# What is "threadshitting" v.2? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 31, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362 "2020-12-31T16:42:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/41 "2020-12-31T17:38:52Z")
No one will read the rules and see “threadshitting” as a reason to not join. But then I doubt _anyone_ reads the board rules before joining. Here are the terms of service of popular apps…do you read that stuff you are beholden to? [![](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/i-agree-dima-yarovinsky-1.jpg) ](https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/i-agree-dima-yarovinsky-1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/42 "2020-12-31T17:39:58Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Perhaps the older members of the board get it but people new to the board won’t and pointing them to a lengthy rules page probably won’t help much. Again, it’s an obscure term and I guarantee you the vast majority of people who visit the board do so having never seen the term before. Their first and only definition will be the one here. You’re arguing for something absolutely useless. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/43 "2020-12-31T17:43:31Z")
You seem to be concerned about new users, so let me give you my experience. I only started here in 2019 (apparently I registered an account in 2017). When I came to the forum, from Cecil’s goodbye note, the first thing I did was to read the forum rules, which meant reading [this topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/registration-agreement-rules-and-faq/823562/2). And that topic has a very clear rule on “threadshitting”. It’s common netiquette to read the rules of a forum you want to join. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/44 "2020-12-31T17:44:27Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Again, it’s an obscure term and I guarantee you the vast majority of people who visit the board do so having never seen the term before. Their first and only definition will be the one here. You’re arguing for something absolutely useless. In 20 years on this board this was the first time I was accused of threadshitting (I think…memory is not perfect). So I looked it up. And I take exception to it. I don’t care about an 18-year-old definition. I care what the majority of people will read in to it when they see that. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/45 "2020-12-31T17:46:05Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I care what the majority of people will read in to it when they see that. SDMB person: “Why did I get a mod note about threadshitting? What the hell does that mean anyway?” SDMB mod: _provides link to board definition_ SDMB person: “Oh.” Why the hell is that so hard? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/46 "2020-12-31T17:47:58Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I don’t care about an 18-year-old definition. But you should care about 18-year-old _rules_. Functionally, the rule could be “Rule 16” and not mention the term “threadshitting” at all. And mods could have warned you by saying, “this post is a violation of Rule 16”. Are you contesting your warning or are you just saying “threadshitting” is a dumb term to use? ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/47 "2020-12-31T17:48:09Z")
Because the vast majority of people will not bother to lookup unique SDMB definitions and just go with their own understanding. And while the SDMB can do as it pleases why would it work to maintain definitions unique only to the SDMB? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/48 "2020-12-31T17:49:13Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Are you contesting your warning or are you just saying “threadshitting” is a dumb term to use? I was not given a warning. I am saying the term was mis-used. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/49 "2020-12-31T17:50:12Z")
What do you suggest as an alternative? What would you have preferred **Colibri** to write when moderating that topic? ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/50 "2020-12-31T17:51:26Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > We usually go with the common vernacular. Which I have shown. Actually, you have not shown that “your” definition is the common vernacular. Unless I missed it, you’ve only given one source (two links, but one was obviously copied from the other, so I don’t consider them separate sources). ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/51 "2020-12-31T17:52:33Z")
I dunno…just not accuse me of something I didn’t do like threadshitting. Certainly a “stop it” of some sort is fine. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/52 "2020-12-31T17:52:49Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Because the vast majority of people will not bother to lookup unique SDMB definitions and just go with their own understanding. 1. It’s not a common term – I will wager you that “the vast majority of people” won’t _have_ their own understanding of it to start with, but could probably figure it out from context, anyway. 2. You yourself said that a mod provided you with a link to the board’s definition when you questioned it. 3. You discovered that, somewhere out on the internet, there’s a grosser or more damning definition of the term, and that somehow makes you unhappy. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/53 "2020-12-31T17:53:38Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Actually, you have not shown that “your” definition is the common vernacular. Unless I missed it, you’ve only given one source (two links, but one was obviously copied from the other, so I don’t consider them separate sources). That’s way more than anyone else has given. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/54 "2020-12-31T17:54:20Z")
And you have found nothing to refute it. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/55 "2020-12-31T17:55:39Z")
Not trying to refute it. Just noting that you’re creating a tempest in a teapot over the subject, and I’m now sorry that I’m contributing to it. I’m out. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/56 "2020-12-31T17:57:02Z")
The “tempest” takes two (at least) to create. Which means you are 50% of it. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/57 "2020-12-31T17:58:30Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > That’s way more than anyone else has given. No, it isn’t. Post #10. After doing a bit of googling myself, I believe that there _is_ no commonly accepted meaning for the word “threadshitting.” It is used to mean quite a variety of different things in different places. Here on the SDMB, it means, _by definition_, what we say it means. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/58 "2020-12-31T17:58:58Z")
First you say members aren’t familiar with the rule against threadshitting. Then you say, the mod should prevent threadshitting with some form of “stop it”. I don’t think this is a productive approach, the members will think they have done nothing wrong. Inevitably some members will talk back (“Why should I stop?”) and get into real trouble. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/59 "2020-12-31T17:59:04Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The “tempest” takes two (at least) to create. Which means you are 50% of it. Have you noticed that no one else in this thread is on your side? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362/60 "2020-12-31T17:59:12Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > That’s way more than anyone else has given. Perhaps, you missed my other post, but what you’ve linked to has a whopping **12** upvotes and **13** downvotes. That is not a cite of anything. And how do I know? Because when I was a teen I made up a complete definition of a word, and it’s gotten **78** upvotes. [#8 here](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Hoover&page=2) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-threadshitting-v-2/929362.md?page=4)