How much control should the OP have? I do not want to “be a jerk”. Does this mean that the person posting a new thread should be able to restrict the response of posters? Would it be rude to post an answer that does not follow the instructions in the OP?
For Instance:
Just wondering. Thanks.
pv
The merit of “hijacking” threads is a matter partly of consensus, and partly of individual opinion. Personally, whilst I feel sorry for the occasional person whose OP has been taken over this way (it’s happened to me), some of my favourite SDMB moments have been in hijacked threads.
However, you are talking about threads in which the OP has made a specific request for this not to happen. In these cases, I think it is a balance between board custom (a certain amount of hijacking is tolerated) and the wishes stated in the OP.
As a matter of courtesy, the OP’s wishes carry weight. When it becomes ugly however, board custom prevails - and that would be the basis of most moderators’ actions.
Just my 2c.
If I saw something like this, and I wanted to debate the topic at hand, I’d start a GD thread, with a link to the post or thread which sparked my interest. In this case, the OP knew that the topic has been discussed ad nauseum (Latin for “to the puking point”) and wanted to just talk about one little aspect of the subject.
:rolleyes:
I’ve still only limited experience of the mores of the SDMB, complicated beastie that it is – but slight hijacking, especially with apologies, and a quick moving back to the point of the OP, seems to be tolerable around here. I agree with TLD that the OP (opening poster, opening post) holds weight, but if the members chose to hijack the thread all to heck, there is little that can be done.
Most of the time, tho’, it seems to be custom and peer pressure that keeps a lid on things around here. When you have up to 1,000 folk looking at you and shaking their head negatively, you either fall into line, or never be seen around these parts ever again. Just IMHO.
It’s also frowned upon to hijack a thread in a way which would be appropriate for a different forum, regardless of the OP’s requests. In fact, a moderator will often chime in to that effect. In the example in your OP, for instance, that might have been a GQ thread asking about the scope of current gun laws. Posts on the merits of gun control, however, would be GD material, and thus not appropriate in a GQ thread.
There are exceptions, of course. Occasionally you’ll see an OP like “Who else thinks that the current administration’s gun policies are a foetid pile of wildebeast smegma? Note: I don’t want a debate, here.”. There, though, the problem is with the OP, not with any replies.
Hmm. My common sense and natural instincts require that I seek advice from some of the veteran dopers. You may take a different approach if it suits you. I am not familiar with these “whiners” you mention. It seems to me that most of the time, folks are pretty responsible, direct and helpful.
Thanks all.
pv
When you see someone sign on to the board to immediately call the SDMB posters whiners, the reaction should be “DNFTT”.
On a related topic, can I make a modest proposal to THE POWERS THAT BE?
I suggest that anyone posting any gun-control argument, pro-or-anti, for say…the next 12 months (?) get their fingers broken by Uncle (“Lenny”) Beer, Chronos the Nose, Nicely-Nicely Coldfire, Gamblin’ Gaudere or any other of our tough-but-fair mods.
Whatdaya think?
Fenris
Well I don’t know what you guys are talking about but I’m thinking that the Second Amendment is passe and should just be cut out of the Bill of Rights. And I mean the original one in the National Archives.
::Polishes knuckles::
Can do!
your humble TubaDiva
See Tuba? That sort of responsiveness to the needs of the Dopers is why we all worship you! 
Fenris
Posted by Fenris: “I suggest that anyone posting any gun-control argument, pro-or-anti, for say…the next 12 months (?) get their fingers broken…”
You can take my gun control threads when you pry my cold, dead fingers from around them…