On-topic

A contribution is on-topic if it is within the bounds of the current discussion and off-topic if not. The terms are normally used in the context of mailing lists, discussion groups, discussion forums, bulletin boards, newsgroups, and wikis.

It is a common courtesy to mark a new off-topic posting or email by beginning it with "OT"Fact|date=December 2007 - for example in a forum discussing the Linux operating system someone might post: "OT: Wow, did you feel that earthquake?".

The term "off topic" is sometimes used to indicate a discussion venue where anything other than matters specifically addressed by the website in question is addressed. For example, an off topic category on an automobile related discussion forum may include talk about video games (which presumably have nothing to do with automobiles). There are a variety of sites dedicated entirely to random discussion that have nothing to do with anything.

Posting off-topic messages to deliberately aggravate other members is referred to as "trolling", and is common in some forums.

See also

* Netiquette


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • on topic — idiom (NAmE) appropriate or relevant to the situation • Keep the text short and on topic. • Let s get back on topic. Main entry: ↑topicidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • Topic — can refer to: * An area of interest, also called a subject ** The focus of an article in a publication ** The focus of a discussion or debate; see On topic * Topic (or theme) in linguistics, the part of a proposition that is being talked about… …   Wikipedia

  • Topic Maps — is a standard for the representation and interchange of knowledge, with an emphasis on the findability of information. The ISO standard is formally known as ISO/IEC 13250:2003.A topic map represents information using topics (representing any… …   Wikipedia

  • Topic Records — is a British folk music label, which began as an offshoot of the Workers Music Association in 1939. They claim to be the oldest independent record label in the world.In 1960 Topic Records separated from the Workers Music Association but those… …   Wikipedia

  • TOPIC — [ˈtɒpɪk ǁ ˈtɑː ] noun FINANCE COMPUTING Teletext Output of Price Information on Computer a computer system used on the London Stock Exchange which gives information on share prices, currency exchange rates etc: • When a bargain has been struck… …   Financial and business terms

  • Topic (chocolate bar) — Topic is a chocolate bar made by Mars Inc in France, but sold throughout Europe and the United States. It contains hazelnuts, nougat and caramel.The fictional character Arnold Rimmer from the British TV sci fi comedy Red Dwarf mentioned that he… …   Wikipedia

  • Topic-based authoring — is a modular content creation approach (popular in the technical publications and documentation arenas) that supports XML content reuse, content management, and makes the dynamic assembly of personalized information possible. A topic is a… …   Wikipedia

  • Topic — Top ic, n. [F. topiques, pl., L. topica the title of a work of Aristotle, Gr. topika , fr. topiko s of or for place, concerning to poi, or commonplaces, fr. to pos a place.] (a) One of the various general forms of argument employed in probable as …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • On Kawara — Today Series date painting at Art Institute of Chicago. Birth name Kawara On …   Wikipedia

  • On Vision and Colors — (German: Über das Sehn und die Farben) is a treatise[1] by Arthur Schopenhauer that was published in May 1816 when the author was 28 years old. Schopenhauer had extensively discussed with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe about the poet s Theory of… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”