Experimenting with keeping threads on topic

[sylverone]

Today though, it is somewhat more difficult to tell because of the increased number of threads, number of posters, and complexity of each thread. Sort of like being faced with 500 TV channels now on cable. Compounding this issue is the fact that each thread may contain multiple unrelated topics. So the question is: how does one know what topics are being discussed without laboriously reading each post?

The use of quotes as we are doing here can help with this. By knowing exactly what is being responded to, a person can find those posts within a thread that concern their interests.

An easy way for a person to ask questions about certain information could be helpful. The most direct way to know exactly what information is in a thread is ask those who have taken part in that discussion. If there was a place in the forum dedicated to the requesting and trading of references, people could find recent discussions about topics they wanted to discuss/learn about. If no one responded with knowledge of such a topic, then there would be reason to start one.

One easy thing to do is this; if a particular thread has a title that might not indicate clearly what the discussion is about, people participating could suggest a more apt name to the user who started said thread.

Aside from these things, in larger forums it is often useful to use the forum 'search' feature. Although it doesn't guarantee you'll find what you want, it can be quite useful, and has several options.

The type/theme/topic of discussion desired by the person starting a certain thread can be clearly stated in the first post. People who are deviating from the stated topic can be aware when they are doing so and make efforts not to move too far away from the original intention of the topic's originator. In general, it can be encouraged that every post in given thread somehow "tie in" to the original topic, although I feel that this need not be strictly enforced.

These thoughts may be helpful. I do not know of anything else to add, at the moment.