Guys,

I didn't really want to be the first to complain, but what the heck. IMHO, a number of threads on this forum have devolved into email banter between two or three flying buddies about, for example, what they are going to do on the weekend, rather than on-topic useful comments that we all can share in and benefit from. I think emails or PMs could be used for much of what fills this forum. If one-to-one or one-to-a-few correspondence went that way, there would be much more useful bandwidth and a higher value to noise ratio.

Just my opinion, but do you think you could consider more direct communications with your buddies, so that we all can benefit when the good stuff rolls in and not have to read every "I'm going too!" entry?

Call me the grinch.....

(fire-retardent suit firmly in place)

Dave Smith

Dave,

I second the motion. A comment directed at a personal buddy now and then is all part of the fun, but back-and-forth chit-chat is what PMs are for.

Incidentally, I don't mind when a subject drifts off thread on occasion, if it is worth knowing about and is applicable to what we are about here. But it IS nice when it gets pulled back on thread, so the main theme does not dissolve into the ether.

Online forums are the best thing that has happened to this hobby since the invention of the digital proportional radio, imo.

Don Bailey

Good point......I think it is up to the person who started the thread to keep it on track....I know that when one of my threads starts to wander it reminds me to get down to the shop and build some so I can take some pictures to post and get back on track! The problem is that the thread I think he is referring to was started by one of the guys who are using it as a "chat room"....... it's amazing how a little anonymity brings out the "best" in people.... The best rule of thumb to use is right before you hit "submit" ask yourself,"Is this relevant to the topic at hand?" If not....then PM away! Or if you want to banter about what you are going to do this weekend....then start a thread titled," What are we going to do this weekend!"

While I don't disagree, I am amazed that you don't simply avoid the offending thread. It seems that approach would take less energy than posting about it.

Originally Posted by Ben Diss

While I don't disagree, I am amazed that you don't simply avoid the offending thread. It seems that approach would take less energy than posting about it.

Good point....but.....most times the thread has value or is a thread that you have been following and it gets hijacked into a "chat room".....so you open a window and see this thread you have been following at the top of the list appearing to have a new post....you click on it...and it's some jibber-jabber about flying someplace you have never heard about....and not about what the thread title states....in a perfect world....whomever moderates this section "should" be following up on this kind of "thread drift" and nipping it in the bud! But if they did that it wouldn't give us "olfolks" anything to complain about! And you are right.....this just took me 10 minutes to compile......10 minutes that I could have been working on my pull-pull set-up! Off to the shop!

OK, I see. Good point.

This thread sounds like a chat room to me.

Originally Posted by dharban

This thread sounds like a chat room to me.

right on bro, "people in glass houses".......

Originally Posted by dharban

This thread sounds like a chat room to me.

Huh? How so? Every post so far....except for yours...has been on topic....... and the one after yours....something about glass houses? Huh??? I really don't understand the logic behind either one of these posts. Neither has anything to do with the thread at hand or adds anything to the discussion of the thread at hand.....can you enumerate further on what direction you where attempting to take your post to make it relevant to the topic?

Smile -- everyone is entitled to a little fun.

Don

They can't help it, they are from the upside down half of the planet. This causes blood to pool in their heads. To counter act this they drink copious amounts of beer and this causes them to ramble on about nothing in particular. When no one is around to listen to thier rants they must find an other outlet or their brains will explode. Fortunately with the advent of the internet they are only a click away from relief. Unfortunately for the "right side uppers" we get stuck listening to ozzy bantering

How's that for off topic. or is that on topic????

I need another beer my head hurts

TFLG

Originally Posted by TFLG

They can't help it, they are from the upside down half of the planet. This causes blood to pool in their heads. To counter act this they drink copious amounts of beer and this causes them to ramble on about nothing in particular. When no one is around to listen to thier rants they must find an other outlet or their brains will explode. Fortunately with the advent of the internet they are only a click away from relief. Unfortunately for the "right side uppers" we get stuck listening to ozzy bantering

How's that for off topic. or is that on topic????

I need another beer my head hurts

TFLG

Actually that was dead on topic!