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Edited August 3, 201510 yr by AlconH

If you want to further discuss something that doesn't benefit or stay true to the original topic then you can simply PM the user should they wish to continue the discussion, I've done this with users a few times where I've either sent or received PM's about topics.

I don't see any need to create brand new topics about off-topic debates. I can only foresee this being either unused or abused, and then we have to keep track of more threads and debates.

I think personally it would be better to keep it as we already have it and to just....well....not derail threads? Just a suggestion ;)

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Edited August 3, 201510 yr by AlconH

It's not always the case though, most of the time it's a spark between 1 - 4 people that ignites the whole thread. You can group PM that, and if you're really feeling that what you're saying is off-topic enough that it warrants a new topic in itself then it's probably something very specific that isn't really worth opening a thread for.

When I say unused or abused, I mean that it will either cause a plethora of new threads for unnecessary conversations or you're just going to redirect the entire thread to a new one. You're not necessarily going to get the ideal situation where only those who want to follow that conversation go to the new thread. Let's be honest in an ideal situation people would just learn to stay on topic rather than voluntarily derail threads. Additionally people who derail threads more often than not are doing so by replying to someone elses comments. They don't always think about what it is they're saying they just rage type, hit post and suddenly we have a burning train wreck.

I see nothing wrong with you discussing best practice for modding in a modding support thread. I don't really see any need in your example to take that out of the thread into another thread. In your example, it is a help request, the user needs help. how much help you give them is up to you. you can tell them how to fix their problem or you can give them advice on how to further prevent the problem as well. That's all relevant, it doesn't need to go to a new topic.

In an ideal world every user here would be a good boy/girl/other and they would report content rather than reply saying "this is stupid", ah who am I kidding. In an ideal world we wouldn't need to moderate because nobody would derail threads.

Edited April 18, 201511 yr by LukeD
My typing is getting atrocious so many typos

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Edited August 3, 201510 yr by AlconH

I still don't see any need for that. It doesn't make any logical sense to me to take a discussion away from the discussion. It's a support thread at the end of the day, not a ticket that gets assigned to a community team member.

If other people wish to give their advice on how to fix the problem they can, if the user needs to ask more questions to solve their problem they can. We have the facility to mark as the best answer or to up-vote the better responses now so that removes the "oh do I really need to scroll through 2 pages of replies just to find the answer" assuming of course people actually bother reading first.

If you're discussing help and advice, there really is absolutely no need to take it elsewhere, if you really really wish to discuss something like that with the person you're replying to PM them, yes other people will miss out on that PM, shame. I'm pretty sure they're not going to the thread to discuss good/bad advice with you they're going to look for help to a problem that might already have a solution. Again, "Mark as best answer" solves this problem.

At the end of the day if you want to create a thread about good/bad modding practices or advice you can do that with a few button clicks, you don't need some hotkey function linked to every post to say "I made a discussion about this here".

I understand the sentiment and I can see how such an idea would work on a very loosly moderated site like Stack Overflow.

We have higher standards than most communities though, and a forum for very loose semi-private discussion wouldn't really fit in.

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Edited August 3, 201510 yr by AlconH