help others better deal with certain types of posters who refuse to stick to a topic so wiggle out of every discussion by dragging in other points that muddy the waters... It was advice on how to narrow the focus down enough to actually have a shot at a meaningful, potentially productive discussion...

It wasn't an attempt to silence anyone or to cause anyone to be ignored, banned, or ridiculed...

Personally, I think it's a waste of time to spend too much energy on trying to change anyone else's behavior who doesn't want to be changed because there is no possible way in which to do it that won't result in frustration and failure... It's a worthy attempt, to a point, but only if the other person actually wants to change their behavior... If they don't have a problem with how things are going, then it just becomes an exercise in futility and makes things worse to keep trying to effect a change in them... So, if one actually cares that they are wasting their time trying to accomplish the goal of meaningful dialogue with someone who isn't motivated to make ANY changes whatsoever, then they are simply proving the proverbial definition of insanity and should reevaluate their own goals and agenda... and perhaps STOP it...