Before coming to SoulCast, I regularly perused a site where the sitemasters provided subjects and questions and the participants answered with their own opinions and ideas. There was almost no interchange between the members. However, when there was interchange some of it was one member chastising another for not sticking strictly with the subject.
One time when this happened to another member, I inserted a rather long comment in defense of the one attacked and received a genuine thanks from him. An interchange of ideas can spread (imagine).
On Soulcast I have noticed people have commented something to the jist of stick to the subject of the post, stupid. In fact, a couple nights ago I was reading a post and after comments had been made, the writer of the post made a statement but preceded it by saying it had little to do with the subject. This amazed me. The writer was apologizing for varying strictly from their own subject on their own post.
Now remember, people will normally and naturally comment and give answers and opinions in strict accordance to the subject of your post.
But what if they stray? I hope kruuyai doesn't mind my quoting her. On gingersoul's post "Are you really reading the comments?", kruuyai made the following comment: "I love it when things get off on a tangent (just like a real life conversation), and I like to see the interactions between everyone here....".
I couldn't possibly agree more with you, kruu.
If I did a post on a human relationship and someone commented on fricking tulips, I would answer about the tulips. And if other members wanted to talk about tulips, we would have a conversation about fricking tulips.
I want the interchange, and if it turns into tulips, we will be on a flowery subject (I realize this is a far out example, but its for the point, not the flower).
Am I wrong here?
Is it improper or bad manners to stray?
Do you mind when people stray with a comment on your post?
beyondtheveil posted on Oct 26, 2007
| views: 409
Comments
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silverwhisper said on Oct 26, 2007....
personally, i think that it depends upon the blog entry, and the way in which the comment is off-topic. as a rule i think it's OK so long as it's related in some fashion to the blog entry or the resulting discussion.
ed -
queenparanoia said on Oct 26, 2007....
i agree with ed... it really depends on the subject of the post. but it does get interesting when the comments make the post's idea broader. it means we are learning from each other... =) -
bloc said on Oct 26, 2007....
It's about balance and context. If you're trying to debate a political point and someone keeps throwing out unrelated tangents the conversation degenerates quickly.But tulips are nice ;) -
uniquely-ironic said on Oct 26, 2007....
I don't mind off subject comments, though it does make me sit back and say "Hmmmm, what drugs are they on?!". Eventually even the tangent can develop into another whole discussion, which may eclipse the original idea. -
lfbno7 said on Oct 26, 2007....
There's something to be said for stream of consciousness. James Joyce did okay with it. And there's something to be said for just accepting people and appreciating what they give you.
Well no, actually James Joyce didn't do okay with it. I read Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, which is one huge stream of consciousness, and found it kind of hard to take.
There, was that far enough off the subject?
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gingersoul said on Oct 26, 2007....
BeyBey....and i answered to Kruu agreeing with her...
I think its like in real life..i mean, how many time we start a conversation on some subject and we end up talking about the sex of the angels?..:-0
It all depends by the open mind of the host, i think, and by the candor of the commenter..
You can see that sometimes "drifting" comments are innocent slips and not purposedly wanted..so in this case derailing its ok....
In other cases ..you can read the voluntary digression..in that case the host has all the rights to put the commenter on the rigth path again...
Btw, talking about tulips would be lovely...:-0
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mobil said on Oct 26, 2007....
I posted yesterday about taking my dog for a walk and finding a dollar in the grass and how exciting it was, not so much by the amount of money, but the pure excitement of finding (folding) money in general.
Well today, and I have to admit while walking with my dog I was actually looking for money in the grass, didn't find a thing.
BUT, when I went to the store afterwards, what do you think was laying there in front of a soda pop vending machine? Yup, a quarter, haha, that's a buck and a quarter in two days. YAHOO.
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bloc said on Oct 26, 2007....
"BUT, when I went to the store afterwards, what do you think was laying there in front of a soda pop vending machine? Yup, a quarter"
My grandfather used to glue a quarter to the floor in places where he worked ;) -
beyondtheveil said on Oct 26, 2007....
Ed- You said related to blog entry or the resulting discussion. I take that to mean straying is ok? You don't mind off topic conversations (resulting discussion)?
queen- Can you give me an example of a post subject you wouldn't want people to stray from? For instance, would it be asking a question on a personal matter or something else?
bloc- I've seen that happen and usually the comment is skipped over and ignored. But I understand what you are saying.
unique- Then you are saying you don't mind so long as the original idea is left intact. I'm getting the feeling that's what most want.
7- Actually, I have difficulty following Joyce's stream of consciousness. I read portrait of an artist and it clued me in early I shouldn't even start Ulysses and Fennegan's Wake. (did I handle that stray ok?)
ginsoul- Does this mean since you are the third one mentioning them, I should do a post on tulips? I think its like in real life also. Conversations will drift and can take you into many interesting areas. I think you should do a post on sex of the angels- just think where that might take us.
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mobil said on Oct 26, 2007....
That's funny, I worked in a sawmill in Libby Montana years ago. This guy came by every day and grabbed his lunch bucket really fast and headed out to the smoke shack to eat.One day when the guy wasn't there, someone mentioned about this guy and how fast he grabbed that lunch bucket on the way to eat and have a smoke. So this other fella says he's gonna nail the lunch bucket to the floor of the mill when the guy comes back.Sure enough he did and we all stood around waiting for this guy to come past and make a grab for that bucket.Here he came, full speed and he ripped the handle right off. Everyone trying hard not to laugh as this poor guy was half way to the smoke shack before he realized he didn't have the rest of the bucket.I enjoy a good practical joke. -
beyondtheveil said on Oct 26, 2007....
mobil- I think I'm starting to collect wise asses. I found a dime the day you wrote that post. Since your's was a dollar, I wasn't about to comment. I almost never find money- except pennies.
bloc- It may take me all night and into tomorrow to figure why someone would do that.
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Suddenrain said on Oct 26, 2007....
Beyond, I believe if it's a serious subject, the topic should be addressed and not strayed from. But a funny or casual conversation is ok to stray as long as the original subject is still the basis and doesn't stray to far from the host/hostess original subject. It would just seem rude for someone to lead the conversation to far from the thoughts they blogged about. -
beyondtheveil said on Oct 26, 2007....
mobil- You worked in a sawmill? That wasn't listed in your job list the other day was it? When I was working we used to nail the safety cones to the street when a guy parked his truck and went into the house. -
beyondtheveil said on Oct 26, 2007....
sudden- Thanks. This is what I wanted, which is people's feelings on the matter. -
quietone said on Oct 26, 2007....
beyond ~ I think its sometimes funny when we get off the "subject" of the post. Of course unless it is a serious one, and I think for the most part most people here can tell the difference and reply as such. I do however think its a bit rude when a couple of people start a conversation between the 2 of them on someone elses post, ignoring the host and everyone else. That is what PMs are for. -
quietone said on Oct 26, 2007....
beyond ~ oops I hit submit twice.....LOL caught it in time! or maybe I wanted to mention the tulips and money I found! -
mobil said on Oct 26, 2007....
Yeah I listed sawmill Beyond, two in fact. The one in Libby Montana and I worked cutting re-saw at a redwood mill on the coast North of San Francisco.
I'd bet lots of things were nailed down in practical jokes Beyond. It's fun to work with guys who will do those things as long as it's kept in bounds.
When I had my company, I always worried about someone trying to be funny with the high pressure air hoses. I once read where someone trying to be funny blew an air stream into another fellas pants when he bent over. The air went right up his whoha and killed the poor guy. Joking can be funny, but is easily carried too far.
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lfbno7 said on Oct 26, 2007....
Beyond, I actually read Ulysses. But the thing is, first I read the Cliff Notes to see what in the hell was going on in each chapter before tackling Joyce. I think the word "weird" about sums it up. There was one comprehensible chapter in Ulysses, the last one, written in ..... get this ..... English! It was my favorite part of the book and it was really very good.
I think we're both pretty comfortable moving from one topic to another. And I particularly identified with being called Stupid, because that's what my wife always calls me.
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Twylarants said on Oct 26, 2007....
I agree with Suddenrain, it depends on the subject, and perhaps the poster, also.
Personally, anyone can talk about anything they want to when commenting on my posts. But then I have a very short attention span. I love reading "stream of consciousness" because that's how I write and speak. And personal remarks between two commenters are fine with me. Slugs ate all my tulips this year.
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wombat said on Oct 26, 2007....
I don't mind if the subject gets off kilter on my posts at all. I don't even know if this has happened on my meager posts, but it doesn't matter to me.The only thing I worry about is being the one that took someone else's post and led it into something entirely different because of something I said. I am always trying to be polite, but sometimes I mess up. -
Suddenrain said on Oct 26, 2007....
Awww Wombie, what a sweetheart you are. :-) -
queenparanoia said on Oct 26, 2007....
beyond: hmmmmm difficult question beyond... well i also guess it depends on whose post it is. especially if it is something polittically some soulcasters dont want to go off topic... oh my i'm just repeating some soulcasters topic and oh yeah some people go offf topic because they were already commented...
by the way i love tulips. i wonder how many kind of tulips are there??? =)
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kruuyai said on Oct 27, 2007....
beyond: I think you already know how I feel about this subject. ;-) The point I want to make about tangents is that they are related to the original post in some way. But usually what happens, is that one person's comment will push another person's buttons or pique their interest or draw them in in some way, and they will feel compelled to comment on what may have been a minor point in the other person's comment. Then, somebody else picks up the stream, and off they go! I think this can be great even on a serious or political post. My post Predator as Protector went off on a lot of tangents, but they were all serious and important topics that ended up contributing a lot to the overall discussion. Another example is a post that someone recently did regarding Abortion and the Death Penalty (sorry, I can't remember who posted it). Someone made a comment that had something to do with animals in the context of the original subject, and that got off onto a huge, long tangent about animal rights (my fault, I think), which picked up a lot of steam and was really interesting. Eventually (as usually happens), the comments got back to the original theme, because, of course, there are always those who just read the post and comment without reading all the comments. So, if the original topic is interesting enough, the comments will come back around. Your example about tulips, as well as what mobil did with his story about finding money in the grass, were both examples of non-sequiters (sp?) rather than tangents (I think Grapekoolaid did a post on those, and it was pretty funny). I don't think that non-sequiters happen often enough to make it annoying. When they do happen, it's usually because the commenter missed the point of the original post. I guess I do find it annoying at times, if I've taken care to make a point that's important to me, and it's obvious by someone's comment that they just skimmed the post and didn't get what I was trying to say, but that happens in real life, too. I don't get upset when two or more people have a back-and-forth on one of my posts. I enjoy seeing that, too (and that also happens in real life). And anybody can jump into that at any time and usually won't get ignored. It's only been a little while since SC has had the option of PM's, and I appreciate being able to use that feature once in a while, but usually, I prefer to keep most things in the open. That's what SC is all about. PM's are more like email. And I already have an email account. Well, that's my two cents worth... glued to the floor, for all you greedy people! Beyond, did your grandfather work for Candid Camera? They used to do stuff like that. -
husbandhater said on Oct 27, 2007....
I agree totally. with you. I like the interchange and I too have noticed in many and my own blogs how one conversation has branched off into another and I actually found it intersting actually. I don't like calling people stupid nor do I like one long boring post. I like when it takes you on a roller coaster ride and then it stops. Thats' what actual conversations are like and that is what life is all about. -
fearing said on Oct 27, 2007....
Hi Beyond, I stopped by to ask you about your sock drawer - do you fold them or roll them together?
;-)
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beyondtheveil said on Oct 27, 2007....
quiet- When you mentioned two people getting into a conversation on another's post, that happens quite often, usually on subjects that are highly debatable. Kruuyai's comment described this well. It doesn't happen often on the average post.
mobil- Sorry, my memory at work again. And you're right, there are many instances where practical jokes are taken too far.
7- I have a copy of Ulysses- just to have one. Maybe I'll check out that last chapter. Did you know that Joseph Campbell (the mythologist) spent four years writing a book, I believe called The Skeleton key to Fennegan's Wake, to help others read the book?
twylarants- You feel about commenting the way I do. Sorry about your tulips. Next year it might be a good idea to treat the soil first.
wombat- Your second paragraph is what this post is about. I don't want to upset other people on their post either. suddenrain's right, you're such a neat person.
queen- Thanks for answering. And by the way, I think you should do the post on tulips.
kruu- I'm so glad you noticed this and came over. You laid it all out better than I could have done. I believe people will enjoy reading this. Oh, it was bloc's grandfather that glued quarters to the floor- and I still don't know why.
HH- You are so right (especially when you agree with me). We both like the interchange regardless of where it leads.
Hey fearing- I'm so happy you asked as this is important to me! They must be folded in half and not rolled together. I guess its a psychological problem.
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Mamie said on Oct 27, 2007....
I love the conversations that turn out seemingly out of the blue. BTW: I love tulips and I have found so many pennies over time, I am sure I can beat a buck twenty five....
AND my sock drawer has seen better days...it was rainy when the laundry was done the other day and I didn't feel like sorting them or turning them into a little rolled ball, so they are all clumped in there as singles....:) -
Twylarants said on Oct 27, 2007....
I tried to get them drunk on beer.
The slugs, not the tulips.
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beyondtheveil said on Oct 27, 2007....
mamie- Between the tulips, pennies, folding money, sawmills, and socks, I've almost forgotten what this post was about. You must roll your socks together like my wife.
twylarants- I could have told you that wouldn't work.
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crybabylu said on Oct 28, 2007....
Whenever anyone comes to my blog, feel free to talk on any subject you want. If you don't like the one I chose, pick your own. I like the interaction.......... -
beyondtheveil said on Oct 28, 2007....
Bless you, crybabylu -
crybabylu said on Oct 28, 2007....
Talking about changing the subject: beyondtheveil--Last eve after I read this blog, I realized I hadn't subscribed to your blog, so I went up to the top where it says"subscribe", and the page that came up was another's blog named "classof01" where there aren't any blogs listed.
The same thing happened to me, the night before, I was trying to subscribe to Botoni's blog, and I ended up on FixXsated. "What do you think is going on with that?" Someone told me, it is my computer. Do u have a clue?
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beyondtheveil said on Oct 28, 2007....
crybabylu- I have no idea, but I have two suggestions. Either go to one of silverwhisper's new posts and ask him, he's good at these things. Or create a post to soulcast and ask them. Not only should soulcast answer, but others might also. Mine works fine. -
silverwhisper said on Oct 28, 2007....
no need for that, dee, as i'm reading this conversation.
dee, you're talking about the "subscribe" button beneath all the comments, or about some other link?
ed -
gingersoul said on Oct 28, 2007....
BeyBey....yes, please...lets talk about the sex of the angels....its one of my favorite subjects....
Pretty angels holding tulips while folding socks....great!...LOL...
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crybabylu said on Oct 28, 2007....
Ed:--Up at the top where the creater of the blog is beyondtheveil I will check again to see if it is under the comments. On some, I don't see it. (Like on this one, there isn't one under the comments, correct? Or under the original post by beyondtheveil?....Dee
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silverwhisper said on Oct 28, 2007....
dee: if it isn't under the comments, then both of you are subscribed to one another.
i don't know about this other place to link that you're talking about, dee, so i'm afraid i can't address that part of your comment.
ed -
crybabylu said on Oct 28, 2007....
Ed--When you want to subscribe to a blogger, where do you click on?
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beyondtheveil said on Oct 28, 2007....
Thanks, Ed, hope you didn't mind me doing that.
ginsoul- Look at your second line. What a name for a post!
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crybabylu said on Oct 28, 2007....
Ed--I got it! I've been going to the wrong page of the blog. I clicked on the name, then their first blog page showed up, and there is where it said,"Do you want to subscribe, and then I clicked that on. I tell you when this knot on the back of my neck gets to throbbing, my entire brain shuts down!........Heheheh! :) Thanks, Ed..........LOL, Dee -
silverwhisper said on Oct 28, 2007....
dee: my pleasure!
beyond: no, not at all--it's my pleasure.
ed
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posted on Jun 19, 2008
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......I read mine in the order of most recent, how about you? Is there any particular order you read other's posts?....... read entire post