Does the OP "own" a thread?

[GenetoJean]

Does the person who originally starts a thread "own" it? ie, if they tell a person to stop posting should they stop? If the thread brings up some points they dont want brought up can they require the points to be dropped?

 

[Forest Wolf]

This would be a great question in Member Services Center forum I think.

I imagine if someone is being harassed sort of speak by a member and in a thread that person created they'd have a right to ask it to stop.

Otherwise, I'd think the owner of the website owns everything on it including peoples free posts.

 

[variant]

They are within their courtesy rights to tell people they are wandering off topic if still participating heavily in a discussion.

Some people play "thread dictator" not wanting to explore points that are entirely related to the topic that others want to discuss though which is inappropriate.

 

[quatona]

Does the person who originally starts a thread "own" it? ie, if they tell a person to stop posting should they stop? If the thread brings up some points they dont want brought up can they require the points to be dropped?

Are you asking if there are any rules regarding these questions, or are you asking what would be the reasonable thing to do?

 

[Paradoxum]

If so, I'm happy to sell my threads for £100 if anyone wants them?

I don't think the OP has that much control. It seems to be the rules of the forum to keep on topic anyway. I think there are times when exploring related topics, or going slightly off topic, isn't that bad.

 

[GenetoJean]

Thanx for the responses. Mainly actual forum rules or rules that have been accepted by the community.

 

[RDKirk]

Does the person who originally starts a thread "own" it? ie, if they tell a person to stop posting should they stop? If the thread brings up some points they dont want brought up can they require the points to be dropped?

No. Threads are owned by the owner of the forum and managed by moderators. The OP essentially makes a "donation" of a topic to the forum in accordance with the rules, and the moderators manage it according to the intentions and purposes of the owner.

I was, for a number of years, a moderator of a professional trade forum owned by a national trade association. Ideally, a forum works best with as few rules and as little overt moderation as possible, but some forums by their nature--such as religious and political forums--need tighter rules and more moderation than a professional trade forum.

 

[Lord Emsworth]

What I have seen are threads that have been closed at the request of the OP.

 

[RDKirk]

What I have seen are threads that have been closed at the request of the OP.

And that's a choice allowed by the forum owner and executed by the moderators. Just as well, the moderators could decide that the thread has an ongoing value to the forum beyond the desires of the OP and leave it open.

 

[MoneyGuy]

No, the thread starter doesn't own the thread.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Does the person who originally starts a thread "own" it? ie, if they tell a person to stop posting should they stop? If the thread brings up some points they dont want brought up can they require the points to be dropped?

There are no strict rules on CF about it, but netiquette overwhelmingly says 'yes' - it's simply good manners to respect the wishes of the OP. As well, the mods will close a thread at the OP's request, implying the OP has some special authority over other plebs. The OP also carries more weight when it comes to the topic of the thread - if the OP says a conversation is off-topic, we err the OP's favour.

 

[GenetoJean]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

 

[Tnmusicman]

Does the person who originally starts a thread "own" it? ie, if they tell a person to stop posting should they stop? If the thread brings up some points they dont want brought up can they require the points to be dropped?

Great question!! In one unimportant mans opinion, yes! The OP should command a certain amount if respect ( just like in issues of individuals discussing a subject around the table ) if one person poses a question and lays down guidelines (say, only answer from a first person perspective,ect...) then others at the table should respect the one asking enough to follow directions.

Obviously, there will be the cocky type of person
that feels " damnation, this is AMERICA and no one is gonna tell ME what to do" not thinking that its just "rules" of a discussion and not someone taking away individual freedoms. R E L A X !!! and just go with the flow . You might learn something.

 

[Mystman]

He obviously doesn't in a legal sense, but in general it's good manners to follow the guidelines (if any) set out in the opening post. Also known as staying on topic.

What I really dislike, and what happens way too often on this forum, is when responders stay on topic, but the OP doesn't like what people are saying, or doesn't want to discuss it anymore, and can then say "topic closed! no one can respond anymore!". That's just rude. If the OP doesn't want to participate anymore: fine, he can unsubscribe. Killing the discussion for everyone else serves no use, besides being a parting shot of "I can't come up with any response to your 2 hour essay... so now no one gets to respond so you wasted your time. HAHA!"

 

[George95]

He obviously doesn't in a legal sense, but in general it's good manners to follow the guidelines (if any) set out in the opening post. Also known as staying on topic.

What I really dislike, and what happens way too often on this forum, is when responders stay on topic, but the OP doesn't like what people are saying, or doesn't want to discuss it anymore, and can then say "topic closed! no one can respond anymore!". That's just rude. If the OP doesn't want to participate anymore: fine, he can unsubscribe. Killing the discussion for everyone else serves no use, besides being a parting shot of "I can't come up with any response to your 2 hour essay... so now no one gets to respond so you wasted your time. HAHA!"

I see where you're coming from. However, the OP does have the right to have the thread closed by staff should he want it to be closed. Now as far as staff not honoring the request and leaving it open, I'm not quite sure of it. I've seen it happen on other forums to where staff have not honored the request for thread closure because the OP simply didn't like what was being said. However, the thread was on topic and everything was going fine.

But again, everyone has the right to request that their threads be closed, regardless if others may disagree.

 

[quatona]

Additional question:
When the thread starter himself is leading the thread off-topic - do I have to follow him?

 

[George95]

Additional question:
When the thread starter himself is leading the thread off-topic - do I have to follow him?

You do not have to follow him, you can always report that off topic post to staff and they will deal with it. Or you can always start a new thread.

 

[David Brider]

Does the person who originally starts a thread "own" it?

No.

ie, if they tell a person to stop posting should they stop? If the thread brings up some points they dont want brought up can they require the points to be dropped?

It might be because I grew up in the online equivalent of the Middle Ages (some of my earliest experiences were of usenet groups), but AFAIC, once you start a discussion, you can and should expect it to go in whatever direction the participants take it, including totally off the original topic. Sure, it's kind of nice if it stays on topic, but the notion of the OP having some sort of control or ownership over the thread and dictating how it should go, is not really one I have any truck with.