Dear folks, sometimes the topics get a little off topic, actually they go way off topic and they at times drag on for a few pages with nothing relevant to the original topic, and often the replies are one liner jokes that are just bantering back n forth that really would be better off in the free for all.

 

That being said, we don't want make any rules for that, because part of the attraction of our community is that there really are few general rules, yet along with that philosophy comes a responsibility to use it wisely and not abuse what we have here.

If we could just cut down a tad on the off topic posts I think it would be a good thing. I know myself, when I view a topic, I sometimes get a little frustrated that I have to filter through many posts before I can read something related to the original topic, and it's not just one topic that starts to bug me, it's when I want to read all the topics for the day in a forum that it becomes cumbersome to roll through the pages full of posts that are not at all related to the original post.

 

This is your community folks, you ultimately steer the way we roll around here, by your suggestions in how to improve our home here.

So what say you all? Would you like to have more targeted topic threads? I think out of respect for the original poster, we should keep it dialed in to their project they took the time to share with us and or ask questions about this or that.

 

Thanks for your ear and welcoming all feedback on this. Again, we will make no rule about it, but hopefully we can keep it at the top of our head as we reply to a topic. I am just as guilty as the next guy at times, I'll remember to keep my own off topic posts down to a minimum as well.

I'll try but, speaking of green airplanes...

Stay on topic?! Next you’ll be wanting me to pay my taxes!   Okay John I hear you, I will try to keep my inner child, inner LOL.

Yes Sir Captain ,

Herb

I'll try too, nose bleed or not...

I'm pretty sure we're going to need a weekly reminder for a year or so.

weekly.. eh...

Bumping to the top, please folks, keep the woodworking topics pointed, on point, on topic, and lets cut down on the jokes that tend to send a great topic off on a tangent.

Thanks for your cooperation!

I'm guilty.

45 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

I'm guilty.

We all are, we can get better, and we will!

48 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

I'm guilty.

Me too!

2 minutes ago, John Morris said:

and we will!

That is in what I consider the "iffy" possibility

Try to keep things on topic, but sometimes just can't resist/control myself! 

Well, to be honest I kinda enjoy it when they go a little sideways. Doesn't to seem to do harm to the subject matter and often is related to an "oops" you want to avoid.

1 hour ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

often is related to an "oops" you want to avoid.

Those aren't bad Fred, they can be quite productive, the off topic context I'd like to avoid are completely unrelated commentary to the topic, items that are not even craft related, a topic starts off asking a question about sharpening a chisel, and 8 posts later we are discussing the neighbors cow because someone made a joke about utters.

OK, John. But I don't see that very often (I also don't read every thread) and if one goes too far off I would think the paticipants would bring it back into focus. But I was just offering my opinion about the whole thing.

15 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

OK, John. But I don't see that very often (I also don't read every thread) and if one goes too far off I would think the paticipants would bring it back into focus. But I was just offering my opinion about the whole thing.

Your opinion is highly valued!!!! Thanks sir!

I'm guilty. At times I've known the subject was off topic but continued with the off topic posts. To minimize off topic posts, we can simply not reply to the off topic content.

No one likes to pass up the opportunity for a good quip/joke.  Smiles are always a good thing.

10 hours ago, John Morris said:

Those aren't bad Fred, they can be quite productive, the off topic context I'd like to avoid are completely unrelated commentary to the topic, items that are not even craft related, a topic starts off asking a question about sharpening a chisel, and 8 posts later we are discussing the neighbors cow because someone made a joke about utters.

Ha Ha Ha, you said otters! I think you meant udders! Cause I’m such a farm boy LOLOL. Maybe we could change the forum name to Patriot Woodworking and Humor Forums? On a serious note I have tried hard not to hijack threads since the last discussion about it, but I think I really help the others when it starts deviating from its course. I will do better. Thought from somewhere deep inside my empty cranium, does this tend to happen more in summer? From my own experience I know I actually get much less time in the shop in the summer. I have many more woodworking questions in the winter. Also John, this probably doesn’t get said enough, but thank you for all your work keeping this place running. Also thanks to all those who help you. 

Yeah, Artie. Most of the help is pretty OK. Now, if we could just keep the company plane pilot sober.....