Pile on

this is a good thing?

Not really, we can pile on off-line or on, seriously it would seem better to stay on-line but that is just a perception.

But I can't track it. I mean. the layout is so confusing that I'm too lazy to even test. Heck, I can't even be sure I've found the OP in a given thread. And I'm not up to charting this. I'm more likely to be finding and identifying DNA sequences that code one thing or another, and how well the sequences have been conserved.

So let me check on the story, as I'll have to integrate this anecdotally, not empirically.

If you click "take offline", what all goes to the Cooler? Or is the behavior still in shakedown, and inconsistent at times? Is it just your post? Is it the post to which you reply? If the latter, is there a copy in Thread Normal and Thread Cooler? Or does it move or copy the entire thread Offline?

See? This is forcing me to work it out, when I wanted to be spoon-fed. :p

Do I have this right?
The pile grows was Taken Offline (=Cooler), and the thread is entitled Pile on owing to the post from which it branched, but without any of said post's content. And the post is from original thread Un-Official poll: Is thread-jacking to be frowned upon?.

Then, the upshot is that a) there are then multiple threads, which you and others find to be intellectually lacking, and b) unexpected disappearances where taking offline really take the post(?) out of the forum and into some bit bucket?

Correct me and let me know what I'm missing, if you can spare the time and brainache. :)