← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Mentzer
Thread ID: 20718 | Posts: 10 | Started: 2005-10-21
2005-10-21 06:16 | User Profile
There exists little connection between forum members.
Individuals posting merely other links with little comment included.
And now another obscure difficulty in reading posts has been introduced.
A more interactive forum would be of greater interest and perhaps of more activity between posters. I would like more opinion and exchange from some that post. And that must come from the contributors.
For what is a forum - if we do not exchange ideas and thoughts within good order and good faith among ourselves?
I offer no instruction to anyone. Simply, let us be more open to our ideas and discuss them. This is a good place and of good practice. Therefore, we should not fear the expression of opinion or exchange - in our own words.
For we are not fearful - correct?
Mentzer
2005-10-21 08:50 | User Profile
I think there needs to be a separation of the posting of news articles/punditry on the one hand and member-initiated discussions about political philosophy on the other.
It is very rare that a thread occurs that is not a reactive discussion to a news article or some opinion piece. Any political discussion that takes place always seems to be shoe-horned into the reaction to a particular "current event" or some pundit's column.
2005-10-21 14:14 | User Profile
[quote=Mentzer]There exists little connection between forum members.
Individuals posting merely other links with little comment included.
And now another obscure difficulty in reading posts has been introduced.
A more interactive forum would be of greater interest and perhaps of more activity between posters. I would like more opinion and exchange from some that post. And that must come from the contributors.
For what is a forum - if we do not exchange ideas and thoughts within good order and good faith among ourselves?
I offer no instruction to anyone. Simply, let us be more open to our ideas and discuss them. This is a good place and of good practice. Therefore, we should not fear the expression of opinion or exchange - in our own words.
For we are not fearful - correct?
Mentzer You know you are correct and I admit that I too am guilty of this. Certain topics boil my blood to the point that I don't feel I can contribute a logical post. Or I just don't feel that I could add anything substantial to the discussion. But I like this forum and I want to contribute, so I often times will try to find articles to posts that I think others would find interesting.
2005-10-21 16:00 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Mentzer]A more interactive forum would be of greater interest and perhaps of more activity between posters. I would like more opinion and exchange from some that post. And that must come from the contributors.[/QUOTE]
What did you have in mind, Mentzer?
Obviously, much of the structure of the board is limited by the vbulletin software itself, but I am always open to constructive suggestions.
2005-10-22 07:13 | User Profile
I appreciate your reply.
I have been on here for some time now. But I know little of the posters. And there can be an easy misunderstanding on some occasions.
There is limited exchange of thought. We act as strangers. So how can we understand each other?
To understand we must communicate. That means replying to posts. There is no doubt that a link can be informative. But also a forum should be a outlet for debate between members.
I am sure many would wish to do so. However, to access and reply to posts is now more isolated and difficult with the new means of viewing.
Of course, it remains with individual posters if they wish to respond in discussion with those of similar thought.
My view is this: make it easier to locate a post and therefore respond to it. Less-is-more. Less areas of detail and more general comment and exchange. Less sub-divisions and a concentration on main areas of interest.
This is no comment on web-space or design, or company and so on. That is your business.
I comment only on interactive exchange between those that post and the means to do so.
My Regards
Mentzer
2005-10-22 17:24 | User Profile
I know on some other boards they have a rule that you should search for a thread to make sure it has not already been created before you start a new one. If a duplicate is found then the moderators zap it. Just a thought to help with the amount of posts.
2005-11-05 06:15 | User Profile
This is old-style posting means.
I dislike it intensely. It is more difficult to communicate.
But and perhaps the only means - I know not.
Mentzer
2005-11-05 08:42 | User Profile
A suggestion:
Perhaps the moderators of the forum could create a subforum entitled "Active Discussions". Popular topics or topics that the moderators of the forum believe worthy of in-depth discussion could be moved to this forum. In this manner these important threads would not get lost in a wave of news/trivia posts with 1 or 2 replies.
At most 5 threads would exist in the "Active Discussions" sub-forum, at the moderator's discretion. It would be understood by members that this is "where the action is" and they would make an effort to contribute if they can, as well as to the existing forums.
Hopefully this will allow the forum to focus attention on particular topics and discuss them in detail.
A new thread could be added to the "Active Discussion" forum once a week, and the oldest removed.
What does everyone think about this?
2005-11-05 11:27 | User Profile
[QUOTE=RowdyRoddyPiper]A suggestion:
Perhaps the moderators of the forum could create a subforum entitled "Active Discussions". Popular topics or topics that the moderators of the forum believe worthy of in-depth discussion could be moved to this forum. In this manner these important threads would not get lost in a wave of news/trivia posts with 1 or 2 replies.
At most 5 threads would exist in the "Active Discussions" sub-forum, at the moderator's discretion. It would be understood by members that this is "where the action is" and they would make an effort to contribute if they can, as well as to the existing forums.
Hopefully this will allow the forum to focus attention on particular topics and discuss them in detail.
A new thread could be added to the "Active Discussion" forum once a week, and the oldest removed.
What does everyone think about this?[/QUOTE]I don't think its really necessary for the moderators to mark which threads are "where the action is" for anyone that's been here any length of time, and knows the participants. The list you get off the "new posts" search is pretty self-explanatory really as to whose talk about what.
I personally try to look at some of the threads that just have one or two replies at most, and group them into other threads if possible. Especially if its closely related. Anyone familar with these threads know there's a lot of duplication. As to the level of and types of discussions, we've had a lot of them in the past. Things ebb and flow. I think if someone has an interest in an issue of any kind in WN or paleoconservatism he can find it here on this forum. It may not be active of course, and he he may have to bump it up if he's intersted in renewing it.
As to the level of interaction, it varies. I know a lot of people here stay here, instead of at a place like Liberty Forum precisely because they find places like Liberty Forum "too chatty". So everybody has different preferences, although a lot of forums set up sections just called "general discussion" or "chat", I know.
2005-11-06 11:46 | User Profile
[quote=Mentzer]There is limited exchange of thought. We act as strangers. So how can we understand each other?
To understand we must communicate. That means replying to posts. There is no doubt that a link can be informative. But also a forum should be a outlet for debate between members...
I comment only on interactive exchange between those that post and the means to do so.
If I read him correctly, he wants a chat room incorporated here, possibly with topics seeded by the mods. I know what he means. It's pathetic to see poor Petr resort to pinging for feedback.