Am I going doolally?

Yes, don't go on forums...there are some posters (here) using the buzzword of 'whataboutery' at every opportunity.Or if you do, be prepared for rebukes, mild or otherwise.I think that people who think laterally have interesting minds. so don't change just to please others.
Of course, if you were answering a question ( say) on how best to prune a photinia, and you then gave a rambling discourse on how late the postman arrives these days, that would be different.

They sound very stuffy - ignore and continue to be a Rambling Rose.

I think sometimes going off tangent gives context to an answer or indicates your level of experience.

I've never heard that buzzword rose , I'm obviously not on those threads .....thank goodness !

What a lovely word, rose, thank you. I think I shall steal use it.
As Oscar Wilde put it, "Be yourself, everyone else is already taken". Forget about changing just because it annoys other people. also what annoys them might be their own problem!

Tell them your replies are relevant - to you! ?

I'm always connecting something my family has said to something else in my head then coming out with an apparently unrelated comment. If challenged I explain my train of thought. This usually prompts baffled silence or mild hysteria. Must learn to keep my tangential thoughts to myself. But where's the fun in that?

I've never seen 'whataboutery' here or anywhere else

It's becoming popular on the political threads, nina. As is GFery (don't ask!)

Newspeak Ana!
They're not only dictating which words we should use, but inventing new ones.

Going off at a tangent, thinking laterally is one thing ( well two things actually) but whataboutery is another thing altogether.

Re-reading, I think it was a cultural/language thing. It's a french forum.
The french do seem to be rather inflexible about rules. But ignore them in private!
Elrel - that's what I'm like.

Thanks for the replies - I've decided to leave that forum. There's a group of "experts" who seem to be the only ones allowed to answer questions.Not a sociable place.

I go off at a tangent often, often thinking its an interesting sude track, but my problem is remembering the thing i wanted to say in the first place. I can then check if the person i am talking with has concentrated sufficiently on our conversation and can bring me back on topic. And its getting worse.......?

Hi Tricia F. Ever tried a French committee? I did once, managed 2 meetings at which people walked out, women literally spitting at each other. So I left!!

My friend has 'trained' the committee she is on to do it the English way. the French just go off at tangents all the time, about four different conversations going on around the table. This friend got them all to address all points to the Chair and one at a time. Now that committee works and gets things done!

In every day life I think it is fine to ramble. I have always been known to have a butterfly mind. it shows I'm interested in lots of things.

Oh Annie we were on a local French Committee about the arrangements for a concert. - you would think it would be simple enough - the other British lady said to me - I feel I have walked onto the set of a farce! - To make it more difficult there were two Jean-Pierres onthe committee. It was agreed about meeting to put out all the chairs etc out and we dutifully turned up and no one else - we found them in the local café!!

Silverlining 48
You and me both.
My fault, I was told by my boss in my younger working life, was not giving enough verbal output and was I now know due to a fear of going 'off course'.
I am sure there are many of us.

What's life? without a tangent.

I'm a lateral thinker & go off on tangents so have great conversations with my very lateral ADHD SiL. But the rest of the family are very literal & linear so often have no idea what I'm going on about. Even I used to lose the thread with my late lateral stiry-telling Mum so I realise you have to be disciplined sometimes for the sake of good communication. I do edit posts (but won't bother this time) & I've found posting in forums has helped me learn how keep to the point. I've been accused of confusing people on GN so I'm trying hard.

"Rambling Rose" - I like that!!

Going off at tangents is the essence of creativity - you stick to your guns!

to fellow lateral thinkers!
What's at the back of my mind though whether becoming more scatty is the onset of dementia? But I think not because rigid thinkers also develop dementia, they just become more stubborn.
Also most of us have been like it all our lives.
Anni no I haven't been on a committee here, but I know an english person who has, and she says the same as you about it.
The nearest I've attended was a village meeting to explain the new laws about getting rid of sewage. Everyone was up in arms that they couldn't spray it on their fields (I think some still do.)

I have found living in rural France that laws only apply to incomers ,,,,,like the rule for bonfires only at certain times ......one ancient inhabitant of the village burns everything all the time ...have to keep all windows and doors shut in summer when it is a beautiful afternoon and we would like to sit out in the garden ......the Mairie posts the 'rules' in the boit de poste ....new residents (a lot of retirees from Paris) abide by them ....the natives don't and if you say anything you just get the gallic shrug ! Next time I am seriously thinking of taking my tree cuttings to said neighbour instead of dutifully driving 12 km there and 12km back to the dechetterie ...sometimes in summer two or three times a week ! who is mad ...him or me ? I bet if I tried it someone from the Mairie would soon be round ..or the Gendarmerie with a hefty fine !! I belong (as you know !) to several forums (fora ?) both English and French ..... I love a fight !

Violette wrote:
" I love a fight ! smile"
I would love to argue back with the person who rebuked me, but my written french isn't good enough.
As you imply, it's one rule for les étrangers and another for les français. In some places anyway.

Now it will be apparent why I chose my name on here!!!

It is good to know that I am not the only one with a butterfly mind that goes off on tangents. TriciaF - I've always been that way. It's nothing to do with dementia.

The problem is that people say to me "Hang on - what that got to do with [the original subject of the conversation]"!

I suppose one solution is to explain the link up front or people just lose patience!

I am thinking of starting a blog as an outlet for my lateral thoughts.

Rose, Tricia, Silverlining - it seems I'm in good company here. I go off into verbal parentheses in telling an anecdote and forget where I was heading. I have been known to wail 'But that bit was in brackets, couldn't you tell?'
Maybe I'd better shut up and stick to written and online expression of my fascinating observations ?