What does it mean to hijack a thread?

I apparently made someone angry and was accused of hijacking a thread in the Plant Trading forum, when my intention was simply to share information about the ramifications of the plant (that's what DG is about for me, plus comraderie in some arenas). I haven't found any instructions on what that means officially. I was sent a "corrective" email. Please advise.

Thank you.

Hi-jacking a thread is when the subject changes from the original post - kind of like when you go off on a tangent about something else.

4paws I have failed the perfect DGer many times and do the same. I often aplogise and help get back on the topic. But by the Grace of God go I.

hmmmm....
I didn't go off the subject, I thought...
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/605318/
Please let me know if I shouldn't be doing this either....

The correction was from another member.

Seems to me that you had made your point within your first two posts and should have left it at that.

Hi 4paws, not sure how Dave or the others feel about using this forum to ask this type of question but they will let you know if they prefer it not to be used this way.
I'm going to give, the opinion to your thread, that while things seemed to get just a tad aggressive, I believe JRush has been around long enough to handle herself and let anyone know if she feels her thread has been hijacked. I do not think another person needed to step in on her behalf and d-mail you.
Please do not let it get to you...and go have yourself a great day. :)
Off to work I go.

Advice registered - thank you.
I didn't know where else to ask, merigold.

4paws Have I lost my mind (probably, lol) or did you ask in your thread somewhere if this was the right place to post your question? Maybe i got another thread confused with this one, that is the only reason I made the reference in my post. Opps.

No, you haven't lost your mind, merigold, dear. I did ask, and then decided to pull it out for fear I was getting too uptight and wierd...lol

(do you get threads confused, too? Please don't let it be just me....hehehe)

Thank goodness, I really did think I was losing it! We do all have our days though.

4paws, highjacking a thread isn't anything new. It happens all time. Highjacking is fun, it's when the most knowledge is exposed. Sounds like who ever had a problem with your supposed highjack had a problem with what you were trying to convey. Don't feel bad.

Terry

Hijacking a thread can be fun and informative - true enough. Most hijackings are unintentional and good natured. When that's the case, *most* of your fellow posters won't mind a slight tangent within their thread. (A few may become irate if they're trying to keep the thread succinct and focused - and we should respect their desire to keep their thread on topic.)

However, when you use someone else's thread to debate a plant's invasiveness, that's no longer an innocent hijacking. Instead, that's a rather impolite abuse of their thread for your personal soapbox.

You may feel a trader is (wittingly or unwittingly) passing along an invasive plant. If so, then a private dmail - or perhaps a single post in their thread to alert everyone to the plant's potential for being invasive - will suffice.

Jumping in with both feet and insisting on debating a "hot topic" within someone else's thread is likely to get you censured - either by your fellow forum participants, or by admins.

4Paws,

Sorry you've had a rough experience. I like to say over and over again I love this website and I mean no offense when I make my posts. It is so nice when others share this view and keep to common curtesies. I am sure I may be guilty of "highjacking" now that you mention it (can't say for sure) and certainly didn't intend to ruin things! I'll be more careful to make sure I don't overstep my bounds now that I know. It's just too easy to start your own thread I suppose. Don't let it get you down though!


This message was edited May 31, 2006 7:15 PM

Terry' post reminds me why Dave's is the place it is. They really do try to make this a place that is comfortable for everyone. And yes, people do look out for each other. And, many a people have been in your spot 4paws (I've been around a couple years but post so little that it's kinda hard for me to get in "trouble" lol). I respect that you asked for others opinion and, most importantly, were able to except the honest answers that you got. :)

Thanks to all who have written in about this - it is my first time setting off a "hot" button, & the result is not a feeling of bliss. It was not my intention to upset anyone, & I find it disturbing. We see so much dissention every day in our world. But this is a place I want to escape from that dissention. "All is good with the world when in the garden." The same goes for DG.
I appreciate the viewpoints here - they match my own with respect to "hijacking."
Perhaps this thread could be referenced with future hijacks as well.
Thank you again - peace of mind is invaluable!
Julie

This sentiment is the very reason why the people who are passionate about invasive plant problems need to be careful with how they spread their message. I get a little more grumpy each time I hear a good member express feelings like this and it certainly doesn't help your cause at all. Of course, we've talked about all this in the past and it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

If anyone ever asks me why I don't give a lot of concessions to the anti-invasives people, I'll refer them to this thread.

Dave