On Wednesday 03 May 2006 14:21, Wayne Muise wrote: <html stripped>
Hello Carl,
Hello Wayne,
Just my two cents since I've been working data automation and IT for 29 years.
Such vast knowledge deserves to be shared with the community!
Yes it was rude. There were numerous ways you could have gotten your point across without words like hijacking and annoying.
First, don't confuse brevity with being terse or rude. I didn't 'shout' (all caps) or use profanity or call Matthew names. Of course, "twerp" isn't profane but he *did* call me a name. <roll eyes> "Hijack" isn't hyperbole nor is it meant to be offensive. It is just a part of the common vernacular ("slang") that we use here... much like "boot" or "crash." When "boot" and "crash" are interpreted in context, they accurately convey very specific things: To "boot" means powering your system up and, hopefully, loading the OS. To "crash" your system means causing or experiencing an undesired condition that renders the computer, hopefully temporarily, inoperative or unresponsive. Along the same vein, to "hijack" a thread means to click "reply" and change the subject line. It's as simple as that. The primary reason that "hijacks" are annoying is that they break the continuity of discussions ("threads.") The term is also accurate: The person doing it isn't participating in the discussion but is taking over the thread to start a new one. Doesn't "hijack" accurately convey this concept? A second reason they're annoying is that we all (the experienced participants, that is) know the underlying causes: * They are too impatient to lurk and learn the ropes and too clueless or lazy to read the FAQ. Instead, they sign up and immediately start posting to the newly joined list. Every single list I've ever been part of has at least these basic responsibilities in common... lurk and learn and read the FAQ before posting. This is as much true in the Windows and Mac worlds as it is here. * They use the 'reply' button inappropriately because they know nothing about threading. Not knowing about threading isn't a crime. Not responding with an appropriate degree of inquisitiveness and humility when someone points out that they're breaking threading *also* isn't a crime, but it *is* extremely rude. * They also use the 'reply' button inappropriately because it is /so/ much easier and faster than manually entering in that pesky and hard-to-type e-mail address, right? (Sarcasm admitted.) I won't apologize for using the word "annoying", either. It isn't inherently offensive. It is a mainstream word in the language that I speak and it accurately describes how I felt.
I know you did not ask for my feedback, so I appologize up front if I'm intruding.
Thank you for inviting my explanation and opinion. Carl