# A question about non-sequiters **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 29, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005 "2013-04-29T14:26:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/1 "2013-04-29T14:26:03Z")
Is responding to threads with complete and utter non-sequiters/nonsense responses an actionable offense? Say I went into an IMHO thread about cats vs dogs and I posted, “I don’t know about you but there aren’t many things I enjoy more in life than the smell of the color yellow.” Or went into a GD thread about anti-gay marriage arguments and I posted, “When did we all become so used to the idea that Thursday comes after Wednesday?” Or went into a pit thread about people who declaw cats and posted, “Strawberries! Canoes! Shiver me timbers!” Would complete, off the wall responses receive moderator attention, assuming they were just one off things and the poster didn’t keep coming back to the same thread posting nonsense over and over again, that is. ---
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/2 "2013-04-29T14:34:49Z")
Isn’t that called “hijacking”? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/3 "2013-04-29T14:44:59Z")
It would probably be considered trolling to some extent. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/4 "2013-04-29T15:03:27Z")
And it is spelled “non sequitur”. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/5 "2013-04-29T15:14:59Z")
It would be a bit trollish, hijacking, and jerkish to post a non sequitur for no good reason. But sometimes a non sequitur is done purposely for effect, e.g., if someone brings in a point that they think is relevant but is actually totally non-relevant, a non sequitur would be a commentary on that unrelated (and thus, non sequitur) point. Or if someone posts incomprehensible drivel (which does happen), then a non sequitur is the well-played response. Sometimes a non sequitur is a humorous response because of some way a post was phrased or it makes an allusion to something foreign to the topic at hand. But, technically, if they’re done for a reason, then they’re not really non sequiturs, but just have the appearance of one and would be a tangent. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/6 "2013-04-29T15:23:53Z")
Um, giraffe? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/7 "2013-04-29T16:05:18Z")
That’s not what your mom said! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/8 "2013-04-29T17:06:49Z")
Isn’t the OP asking how much of a jerk he can be without getting a official reprimand? Why would any mod want to answer that question in the abstract? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/9 "2013-04-29T17:29:57Z")
Depending on the exact circumstances, it could constitute: 1. a joke 2. an appropriate response to a nonsensical thread 3. threadshitting 4. hijacking 5. trolling As with many questions, this will depend on context and background. So the question can’t be answered without a specific example. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/10 "2013-04-29T17:43:21Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Isn’t the OP asking how much of a jerk he can be without getting a official reprimand? > > Why would any mod want to answer that question in the abstract? Why would any mod want to drink periwinkle horchata with the Duke of Wellington? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/11 "2013-04-29T17:52:15Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Why would any mod want to drink periwinkle horchata with the Duke of Wellington? What does that have to do with kosher hotdogs? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/12 "2013-04-29T18:48:17Z")
The Non Sequitur Society: we may not make sense, but we sure do love pizza! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/13 "2013-04-29T19:06:20Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Why would any mod want to drink periwinkle horchata with the Duke of Wellington? Don’t knock it if you haven’t led a horse to water. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/14 "2013-04-29T19:08:00Z")
Wombat anyone? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Like\_Pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I\_Like\_Pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Like_Pie)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/15 "2013-04-29T19:17:28Z")
I like cheese. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/16 "2013-04-29T19:46:20Z")
Q: How many surrealists does it take to change a lightbulb? A: Fish! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/17 "2013-04-29T19:54:15Z")
> [@moriah](#): > > Q: How many surrealists does it take to change a lightbulb? > > A: Fish! Let’s not forget the grapist. In his own way, this is exactly what he was doing. Got him banned, as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/18 "2013-04-29T19:55:28Z")
All right, all right, we’ve started off here with a very nice question concerning “non-sequiters” and some reasonable discussion of the issues, but now it’s all gotten just a bit silly. If you want to continue in this manner, we’ve a lovely little thread over in the Game Room, and you can non your sequiters [sic] all you want. Thank you, and have a nice day. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/19 "2013-04-29T19:58:54Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > All right, all right, we’ve started off here with a very nice question concerning “non-sequiters” and some reasonable discussion of the issues, but now it’s all gotten just a bit silly. If you want to continue in this manner, we’ve a lovely little thread over in the Game Room, and you can non your sequiters [sic] all you want. Thank you, and have a nice day. [Link to Non Sequitur thread.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NauzKqmJ6y8) ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005/20 "2013-04-29T20:09:06Z")
I don’t think Drew was trying to see what he get away with. This is a pretty legitimate question. The answer would let me know what to report if it looks like somebody is posting nonsense to get attention. I wouldn’t want to report anything if this isn’t something that the mods would take issue with or would be with their time. Plus I haz cupcakes [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-non-sequiters/657005.md?page=2)