When a person starts a posting on a forum, that others are able to comment on, that original posting and the comments on it are called a thread. A thread hijacking occurs when one or more individuals commenting on the original posting, go off topic, creating a separate conversation. This is rude, and bad internet etiquette. If people want to discuss a different topic, they should start their own thread.
That's why it's important that before you reply to a thread, you ask yourself a simple question -- "Am I contributing to this thread, or am I changing the topic and/or focusing on some minor aspect that really isn't what this thread is about?"
Some people feel obligated to post something even if they can't contribute. Often it is a smart remark like "Google is your friend". That is off topic. That is hijacking.
Being a good little "forumer" I search for topics before I post a question and if I find a thread with the same question, I would just reply to that thread with any details I might have.
So we are encouraged to search the internet before posting a question. So say a person found an old thread with lots of good relevant info on his question. What if the final outcome wasn't posted. If this person asks for the outcome or starts up the conversation again, the OP and all other participants will be notified. He may get the answer or all that background info could help get the ball rolling again to the right outcome. But that is necro-posting. So what? If it helps the conversation. It is not hijacking because it is on topic and not interrupting a conversation. If someone yells "Hijacking or Necro-posting", that is off topic. That is Hijacking!
A while ago someone resurrected a thread about the MOSFETs in a CUT-50 plasma torch. I have a CUT-50 plasma torch and now I know what to do if it dies. When someone started complaining about necro-posting, I thanked him for resurrecting it.
If someone can't contribute or doesn't want to, why can't they just leave it alone and move on?
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