Can we stay on topic please?

[Bob]

I keep clicking on threads, start reading, and then the thread goes off in some direction other than what it started in.  And usually, that direction is not remotely related to the original thread at all.  It's getting annoying.

(steps down off soapbox)


And no posting on this thread unless it's on topic.

[ihatepop]

I also feel the same way, but I don't think that there is anyway that we can stop people from changing the topic.

ihatepop

[thalbergmad]

Indeed.

Did i ever tell you about my neighbours refrigerator?

Thal

[mad_max2024]

I also feel the same way, but I don't think that there is anyway that we can stop people from changing the topic.

ihatepop

That's easy, just make topics about religion...

[arbisley]

or about whether perfect pitch is naturaly acquired or can be learned....

That's the whole fun of topics, that they do stray onto different paths. But maybe it's annoying because they are so remote and get stuck on the same thing over and over again and it always pops up in "new replies to your posts" and you can't get rid of it....

[maul]

Now now Bob, we don't want to turn this place into a nazi moderated black and white cookie cutter forum do we? No. I believe we want natural discussion which will evolve in whatever way it is meant to based on the interaction of human beings.

[debussy symbolism]

Greetings.

I find the extemporaneous deviation from the original topics quite endearing actually. It only supports the perpetual growth of the topic. The mind isn't a computer that can only stay on task. That is what makes us human, is that we can discuss and evalutate different points with different eyes, and with positive consequences indeed. A prim topic is a prim topic, with no spice in it, thus ending all wonder. But a topic that is mulit-faceted and highly opinionated is bound to stir emotions and make us wonder.

[jakev2.0]

I find the extemporaneous deviation from the original topics quite endearing actually. It only supports the perpetual growth of the topic. The mind isn't a computer that can only stay on task. That is what makes us human, is that we can discuss and evalutate different points with different eyes, and with positive consequences indeed. A prim topic is a prim topic, with no spice in it, thus ending all wonder. But a topic that is mulit-faceted and highly opinionated is bound to stir emotions and make us wonder.

Salutations

I must respectfully disagree, my good chap. *adjusts monocle* For you see, the circumlocutory nebulosity of such a pelle-melle extemporeanaouaoieityious approach to discussion may result in little more than a gnathic post-ante-diluvian-contrappuntal verisimilitude.  Good day. To the Old Bailey, Jeeves!

Indeed.

Did i ever tell you about my neighbours refrigerator?

Thal

Do tell.  After, I may indulge you in the exploits of myself and Count McFeatherstonehaugh on our Rhinoceros trapping expedition in Sumatra. The secondary aim of the mission was the propagation and elucidation of the works of Sorabji.

[thalbergmad]

That used to be the longest surname in the UK until the Poles arrived.

Thal

[jakev2.0]

Evidently you haven't met my friend Sir. Oliver P. Antidisestablishmentarian, P hd, OBE, BBQ, LOL.

[thalbergmad]

Its Antidisestablishmentarianism.

He gets narked if you spell his name wrong.

Thal

[debussy symbolism]

Salutations

I must respectfully disagree, my good chap. *adjusts monocle* For you see, the circumlocutory nebulosity of such a pelle-melle extemporeanaouaoieityious approach to discussion may result in little more than a gnathic post-ante-diluvian-contrappuntal verisimilitude.  Good day. To the Old Bailey, Jeeves!

Interesting sentence structure there.

[pies]

There are too many people on here that write in a very scholarly manner. This is a forum, not a damn master's thesis.

Oops I'm getting off topic. 

[opus10no2]

It would sometimes nice to keep things tight and on topic, but without a little looseness we would never have been born.

[arbisley]

except if we made sure the elements of sexual intercourse were strictly held to necessity of reproduction and were constrained so as not to procure any pleasure to either individual partaking in the arduous activity 

[Bob]

Just start a new thread for spinoff conversations.  Maybe there's a way to add a "new topic" button on the thread so it's easy.

[gorbee natcase]

All children should be conceived in a Lab

[preludium]

It's not a good idea to make users responsible for failures of the forum software. These bulletin boards suck hard, but they are the standard on the net for a reason I'll never understand. If this forum was accessible via NNTP with a web interface for people who don't know the difference between the internet and the web, a new thread could fork off with a different subject. Even in HTML forums you can create a tree structure that would allow for basically the same thing. But it's always the worst solution that is accepted by men, no matter what subject one is talking about. Any discussion will drift if it gets long enough - I suppose there is no way to prevent this. And with the question about adding a button or so - you're probably asking at the wrong place. The admin won't do any changes to the software for fear that updates to newer versions won't work.

[arbisley]

We have a topic which stays on the subject, and look, it´s short and not particularly interesting! I agree that long spin offs are a pain, but little asides make it so much more fun.

I didn´t know there were other solutions available, as you said, with a "tree" structure to the conversations, but I suppose the admins want simple minded surfers to be able to keep up with what is happening in the conversations ...

[ihatepop]

That's easy, just make topics about religion...

Ok now you're ruining everything.

ihatepop

[soliloquy]

Interesting sentence structure there.

It is my inferrence that Jake was conceiving a somewhat solipsist soliloquy in your vernacular milieu to abase you for your flagrant and often flammical use/misuse of archaic verbiage and pedanty, not to solemnize your floccinaucinihilipilification.  A way a lone a last a loved a long the riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.

[debussy symbolism]

It is my inferrence that Jake was conceiving a somewhat solipsist soliloquy in your vernacular milieu to abase you for your flagrant and often flammical use/misuse of archaic verbiage and pedanty, not to solemnize your floccinaucinihilipilification.  A way a lone a last a loved a long the riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.

Thank you "Soliloquy" for reminding me how Jake was conceiving his paragraph to remind me of my sloppy useage of "archaic" grammar.

There must always be irony on forums...

[jakev2.0]

It is my inferrence that Jake was conceiving a somewhat solipsist soliloquy in your vernacular milieu to abase you for your flagrant and often flammical use/misuse of archaic verbiage and pedanty, not to solemnize your floccinaucinihilipilification.  A way a lone a last a loved a long the riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.

Globularly centrific observation.

[invictious]

Very interesting suggestion here.

We are actually rather mature here, compared to other forums like guitar (shudders).

It's nice to be flamefree and a mature forum here.

Oh yes, remember how Lisitsa killed her husband by playing Rachmaninoff?

[ihatepop]

Oh yes, remember how Lisitsa killed her husband by playing Rachmaninoff?

BEEP BEEP BEEP security alarms triggered! You have just changed the topic.

This offense is even worse in this case! You are changing the topic of a thread discussing changing the topic!

ihatepop

[thalbergmad]

BEEP BEEP

Are you "Road Runner"?

[pianowolfi]

It's nice to be flamefree

I am not flamefree

[arbisley]

going off topic...

[pianogeek_cz]

I say it's completely OK to veer off topic in the Anything but piano room. Not as much on the Piano board... There are actually people who are not very intrigued to read about Alkan when they wanted advice on a Bach fugue. (Disclaimer, just in case: this is a made-up example to crudely illustrate my point; I can't post a link here to such a thread. )

[ihatepop]

Are you "Road Runner"?

Nope. I'm not good at running, nor jumping, nor any ball games. I am, as you say, a sports noob.

The only sports I play are badminton, a bit of golf and swimming.

ihatepop

[alzado]

How many hours would one have to keep replaying Mendelsohn's "Spinning Song" in order to set a world record?

Cats are among the few species able to monitor their surroundings when they sleep.

[ihatepop]

How many hours would one have to keep replaying Mendelsohn's "Spinning Song" in order to set a world record?

As long as your fingers can permit.

ihatepop

[tds]

It is my inferrence that Jake was conceiving a somewhat solipsist soliloquy in your vernacular milieu to abase you for your flagrant and often flammical use/misuse of archaic verbiage and pedanty, not to solemnize your floccinaucinihilipilification.  A way a lone a last a loved a long the riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.

skepto, i want an english lesson from you. me english quasi primitive and plain boring.

[tds]

skepto, i want an english lesson from you. me english quasi primitive and plain boring.

sorry its off topic, but i can't help it.

[virtuosic1]

Indeed.

Did i ever tell you about my neighbours refrigerator?

Thal

Oddly enough, one day, in a pyrotechnic fit of roid-rage, I put my fist right through the side of a refrigerator! Incredible, but true.

[pianistimo]

so much for telling women about their PMS.  i tell you, eggs are the way to go.  they damage easily but are relatively cost effective to clean up.  and, they don't cause damage to your hands. 

[thalbergmad]

PMS

Pianistimo Mental Syndrome

[ahinton]

so much for telling women about their PMS.  i tell you, eggs are the way to go.  they damage easily but are relatively cost effective to clean up.  and, they don't cause damage to your hands. 

Depends whose eggs they are, surely. I mean, you'd not waste yours on such an exercise, would you, Susan?...

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

PMS

Poor Mrs. Susan, n'est-ce pas?...

Best,

Alistair

[prometheus]

Bob, welcome to the internet.

[thalberg]

OHHHHHH BOB!!!!

I have the best idea for you!!

If you want to talk about a certain topic, just go to a totally unrelated thread and start talking about it.  Then you'll get to talk about your topic, and chances are good people won't hijack that thread because it's already BEEN hijacked.

[ihatepop]

hen you'll get to talk about your topic, and chances are good people won't hijack that thread because it's already BEEN hijacked.

But then what about the BAD people?

ihatepop

[G.W.K]

I agree with the first post by Bob. You begin reading some thread that is interesting and it turns out to be so boring. Most of it is pointless faces or symbols...I don't read many threads any more...

G.W.K

[invictious]

My refrigerator is like a microwave.

Discuss!

[G.W.K]

How does the answer "NO" suit you Invictious? LOL

G.W.K