This whole "clique" thing - a vent - be warned!

[momrek06]

Let's say that Poster A posts a question about something. Maybe they get a few answers and then several posters come along and start talking among themselves about something unrelated. Sometimes the thread slowly ventures off course, sometimes it's sudden, but before long it doesn't resemble the original topic at all. Sometimes the OP is involved in that, and that's one thing, in my opinion. Other times it's a thread that the OP has left in a huff. Sometimes it's a thread that the OP is still active in and it's basically hijacked. While I don't think that the OP owns a thread, it doesn't mean that someone should come in and take it over with silliness, either.

Your dieting thread could be considered a clique thread.

THANKS, TIGGER: for that explanation and yes, now that that has been explained to me....I have seen that many many times esp on the CB!

As far as the dieting thread goes..we LOVE for new people to join and encourage them and even have been known to PM them if they have not posted in awhile...just to make sure they are okay! Join, join, join!

 

[phorsenuf]

If there is such a problem with spillover and hijacking, don't you think that would still happen even with a subboard? Maybe there needs to be better moderations so the hijacks don't happen.

But if there is a suboard then the hijacking I think could be nipped a little quicker because then they are posting in the wrong place so to speak and the mods tend to move those posts to their appropriate home.

It would be like if I posted about scrapbooking. My posts would be moved to the scrapbooking board. If there was no scrapbooking board then they aren't going to do anything.

I agree with what alot are saying. It's not the cliques, but the hijacking of posts. (OK and some of the clutter too )

But actually I think moving exchanges and games to a sub-board would make a huge difference right there.

 

[disykat]

If there is such a problem with spillover and hijacking, don't you think that would still happen even with a subboard? Maybe there needs to be better moderations so the hijacks don't happen.

I think this whole conversation the last few days has been very productive. I think the hijacking may not be put up with anymore, either by the community or the moderators.

If the hijacking gets under control then people can have their groups without spoiling the rest of the boards for a great many people who don't want that.

I think maybe there was a lack of understanding from certain groups that they are not the majority here and don't have the right to control the boards and bring their clique in to take over threads. There have always been "club" groups and always will be. They coexist just fine if they keep the clubs within their own threads and then participate as a regular member of the DIS in nonclub threads.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

But if there is a suboard then the hijacking I think could be nipped a little quicker because then they are posting in the wrong place so to speak and the mods tend to move those posts to their appropriate home.

It would be like if I posted about scrapbooking. My posts would be moved to the scrapbooking board. If there was no scrapbooking board then they aren't going to do anything.

I agree with what alot are saying. It's not the cliques, but the hijacking of posts. (OK and some of the clutter too )

But actually I think moving exchanges and games to a sub-board would make a huge difference right there.

So if you post on a "clique" thread on a subboard, you can't post elsewhere? that's what it sounds like you're saying, even though I am sure that's not what you mean. While a subboard may clean up the main board, I still see what people are complaining about could still happen. The subboard WOULD NOT stop hijacks. I think it would still go on.

The other thing...sometimes things are considered hijecks that are not always hijacks. It seems that if a people who are associated together post on the same thread it gets considered a hijack even if they are staying on topic. Friends often do have things in common that have drawn them together. It is possible to be part of a "group" and still have individual thoughts.

 

[buddy&wooz]

so I guess basically it is a matter of annoyance? What bugs some may not bug others....I see tons of those threads that I doubt I would have any interest in but I just bypass them and go to page two or three or sometimes twenty...I guess some just want the pages neat and clean so they can find what they want quickly.

I guess, in a way- for me it's more of a time thing, when I see a thread that looks interesting but turns out to be just a bunch of inside jokes I feel like I've wasted my time. I'd prefer that the inside jokes stay on the clique threads. Sometimes one or two funny off topic posts happen, no biggie- it's when it's 10-20 OT posts happen that it gets frustrating.


I really enjoy the CB, I think it's great that there are clique/club threads. But what I like best is the diversity here. The only thing we all have in common is a love of Disney (and sometimes not even that ) so the clique threads just aren't for me, I don't find rehashing stuff with like-minded people nearly as interesting as hearing from people who see things differently, who bring up topics I never would have thought of. And those are the posts I'm finding it harder and harder to find.

 

[phorsenuf]

So if you post on a "clique" thread on a subboard, you can't post elsewhere? that's what it sounds like you're saying, even though I am sure that's not what you mean. While a subboard may clean up the main board, I still see what people are complaining about could still happen. The subboard WOULD NOT stop hijacks. I think it would still go on.

The other thing...sometimes things are considered hijecks that are not always hijacks. It seems that if a people who are associated together post on the same thread it gets considered a hijack even if they are staying on topic. Friends often do have things in common that have drawn them together. It is possible to be part of a "group" and still have individual thoughts.

No, what I mean't was if someone from a clique came into a thread on the CB and hijacked it, then the mods could move it or delete it. I'm just thinking maybe...gosh I don't know! My head is spinning from all this!

I'm not saying someone from a clique can't post, I'm saying that maybe it would curb the hijacking some on the CB if the clique threads had their own boards to hijack if they felt so inclined.

You know, the Malestormers could go hijack the Yay-Ya's, the Pickle people can go after the cheerleaders, dogs with cats...whatever. They could have a freeforall over there! LOL

Just watch out for those Testers though....I hear they have a mean streak! LOL

 

[Mike.Wazowski]

Ok -
I wholeheartdly agree with the OP
WELL SAID

but if you were having a converstaion with a person IRL it wouldn't remain the same for hours on end - and if it went in another direction you wouldn't hollar STOP YOUR HIJACKING...
I do not believe that all hijacks (dang I hate that term) are intentional...
they are just the natural flows of conversations!

 

[phorsenuf]

Ok -
I wholeheartdly agree with the OP
WELL SAID

but if you were having a converstaion with a person IRL it wouldn't remain the same for hours on end - and if it went in another direction you wouldn't hollar STOP YOUR HIJACKING...
I do not believe that all hijacks (dang I hate that term) are intentional...
they are just the natural flows of conversations!

But if IRL I was talking to some people and somebody else showed up and started talking about a different subject (even though we weren't done with the first one) and then their friends showed up and started making jokes I knew nothing about, I would end up walking away never getting to finish my original conversation. Whew! That was a mouthful!
Make sense?

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

OMG, guys!

I feel like I'm in Clueless! Will I get a bad reputation if it accidentally sit on the grassy knoll?

I don't think this *clique* thing would be a big issue if everyone were respectful of others and no one hijacked threadsor posted inappropriate things or went for the jugular, you know? If everyone were welcoming of other posters, I don't think inside jokes and long threads would be a big deal. There was one time I really didn't get something, and I was really curious, so I PM'd someone who appeared to know. It was answered nicely and then I knew. The DIS is for fun, not to stress people out.

No, what I mean't was if someone from a clique came into a thread on the CB and hijacked it, then the mods could move it or delete it. I'm just thinking maybe...gosh I don't know! My head is spinning from all this!

I'm not saying someone from a clique can't post, I'm saying that maybe it would curb the hijacking some on the CB if the clique threads had their own boards to hijack if they felt so inclined.

You know, the Malestormers could go hijack the Yay-Ya's, the Pickle people can go after the cheerleaders, dogs with cats...whatever. They could have a freeforall over there! LOL

Just watch out for those Testers though....I hear they have a mean streak! LOL

 

[Mike.Wazowski]

OK I have seen that done in posts where things get heated...

and all I can relate to it is for example -
when I was in Jury Duty and members on the jury would start to say something they shouldn't while waiting in our little room - I would blurt out 'HOW Bout Those (sports team would change daily)' to lighten things up and purposely cause a distraction.

not a bad thing

 

[phorsenuf]

OMG, guys!

I feel like I'm in Clueless! Will I get a bad reputation if it accidentally sit on the grassy knoll?

I don't think this *clique* thing would be a big issue if everyone were respectful of others and no one hijacked threadsor posted inappropriate things or went for the jugular, you know? If everyone were welcoming of other posters, I don't think inside jokes and long threads would be a big deal. There was one time I really didn't get something, and I was really curious, so I PM'd someone who appeared to know. It was answered nicely and then I knew. The DIS is for fun, not to stress people out.

You know, the Malestormers could go hijack the Yay-Ya's, the Pickle people can go after the cheerleaders, dogs with cats...whatever. They could have a freeforall over there! LOL

You do know I posted this in jest don't you?

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

You do know I posted this in jest don't you?

Yes, I do.

Your quote made me laugh, actually. It just reminded me of the movie Clueless where everyone has their own designated spots and if you sat on the grassy knoll you were considered a pothead. It was funny in my head. I guess it sounds different in writing.

The rest of my post was my opinion on the OP- basically, that if everyone were nice, I don't think this would be a big problem, but the Clueless ref was because I thought it was funny.

 

[phorsenuf]

Yes, I do.

Your quote made me laugh, actually. It just reminded me of the movie Clueless where everyone has their own designated spots and if you sat on the grassy knoll you were considered a pothead. It was funny in my head. I guess it sounds different in writing.

The rest of my post was my opinion on the OP- basically, that if everyone were nice, I don't think this would be a big problem, but the Clueless ref was because I thought it was funny.

I never saw clueless so I guess that's why I was clueless.
Ahhh.....the grassy knoll though...I knew it well! LOL

 

[Disney Doll]

I have no idea why anyone cares that much about what happens on an Internet bulletin board.

Go to a thread...if you like it, jump on, if you don't, then don't. But for crying out loud, we're not 10 here. Who cares about cliques and so on?

 

[FSUMARCHIEF]

Thanks for everyone's thoughtful replies. I can honestly say that I had no idea this would end up being quite the Maelstrom (to use a word) that it has become.

I posted my thoughts this morning because it initially seemed that the comments about the so called cliques were about the cliques themselves and not the hijacked threads. I know what hijacking a thread is, I just have not been on a thread where that has seemingly happened. If it did I was unaware of it.

I did not intend for my post to be thought of as whining myself, and I apologize again to those who took it that way. I was simply trying to express my thought that these groups of friends were a good thing - not bad. From what I was reading it seemed like folks were saying get rid of the "cliques", not get rid of the hijacking.

It would appear that the issue isn't necessarily the groups themselves - or I should say, their threads, but the groups who inadvertantly, or purposefully hijack these other threads.

Someone posted earlier, and I apologize for not remembering the name - started with a C, I think, about the so called clique threads clogging up the works and causing others not to post. Though I can see how that could be a problem, I guess I must confess my niavete (if I spelled that right) about what all are 'clique' threads. I do know that on the Maelstrom thread that it gets bumped a lot by posting, and sometimes by folks saying, we shouldn't be on page 2. I've done that myself a few times. I don't however see how that would be the cause of someone not posting. Why would the presence of 'clique' threads cause someone else to not post?

In a recent conversation about another topic I used this illustration. (I know, I know, here he goes again...)

I once had the opportunity to meet President Jimmy Carter. It was while I was in seminary, and I had the pleasure of about a 5 minute one on one conversation with him. He kidded me about being United Methodist and I jokingly said I would pray for him for being a Baptist - all in fun, no flames please.

My point is this, if I let the fact that Jimmy Carter was the leader of the free world for a while, and the most powerful man on earth for 4 years intimidate me into not talking to him, or running away or whatever, that issue is totally mine - not his. It would be silly to place any blame on President Carter for my leaving. My leaving would be my own fault, not the fault of the former President.

If people have left the CB because of these threads, thats their own issue. I think its not right to place the blame at the feet of these groups existence and not on the feet of those who chose to leave. Understand me - I'm not saying they were intimidated. I also understand if they left because of the hijacking of threads. That would hack me off too. But if they left simply because some people got together and started hanging out. That's their own fault. They chose to leave.

I don't mean that to sound harsh - and forgive me if it does. I just don't think that its right to blame these groups if people have left the CB because they're posting on a thread that no one is REQUIRED to read.

Make sense? I give this example because the poster said that his/her comment was ignored, and I didn't think it had been addressed since they posted it. Didn't want to ignore them!

Thanks again for the conversation everyone. I believe as someone else has said that the only way a problem is solved is through communication.

Blessings!
MarkyMark

 

[tarheelmjfan]

It's a VERY small minority - but there are a few people who seem a little jealous of the cliques. Why? I'm afraid I can't answer that because I don't understand it either. I'll take a guess that they were ignored by cliques in high school and took all that baggage with them into their adult lives.

LOL I've always thought people joined cliques as an adult, because they weren't popular in school. I have no desire to be part of a clique. I'm perfectly fine with communicating with everyone equally.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

While I'm trying to get caught back up on this thread, I wanted to clarify something, before there's further misunderstanding. I've already communicated with Mark on the subject, but others have mentioned it as well. IMHO, there is a huge difference in small groups in a church & cliques. A church is definitely made up of small groups who come together to become one. When I say that cliques can be destructive in a church, I'm referring to those groups who get together & talk among themselves then go about pushing their agenda. The groups that hang out exclusively & don't intermingle with the rest of the congregation. Those that make people feel like they're an outsider. Church is the one place that noone should feel that way. I suppose it comes down to one's personal definition of what is a group & what's a clique. To me, a group of friends are priceless. They also possess a "the more the merrier" mentality. A clique isn't nearly as positive & phrases that contain the word "our" say a lot without saying anything. I was part of a clique in school. Now I have friends, & always welcome more. In school, I wasn't so generous. I'm ashamed of that behavior now, & can't for the life of me understand why any adult would want to be that way.

I agree that this probably isn't the place to discuss such matters. I was merely replying to Mark's post. He was correct to PM me to discuss it further privately.

 

[offwegotoneverland]

Mark, forgive me for posting again on your thread..

I think the thing some people were trying today is if you have a bunch of really large threads (cliques, exchanges riddles or what have you) all trying not to fall to page 2 it's hard to sometimes see or find the other types of posts that might be of interest.

I don't dis for long periods of time so scrolling through to page 3-4 to find out what other topics might be around can sometimes be a challenge.

If however there was a sub board for games/exchanges/riddles/cliques and other kept alive by virtue of people coming back so often the thread would take a month of sunday's to read (sorry just a little pun on the church illustrations hope that's ok)the other posts about what to do with my DS's Teacher or similar could hang up there just a little longer.

 

[chobie]

Why is it immature for people to vent about clique threads, but NOT immature for people to vent about people who vent about clique threads?

 

[FSUMARCHIEF]

Why is it immature for people to vent about clique threads, but NOT immature for people to vent about people who vent about clique threads?

I'm assuming that you are meaning that I am immature? I never said anyone was immature. Yes I referenced whining, perhaps a bad choice of words, just like I believe that the use of the word 'clique' is a bad choice of words. I never called anyone a name, or said they were immature. I was simply offering up another point of view in the discussion.

Thanks for your input.

Blessings!
MarkyMark