A few words on cut-n-paste threads/posts and drive-by threads/posts in general.
What's the definition of a drive-by post?
- One that is devoid of substance ("+1" anyone?).
- One that attempts to advance an agenda without intelligent back-up.
- One that has no intelligent content.
What's the definition of a cut-n-paste post?
- One that contains a link and little or no commentary on the link.
- One that contains an article (cut-n-pasted) and little or no commentary on the article.
- One that contains both a link and an article, but has little or no commentary.
The above applies equally to individual posts within a thread, or to the starting post of a thread itself.
When all you do is to cut-n-paste an article or drop a link, you leave it up to those that post any thoughts as to what direction the thread takes or what you meant by the post. Each person will necessarily have a different take on what they think the thread/post is about.
The Opening/Originating Post (OP) should contain some kind of description of what the link is about and should also contain some opinion by the OP in order to start a discussion in a specific direction. Likewise, an article should also contain some commentary, in order to direct the discussion to the points the OP wishes to discuss.
When making a post in an ongoing thread, it would be nice to explain how your link/article is relevant to the OP. What may be self evident to you, does not mean others will find it so.
Expecting people to follow your link or read your article, without any remarks by you, and discussing the event, shows an utter lack of respect for the rest of the members here at TFL, who have come to expect intelligent conversation. In other words, it is rude.
Therefore, without some guidance from you, you are leaving it up to any passing mod to make the determination as to what's on topic and what isn't. For my part, I'm simply going to close the threads or delete the posts.
Repeat offenders will be shown the door.