I think you really need to look at each message to tell how far off tangent it is :)

In order to be absolutely sure, that's true. Still, a node 8 levels deep is less likely to be relevant to the original post than one that's only 1 or two levels deep.

Of course, there are plenty of interesting things that get said 8 levels deep in various threads but, in order to put them in context, it helps to read the whole thread. I've often seen a node come up in newest nodes titled "Re: Some Random Subject" and then, when I read it, I find I'm deep in a thread and need to find my way back to a place where the context is clear.

I am a fan, by the way, of retitling a reply entirely once it gets sufficiently off the original topic.

-sauoq
"My two cents aren't worth a dime.";

WRT to retitling I really like the usenet/mailinglist etiquette - put the old topic in a (was: ...) at the end of the subject. What annoys me is that most people will not remove it when replying to such a post.

Makeshifts last the longest.