Off topic chatter

[Shawn Gossman]

How long will you allow a topic to go off topic?

Will you allow the discussion to be off topic for as long as it goes? Or do you try to intervene and ask that everyone gets back to the main topic of the thread?

Do you think a forum that allows off topic chatter in on topics threads looks bad to non-members and search engines?

 

[Cpvr]

I allow it. It's apart of a discussion. They can go off topic all day long as long as the topic is doing well.

No, it doesn't look bad to non-members and search engines. it shows the community is active.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I allow it. It's apart of a discussion. They can go off topic all day long as long as the topic is doing well.

No, it doesn't look bad to non-members and search engines. it shows the community is active.

How about to the OP?

Sometimes, they tend to get unhappy or offended when someone takes their topic off topic. How do you deal with that?