{{Short description|Topic outside the bounds of the current discussion}} {{Multiple issues| {{External links|date=August 2024}} {{More citations needed|date=August 2024}} {{Unreliable sources|date=August 2024}} }} In the context of mailing lists, discussion groups, discussion forums, bulletin boards, newsgroups, and wikis a contribution is '''off-topic''' if it is not within the bounds of the current discussion, and '''on-topic''' if it is.
Even on very specialized forums and lists, off-topic posting is not necessarily frowned upon,<ref>[http://historymedren.about.com/library/weekly/aa072399n.htm ''"Members of more informal lists may be excited to learn you've had a baby or landed a new job. Others may find such posts annoying and may even flame you. "''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112213/http://historymedren.about.com/library/weekly/aa072399n.htm |date=2016-03-04 }}, Medieval Mailing Lists</ref> but a common netiquette convention is to mark a new off-topic posting or email by beginning it with "OT"<ref>[http://tolkien.slimy.com/faq/Netiquette.html ''"It is appreciated if articles that have absolutely nothing to do with Tolkien have subject lines beginning with "OT:" ("Off Topic")."''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125003847/http://tolkien.slimy.com/faq/Netiquette.html |date=2021-01-25 }}. The Tolkien Newsgroups FAQ</ref> - for example in a forum discussing the Linux operating system someone might post: "OT: Did anyone else see that giant goose?".
Posting off-topic messages to deliberately aggravate other members is a form of trolling.
== See also == * Netiquette
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.newsreaders.com/guide/netiquette.html NewsReaders.com: Getting Started: Netiquette] *[http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ia_nq_send.htm Netiquette of sending]
Category:Internet forum terminology
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