A question was hijacked by OT reply comments

Zack T. -

The thing is, he really is not breaking any rules. Just one of those types that has to reply to posts thinking he knows the answer but drifts off topic and says stuff (but nothing rude or bad) that really does not help at all. Not a - troll? (sorry, I am not such an expert at the terms) just a wayward (lonely) soul type. Annoying.

A comparison would be if a question was posted asking about a hardware glitch on a Mac and this guy starts talking about using solutions that would not help with the problem at all but just starts off in that direction, for the sake of talking. It seems…

This is not an issue of enforcement. I'd like to deleate my post and start over. But we can't? We have no control over discussions we originate?

I'm a level one here but, have used the Mac since 1985. Maybe he thinks I don't know anything and he needs to show off but, I actually know way to much!

capaho -

Thanks for demonstrating the problem/questions of this original post. I have no need for points. I expressed no desire on how to get points. But somehow, you felt compelled to add a brief blurb - or whatever that was that you posted - on earning points. Why?

capaho -

That is indeed a good thing to add to the conversation, may explain part or much of why what I originaly posted happens, and I do appreciate that observation very much.

But why not say in your first reply “The point system is the main reason why there is excessive posting, including too much OT posting, in these forums.”?

Just posting a link, as your first reply did, really does not do much (irrespective of my reading it and hopefully deducing what you actually meant - a terrific comment).

Thomas A Reed -

Ultimately, I am not refering to any specific discussion but to my experience here and at other forums (which generally allow members to edit or deleat posts).

I am not sure what about my reply in the link you posted in your reply here is ungracious? Indeed, I would say that it is actually kind of ungracious that you would take the time to search my posts and choose that one and then say I was ungracious. Your reply is the meta example of OT posting, posting. IMHO

Michael Black -

I totally agree with all you say. It is not my goal to control but, as I say in the original post, start over with a better worded post to avoid the problem entirely. Well, hopefully avoid it. I have made posts on forums and years later, had a one and only very odd and typically OT reply! So one never knows.

Concerning English: It is my native tongue and even I botch it up all the time! 😁

Plus whatever that thing is called concerning email, places like this, where you type something and people get it all wrong. Including me typing and reading. Lack of in the flesh visible cues? Not knowing irony, etc. (not everybody does, you know?)

Americans are also pretty casual (or Europeans and other cultures are pretty formal - take your pick) using first names and being less formal in conversation which, does not always translate well in forums and emails. Maybe that is also at play here; OT additions or non sequiturs are a casualness found in online culture… 😉

Michael Black -

Yes, this is what I thought. Of course, that fix it clock is too short and replies end up hitting the post after the timer goes off.

Burried is right. That is another problem here. Too much. I also often find my answer faster to problems simply by searching on Google than searching here.

Apple's search method/mechanism here is one I have never understood and produces a lot of results that do not seem to be relevant to what one is looking for. I find this true in Apple Mail and in the OS search options too. Eudora mail search was always brililant and spot on. I also use Launch Bar for searching my drives now. Now I am off topic! 😉