topic drift n.
Term used on GEnie, Usenet and other
electronic fora to describe the tendency of a thread to drift
away from the original subject of discussion (and thus, from the
Subject header of the originating message), or the results of that
tendency. The header in each post can be changed to keep current
with the posts, but usually isn't due to forgetfulness or laziness.
A single post may often result in several posts each responding to
a different point in the original. Some subthreads will actually
be in response to some off-the-cuff side comment, possibly
degenerating into a flame war, or just as often evolving into a
separate discussion. Hence, discussions aren't really so much
threads as they are trees. Except that they don't really have
leaves, or multiple branching roots; usually some lines of
discussion will just sort of die off after everyone gets tired of
them. This could take anywhere from hours to weeks, or even
longer.
The term `topic drift' is often used in gentle reminders that
the discussion has strayed off any useful track. "I think we
started with a question about Niven's last book, but we've ended up
discussing the sexual habits of the common marmoset. Now
that's topic drift!"
Term used on GEnie, Usenet and other
electronic fora to describe the tendency of a thread to drift
away from the original subject of discussion (and thus, from the
Subject header of the originating message), or the results of that
tendency. The header in each post can be changed to keep current
with the posts, but usually isn't due to forgetfulness or laziness.
A single post may often result in several posts each responding to
a different point in the original. Some subthreads will actually
be in response to some off-the-cuff side comment, possibly
degenerating into a flame war, or just as often evolving into a
separate discussion. Hence, discussions aren't really so much
threads as they are trees. Except that they don't really have
leaves, or multiple branching roots; usually some lines of
discussion will just sort of die off after everyone gets tired of
them. This could take anywhere from hours to weeks, or even
longer.
The term `topic drift' is often used in gentle reminders that
the discussion has strayed off any useful track. "I think we
started with a question about Niven's last book, but we've ended up
discussing the sexual habits of the common marmoset. Now
that's topic drift!"
Related:
- opic drift: n. Term used on GEnie, USENET and other electronic
fora to describe the tendency of a {thread} to drift away from
the original subject of discussion (and thu
from the Subject header of the originating message), or the results of that tendency.... - idempotent adj.
[from mathematical techspeak] Acting as if
used only once, even if used multiple times.
This term is often used with respect to C header files, which contain common definitions and declarations to be included by several source files.... - idempotent: [from mathematical techspeak] adj. Acting as if used
only once, even if used multiple times.
This term is often used with respect to {C} header files, which contain common definitions and declarations to be included by several source files.... - bug n.
An unwanted and unintended property of a program or
piece of hardware, esp.
one that causes it to malfunction. Antonym of feature.... - alk mode n.
A feature supported by Unix, ITS, and some
other OSes that allows two or more logged-in users to set up a
real-time on-line conversation.
It combines the immediacy of talking with all the precision (and verbosity) that written language entails.... - mumble interj.
1. Said when the correct response is too
complicated to enunciate, or the speaker has not thought it out.
Often prefaces a longer answer, or indicates a general reluctance to get into a long discussion.... - moby /moh'bee/
[MIT: seems to have been in use among
model railroad fans years ago.
Derived from Melville's "Moby Dick" (some say from `Moby Pickle').... - oll v.,n.
1. [From the Usenet group
alt.folklore.
urban] To utter a posting on Usenet designed to attract predictable responses or flame... - flame
[at MIT, orig. from the phrase `flaming asshole']
1.
vi. To post an email message intended to insult and provoke....
