# Should the mods intevene when a thread veers off topic? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 9, 2001, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-mods-intevene-when-a-thread-veers-off-topic/86298 "2001-10-09T09:34:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-mods-intevene-when-a-thread-veers-off-topic/86298/1 "2001-10-09T09:34:36Z")
(I’m not saying that the mods don’t already have enough to do, what with dealing with various lunatics etc), but ‘in theory’… Should the mods intervene when a topic gets hijacked, or if it turns into something that the OP specifically said it shouldn’t be? Hypothetical example: someone starts a thread asking ‘when does human life begin?’ and states in the OP that they don’t want it to become an abortion debate; should the mods intervene if people start disregarding that? ---
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-mods-intevene-when-a-thread-veers-off-topic/86298/2 "2001-10-09T10:50:40Z")
Nope. The OP should state that the thread has been hijacked and bring it back on topic. The mods can’t read every single thread on the board. Adults should be able to play well with each other. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-mods-intevene-when-a-thread-veers-off-topic/86298/3 "2001-10-09T14:50:33Z")
Naw. If the OP wishes to state guidelines for the thread, and tries to guide the discussion, that’s fine, but I don’t think it is the moderators’ business to mess with the content of a thread as long as no rules are being violated. Plus, the hijacking is often more interesting than the original topic. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Blue\_Green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Green)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-mods-intevene-when-a-thread-veers-off-topic/86298/4 "2001-10-09T17:18:47Z")
Speaking of adults, why don’t we adults all get together and have a pizza? What’s your favorite topping? Mine’s pepperoni with green peppers! ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-mods-intevene-when-a-thread-veers-off-topic/86298/5 "2001-10-10T00:39:54Z")
Different message boards regard this matter in as many different ways, but we don’t really frown on thread hijacks per se. The OP (or others) can attempt to steer the thread back on track, but sometimes a hijack is a natural result of the way the discussion develops. In short: it’s not something we’d like to create a rule for. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-mods-intevene-when-a-thread-veers-off-topic/86298/6 "2001-10-10T01:06:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blue Green \* > \*\*Speaking of adults, why don’t we adults all get together and have a pizza? > > What’s your favorite topping? > Mine’s pepperoni with green peppers! \*\* We had pizza for lunch today, and finished with an untouched pepperoni pizza due to one of the partners unexpectedly taking a liking to my veggie pizza. I hope someone took it home. I like green peppers on a fresh hot 'za, but not reheated the next day, for they turn mushy and for me have a slightly off-putting taste when re-heated. Who out there has different preferences for toppings depending on whether the pizza is hot or cold or reheated? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-mods-intevene-when-a-thread-veers-off-topic/86298/7 "2001-10-10T13:48:54Z")
Well, I will point out that a while ago, Lynn ran a short but hectic Pit campaign to “encourage” folks to quit hijacking certain types of Pit threads, the ones where the OP is whining pointlessly about something, and subsequent posters wish to express their contempt for his whining, so they merely hijack his thread, usually into sports (this was during Wimbledon, so I guess that puts it at last summer). So I guess her point is, if folks are gonna whine, let 'em whine in peace. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-mods-intevene-when-a-thread-veers-off-topic/86298/8 "2001-10-10T15:45:03Z")
Do you prefer deep dish or thin? And I like ham, green olives and extra cheese on my pizza…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-mods-intevene-when-a-thread-veers-off-topic/86298/9 "2001-10-10T21:52:52Z")
It depends on the nature of the hijack, too. If one meaningful, interesting discussion turns into another meaningful, interesting discussion, it’s one thing, but if something starts veering into another forum, it’s another. Of course, my word is no longer official, but that’s how I used to handle it.