Who owns a thread and diversions

By George, I think she's got it!

When I joined it never occurred to me that someone might 'own' something, I thought it was an open discussion group, where we could throw a thought or two in the pot and see what transpired. Conversation is what it all about I think, and we can often start with one thing and end up with an entirely different topic, interesting. The odd snipe is sometimes unnecessary, but again part and parcel of a diverse group of people with views to express.

But GNHQ didnt used to like diversions.

And some posters complain about diversions, while others say it doesnt matter[myself included].

GNHQ has never said anything about diversions!

Lona

I think it's a bit like the difference between a conversation and a lecture. In the latter, a speaker gives their talk, usually without interruption, and may invite questions at the end. A conversation between a group of people may well be started by one of them, but will often divert, twist turn and generally sort of "develop" as more ideas & opinions (or even personal anecdotes) are thrown into the mix.

Just my opinion.....
No the op doesn't own the thread but I consider it bad manners to "high jack" a thread and make it all about you and your situation. Also If someone wants to deviate quiet a bit from the topic then they should start their own thread.

They did to me Ana as part of an email, a few months after I joined.

By the time I'd typed this I see others had posted the opposite opinion.
That's what it's all about

I agree ninathenana.
But threads about threads seem to be a definite no no.

I think it is polite to stay near to the opening post.

As I said yesterday on the Baby Boomers and booze thread,
Nobody "owns" the contents of a thread they start, although it can be frustrating if it is derailed especially early on

Yes, it can be annoying if a thread started in good faith goes off at a tangent, but unless this is done deliberately to "high jack" a subject that's how discussions and conversations develop. If someone is being deliberately contentious or obstructive I suppose GNHQ might step in but otherwise you have reached the correct conclusion in your final 2 lines.

Mind you, I think the poster with the antisocial neighbour felt miffed at how that thread went,(!) but to reiterate
nobody owns a thread

ninathenana

I actually do think that there is not much of a consensus.

I think more are in favour of diversions than not.

And more are in favour of someone does not own a thread.

But I am not sure.

And often some quieter posters can be in the minority camp, which may actually be the majority.

It is a bit like a conversation- it moves on.
If you read the whole thread you can often see the connection but if you read the start and the end you might be baffled.
You can always try and get it back.

Yes Alea. That is 1 of the reasons I started the thread.

She didnt come back for a day, and then it had gone jokey.
And when she did come back about 5 days later, she said she wasnt going to reply again as her thread had gone haywire.

How long should we wait for posters to come back before the diversions?
1 day? 5 days?

I agree with that too Leticia.

To my mind, on a site as small as this, it is quite easy to get it back to the op again.

Personally I dont think I see a problem.

Maybe a bit early to assume there is no consensus, you started this thread at 1/4 to 9 and came to your conclusion at 9.01!
I think most people so far agree, but maybe it is too soontosay, soontobe(see what I did there? )

I got told off quite forcefully for digressing slightly by an OP who I have to say didn't stay on GN for very long. I drew my own conclusions from that.

True.

But the mention of diversions comes up quite a lot, as does, who owns a topic.

x post

I don't think the question of anyone 'owning' a topic comes up very often at all!

Yes, there are sometimes complaints about 'derailment' and 'hi-jacking' of threads, but we do have to accept that threads can wander, as is so often said!

I have a box full of chocolate cakes that I need to take to my DD - oh whoops! - a diversion

It's going to happen, that's life. Get over it!

If it's that important then it can always be brought back on track by a subtle reference to the OP.

Having said that I do get frustrated with threads which are not especially political being hijacked by political activists to spread their brand of potted beef

Yes, same here!

I've never thought about the concept of 'owning' a thread. They do tend to wander and I can understand if that happens early on and goes wildly off track it could be rather annoying to the OP. But it happens in RL too - a conversation can go from one thing to another, and it can be fascinating (and often hilarious!) trying to unravel it to find out how you got from, say, decorating the living room to the best fruit cake recipes.
And yes, Anya I thoroughly agree with your last paragraph, that can be aggravating!

If anyone owns the thread it's the owners of the site. They're the ones who carry the can if someone sues because of alleged libel etc. Which could lead to the disappearance of the forum.