posted October 15, 2007 02:43 PM         

Let's face it, - Many threads are rhetorical, and accomplish their goal within the first post. Those that genuinely seek discourse usually accomplish that goal within the first page or two. Most threads that stay on topic die out after a page or two because there is nothing more to say, or because the thread is not allowed to "breathe", and posters do not feel at liberty to digress upon the associated subjects that arise in the course of the thread. When a thread reaches four or five pages, it is almost always because it has been allowed to breathe and wander a bit. Still, some people, usually when they don't like what is coming to the surface, make the objection that the thread has been "hijacked", and that we who allow the conversation to develop beyond its origins are, in a sense, messageboard terrorists. I find this unfair, to say the least. If it were not for these "terrorists", most threads would die after two or three pages, and most of the threads that dont die, would merely begin to repeat themselves. If we cried "hijack!" every time a thread evolved into something other than what it began as, we would have to call out more than half the threads at LL.

These are all valid reasons, in my mind,
for allowing a freer, more conversational atmosphere on the boards.

But there is an even better reason:

Threads are like children;
we want to take responsibility for them,
and to shelter them, and take care that no influence,
other than the one we intended, may come to bear on them,
and lead them in a direction unintended by ourselves.
But, like children, threads have a life of their own,
and must be allowed to grow and develop in their own way.

In the words of Kahlil Gibran:

"Your children are not your children,
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but are not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you."

I know many of us have different views on this, and all our views are worth considering, and this is a community of hearts, minds, and souls. So, please, share your views, and lets settle this, if we can.

posted October 15, 2007 02:57 PM         

You are two faced HSC, god sees all, if you connect to mOTher and FAther you would know this. \

posted October 15, 2007 06:36 PM         

It's MY thread.

posted October 15, 2007 07:47 PM         

Funny.

BR and AG,

Who said anything about negativity? I'm not talking about negativity. When a thread becomes negative, it has not taken a different track, it has derailed. That's different. I'm just talking about how the subject of a thread changes as various things are brought up which attract more attention than the original subject. Naturally, people who wish to respond to the original subject still may (and will), and there is no reason to think they would be discouraged from doing so just because some people are talking about various other things. Occassionally, a button is pushed, a sensitive point is made, and it excites passionate debate. I dont think that is arguing, or, rather, I would say that at times it is arguing, but, even then, my definition of "arguing" is not "fighting". It's more like "getting real", lol, and "getting down to business". If an issue is not sensitive, what use is it? I'd even suggest that the more sensitive a matter is, the more purpose there is in debating it.

"What use is a philosopher who offends no one?"
~ Diogenes of Sinope

"That's the difference between you and me, Jerry;
you think we're arguing, and I think we're finally communicating."
~ Cameron Crowe "Jerry Maguire"

NAM,

I agree with some of your points. At a certain point, when a subject has really caught fire, it makes sense to give it a thread of its own. At the same time, in the course of a single thread, it is nice to see many smaller themes arise and depart, return and resolve, like in a piece of classical music. The point, I think, is not to inhibit the natural flow of the thread, with too many expectations of what it "should" be.

posted October 15, 2007 08:20 PM         

I agree with HSC because thoughts do spiral and that is a good thing. Most often threads do take a bit of a turn when thoughts spiral. I like spiraling. Am all for it.

I only avoid talking about some things on threads if the person who starts a thread says something about it as I thought that BR did on his thread but when he said he was only joking I said I would be back later then to give my thoughts and opinions.

I don't think that was a case of hi-jacking a thread at all because as HSC stated it did tie into the topic. I felt it did too. I was about to reply with my thoughtS on what HSC said when I read BR's joke which I thought at the time he was serious about.

So if that is what all of this is about I hope I clarified and that it is a mistake to think I felt the thread was being hijacked just because I stated I was being sensitive to BR's feelings about his thread not knowing he was only joking when he said "abort, abort." When he said he was only joking I came back and said okay, I will reply later and give my thoughts on what HSC said about free will.

Then I come here and see all this even on Mystic Melody's birthday thread. Am baffled to say the least as to what the deal is.

posted October 15, 2007 08:25 PM         

I see you as a person who is lead from one thought to another by a conversation and I am like that too so I fully understand it. It tells me that you are actually following and reading what others say.

Mostly when we post something here giving our opinions it is not because we want people to come in and just say something like " that was well said," or "you are so wise." We post them so that we can get the thoughts and opinions of others and we want people to spiral in thought along with us.

So I fully agree with HSC. But as AG and others stated, no point in our spiraling or disagreeing to turn into heated arguments over who is right and who is wrong when actually, no one is either. As long as it is not a win/lose type of discussion I am all for it and do not see spiraling as hijacking.

posted October 15, 2007 08:31 PM         

I, for example, am a complete weirdo, I just hide it better than others.

posted October 15, 2007 09:49 PM         

No, it was not about you, but, yes, what happened in Blue Roamer's thread got me thinking about "hijacking" again. I had intended to start a thread like this months ago. I think your behavior on BR's thread was fine. I realize BR was kidding, but I think it is an interesting question to raise: Whether it is the person who started the thread or not, - does anyone have the right to call "hijack!", and under what circumstances is this reasonable, if ever.

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Then I come here and see all this even on Mystic Melody's birthday thread. Am baffled to say the least as to what the deal is.

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Melody and 'Zala were just playing; its nothing.

quote:

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I do not see you as a "messageboard terrorist" HSC. Just for the record.
I see you as a person who is lead from one thought to another by a conversation and I am like that too so I fully understand it. It tells me that you are actually following and reading what others say.

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Cool. Thanks. I know sometimes I can come across like a broken record or a one-trick pony, with this "we don't have free will" stuff. But that's the Scorpio in me, I guess. I would rather focus on one thing well, and see it through. And its the one thing I've found that I think needs to be realized by the general public, and would speed up all our progress, as human citizens, and as a community of spirits. Many teachers, prophets, and saints throughout history felt that they had been called to deliver a single message/lesson, and they are remembered for having imparted just that.

quote:

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Mostly when we post something here giving our opinions it is not because we want people to come in and just say something like " that was well said," or "you are so wise." We post them so that we can get the thoughts and opinions of others and we want people to spiral in thought along with us.

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I agree. But often we post just to share something; an article, a link, an encouraging image or illuminating bit of wisdom. We may be interested in people's reactions, or we may just have faith that the universe will handle it from there. We may be more interested in getting other people to think and discuss a thing, than in entering the discussion ourselves, having already made our minds up carefully in private. Whether people respond or not, we get them thinking, and this has its value. Often, in the astrology forum, people just post to say something about their own chart, or the relationship they are in, without really wanting or caring about responses, for the most part, determined to ignore any comments or advice. These are all examples of how threads can accomplish their purpose in a single post, without necessarily having to be written for the purpose of hearing people say, "well said," "you are so brilliant," "OMG, HSC, you are a genius", what-have-you.

quote:

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But as AG and others stated, no point in our spiraling or disagreeing to turn into heated arguments over who is right and who is wrong when actually, no one is either. As long as it is not a win/lose type of discussion I am all for it and do not see spiraling as hijacking.

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BR and AG did not say that. You are putting words in their mouths. BR said "negativity", and AG said "arguments". You took it upon yourself to define that as an argument (or debate?) in which one person is right and another is wrong. The thing is, Mirandee, in life, often someone is right and someone is wrong. It is not so much that the people themselves are right or wrong, but the views they hold. So, when a view "wins" or "loses" it is not the person who wins or loses. Hopefully, in all cases, it is truth that wins. This is something we ought to all desire. When truth wins, we all win. Only the ego loses, right? So, why should we be afraid to see our view tested, in order to discover, defend, or advance the truth?

posted October 15, 2007 10:13 PM         

I agree it does pose a good question and a good discusssion.

I also agree that sometimes we do just post an article of interest to us or a song or something that has absolutely no ulterior motive to it and we don't always expect a response.