Threadjacking

Changing the subject topic in an online discussion has been in practice since the early days of mailing lists and newsgroups. According to Google search, the earliest mention of “threadjacking” can be found in a game-related discussion thread posted via Civilization fan forum[1] in October 2001; the earliest attempt at “threadjacking” on record can be found in an off-topic thread posted via Team XBOX forums^[2] in April 2002.

…You think that’s manly nail polish they’re wearing? LOL
This thread is now about duckies and bunnies. Discuss.

- Written by Dad at 04-19-02, 06:10 PM

The Urban Dictionar^[3] entry for “threadjacking” was created on December 11th, 2003.

Usage

Threadjacking still remains a common practice in online forums and chat-rooms. But given its frequent usage, it is wise to use one’s discretion in pursuing this end. Such attempts are typically made via text replies (ex: “THIS THREAD IS NOW ABOUT X”) or image macros tailored for the occasion.

Example of Threadjacking + Red Leader in 4chan

Related Concept: Thread Derailment

In contrast, an unintentional digression from the thread topic is known as Thread Derailment. This occurs when a discussion goes off topic and strays into a new subject without being triggered by a “threadjacker.”

External References

^[1]Civilization Gaming Network Forum – So….how many CM fans have we got here?

^[2]TeamXBOX Forum – Who is more evil looking Shagrath or Dani Filth?

^[3]Urban Dictionary – Threadjacking