Can some one explain why "getting off subject" in a question is such a no no here?

Because you are derailing the subject for your own selfish needs rather than helping the OP
I’m just kidding, I do this very often

@PretentiousArtist seen any good flicks lately?

IMO: The whole point of Fluther is for people to get answers to questions. As soon as everyone starts “getting off subject” then the answers are either unhelpful to answering the question or no longer serve a purpose once the question has been answered.

It’s not a forum ;)

removed by myself

42

You’re all so witty

I think Fluther went crazy for a sec. there.

You can also whisper. And you can make a joke once someone answered the question seriously.

Generally it’s to keep content relevant to the question. Personal conversations are good for the chat room or private messages. We try to keep questions from becoming threads with 4 or 5 relevant answers and 35 back and forth quips about “Hey!!! What’s up???!!!”

Because we need want the extra lurve!

@cyndihugs remember in that other question where you said “schlong”
I’m still laughing at that.
I’m sorry what was the question?

Ok guys, now we’re getting off subject.

@patg7590 I’m sorry can you find a link. (:

What if I give you PERMISSION to get off the subject in one of my questions!

@Val123 I won’t be mean and sarcastic like some other people <cough, cough>. I think sometimes it’s okay to get a bit off topic in certain discussions as long as it in some way can be related to the initial question. Know what I’m saying? I mean, to come totally out of left field with something like “I like to eat apples” when the question is “how do you feel about Obama for president” then, no, that shouldn’t be allowed.

Because if you do this consistently it makes the discussion difficult to keep up with and looks like the other crappy social sites (Askville comes to mind)

Besides, there’s a nice little comments area you can say “Hi” in.

Many paths can lead to the answer.
Sometimes you have to go “off topic” to get back on course.

@ItalianPrincess1217 that wasn’t aimed at me I hope…

I’ve definitely seen some of my questions get off-topic and I don’t like it. I’ve had to come in there and request that people get back on topic before. I think it’s okay if the OP is okay with it, but sometimes that’s hard to tell. Other times people are just chatting in the comments and it would be better suited for PMs.

I’m not saying I never get off topic; I’m just explaining why I think it’s so looked down upon.

@ItalianPrincess1217 Well, yeah! I mean, I would never let the voices in my head join in! But when they get off topic it’s slowly, just one comment at a time, but each comment relates to the one before it….
@SpatzieLover But it’s not always about that, just saying hi. You may be talking about Obama and end up discussing Eisenhower. I agree, it can make the discussion difficult to keep up with, but usually when it goes off topic the question is about talked out anyway.
@ChazMaz GA!
@DominicX Thanks. How was your dinner last night?

@Val123 If it is turning into another discussion, then one of the people in that discussion should be wise enough to type up another question (@NewZen does this often). Then, add a link to the discussion that birthed the thought or new question at hand.

@patg7590 You mean my <cough, cough>? No! <snickers>

Is it possible for this question to go off topic?

@ChazMaz There’s a topic?

@ChazMaz Apparently since you were just modded on here, huh?

I have seen it modded at times, and at other times it remains, so i think it depends on how diligent the mods are, or what kind of moods they’re in.

i have asked questions and seen the answers be all over the place, and i just figure oh well that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

@jca sometimes it depends on which mod is “on” and/or if they are all in the chat area

@ChazMaz Now there’s an interesting thought, can this question get off topic! That is NOT why I posted it! I seriously wanted to understand this “society.”

I got modded for this?

“Many paths can lead to the answer.
Sometimes you have to go “off topic” to get back on course.”

That is making a point. About why it does happen. And why it happens is a reflection of society.

@ChazMaz how do you manage to get modded… In this thread of all places
seriously lol

@ChazMaz I couldn’t remember what you’d said. That’s an odd one to mod. Mod’s are you listening?

@ChazMaz GA!!

anybody wanna peanut?

@gemiwing oh oh me me!

@gemiwing YOU ARE OFF THE SUBJECT!! Well, only if it has a snickers bar wrapped around it.

@Val123 if you wrapped this question in a Snickers, I’d eat it ;P

@SpatzieLover YOU ARE OFF THE SUBJECT! I like Butterfingers better

@Val123 Wanna cookie?

@avvooooooo YOU ARE OFF THE SUBJECT! What kind of cookie?

@Val123 Dunno. Have to check the cookie stash. Maybe a chocolate chocolate chip with marshmallows?

M. No marshmallows. And no nuts. And yes I want a cookie!! NOW GET BACK ON THE SUBJECT WHICH IS….um….boy, I’ve really got myself in a conundrum and I don’t even know what that is. Apparently it’s something that makes you laugh!

@Val123
This is why there are mods. The last 9 posts have little to do with the question ;P

@SpatzieLover Love your avatar. Is that your child?

@jonsblond Yes, thank you for asking. He’s the wicked witch there. Tonight it sounds like he’ll be the Tinman for our museum Trick or Treat. I’ll post a photo tomorrow.

@Val123 Is this “off topic” enough?

@SpatzieLover But, the question was, “Why is it wrong?” and this kind of makes my point that it’s not wrong, IMO. We’re just laughing and having fun and what’s wrong with that? People don’t get off topic usually until after the question has been answered.

You can get as off topic as you want! It’s fine with me!

@Val123 Um… Lemon cranberry sugar cookies?

Now, imagine if every question was just like this.

@The_Compassionate_Heretic But it’s OK if SOME of the questions get like this, right? Is my point! Most questions aren’t conducive to this kind of free-association.

Plus, PS. I never really got an answer, I don’t think.

@avvooooooo I’m sorry? I couldn’t hear you over all the chatter. Did you say you wanted the recipe?
Ingredients

* INGREDIENTS
* 1 cup butter
* 1 cup shortening
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
* 2 eggs
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
* 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
* ½ teaspoon salt
* ¾ cup dried cranberries, chopped
* FILLING:
* ⅔ cup butter, softened
* 2–¾ cups confectioners’ sugar
* ¼ cup milk
* 1–¼ teaspoons grated lemon peel

Directions

1. DIRECTIONS
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cream of tartar, lemon peel and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in cranberries.
3. Roll into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 350° for 12–14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine the filling ingredients; add lemon juice for consistency and flavor, if desired. Beat until smooth. Spread on the bottoms of half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies.

@Val123

Hey, I gave an answer. And my dinner last night was pretty good. Had falafel. :)

@avvooooooo Got it! (leaving out the cranberries though!)

@DominicX Let me go look at your answer….snagged it. You said “I’ve definitely seen some of my questions get off-topic and I don’t like it. I’ve had to come in there and request that people get back on topic before. I think it’s okay if the OP is okay with it, but sometimes that’s hard to tell.” OK, you don’t like it, but what if I don’t mind it atall?

And…what is the “OP”. Makes The Optimistic Pessimist come to mind and I don’t think that’s what you’re talking about.

And WHAT is falafel? Me thinks you just need a good, old fashioned pig roast.

@Val123

lol…allow me to educate you. :)

“OP” is “original poster”—the one who posted the question in the first place. So if you posted the question and you were okay with it, then I don’t see a problem.

And falafel is fried spiced ground chickpeas (garbanzo beans). It’s awesome. http://tagolo1037.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/falafel.jpg (That’s how I had it—in a pita sandwich).

Lol, thanks @Clair. The ones I have I got the frozen dough for. :D

@Val123 What color did you paint your toenails last?

Can some one explain why “getting off subject” in a question is such a no no here?
This thread reads like schizophrenia

the chat room sucks.

@SpatzieLover Do you like trees?

Hello please stay on topic. what was the topic again?

Why are plants green?

@DominicX That was actually another thought I had. If the O ptimistic P essimist is OK with their own thread getting off topic, why should the mods interfere? (Why am I sitting here feeling like the gestapo is going to tap me on the shoulder any second and say, “Come vithus!”)
And fried spiced ground chickpeas (garbanzo beans)? Me thinks pig roast would be better! Anyway, GET BACK ON THE SUBJECT, DK!!!

@avooooo me thinks I’ve never painted my toenails and yes, Spatize loves trees and that was dumb question and dumb questions are not allowed on this subject! And also, WHAT DOES ANY OF IT HAVE TO DO WITH THE SUBJECT??!! you people are driving me insane

@spatzi you said “This thread reads like schizophrenia” Welcome to my world! And THAT’S more like staying on the subject, thank you!

@psychadeliczebra AHHHHHHMMM!!! I can’t believe you said that! But you whispered so no one else could hear you and that’s good. WHAT DO THE CHAT ROOMS HAVE TO DO WITH THIS SUBJECT??!! You’re all grounded.

@ica “Hello please stay on topic. what was the topic again?” Sigh. Well, actually, me thinks I have forgotten myself. So that’s a freebie for you.

@chazmaz Plants aren’t green. They’re every color BUT green because they absorb all the other colors except the green, which is reflected back into our eyeballs. Did this have something to do with The Subject?

@Val123 I think there’s a pill for this! ;D

@SpatzieLover Um…acid? I don’t do acid!

@Val123 no, no…but a white jacket might be involved before they give you the first pill ;P

LOL! @SpatzieLover It’s to the point that when I see this Q come up in my “Activity for You” thinger, I just start laughing before I even open it! Do you have any idea how hard it is to type in one of these jackets?? Humming, “Strawberry Fields Forever…..”

@Val123 Why is the sky blue? Does it have anything to do with smurfs?

@avvooooooo Missy! Again, the sky is every color BUTT blue! I ‘splained that already. And yes, it has everything to do with the Smurfs (who are evil) because they to are not really blue, and I’m glad you mentioned the Smurfs because that got us back on the subject. Whew! Am I relieved!

@Val123 Where do cookies come from?

Penis penis penis. Vagina vagina vagina.

dude, you stuttered :P

So this thread is for going off topic huh?

According to Scandinavian traditions, if a boy and girl eat from the same loaf of bread, they are bound to fall in love. This is where the saying “I love you” comes from, it is derived from “I loaf you”.

My super power would probably be immortality.

LOL!

NOW we can play!

OK. Oranges

can

Kick

babys

Huh?

Wha?
@avvooooooo You don’t know it, but you just joined in on a word association game!

I thought it was one word story, oh well.

Question

Answer

Statement

Argument

Punch

Fruit (I’m trying to stop the argument! It’s getting violent!)

Food

Fight

Food has little to do with food fighting.

Martial arts

Marital disagreement ain’t cha never heard of a food fight??

Makeup sex

Broken bed

Sleep

Dreams

wet

floor

Wood

Soldier

War.

Peace

Love

Kindness

Gifts

Toys.

I can guess what the next ones going to be.

Santa

Claws (Where am I coming up with all of these violent answers??? What’s wrong with me!!)

paws

rewind

kind

Jack Black. lol

Black jack.

casino

Indians

Weed

munchies

Sunchips

onion

crying

tissue

Oh, please say SNOT!

Boogies

DAMN! I was totally going to say boogies if you said…

SNOT!

Food

Is it me, or does the answer not answer if its a short answer?

grilled cheese

Burnt

How does “snot” go to “food”? Ewww…

marshmallow

Stinky campfire smoke that always gives me a headache for days on end.

Fire

driftwood

beach

shell

Gas

Money

Macaroni and Please.

Thank you

Bitte

Byte

Husband (he’s an IT Geek)

Greek (Husband is Greek)

Latin

American

cheeseburger

naughty

spatzie

birdhouse

bird poop

feces

diapers

green

beans

summer

sunshine

sunburn

aloe

Sticky

sucker

fish

sushi

ginger

Spice

Everything nice :)

massage

muscles

sexy men

Astrochuck

Chuckie

Cheese

This gets really quite interesting if you start at the top of the game and read down quickly! You can see how all the words tie together.

Balls

throw

World Series

Damn Yankees!

Preempted TV

President

Obama

Victory

Valerie

cousin

Kissin’

mononucleosis

monotheism

religion

war

Terror

Scream

horror

film

residue

house

boat

I knew everyone would change the subject in this discussion. Should Russia join the EU?

What does residue have to do with house? @doggywuv: No, they shouldn’t.

Speed

demon

Diablo

Windows

@Samurai I was makin a joke! “residue” “residence”
97

Should we give everyone who jumps in here and gets off topic a GA? :)

Date

Carbon

diamond

@Val123 wtf there is no windows 97

@patg7590 There is.

Crystal

@Samurai that was windows 98 when it was supposed to be released in 97
clear

FINE!
Mac

wait, so are we starting over? Or do I need a word that works with “clear” and “IT”?

Big

Foot

@patg7590 Beat ya!!

@Val123 oh, now we’re changing our answers. Great. Make me look foolish in front of @SpatzieLover

myth

Mouth

Food——

nutrition

am I invisible?

@patg7590 I hit enter before i read yours…sorry! :(

no sweat @SpatzieLover
health

reform

reformation

church

mouse

The Rescuers Down Under

Disney

monopoly

credit cards

debt

life

Ridiculous inspirational self esteem videos.

waste of time

Fluther

POPPYCOCK!

snack

airplane

Dramamine

Viabom

Chicaboom

Kaboom

Dy no MITE!!

sitcom

Cheers!

tavern

ale

Sorry, baby showers get in the way of fluthering.

what?

Who

how

Why??????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Because

I said

It’s good for you!

No.

<tickle, tickle>

bribe to get a yes!

Go clean room.

Hire maid!

Get job!

recession

Ditto

jinx

High

five

i forgot about this thread
gum

How could you forget?!
Bee

get it? ;)

Pokey!!!! I got it! Had to read you saying “get it” first tho to look for it!
@patg7590 gum to five??

@patg7590 I’m wondering about that link, too?!

Cartoons

duh

@patg7590 Middle aged moms and new gum <shakes head>

television

@patg7590 I have never heard of that! Swats @spatzie!!
vegetating

Vegetation? from a TV?! <rolls eyes>

Garden

swats @SpatzieLover again!! TV rots your brain! I think you’ve been watching too much.
Rose

Hit me again! I triple dog dare you! ;o)

OLD LADY

@SpatzieLover THWACK!!! You missed the line! You were suppose to say “Promise.” Like, “I never promised you a rose garden.” And what does a rose have to do with Old Ladies??? sheesh!

IGNORANT KIDS

<rolls up SUNDAY newspaper and hits @Val123 in the back of the head> When I hear “rose” I think “old lady name”

Public education

Teachers Yeah, you don’t know how to read so the only good a paper does you is as a weapon! HA!

patience

H1N1

Cat flu

Cat poo

regular poo

Green Poo

@SpatzieLover LOL! Who would have the nerve to ask such a question!
Winnie The

Pooh

a newb either trolling or making a classic question

Hunny

Can’t believe I missed the catfight! And the POO!

Bunny

@avvooooooo I could hit you upside the head if you’re feeling left out ;)

Hop
@avvooooooo She carries a mean newspaper, the weiny!!

Bop
As in I like to bop you on the head! ;) <evil laugh fills the room>

Bunny poo

That’s ok, I frew up in the corner. You’ll find it later… And you won’t leave me out again! Muhahahahaha!

Crap! Disregard bunny poo, go with…

SOP

@avvooooooo thanks for the visual ;)

Mop

Beer

Deer

fear

@SpatzieLover YW

monster

Boogie

Widdle brudder

That’s his name in my cell phone. :D

PIB (Pain In Butt)

Booger eater

SpatzieLover!!

Diaper baby

Harley Davidson ;D

Hairy biker men

Lawyer

Thief

jail

drunk in publick

slobbering

idiot

Sarah Palin

Quitter

Loser

Sore

ache

arthritis

old people

saggy bits

gravity

String Theory

Dental Floss

dental hygenist

biannual

Event

celebrate

Dance

Son

@SpatzieLover Waa?
Daughter

@Val123 my kid lurves to dance…duh ;P

none

Two
How old is he?

Four ;D

cookies!

delete

Hosed

dogfight

catfight

want one beeaaahhhhtches?

hair weave

BRING IT!!!

bitch slap

beat down

Long nails ;P

stripper

Heel jab!

Cool shoes

High heels

<tapes sign to @avvooooooo‘s back>
Kick here!

LOL! Kicks @avvooooooo!!!
Mean

OWWWW!!!

Spatzie!

Baby!

diaper!

20/20! It’s on….

Glasses

Blind

mice

And men

P.I.T.A.

PITA? Um. Chicken?

Pain In The Ass

Egg

Egg?
Easter! (egg) I AM SO CONFUSED! But….Easter works in any case. Me to bed…Is Spatize alright??

THANKSGIVING!

turkey

@Val123 Yer one of those easily confuxed young’uns, ain’t ya? :D

chicken dance

I’m NO turkey!

foolishness

Yeah, I’m talkin’ about YOU!

clown

Back at ya’ babe

face paint

Finger paint

big mess

Man trap

shits and giggles

Spits & jiggles