To claim O/T is just an 'smoke screen', to get away with talking about subjects on boards were they don't belong ...
... and nothing more.
In my opinion, it just undermines the format of these forums, and the way they were set up by our hosts.
If you want to talk 'off topic', then do so.
But please, don't validate it with some lame 'oh ... if I do this, it makes it right' ...
Flame on ... I'm wearing my 'asbestos' jock-strap ... ;-)