@Mike, apols
if you were offended,
as clearly you were offended.
It’s sometimes frustrating to start, or contribute to, a thread, then see it head off in unintended directions. I have experienced same myself, I am sure we all have.
I suppose my own view tends to be that if there is an outstanding question, either in the original post or recent contributions, then it is rude to ignore or dismiss it, which does annoy me. Otherwise my perception is... it’s an internet forum, going off topic is not a crime, or not yet anyway.
Not much different to chatting to friends in the pub (if only, ever again). If I ask a question, I’d expect it to be acknowledged. But if I merely express a point of view then chances are it might simply act as a spur to further conversation. I’ll still be happy to engage in that conversation, even if irrelevant to my earlier contribution.
In this case there was no question posted and no question outstanding, hence I perceived no rudeness. I personally had nothing to add to your excellent post, and especially since since it was posted in a ‘chat’ area of the forum, I engaged Licquorice and Burakkucat in off-topic debate. Apologies again as clearly on this instance, my perception was flawed, offence has been caused.