topic drift

topic drift

(messaging)Term used on GEnie, Usenet and other electronicfora to describe the tendency of a thread to drift away fromthe original subject of discussion (and thus, from the Subjectheader of the originating message), or the results of thattendency.

Often used in gentle reminders that the discussion has strayedoff any useful track. "I think we started with a questionabout Niven's last book, but we've ended up discussing thesexual habits of the common marmoset. Now *that's* topicdrift!"