[Hope4me2]

Ok just so I do not get accused of highjacking a post about highjacking I am posting this one. So anyone who wants to add to it can. Humor Doc John just having fun here.....

I am totally GUILTY as charged to highjacking posts.
So in my defense...I WILL SAY THIS...I was a NEWBIE and did not fully understand what I was doing I guess you could say. I got caught up in the shuffle of things and just wanted to be liked that was all.
So sorry from now on I read and re read my posts to make sure I am just adding to the person and not adding to the last persons posts. So I am learning.....

[jennie]

I think that your thread would not of been considered hijacking if posted within Doc John's thread defining hijacking.

He did say, "Most people who engage in this behavior probably don't realize what they're doing, and don't mean to do it." This post would of supported his statement.

However, I think it's great you are being honest and desire to remain supportive to the threads. BRAVO!!!

[sometimes]

Personally i don't think there is such thing as hijacking. Naturally, when you're having a conversation with someone, the conversation will veer off on different tangents. I don't think people's posts should be deleted just because they're 'not relevant enough'. Everyone has a right to say something. However, i have not yet had a post where this has happened so i don't know what it's like.

i think it's brave to step up and admit to something that you did.............it's cool. pat

And *I* hijacked a dogfood thread! So, last night I kneeled and said 3 Hail Mary's and 2 Our Father's. I think we're OK now, aren't we Pat??

em

[jmo531]

I too am guilty. I have done this

[Wants2Fly]

I'm going to weigh in on hijacking. My feelings were hurt when my thread was hijacked, and two people already mentioned on Dr. J's thread how this can happen.

The two people who realized they'd hijacked a thread started a conversation between themselves about something on a thread someone else started. I had this happen to me when I was new here. It happened after I'd already had enough responses to get what I needed out of my post -- but I thought it was silly. Here were two people, writing very brief posts back and forth to each other that involved conversation strictly private and between themselves.

IMO, I also think that using threads for this kind of back and forth conversation is, in general, distracting and should be taken to PM. I understand that others are going to disagree with this. They want to give public thank-yous, etc., to those who have helped them. So, those of you who want to hang me by my thumbnails because you hold this idea dearly -- I respect and understand your position on this.Let me say that again:I respect and understand your position. In fact, I DO THIS SOMETIMES!!! I have, however, been PM'ing more when I just want to say something to someone about a post, that doesn't contribute to the dialogue. Sometimes, the PM seems to mean more to the person than the public post. Of course, posting little tidbits, such as "Thank you. How sweet of you" pumps up one's number of posts so one can quickly rise through the status ranks. But that's an entirely separate matter. I am teaching online now and students are discouraged from posting these kind of distractions to the discussion threads.

Another way of hijacking a thread is posting a reply that <font color="blue">grabs attention away from the poster's original topic.</font> Yes, sometimes a topic slides in a new direction. That's called conversation. But some people are rather skillful at disrupting conversations and always making it about them.

<font color="purple">Here's anexample:</font> Let's say someone asks what people at the Forums do to keep themselves healthy. You're likely to get replies about nutrition, exercise, relaxation, etc. If you post something that is controversial or goes against the grain, such as, <font color="purple">"I think we should all wear aluminum cones on our heads to keep out the electromagnetic radiation,"</font> the conversation is going to switch to people discussing this. Some may think you should check into an ER for professional help right away. Others may believe that aluminum isn't going to do the trick -- we need to wear lead helmets. And others will want to debate what the government should be doing about EMR. A new thread is off and running. Sometimes a person doesn't think about how a comment such as this will be disruptive. But there are also trolls who do it on purpose, to watch the fallout.

I don't think anyone wants to make people feel uncomfortable for inadvertently hijacking a thread. But taking a thread and turning it into a private conversation is something we can self-monitor. It's a little more complex to predict when a response may turn a thread in a new direction. We can't always predict how others will behave.

However, if our post introduces a new idea, I think we can take a moment to consider whether we want people to discuss this new idea or whether it is simply a contribution to the thread. Dollars to donuts, a person who thinks we should wear aluminum cones on our heads has encountered resistance to the idea in the past and knows that putting it out there is a <font color="blue"> "look at me"</font> statement.

[SpazKatt]

you know I'm sure I've done some hijacking of my own, and I'm not even aware of it! Don't be too hard on yourself!

[MissSurfy]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Of course, posting little tidbits, such as "Thank you. How sweet of you" pumps up one's number of posts so one can quickly rise through the status ranks. But that's an entirely separate matter.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Eeek, I tend to be someone who feels bad or uncomfortable if I don't say thank you, but it isn't related to the above, and that wouldn't even occur to me. Is that how it tends to be taken? I would guess that many may feel like they should or find it hard not to, even if they do know they shouldn't feel that way (i.e., the insecure/uneasy). But especially if they are new or don't use boards often.

Are thanks-yous are on the person's own thread considered hijacking? Not the makings of good reading, quite true I'm sure . But a valid option if it is their thread, I would have thought. Taking it to PM, again maybe more so for those who are newish, unfamiliarish, or not board frequenters, may not feel like the most natural option.

(This was noted as an "entirely separate matter" but under the circumstances I knew that couldn't mean "...after this one thing...")

[sometimes]

Well, you know what i think?

I think we should all wear aluminum cones on our heads to keep out the electromagnetic radiation

just joking

[wi_fighter]

I think you guys have all watched Signs one too many times.

[Wants2Fly]

Sorry -- I was unclear. No, I don't think "thank yous" are hijacking. However, a long list of "TYs," say a single one for each and every person who responds, means that a new reader has to scroll thru a lot of "chatter" to get to the next post that means something in terms of the discussion.

Look, I'm not saying that such chatter is bad, or wrong, and I DO IT! It is distracting rather hijacking.

You post an interesting question, Miss Surfy, about whether a person can hijack one's own thread. But I gotta get ready to go to work . . .

[Dolfin]

I think when a member thanks each and every person who made a positive post to their thread is not only being polite, but gracious as well. I don't look at that as them 'hijacking' or wanting to raise their number of posts, but merely showing their thanks and gratitude to everyone who took the time out to read their thread and make a post to it.

Jenn

[MissSurfy]

That's what I was thinking Dolphin, and wanted to take the opportunity to note that I think the reasons for doing this vary and are usually well-intentioned. The desire or "compulsion" to do so can be very strong; and also, while we shouldn't post to someone *expecting* to be thanked, I think it's also true that sometimes people hope to be, especially if to them a lot of feeling or effort went into what they said; or they want to get to know and are extending the hand of friendship to that person. (And hey, at least with thank-yous what everyone is sitting through is people "good-willing" towards each other! )

It is probably true that, especially for anyone who reads many threads, it isn't the most interesting reading, and I undertstand the distraction characterization. But if it is the person's own thread and they don't mind "risking" any of that, I think it's fine. Of course everyone should be aware of all their options and the benefits of each, such as waiting til the apparent end of the thread to thank everyone at once or PMing, and then they can decide which is right for them.

Now, maybe if someone does end up 'hijacking' themself and the actual subject gets changed, with their blessing or at their own initiation, options for those interested in the original subject might be just forging ahead with it (that probably couldn't be seen as hijacking); starting a different thread on it; or even just asking if it's ok to resume it, by posting to or PMing the originator. Especially if it seems to be genuine small talk at that point, rather than that the original poster addressing another aspect that also matters to them.

(Blah blah blah... I don't know why I always seem to be attracted to the principle and process stuff!)