
MemberTerri, just read a few things about thread hijacking and from what read I don't see how it can do damage to your computer. Here's the definition I found
"Thread Jacking -- Taking over a thread on a message board by taking a part of the original posted topic, twisting it around and "hijacking" the thread itself. What happens is that the original content contained in the post becomes moot and whatever the "Thread Jacker" has manipulated the content to be becomes the new content thereby "hijacking" the original intent of post. People now respond to the "thread jacker's" input and the that becomes the focus of the tread."
Posted 14 years ago # -
Buckleysmom
MemberTerri.....don't just leave over it. I don't know who warned you or why but I would question it if I were you. I think everyone here has been guilty of hijacking a thread at some point or another, usually unintentionally, but still it happens. If the warning wasn't from one of the mods don't even give it a second thought, and if it was from one of them, discuss it with them and let them explain whatever you're not understanding. They are very reasonable people.
Just MHO
RoxPosted 14 years ago # -
aRenegade
MemberThis worry over malware and hijacking can become so severe, a person can go from cautious, to overly cautious, to paranoid, in seemingly a moment’s notice. The affect on an individual can lead them to stop participation in forums they never had any bad experiences with before; or even heard of anyone else within the same community struck by malware. The internet is media a person can use for learning, sharing, and exchanging information. A medium that multi-millions of people use every day to derive pleasure, and escape stresses that inherently the real world brings.
It’s easy to forget there are literally millions of people enriching their lives by using the resources that's called the internet. So I think you should be fair about this and ask, if anyone here or at any other forum you belong to, if they have the same concerns as you. Ending participation in a forum(s) that you deemed “Trusted” for the reasons you gave, well then lets just say you might as well not bother accessing the internet at all. Be Well Terri, Be Well...
- Renegade -
Posted 14 years ago # -
Oh-Oh - the Evil Mod did it again :(
The "warning" was meant to save the answers in time, before they are deleted. Not a "warning" towards Terri.
You are right Rox, we all have hijacked over and over. But in this case a complex question went under another complex question. In the end, both users lose. Bigun has to scroll down and search for any answer and Terri the same. And where will Terri find "her" part when she'll go back to it in a month or so. How to find it?Most of us are not very computer savvy and are here to learn and get answers we couldn't
find alone with the help of Google (or other search engines). In a total chaos of questions and unrelated answers we'll find nothing.graylox with a vehement finger-wagging
Posted 14 years ago # -
2-SHEDS
MemberOh-Oh - the Evil Mod did it again :(
No surprise. Par for the course IMO. The mods have have been steering conversations here for a while. That includes closing threads for no apparant reason other than the mod didn't want any more conversation on the subject. Very few complain (that I've seen and we'll never really see who's complaining) but that doesn't make it right. GOTD has the right to enlist the help of whoever they want to police the forums. Unfortunately, many times here, it's at the cost of free speech and common sense as well as understanding in many cases.
I hate to see anyone leave over a mod's over exuberance to do a good job. It's best to remain quiet Terry. Like most of us do. Don't condemn a great project like GOTD because of their poor hiring practices for their community forums. That's just silly.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Yeah I want to talk about mashed potatoes now. I think they are good. I mean I prefer french fries but they are not that bad. But if I...
Lol yes threads get off-topic ALL THE TIME but that doesn't mean there's any danger or you should leave. It happens and you just gotta deal with it and try to bring the topic back yourself. But please don't leave over something silly lol
Regards, Chip
Posted 14 years ago # -
Archangel
MemberNo need to stop coming and participating in the forums Terri218. You may not know this but then again you might but some mod's and admins are from different countries. Graylox is in Europe and BuBBy in Australia. I'm sure graylox was just trying to let you know about highjacking threads. (Read her post and you'll see her meaning). I'm sure you didn't know or realize what that term even mean't until now. We all do it unintentionally but the correct way is to create another thread and post your question or comment there.
We all have opinions just like 2-SHEDS. He/she post's there feelings about the forum's hiring practices and "mod's over exuberance to do a good job" and mention's "Free Speech" well here's mine! IMO the moderators do a fantastic job here policing the forum. Some may not agree with "snipping a post", "deleting a post" or "closing a thread" but its done for positive reasons. I do not agree that its done because a mod didn't want any more conversation on a subject other than the conversation was destructive for the subject or the site. I also don't agree with the statement of "It's best to remain quiet Terry. Like most of us do." If you want to voice out (like you did), do it! If something is wrong with your post it can be snipped or deleted by an admin or mod and a reason PM'd to the person.
Brush it off because I'm sure no harm was meant and join back in and learn, educate or just have fun.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Robert
StrayCat2-Sheds
No one wants Terry to leave.
As to your comment,even if it sounds good,the mods here are doing a great job and I don't agree with any of your generalizations.
Should there be any general complaints towards mods,they should be discussed with the admins and the mods first, not by making a fuss about it in public.
Secondly I have to agree with Graylox's decision ,that wasn't meant to drive anyone away at all ...
And she does make a point:asking multiple questions in the same thread is confusing for everyone.But no moderator will/should delete a little off topic comment,in fact, as we've seen in the past ,at times it can be quite fun.
:)Terry
Terry,hang in there!We like having you around!
Posted 14 years ago # -
watcher13
MemberDitto on the "come back, Terri". We'd certainly miss you. It's something most of us do. For example, often, we see something and think, "that reminds me of something related". But sometimes the related aside gets more response than the original topic and the thread just drifts away from that topic. In the past, moderator's have sometimes generously taken their own time and simply moved the new stuff to a new topic. I think Graylox has been nice enough to do that occasionally. But she and the others have always been good about giving us the reminder when we might need it. I don't think any mod has dealt it with this issue with anything other than a sincere concern toward keeping threads on topic. It's, after all, part of the responsibility they've been nice enough to take on.
Edit: you're also welcome to copy your posts on a slightly different topic, move them to a brand new thread you create, and then just post on the old thread asking the first available moderator to delete the old posts. They're happy to do it. End of edit.
It's just something that happens. Nothing that anyone's mad about. It's just a friendly reminder - I've received them once in a while when I've digressed in a thread - with no malice intended. I can't imagine anybody's mad at you about anything. On the contrary, we'd hate to lose you.
Edit: I feel I need to respond to what 2-Sheds said. I can't disagree with you - it's happened to me - but I feel it's rare and very much the exception to the rule. As surprising as it may seem, I feel the moderator's here do a fine job. They may sometimes feel under-appreciated, but they are appreciated. But, I can understand your frustration once in a while. I just don't believe in throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Especially since this baby is pretty darn clean, IMHO.
Posted 14 years ago # -
SeniorCitizen
MemberAt this moment I feel like a fool. A REAL idiot, folks. When I read Terri's post I thought that she thought "hijacking threads" would harm her computer. (If I laff at myself so can all of you!) Did not realize until just NOW that apparently someone here gave her some sort of warning about deviating from what a thread was about.
First must say I'm probably the guiltiest around here because I often lose focus of the subject at hand. Second, and more important, I learned something new today, what hijacking a threads means. Still, it seems to me if it isn't done with malice and by someone who is not as intellectually-wise like most folks who post here (including the moderators), I see no problem. I learned something new today -- and all because of Terri. ... I promise I will try real hard to stay on topic henceforth.
Posted 14 years ago # -
prs
MemberTerri, your threat to leave this forum stems from the same lack of understanding displayed by the "mod" that warned you. Incidentally what was the thread that you "hijacked" ? I dont think that internet or even GOTD forums, as we know it today, will receive a death-blow if a thread gets a little diverted. I have always felt that some of the mods here are a little "school-teacherish" (of the 1970s vintage)
Come Terri, look at the bright side and say something. At least this is one thread that no "mod" is ever going to accuse you of having "hijacked"Posted 14 years ago # -
I don't think Graylox was in the wrong for doing what she did, the whole thread was hijacked to where there was about 16 posts, 8 of which were on one topic while the other 8 were on a whole completely different topic. I was considering doing the same. My reason though may have been slightly different. The reason I was considering was because there was some great information there within the second topic that many users could find interesting and helpful. If one were to come to the forums and seek help on cloning files and systems, they wouldn't look in a thread titled video cards. I'd hate for that kind of information to get lost in the forums. It's easier to find when it's dedicated.
I've contacted Terri and asked her to please reconsider, that it was merely a misunderstanding. Terri would be a missed member of the forums.
Posted 14 years ago # -
That's a good point wizz, I thought the same, therefore I asked Terri, to take her point up in a new thread.
Well, all the action wasn't without communication with Terri, sometimes I remember how to use a PM...Posted 14 years ago # -
If one were to come to the forums and seek help on cloning files and systems, they wouldn't look in a thread titled video cards. I'd hate for that kind of information to get lost in the forums. It's easier to find when it's dedicated.
And that is the real reason why.
Making your "off topic" question easier to find is the reason I would discourage "hijackers". (an unfortunate term that still has a mental image of a terrorist in my twisted head).
A famous and good looking Admin once said, "A topic is a topic, and when you change the topic, it becomes a new topic."
I remember years ago, there was a user who was notorious for always changing the topic - usually in wildly unrelated ways. After a while, the forums were starting to become very random - and they were questioned why all the tangent posts and the reply was very simple.
They couldn't find the "new topic" button on the main screen - and the "reply" button was easier to locate.
Posted 14 years ago # -
a good looking admin? where is he?
Posted 14 years ago # -
Archangel
MemberI'm not quit sure thats correct prs. BuBBy posted about the good looking admin and lox followed the flow with a follow up questiion (LOL). If she created a new thread asking she'd have to post a link to this thread and then whom ever would have to read all the post's until it was found. LOL
(I think its a She too!!)
Posted 14 years ago # -
SeniorCitizen
MemberIs this thread about Lassie or a good looking male or female? ... I am laughing so hard right now (for second time today) I almost fell off my chair! ... Not fer nuttin', I'd say all these light-hearted posts fall right into the topic, "Thread Hijacking".
Back on topic: Terri, you're missed.
Posted 14 years ago # -
2-SHEDS
MemberPeeps, you forget; the admins can post "off topic" and have their fun whenever they want. It's the individual visitors that have to follow the rules here.
It's my hopes Terri comes back. Maybe Terri is back but decides to remain silent now. You can't blame her really. I know a few that have taken that route and they're much happier just watching the GOTD cheerleaders chime in anytime someone gives some kinda criticism and they get a good laugh. Maybe Terri is happier that way too.
Peace Terri.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Robert
StrayCat2-Sheds
I don't know why ,but somehow you seem to be having a grudge against this forum.
Sure ,some have left us, but I can't remember anyone leaving because of Gotd or because of a mod's exuberance.
On the contrary ,there was a time when there were too few people moderating the forum...And I don't think we should make such a big thing about what happened.
I don't know about that good looking admin, but there's some truth in what he/she said:
"A topic is a topic, and when you change the topic, it becomes a new topic."
And Wizzard's comment does make sense too:
If one were to come to the forums and seek help on cloning files and systems, they wouldn't look in a thread titled video cards
...
But again,from time to time there's a need for some off topic words, chitchat if you want,to brighten up the forum,to have some fun or..to sort things out like what happened to Terry.
And this isn't a mod's privilege.A forum doesn't have to be a dull place,does it?
...Who's that good looking admin anyway?
Posted 14 years ago # -
SeniorCitizen
MemberWhat a difference a day makes.
Posted by Terri218 on 03/31/2010: If the worst happens and GGOTD goes away, I hope this forum will stay active. I would really miss all of you.
Posted 1 day ago #
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/7269#post-74921On another note, but still focusing, thanks Chip and Pookie. Now I have a yen for pizza topped with mashed potatoes.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Terri - I hope you reconsider and realize that you made a hasty decision and don't really want to leave. The mods need to do their job or this forum turns to trash in a hurry. We need structure to keep it a really great site to come to. Don't take it personally, please! To me it's like using the wrong fork at dinner. Learn from it at move on. It's not worth frettin' over. :)
I was thinking ham and cheese pizza with a mashed potato crust. mmmmmmmm. ;)
Posted 14 years ago # -
Archangel
MemberYour 100% right Robert. Yes this can be a tech forum but without some humor and run like a straight lace business it would be boring. Most members know when to be serious and also when to jest.
@ SeniorCitizen By you laughing just made my day!! Here's another one:
I'm not an admin here but good looking. Does that eliminate me??????????????
ROTFL
Posted 14 years ago # -
RunesageMagik
MemberSeems my cage door was opened by a pixie who wanted someone with expertise in thread hijacking to skim the log before it was, ahem, accidentally disappeared. I wonder if bubby was referring to me with that nod to the hijacker of yore? :-))
My 2-cents - unlike the many tech forums run by ex-military DI's (drill instructors) who are forever reprimanding posters for straying off-topic, deleting said posts or whisking them off to their own thread, this forum is comprised of a ragtag group of novices, powerusers, novices who think they're powerusers, and powerusers who have fallen so far behind the learning curve that they are in effect once and future novices, all engaged in a delightful mismash of seriousness and jocularity.
In that vein, Terri, I can only assure you that no computers were harmed by your hijacking. I encourage you to stick around at least long enough to watch someone else get chewed out for it.
[Note: if anyone's PC has been malwarified, I have one word... HijackThis, not to be confused with Hijacked Threads]
mmmm pizza
Posted 14 years ago #
Topic Closed
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