One method for dealing with such would be to have designated posts for threads on observed attractors, indexed on the wiki, and fork tangents into those threads.
In keeping with General Order Six: other methods include, as suggested, downvoting any derail into a recognized attractor, with explanation; adding known attractors to a list of banned subjects … it might be best to combine some of these, actually.
Before we start planning solutions should we perhaps establish whether there is a consensus that we even have a problem? One vote for ‘no problem’ from me.
That’s a good reason to continue permitting such discussions, but given the continuing influx of new posters, I suspect there will still be repetition.
Ahem.
A fair example.
I may have overestimated the skill level of the group. Or maybe bringing up redundancy as a problem is the first move in developing that skill.
One method for dealing with such would be to have designated posts for threads on observed attractors, indexed on the wiki, and fork tangents into those threads.
In keeping with General Order Six: other methods include, as suggested, downvoting any derail into a recognized attractor, with explanation; adding known attractors to a list of banned subjects … it might be best to combine some of these, actually.
Before we start planning solutions should we perhaps establish whether there is a consensus that we even have a problem? One vote for ‘no problem’ from me.
Good question—let’s watch for attractors for a month, and pay attention to how many turn up.
Atrractors aren’t just subjects, they’re subjects which are commonly discussed in a way that couldn’t pass a Turing test.
If we can manage to bring out new material on one of those subjects, so much the better for us.
That’s a good reason to continue permitting such discussions, but given the continuing influx of new posters, I suspect there will still be repetition.