Unmarked Police Cars (OT)

Aug 31, 2009 39 Replies

Thus spake Chris Whelan ( snipped-for-privacy@prejudicentlworld.com) unto the assembled multitudes:

Perhaps, but if you are a regular poster or lurker in a newsgroup, and you've become familiar with other regulars - i.e. you feel comfortable or established in that group - I think it's quite OK to post an OT message, provided that it's clearly marked as such, as the OP's message was. I found the OP's query quite interesting.

In message , snipped-for-privacy@DENTURESsussex.ac.uk writes

And I did feel comfortable until very recently. ;-)

snipped-for-privacy@DENTURESsussex.ac.uk wrote

I suppose I could be anal and suggest the subject line be preceded by the "OT", and in square brackets, thus - [OT], rather than at the end, so it really stands out.

In message , Roger Hunt writes

Thank you for your input, I'll bear that in mind. ;-)

Gordon H wrote

Thank you for your thank you.

I think it is one of these informal conventions of Usenet, but on Usenet nothing is compulsory (but possibly a pain in the arse for some). All in all, Usenet is a wonderful example of how a system of anarchy can work and thrive, and effectively c*ck a snoot at those who may wish to channel us into their idea of worthwhile activity.

Oh brilliant, so now instead of one OT thread, we have two. Like to try any other combinations while you're at it?

It's still one thread. Does Thunderbird split the thread automatically if the subject line changes?

No. I use Thunderbird and it is all in one thread.

Ah, sorry Roger, I had my views set to unthreaded, then sorted by subject, which made it look like separate threads.

Mystery solved! (Mind you, I am contributing to a still off-topic thread but at least it is contained.) :-)

Angus Manwaring wrote

Yeah - a bottom-heavy article sags until it is 1200 lines long (unless contained by the well-timed snip). Then along comes the top-poster and all Hell breaks loose.

On 04-Sep-09 10:02:22, Roger Hunt said

There is some research that suggests it may be spread by bottom-posting.

All the best, Angus Manwaring. (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga Game reviews by Amiga players

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I've put thought to what I did - changing the subject line -, and while the thread was notionally still single, it was for you, on your news client, a reality of two irritating OT threads. I never considered that another client might show things differently to mine, and have maybe learnt something there - not to fiddle with things unnecessarily ...

Cheers

My newsreader can cope with changed subject lines, how about yours?

In message , Angus Manwaring writes

Now I *really* need to apologise for starting this thread...

In message , Roger Hunt writes

A car enthusiast not fiddling with things unnecessarily? I started with the mixture screw, IIRC.

Gordon H wrote

I used to play with old British bikes, with bits occasionally falling off in the fast lane of the A3 (to the excitement of the car behind), but nowadays the joys of suffocating myself with old oil and petrol fumes while skinning my knuckles on a red hot component, are not as prominent in my life.

Let's just open up these inlet ports a little bit ...

Gordon H wrote

Yea - but we use Turnpike, which is in a different dimension of Class News clients.

In message , Roger Hunt writes

Quite so.

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