oops, just found another website forums polite explanation how hijacking can be innocent and not intentionally off topic
[quote]1) Two or more members begin �chatting� in a separate �personal� conversation that really should be done in Private Messages or via email.

2) A member gets inspired by something in a thread and just wants to make a comment that is slightly off topic. Then, along come 10 more members who comment on the off-topic comment.
[/quote]

Plus his analysis had a twist I hadn't thought of:
Can you hijack your own thread? He says it's still wrong to the community.
Thanks for starting this thread
charm