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If this community ever goes to crap, I'd like to have a few others to participate with. Anybody care to post up other forums, or PM me a few?

govols 8 July 21
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If the dog would leave my phone alone 😊

As I was saying if you want a deep discussion find someone you like and have an email exchange.

Forums are like social events they are a good place to meet people.

@wolfhnd

I like and agree with the principle, in concept, but the beauty of the public forum format is the peanut gallery. Sometimes the peanuts are grenades that just blow the crap out of the status quo of the conversation. Sometimes to positive effect.

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@govols Why do you think the community might go to crap?

It's splintering into separate cults; it has shed contributors who were willing to do multiple paragraphs rather than multiple videos; we come to the start page and see post after post with zero replies than we used to;

Fu@k, I don't know. I just feel like we're in a spiral............

@govols I just made a change to the how the main page posts are selected... there will be fewer forum ones there unless they get comments by people going into the subcatetories.

@Admin, don't screw with it on my account, but maybe some ideas will spring up. I DON"T want an echo chamber filtered in... The fact that one can sort by most commented, recent comments, trending...all of that helps.

I know you are trying to make a good experience, and I hate to toss in negativity....

@Admin @govols agree on the endless video links posted without comment or context - there should be a page for those. I’m always interested in what people feel about the issue.

And more seriously, there has been a marked increase in white nationalism and anti-semitism here lately. I like the site, but with some of the material I’m seeing lately, I’d never recommend it to a friend.

@GeeMac yes, we have to be careful to balance all beliefs. I wonder if it would make sense for people to be able to tag posts/comments that are controversial so that others could toggle them off (or on).

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How can we help this community from going to crap? 🙂

I don't know. It seems that all web worlds begin with community, grow in popularity, and with growing population begin to shift away from community.

It's impossible to grow web cultures into lasting civilizations because...too many cultures attempt to participate?

@govols Agreed that there is a sweet spot as to the size of an (online) community.

@govols I do not think it is that too many "cultures" attempt to participate but more a matter of extremist shouters, on both sides of the spectrum who are not really interested in real conversation and discussion. They have a position and are not willing to look at issues from a neutral place. The result is that many, myself included, look at a topic, see who has responded and just move on when I realize any response/opinion I could offer will be shouted down, so as the saying goes - it is like washing a pig, you are just wasting time and water. Will this community go to crap? Probably not because there are so many posts from a few that subscribe to extreme views in the hope of getting a response they can jump on and shout down if it does not agree with the stated position. Practical people willing to have an honest open conversation will just stop participating and leave.

It would be refreshing to find a group where real open discussion is possible and valued.

@govols I think it is, in part, the attempt to accept everyone in.

An example: Back in 1993 a guy wanted to start an "adult" BBS (if you don't know, ask). I was like the 5th or 6th person that found it. I was actually brought to it by my best friend as a place to get away from the 'kids' on other BBS'. We decided that 'adult' meant people over 18, not SEXUAL CONTENT. And we ruthlessly culled any attempts to spark sexual content. The owner was not happy BUT, the Board became one of the city's premier sites BECAUSE it didn't cater to sexual content.

If you want to do the same, it takes constant effort and a willingness to accept that you will get blow-back from people. I strongly support diversity of opinion, even from the fringes of both sides. It just needs to be civil and rational.

And @Admin, I don't like videos just being posted to any groups that lack comment from the poster with their take on the content. Otherwise it is just advertising/propaganda. I don't know if there is a way to stop it - other than your change to require comments before showing up.

And I don't know that you should change things just because I think they should be....

@tracycoyle

The attempt to include too many perspectives gets in the way of enjoying conversations that include a multiplicity of viewpoints? We're in a strange place....

@govols I don't think so - it is certainly harder to wade through them, but I have found some wonderful nuggets along the way. Someone recommended a book to someone else. I went and looked at the book on Amazon, thought it looked interesting, picked it up and read it. Enjoyed it. There was a sequel that I liked alot also - so I reviewed the book, then sent an email to the author. Since then we talk regularly and discuss projects he is working on. I continue to like his book and have since joined an author's forum to discuss issues, not always related to the author or his books - it's just a community with a point of commonality.

Such is the benefit of the internet ...

@xerxes, so, do you find yourself scanning for names whose thoughts you enjoy engaging, and shouters that you're inclined to just ignore?

@govols There are probably a few, but my general approach is to read the original point/comment and look at the comments and responses. If it goes to crazy I generally just leave. Occasionally there are some well thought out responses and nuggets, as you noted, and if I feel my contribution can add value to the discussion I will do so. I probably have a too low tolerance for BS and crazy but life is too short to try and change closed minds.

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