At What Point Should The Original Question Be Left Alone?

The reason I ask is this:
The mods have always been very adamant about keeping the focus on the original question and not getting off topic and all that jazz. Which makes perfect sense and I agree with that.....

HOWEVER....don't you think there is a point where the original question has been answered enough times and NEW questions have arisen and the original question should be left alone?

I ask this because I have seen it happen many times where a thread is already a few days old, the original question has been answered many times, the OP has acknowledged all answers to said question and have moved on to subsequent questions. Then someone comes along, completely ignores the fact that there are 2 days, and 3 pages worth, of conversation and they just answer the original question. It actually gets confusing!

And then one time when I tried to politely point out that the question has been answered several times over the last few days and things have moved on....I am called rude.

Here's the thing....I realize things get posted WHILE we are posting and answers can get repeated several times as a result, BUT I am talking about days old threads. Where the questions have been answered for days....not seconds or minutes.

Where I am going with this is, I think that if a thread is a day or two old (or more) and already has many responses.....I think everyone should at least take a quick skI'm before you post, at least of the first page, and make sure the answer you plan to give has not already been given many times. I realize we don't always have time to read through a few pages of stuff...but a quick skI'm through the first few responses would be nice, especially when the question was asked days earlier!!!

As for that unwritten rule about staying on topic and keeping the focus on the original post.....I think there is a fine line there! Because often the conversation goes another direction once that original question is answered and often it is the OP who took it that direction because they now have new questions!

And just to branch off of that.....I think that a SMALL element of debate on a thread when the responding people have differing answers should also be allowed. To an extent anyway! The OP will see more than one answer, so they would benefit by those people explaining why they gave their answer over the other answer. BUT...if that "debate" takes off, then a new thread should be created. That's for sure. But I think a couple back-and-forths should be allowed so that the OP can understand WHY people may have different answers. But it seems that as soon as two people disagree on the right answer, a mod comes along and says take your disagreement elsewhere and focus on the OP. If I have a question and I get two different answers, I'd like to know why each person gave their answer over the other....and if that results in a brief debate, I think that is a helpful thing! Emphasis on the word BRIEF!! LOL

Anyway, just thinking out loud. What do others think?

 

I definitely agree, a small debate is a good thing because it helps open up multiple possibilities for the OP to decide what is a best fit for his/her situation. Just as long as that debate is off topic or takes up an entire page then it should be allowed. I don't think a debate should even last that long, if someone wants to rebuttal then they should put all their supporting evidence into one reply.

As for the day old threads that have 2+ pages of replies and clearly have an acknowledge answer to the OPs question or situation, I believe that if a new 'viewer' sees a NEW answer to the OPs questions then It is okay to comment but if it is the same answer that has already been mentioned then he/she should either not post anything or read the full thread (or a good skim) and then contribute to the current topic.

In short, the original poster should be the #1 focus of the thread, if he/she is on board with the thread wondering away from the original topic then it is fine, but if the original topic/question(s) have yet to be answered then those should be the main focus

 

I agree with you, people get mad when you address other problems with their tank. One time this guy asked what the algae was and it was concluded many times that it was diatoms, and when we started a discussion on his stocking problems he got defensive and I was bashed by some other people.

 

I agree, I think it's pretty natural for answers to the original post to lead to more questions, and I think that's a good thing! It's the only way we learn

I think if the OP hasn't asked further questions then there is no need for a debate however (eg, stocking comes up frequently even if the OP hasn't asked about this). That being said there's nothing against asking the OP if they are open to advice on a potential issue!

 

I believe it should be asked if the OP wants to talk about stocking issues, if not then that is that.

 

I wasn't necessarily talking about situations where threads migrate to stocking when they shouldn't. That is a hot debate..... and that's not what I'm referring to.

I do however, think that there are certain questions that the op may NOT think are stocking related but actually are directly related to their stocking and in those situations I do think it's appropriate to bring up their stocking.

But for this thread I was more referring to when the threads started off as one question and the answers to that question resulted in subsequent questions...... so the original question is done and over with. But then someone comes along and takes the conversation back to the original question three pages and two days later........

As for my comment on the debating..... I'm talking about situations where people have a different opinion on what the best answer is. And I think that they should be able to debate their differing opinions BRIEFLY for the sake of the OP.

 

I wasn't necessarily talking about situations where threads migrate to stocking when they shouldn't. That is a hot debate..... and that's not what I'm referring to.

I do however, think that there are certain questions that the op may NOT think are stocking related but actually are directly related to their stocking and in those situations I do think it's appropriate to bring up their stocking.

But for this thread I was more referring to when the threads started off as one question and the answers to that question resulted in subsequent questions...... so the original question is done and over with. But then someone comes along and takes the conversation back to the original question three pages and two days later........

As for my comment on the debating..... I'm talking about situations where people have a different opinion on what the best answer is. And I think that they should be able to debate their differing opinions BRIEFLY for the sake of the OP.

Ah ok, gotcha sorry my misunderstanding. In that case then yes I completely agree, seeing different approaches to the same problem can only be a good thing!

 

I agree with you, people get mad when you address other problems with their tank.

This isn't AT ALL what I was talking about when creating this thread.....as bad as we may want to, we should not be addressing people's stocking problems when they haven't asked for it. I know it's tempting!!! believe me!

 

I'd like to point out that this forum already has rules and guidelines and active moderators.

Why are we starting new threads every few days to debate behavior? I've been on this site for a few years now and by and large people have been acting the same way the entire time. I haven't noticed the forum getting any ruder or more hostile to new members so why the sudden need to discuss these things every week?

 

I'd like to point out that this forum already has rules and guidelines and active moderators.

Why are we starting new threads every few days to debate behavior? I've been on this site for a few years now and by and large people have been acting the same way the entire time. I haven't noticed the forum getting any ruder or more hostile to new members so why the sudden need to discuss these things every week?

Personally I feel that this thread is a bit different than all of the other threads that have been posted lately. I can't help the fact that other members interpreted it the way they did.

I'm not talking about common courtesy I'm not talking about being polite I'm not talking about commenting on people's stocking when we shouldn't.....

All I'm saying is people should look at the age of a thread before answering the original question because very likely the original question is over with. Not because other members have changed the subject...... but because the original question was answered and new questions have arisen. So if the thread is a day or two old, you might want to take a peek at the responses.

And when somebody tries to kindly let you know that that original question was answered days ago, you don't need to call them rude and arrogent for doing so.

My intent was not to turn this into another Thread about appropriate Forum Behavior...... it was just a reminder that answering the original question days later can actually do more harm than good if you don't look at the rest of the thread or at least skI'm through it....

 

How could answering a question more than once do more harm than good? Aside from minor arguments when someone decides that a question has been sufficiently answered?

For example I started a thread a few weeks ago about stocking a 54 gallon tank. I received some answers to that question, the conversation evolved, and lately it's been more centered around the aquascaping and plants. This doesn't mean I'm no longer interested in the original question (if that were the case I'd just close the thread and start a new one). If someone decides to answer about how many ember tetras they think I should keep I would consider it rude of myself to tell them I've already gotten my answers and don't need their opinion, and I would consider it even ruder if someone else did so.

Someone answering the original question about stocking isn't harming the conversation in any way shape or form nor should it be discouraged. The thread is active for a reason.

If the OP is no longer interested in discussing the original question then simply close the thread and start a new one about whatever new questions have arisen.

 

EricV I agree 100%.

There's too many different examples. And yes....those are examples where not losing the original question is very beneficial.

That was kind of my point though. I feel that there are also situations where that original question should be dropped. Hence the title of the thread, at what point should the original question be left alone?

I just do think it's important if you're going to jump into a new thread and answer that original question....take a peek at the first page at least. Maybe something was discovered in the first couple posts and the question is now something entirely different...

I don't know.

 

I agree bizaliz3 , this isn't about forum behavior. Its about when its appropriate to resurrect an old thread and to check responses first so that we aren't being redundant. I agree with what's been said, if something was already resolved, I'd leave it alone unless the OP wants to hear more and/or if there's a different solution! I feel like this pertains to questions with " easy " answers over other topics that are debateable like stocking and the like. But personally if I were asking something simple and my question was already answered, I think its silly to keep getting the same answers.

 

Yes Lchi87 exactly! I'm referring to very simple questions that 99% of people will answer the same way. So Most likely, 3 Pages later, that question is no longer being discussed.....

 

My point is though is that if it were an "easy question" that has been answered it shouldn't ever turn into a 3 page conversation in the first place. Close threads when your done with the question.

Most people are only checking recently active threads. If you no longer want answers about (hypothetical) the question "is my guppy pregnant" (the answer is yes if she's been with males) perhaps a conversation about (again hypothetical) "what type of filter should I use in my fry tank" shouldn't be occurring under the original thread 6 days later. Just close the thread and start a new one and this issue doesn't arise.

All that being said I do agree that it's good practice to bother to read a thread before jumping in to it. I just don't see where it's become such a problem that we're having this conversation in the first place.

 

My point is though is that if it were an "easy question" that has been answered it shouldn't ever turn into a 3 page conversation in the first place. Close threads when your done with the question.

Most people are only checking recently active threads. If you no longer want answers about (hypothetical) the question "is my guppy pregnant" (the answer is yes if she's been with males) perhaps a conversation about (again hypothetical) "what type of filter should I use in my fry tank" shouldn't be occurring under the original thread 6 days later. Just close the thread and start a new one and this issue doesn't arise.

All that being said I do agree that it's good practice to bother to read a thread before jumping in to it. I just don't see where it's become such a problem that we're having this conversation in the first place.

The last time I checked, we didn't have an option to close our own threads? It was my understanding that either mods had to close it or it'll close itself after a period of time...if we do have the ability to close our own threads and we are diligent with closing them after our questions have been answered, then yes, this wouldn't be a problem.

Anyway, I agree that I don't think this is a rampant issue right now but its nice to get clarification regardless. I don't see a problem with this thread being posted either. Freedom of speech?

 

I can definitely see both sides of this issue. This forum does seem to be almost militant about staying on topic, almost to the exclusion of the ability to advance the discussion without starting a new thread. And I can see times where a thread with a simple answer could get to six days old before the OP is through asking all the resulting questions. I also find it somewhat annoying that threads lock themselves after a certain amount of time, particularly build threads, since some of those can move very slowly a times, and span a great deal of time.

On the other hand, there is another forum, of similar nature (we deal with cars over there instead of fish, but a lot of the themes remain the same) where it is something of a game with the long-time members, such as myself, where once the original question has been answered in depth we see how fast and how far we can get from the original topic. We also do not have threads closed for reasons related to time inactive over there, which is nice for things like build threads, where it may be a year between events worth posting about, but has the rather annoying side effect of someone coming in who "doesn't know how to use the forum/computer/other generic excuse (which somehow precludes them from being able to read the "post new thread" button) who come in, resurrect a six year dead thread to ask a question that is only related to the original topic by virtue of being about a vehicle. That of course, since over there we are mechanics, with the level of civility and manners you'd expect from a bunch of grease monkies, requires said computer-illiterate individual to quickly don their flame-proof suit.

 

I can definitely see both sides of this issue. This forum does seem to be almost militant about staying on topic, almost to the exclusion of the ability to advance the discussion without starting a new thread. And I can see times where a thread with a simple answer could get to six days old before the OP is through asking all the resulting questions. I also find it somewhat annoying that threads lock themselves after a certain amount of time, particularly build threads, since some of those can move very slowly a times, and span a great deal of time.

On the other hand, there is another forum, of similar nature (we deal with cars over there instead of fish, but a lot of the themes remain the same) where it is something of a game with the long-time members, such as myself, where once the original question has been answered in depth we see how fast and how far we can get from the original topic. We also do not have threads closed for reasons related to time inactive over there, which is nice for things like build threads, where it may be a year between events worth posting about, but has the rather annoying side effect of someone coming in who "doesn't know how to use the forum/computer/other generic excuse (which somehow precludes them from being able to read the "post new thread" button) who come in, resurrect a six year dead thread to ask a question that is only related to the original topic by virtue of being about a vehicle. That of course, since over there we are mechanics, with the level of civility and manners you'd expect from a bunch of grease monkies, requires said computer-illiterate individual to quickly don their flame-proof suit.

I honestly don't mind the slightly "militant" take this place has on staying on topic. Before I became an official member, I used to use this site as a base for research and I'd often get frustrated when I'd go to click on a thread hoping for some valuable info and halfway through the thread, find that it's been derailed. :/

I think the people that run this place generally do a good job of discerning truly off-topic posts from ones that are different but related to the original topic. I don't see an issue with someone pointing out that an aquascaping question has no place on a stocking thread and would be better off posted to a new thread in the appropriate section for example. You tend to get better help that way.

 

The last time I checked, we didn't have an option to close our own threads? It was my understanding that either mods had to close it or it'll close itself after a period of time...if we do have the ability to close our own threads and we are diligent with closing them after our questions have been answered, then yes, this wouldn't be a problem.

Anyway, I agree that I don't think this is a rampant issue right now but its nice to get clarification regardless. I don't see a problem with this thread being posted either. Freedom of speech?

Maybe I missed a change while I was gone for the better part of a year but we used to have the ability to close our own threads. If that isn't the case anymore then that changes the whole nature of my argument. I'll have to look into it.

Edit: I'm not seeing options to close/lock my threads so apparently that isn't something we can do these days. Perhaps that's something we could look into bringing back at some point just to avoid these kind of issues.