derailing
Leaving the rails
Derailing is disrupting or diverting something from its intended course.
A train derails when it leaves the tracks; a conversation derails when it veers off topic: Let's not get derailed by side issues.
Someone who derails a plan causes it to fail: The scandal derailed his presidential campaign.
In online discussions, derailing often means hijacking a thread toward an unrelated subject.
Weaken by stealth
- subversionUndermining established authority
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- destabilizationCausing loss of stability
wrecking · saboteur · treachery · betrayal · manipulation · discredit · subterfuge · compromise
Diverting from main purpose
- digressingDeparting from subject
- tangentLine touching curve once
- off-topicUnrelated to discussion
- interruptionBreak in continuity
interjection · heckling · outburst · distraction · redirect · deflection · non-sequitur · rambling
Forceful interruption of process
- setbackReverse in progress
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- hindranceBarrier to progress
impediment · upheaval · disturbance · delay · snag · hitch · wrench · stumbling-block
Deviating from intended path
straying · deviating · drifting · sidelined · wayward · unfocused · scattered · disoriented
Forceful contact between objects
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- crashSudden violent impact
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- fatalityDeath from accident
emergency · evacuation · rescue · trauma · injury · destruction · impact · investigation
undermine
Weaken by stealth
- subversionUndermining established authority
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
destabilization · wrecking · saboteur · treachery · betrayal · manipulation · discredit · subterfuge · compromise · vandalism
sidetracking
Diverting from main purpose
- digressingDeparting from subject
- tangentLine touching curve once
- off-topicUnrelated to discussion
interruption · interjection · heckling · outburst · distraction · redirect · deflection · non-sequitur · rambling · meandering
disruption
Forceful interruption of process
- setbackReverse in progress
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
hindrance · impediment · upheaval · disturbance · delay · snag · hitch · wrench · stumbling-block · roadblock
off-track
Deviating from intended path
veering · straying · deviating · drifting · sidelined · wayward · unfocused · scattered · disoriented · unmoored
collision
Forceful contact between objects
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- crashSudden violent impact
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
fatality · emergency · evacuation · rescue · trauma · injury · destruction · impact · investigation · damage
- meeting problemsno decisions, interrupting, rambling, off-topic, tangents
- online actionsposting, click, commenting, tap, replying
- online trollingtrolling, trollface, bait, baiting, flame bait
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- interruptionsinterruption, cutting off, disruption, butting in, interjecting
- fallaciesstraw man, red herring, circular reasoning, ad hominem, fallacy
derailingguiding
Leading toward destination
steering · channeling · directing · redirecting · righting
derailingassisting
Giving help to
facilitating · enabling · advancing · furthering · promoting
derailingstabilizing
Making firm or constant
steadying · preserving · maintaining · sustaining · upholding
rail, railing, rails, derail, derailed, derailment, derails, derailer