# Is it allowed? Thread splitting **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 23, 2014, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011 "2014-02-23T10:17:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/1 "2014-02-23T10:17:53Z")
If a thread is going strong, and related issues arise, and they are good ones, but the multitude of different conversations going on makes a thread unbearable, unreadable, and way off topic, can it be split? Can anyone do it? Start a spin off thread? Do Mods do this sort of thing? Is there any way to force people to stop posting off topic in great debates? This is probably in the rules but I couldn’t find it just now. If it is, where are the rules about this? And yeah, I am sort of in the dark, hence this topic. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/2 "2014-02-23T11:27:33Z")
First, Mods are supposed to put the kibosh to any conversations that get off topic. However, I’ve noticed they’re are a little lax on this issue when the thread topic has been thoroughly hashed out and people still want carry one the side conversations. But yeah, people “split” threads all the time. The poster usually starts off with something like: “Inspired by X thread.” It’s fairly common. I’m surprised you haven’t seen a thread like that. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/3 "2014-02-23T11:29:14Z")
For example, a sidetrack about an xkcd comic came up, and I want to start a thread about it. Here’s what I contemplate before doing so, because I really don’t know. Copy and paste the start of it, as well as all related responses, in a new thread. But in great debates? IMHO? Is a discussion of facts and fallacies of a web comic (which I love), where does that go? It’s contentious, not friendly. But it’s not a Pit thread. It’s not a question thread, but I would love to submit it to Cecil. Can the actual posts beMod moved into a new thread? Creating it out of whole cloth? What would the name be? A sample of the conversation > [@Has the world actually been cooling since 2002?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-world-actually-been-cooling-since-2002/681728/138): > > Like the xkcd comic, and the “data” it was based on, and the logic he used, a lot of people try to “spin” data like a pundit uses rhetoric to sway an audience. Science doesn’t do that. You don’t pick and choose and deceive to “show” something that you want people to believe. > > That is anti-science, or pseudo-science. It’s become endemic in climate science. Evidence is of course, easy to display. > > I know climate central, or rather their source, is wrong, because the data clearly shows this. With data it’s easy, you see the data, you know what is there. > > What xkcd and climate central are tap dancing around, trying to get you to not look at, is all the facts. St Louis, why that city? Why use “below zero F” as a metric? What was the complaint they are trying to handwave away? And that is about the simplest post on that matter. And, most importantly, does any of it really matter? ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/4 "2014-02-23T11:31:56Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > It’s fairly common. I’m surprised you haven’t seen a thread like that. I’m sure I have, but this is a sensitive matter, as you may have figured. Once you start splitting off every off topic diversion, it would grow like cancer. And nobody wants that. The question is more like, “Am I, FX, allowed to split off threads from climate related threads?” ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/5 "2014-02-23T11:35:22Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > But yeah, people “split” threads all the time. In my defense, I checked great debates and there are no thread splits, Mod or otherwise, in great debates, going back for some time. It’s part of why I am asking. I don’t need another hassle, so it’s best to ask first. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/6 "2014-02-23T12:10:34Z")
I suspect it may be possible for the Mods to move a few posts into a new thread, but not more than 3 or so… and you better have a darn good reason to ask. 😉 Just start the new thread from scratch, with a link to the old one, and possibly quoting a few of the most important posts you want to use to start the new discussion. Then link from the old thread to the new thread, saying ‘here’s my new thread for discussion of \_\_\_\_\_ hijack.’ Ta-da, banana split. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/7 "2014-02-23T12:11:11Z")
Start a new thread and copy some of your own material if you want to, but don’t copy and paste other people’s responses. Just provide a link to the original discussion and, in the original thread you can link to the new discussion if you want to. You don’t need mod intervention or permission. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/8 "2014-02-23T12:16:28Z")
Thanks. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/9 "2014-02-23T15:51:39Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > I suspect it may be possible for the Mods to move a few posts into a new thread, but not more than 3 or so… and you better have a darn good reason to ask. 😉 As far as I know, there is no particular limit to the number of posts we can move to a new thread. However, in most cases it would be unlikely we would move more than a few posts. We’d be more likely to just suggest taking the side discussion to a new thread. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/10 "2014-02-23T16:17:08Z")
That wood be great. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/11 "2014-03-04T17:14:51Z")
Rather than start yet another thread to ask, this one should do. I want to start two more GD threads, both climate related, but different. Is that a problem? Serious scientific threads. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/12 "2014-03-04T18:37:52Z")
I think we can all agree that what this board needs more than anything else is several additional climate-related threads. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/13 "2014-03-04T18:53:24Z")
Yeah, which is why I asked first. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/14 "2014-03-04T23:52:51Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Start a new thread and copy some of your own material if you want to, but don’t copy and paste other people’s responses. Just provide a link to the original discussion and, in the original thread you can link to the new discussion if you want to. You don’t need mod intervention or permission. Isn’t quoting also permitable? I remember that being done in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/15 "2014-03-05T18:31:07Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > I want to start two more GD threads, both climate related, but different. Is that a problem? As a non-mod, my thought: if you can limit the topic of each discussion in the OPs in some clear manner so each has a specific, limited scope, then I see no reason why you couldn’t create separate threads. However, if the topics are going to be catch-alls on climate debate, then what is served by separate threads? ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/16 "2014-03-05T18:41:40Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > However, if the topics are going to be catch-alls on climate debate, then what is served by separate threads? Exactly. If any and all topics just become the same argument, it would suck. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/17 "2015-01-14T20:48:52Z")
You know, the important questions were never answered, by a Mod, much less the Mod that matters in these regards. (that would be the Mod for GD) > [@FXMastermind](#): > > For example, a sidetrack about an xkcd comic came up, and I want to start a thread about it. > [@FXMastermind](#): > > The question is more like, “Am I, FX, allowed to split off threads from climate related threads?” > [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > You don’t need mod intervention or permission. Yes, but in this case, since it’s more climate/weather related issues, I know it’s best to ask frst. > [@FXMastermind](#): > > I want to start two more GD threads, both climate related, but different. Is that a problem? > > Serious scientific threads. There is the question that was not answered. > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I think we can all agree that what this board needs more than anything else is several additional climate-related threads. While that is sarcastic humor (which anyone involved will certainly get), I asked first. And why, after getting no answer, I did not start any new threads. It’s coming up on a year now, so I bumped the thread to remind the Mods that I asked several questions. Obviously no answer at all is an answer, just not the one I am looking for. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/18 "2015-01-14T20:57:57Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > In my defense, I checked great debates and there are no thread splits, Mod or otherwise, in great debates, going back for some time. [I started one earlier this week](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745822), about what I thought was a particularly foolish analogy that was drawn in a GD thread. Now that I think about it, the last split I started was also about a particularly foolish analogy in a GD thread. Maybe that’s my schtick. But I don’t label them “split thread” or anything. It’s just that if I think something would be entertaining to discuss but think it’d be too distracting to discuss in the thread it originated in, I feel free to use the “new thread” button to start that discussion in a new thread. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/19 "2015-01-14T21:00:51Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I feel free to use the “new thread” button to start that discussion in a new thread. I do not. In fact, I am quite certain it would not go well. which is why I started this thread, rather than one about an XKCD comic. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011/20 "2015-01-14T21:14:38Z")
Ah, wait, I remember you. The issue, then, is not at all about splitting threads, but rather about how many towns you can ride a single pony into. I suspect that if attacking terrible analogies really were my schtick, the moderators would shut me down, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-allowed-thread-splitting/682011.md?page=2)