Why are there so many derailed threads?

[tulipsandroses]

Is it just people not having “forum etiquette?”, or deliberate trolling?
Lately, on too many occasions, I start reading a thread about a topic that
interests me, only to find that it’s devolved into an entirely different conversation. I then have to wade through those posts to find responses related to the topic. What gives?

[Kaleva]

1. Legalized pot maybe?

[dweller]

2. You mean like when a few posters go at it

with each other so much that the convo ends up moving to the right of the screen and gets narrower and narrower and the one or another responds with a screed that ends up feet or yards long about what pisses them off too, and you have to manic scroll past the bs to see the original topic ???

yeah, me too

✌🏻

[tulipsandroses]

3. Yes! Exactly like that

It’s rather odd.

[Karma13612]

13. I find it very

Frustrating in another Democratic forum where the thread structure is very hard to read when the derailing starts.

I actually give up and move on to a different story.

[littlemissmartypants]

15. A hijack. nt

[relayerbob]

4. Been using the internet and it's predecessors since 1981

Standard operating procedures. Very few groups and discussions don’t get derailed or polarized. Staying on topic is the exception, not the rule.

[leftstreet]

5. Stop bashing Amtrak

You mean like that?

[lame54]

6. Die Hard was a good movie

[Iggo]

11. A great Christmas move, that is.

[Earth-shine]

20. I recently saw Die Hard 3 and thought it was great!

What were we talking about?

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Yes, under the radar trolls.

[Hekate]

12. +1 Stinky

[FreepFryer]

18. +1. nt

[SYFROYH]

8. I blame Olive Garden

[Dr. Strange]

14. No more chicken threads, please.

[Karma13612]

9. Bojangles!

Cue the clucking chicken…

My husband hates when I imitate the chicken sound. Now that we are back in the south where Bojangles are, the ads are on the TV all the time!!!!

He will have no reprive until mid-April!!!

Hahahaha

[orleans]

17. this post needs either a pic of you imitating a chicken

or a youtube link to the commercial

(or a signed affidavit from your husband stating he hates it when you do the chicken sound)

[Tanuki]

22. It's Bo Time!

[Karma13612]

26. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

Perfect!!

Can’t wait to play this a few times to get the ol’ guy really going!!

As an aside, we think their chicken is better than Kentucky Fried Chicken. At least compared to the KFC we have had. It might vary by region…

[Karma13612]

25. Hahaha

No chance!

[Hekate]

10. Squirrel?

[littlemissmartypants]

16. Whole lotta trolling going on lately. JMHO.

[orleans]

19. omg--welcome to my latest thread

it derailed from the get-go
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216040095#top

[Sewa]

21. Yes, completely hijacked

Classic thread trashing. 💀🤙

[tavernier]

23. You mean like this?

Yup, we have many Zax who like to go back and forth after the rest of the world has lost interest.

[betsuni]

24. I dislike all the kill the messenger derailment, although

sometimes it's entirely appropriate.

For example, if someone with a history of derailing threads with accusations that pretty much all media are part of the corporate media conglomerate and are right-wing sources but then posts something from Fox News because it's favorable to politicians they like, that kind of oblivious double standard needs to be harshly mocked. Gives away that's it's a game for them.

Whole threads about the source without discussing the topic. Yesterday I almost did it, too! Saw a stupid headline and began reading a stupid article, then looked at the link and thought, well of course it's stupid, it's Truthout, they're unreliable. But if I just complained about the source I'd be breaking my own rule. Was too lazy to bother pointing out why the article was wrong, so just didn't comment.

Also, threads devoted to how much everyone hates someone without discussing the actual topic. Who cares?

[fescuerescue]

27. Can you believe that Rittenhouse judge?

Gheesh.