# Why do so many posters have trouble staying on topic? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 28, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-posters-have-trouble-staying-on-topic/1027125 "2026-01-28T17:13:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 83
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-posters-have-trouble-staying-on-topic/1027125/83 "2026-03-16T18:04:52Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Given the recent flurry of mod notes and threats over allegedly off-topic posts, I have to say that the main reason people “have trouble staying on-topic” is that it’s become so narrowly defined that having a meaningful conversation on many subjects is becoming impossible. Okay, I made myself sleep on this before responding, but first, I think you’re quite wrong, and second, you aren’t doing yourself or the board any favors by NOT actually quoting the moderation in context. So first, let me add some context by way of my most recent moderation that included you. > [@Speculation About Trump's Underlying Reasons for Bombing Iran and Other Targets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/94): > > Moderating: A reminder that’s come up in the three related threads. We are trying to talk about issues, not just attack Trump. @BobLibDem, I listed a small part of your post, but only the first and last bit were pushing it (especially the last) but you overall kept it at least close. @Der_Trihs and @Pardel-Lux, the cracks were your entire post. I get it, I really get it, but please, take the cracks to one of the many Trump threads if you’re just getting your shots in. It doesn’t add to … [quoting the whole thing would make this even _more_ of a book, so I’ll use snips to illustrate my points] From the onebox listed (or if it doesn’t load, it’s the second sentence of moderation after my quoting): > We are trying to talk about issues, not just attack Trump. Please note the work **just** in the line above. It’s very important. I go on to say that of the three posters listed, the first was snarky but mostly on topic, making 5 solid (and quite snarky) on-topic comments about Trump’s motivations. The last was, well, by my eyes a roll-eyes level of exaggeration but making a point on Trump’s randomness, but _when I first saw it I let it pass_. A pretty shot time later, you posted to the thread (not in response to the first poster I mentioned) with another of your passionate condemnations of Trump and his ilk. The first part of it was _also_ on topic, about bombing the enemy to drum up support/patriotism at home. The second part was a similarly cheap shot about Trump being stupid, not exactly uncommon, but adding nothing to the topic in question. But now we’re going from 80% on topic, to 50% on topic posting. And yet I still didn’t step in, despite seeing a _reaaaaaaaalllllly_ common pattern. The third poster who I mentioned, again, a short time later, was 100% Trump basing and zero percent on topic, with nothing but a crack on Trump being so stupid he can’t tie his own shoes and too fat to do it anyway. I hope you see the pattern now? In Trump and adjacent threads, what goes from a few fun snarky bits to dozens of posts “just” (that word again) bashing on Trump. Until a moderator steps in, and then it’s all “why didn’t you just warn/stop it earlier, why am I getting called out?” But that brings me to the rest of the moderation and your claims of bias: > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > And it definitely seems strongly politically biased as well. > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > There’s a consistent pattern of “don’t say anything bad about the Right Wing or Trump”. That’s a bias, and a longstanding one. And not one restricted to this board, for that matter. > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Also? After so many years of it many people are simply tired of the constant demands that we all bend over backwards to slant everything we say to favor Trump and those like him. I’m quoting the last paragraph of my moderation that addresses the points above: > I get it, I really get it, but _please_ , take the cracks to one of the _many_ Trump threads if you’re just getting your shots in. It doesn’t add to the topic, and it almost always leads into an extended off topic rant on Trump. If you want to attack him, keep it specific to his motivations for the event in question rather than on his appearance, weight, or general stupidity - the Pit’s a better fit for that. Does “I get it, I really get it” look like I’m defending or protecting Trump? No, I’m saying the above are more rant than anything else. I’m specifically saying yes, you can attack him (though note the word JUST for the third time) but do keep it specific to his motivations for _that topic_, and to avoid generic rants on his stupidity, appearance, and weight or take those to the Pit. It’s where rants go. And it was a note, not a warning. Hopefully that made my moderation at least more clear. As to your other recent moderation about “Trump being off limits” it’s largely the same. For example @What_Exit: > [@United States and Israel are bombing Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran/1028071/865): > > Moderating: Once again, this is not the Trump bashing thread, there are plenty of them. All of you use a more proper thread. #iran-strikes-2026#trump Note it’s not that Trump is banned, but just Trump _bashing_. And sure, WE is a bit brusque in that one, but we’ve given out the same nuanced instructions over and over and over again, but it keeps creeping back, because you (Der\_Trihs) and everyone else is so angry about the situation. Speaking of which, just an HOUR ago, WE had to step into these related threads again: > [@United States and Israel are bombing Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran/1028071/876): > > Moderating: This thread is not about Trump. Please stop posting like @RickJay’s now hidden post. Check the tags for an appropriate thread. #trump#iran-strikes-2026 Because we had multiple responses that just said “Because Trump is Stupid”, or that “Because Trump is a criminal/pedophile”. Those aren’t comments specific to the actual events going on right at the time - or at least, the posters in question made no effort to tie it specifically to the current event. That’s venting, but no, it doesn’t further the conversation without those specifics. As I said above, I get it, I really do. But yes, these comments almost always create extended off topic rants, and yes, we’re going to moderate them. And when people keep doing it over and over despite clear moderation saying “please don’t” we are going to get more abrupt, and probably in the not too distant future issue warnings for repeat offenders. Hopefully this puts my and potentially other moderation in sufficient context. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-posters-have-trouble-staying-on-topic/1027125)._