Towards a new RI

[Wombaticus Rex]

^^ Well, my mind is blown. They ALL get a week off? Sorry, but this is not the way towards a new RI.

Operation Everyone Gets a Week Off has nothing to do with "a new RI." To be clear.

[Laodicean]

[BOOGIE66]

^^ Well, my mind is blown. They ALL get a week off? Sorry, but this is not the way towards a new RI.

Operation Everyone Gets a Week Off has nothing to do with "a new RI." To be clear.

I have had bad experiences with forums and arbitrary bans, so what is it all about if I may ask?

I need to know if Operation I Never Post Here Again needs to start.

[Iamwhomiam]

Jakell, thank you for your clarification.

Searcher, If you meant to write AD's second posting in the thread, http://www.rigorousintuition.ca/board2/ ... hilit=ICKE , you should have written that. But you didn't. Instead you wrote the second post after the OP, which pointed all to my posting, the second offered after the OP.

The first insult comes at just the second post from the OP.

Had you written 'The first insult comes from AD in his second posting" there would have been no misunderstanding possible. But your claim nonetheless would remain patently false. Here's AD's second posting in the 2013 thread,
http://www.rigorousintuition.ca/board2/ ... KE#p508233

This is AD's third posting which appears in the thread immediately before my second posting,
http://www.rigorousintuition.ca/board2/ ... KE#p508240 , that still grieves you seven years hence.

Icke may be better received by the audience over at DU. I find my toe jam a more interesting subject to discuss than arguing with Ickeites.

Choosing an Icke thread is an absurdity in and of itself for any sort of comparison. How any can trust someone who has claimed to be the Messiah to be truthful about anything at all they've offered afterwards? And yet you and a few others seem to believe he is the Messiah, worth defending cause you like what he says, bizarre as that may be. There is no accounting for taste, whatsoever, no matter the subject.

First, what I've pointed out is not meant to be an attack on your character, just that you erred, and that's true.

Had your comment been accurate, I would not have called you to task. It's a shame you cannot recognize my intent in trying to keep things fact-based instead of misleading. Anyone can review only the first page of the thread to see for themselves your inaccurate and therefore erroneous much later comment. Not a big deal, Searcher, not at all.

Regarding this, you wrote,

You clearly have no problems with AD's approach.
In the normal course of events, your suggestions would cover the Bulk (maybe 98%) of interactions here. Take it to PM, talk with Mods, then 'suck it up and think of Jeff', then put on Ignore.

I really don't know what anyone's approach is, or their reasons for participating here at RI. I've rarely read AD's threads and I've not once suggested anyone utilize the "Ignore" button, though I've offered my opinion on it.

But in all you've offered so far, this stands out,

My issue is with the Exceptions = 2%

So reminiscent of alan ford's complaints!

So why don't you begin a thread to discuss the 2% you see as privileged more so than others? This seems to be the nub of your irksome discomfort. Besides, I'm sure alan would have a bit more to say, if you did.

Or you could simply begin your own blog and have total control of all being offered. I notice you have not offered to become a moderator.

When I first came here sometime in the spring or summer of 2005, I read only Jeff's blog and felt much of what was being discussed here far beyond the scope of my intellect or interests, so I didn't participate. I lurked and only commented on Jeff's blog when my son's murder was being discussed only hours after I learned of it. After consuming Jeff's past archives during the time his postings were becoming less frequent, I wandered over here and I'm glad I did. Some of our contributors wrote so well I was fascinated. It might be apparent to many how poor my writing skills are. But I try my best to relate my feelings. And let's face it, If I and Ben can discuss issues from diametrically different viewpoints without flaming, anyone can, but only if they want to put forth the effort.
Some today carry umbrellas, hoping to keep dry from yesterday's rain; some carry grudges for seven years or more after the fact, which seems much akin to our recently permabanned poster's issue.

If you allow your feelings to overcome your sensibilities, you've lost your rationality and posting from anger can do no one any good.

We have a feature I think is unique to RI. The ability to create your own blog within RI. I would much prefer those pursuing obviously controversial issues or those with a cause, to take advantage of this feature.

[Wombaticus Rex]

I have had bad experiences with forums and arbitrary bans, so what is it all about if I may ask?

I need to know if Operation I Never Post Here Again needs to start.

It's all right here in this very thread, although I'd hardly recommend anyone "read it for themselves..."

Extensively sustained and ridiculously histrionic ad-hominem attacks.

I am certainly not looking to make a habit of IDF-style communiques and suspend-hammer sweeps; altogether too much work.

[BOOGIE66]

I have had bad experiences with forums and arbitrary bans, so what is it all about if I may ask?

I need to know if Operation I Never Post Here Again needs to start.

It's all right here in this very thread, although I'd hardly recommend anyone "read it for themselves..."

Extensively sustained and ridiculously histrionic ad-hominem attacks.

I am certainly not looking to make a habit of IDF-style communiques and suspend-hammer sweeps; altogether too much work.

I thought that was why but wasn't sure. I skipped pages 15-20 or so because of all the petty bickering.

Operation I Never Post Here Again is a no-go

Thanks for the clarification.

[Perelandra]

General Discussion is a good thing, and as shown by pageviews at least, is still the only forum that most visitors by far look at. You 'view active topics' peeps are early adopters, at the innovative frontier of board browsing behaviour. GD can be kept general by moderation - limiting the proliferation of threads so that many different topics are on the first page. At the moment, for instance, two Palestine threads are plenty: Zionism's lost shine is about... well, that, attitudes to Israel and the occupation, while Gaza ground invasion is about the current assault. There's no need for Do Palestinians have a right to self-defense, or Israel's war crimes, and We need a new Israel thread!!!!! is just taking the piss. Mods could post in there saying "This is getting moved to the Middle East subforum in an hour, feel free to post the OP in a different thread if you want your post in GD."

Good point also about GD threads that contain no discussion. They're Data Dump threads. Perhaps mods could post in them and ask if anyone would object to their being moved.

That'll help already. I'm not big on bannings, this place already feels less diverse than it used to be, and I think active moving and locking of threads will limit disruptive behaviour. At least on GD. Although I'm not sure if mods have the permissions to move threads. Do they?

I think so. A couple posters may want their dumps in GD, but that doesn't mean it should be allowed. All your common-sense ideas are why you have my vote for a new moderator.

So many others have good ideas, also. IMO, we need subfora. This place is like a library or large bookseller which requires order to be useful to all. GD is the current events corner, as well as the not-so-current for which new details can be shared.

Or at least a portal to a more secure location where fellow members can plan and organize behind projects. I appreciate the technical and incentive hurdles to get there but I think it's one of the next logical steps for this community.

What would be superior to PMs, DIY chatrooms, or RL networking, if that's your interest? Keep it simple.

JMO and thanks to those who make it work and keep it fun. OEGWO, lol.

[BOOGIE66]

Maybe you could have a news forum for articles etc (with the articles having to be dated within 3-4 days of when posted) and have GD be for everything else?

As for the too many posts on a given subject perhaps topics can be merged?

Another idea may be (in GD) to limit people to a certain number of new topics per day and a certain number of consecutive replies to a post. 4 topics a day max and 3 replies in a row per thread and no more replies if / until someone else replies. If no one replies the topic will fall off the first page of a forum and it will reduce the giant dump threads..


Just a thought

[Saurian Tail]

An old friend of mine from the business world opined that 90% of positive change in an organisation is down to systemic factors. For example, crappy customer service between doctors and patients in a Practice (public health center) may be drastically changed by improved IT system speed and workflow, rather than by appeals to reason or the value of having a great culture - those are important but seem (from what I have seen) strangely seem to be less pivotal in making the change.

Yes. This is a good observation. I have been having this very discussion with the owner of the company I work for. There have been many appeals over the years for people to have a more positive attitude and for departments to work together more constructively. I have been constantly making the point that the problem is not the people, it's the outdated system. People everywhere want to be happy and have fun. A lousy system creates tensions that don't need to exist. It's about effective management recognizing what the _real_ problems are.

In my view, the mods should move threads around as has been suggested to keep General Discussion fresh. Give time outs more often. Ban more people for bad behavior. Generally take the bull by the horns and moderate away. People will get the message and the job of the mod will get much easier after an initial period of adjustment.

[alan ford]

Operation Everyone Gets a Week Off

Our first iteration of OEGWO has ensnared the following habitual offenders / beautiful people: Jack, SLAD, AD, Searcher, Jakel, psynapz and BPH.

Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience -- and yea, the very iniquity of it all -- and we look forward to resuming normal combat operations in precisely seven days.

But, but...the entertainment value of this tread just shuts off for a week??

[MayDay]

I don't understand why people here have such a big problem with the copy pasta. I'm probably going to read it somewhere anyway, so why not here? It's easy on the eyes and it loads quicker than any other site, especially on my cheap Samsung galaxy smartphone. Also, articles and such are always being edited. It's nice to have the original to refer to. I don't mind skipping over long articles that I don't want to read at the moment. Can someone explain to me why they do have a problem with it? Cause I'm just not getting it. Go AD, Go Slad. Peace to all! Be kind to each other!

[BOOGIE66]

I don't understand why people here have such a big problem with the copy pasta. I'm probably going to read it somewhere anyway, so why not here? It's easy on the eyes and it loads quicker than any other site, especially on my cheap Samsung galaxy smartphone. Also, articles and such are always being edited. It's nice to have the original to refer to. I don't mind skipping over long articles that I don't want to read at the moment. Can someone explain to me why they do have a problem with it? Cause I'm just not getting it. Go AD, Go Slad. Peace to all! Be kind to each other!

I can only speak for myself but it's hard to pick what to read out of 5 articles (in full) all posted in one post. Even harder when it's 5 posts of 5 articles in a row. It's information overload on crack.


iirc fair use is a link to the source, the article headline and a brief synopsis or the first paragraph of the article. Using the fair source guidelines makes it easier to sift through.

If it's posted using fair use guidelines I can quickly decide if I want to read it or not and click the link, if I have to sort through massive complete articles I skip it all. I end up missing the forest and the trees.

Posting reports using fair use guidlines also keeps the site clear legally as far as re-posting articles and copyright goes.

I appreciate the articles as I would never find them on my own, so I wouldn't say I have a problem with it, just the dumps of complete reports/pieces make it hard to sift through what is there.

[BrandonD]

I don't understand why people here have such a big problem with the copy pasta. I'm probably going to read it somewhere anyway, so why not here? It's easy on the eyes and it loads quicker than any other site, especially on my cheap Samsung galaxy smartphone. Also, articles and such are always being edited. It's nice to have the original to refer to. I don't mind skipping over long articles that I don't want to read at the moment. Can someone explain to me why they do have a problem with it? Cause I'm just not getting it. Go AD, Go Slad. Peace to all! Be kind to each other!

I personally think copypasta is great, lots of relevant information pertaining to a particular subject, all collected in one place.

However, it seems to me those copypasta threads really belong in *data dump* and not *general discussion*.

As valuable as it is, posting another person's article isn't really "discussion".

[Sounder]

I don't understand why people here have such a big problem with the copy pasta. I'm probably going to read it somewhere anyway, so why not here?

The 'big' problem is not with copy-pasta per se, for me at any rate the issue is agenda pushing and propaganda. Many of us do not watch TV or listen to radio so as to avoid the repetition that warps ones mind. Yes I can scroll past, and yes I can dig that one persons fervently held belief is propaganda to another person, but when the pusher cannot or will not discuss their wares, then their pushing can be irritating to some.

Besides, the libcom library of 10,000 articles should stay over at libcom, where it belongs.


Bruce Duensing has this currently at his blog and it seems quite appropriate for this thread at the moment. A beautiful talk.

Lost and Found, Sweet and Sour

[Wombaticus Rex]

Besides, the libcom library of 10,000 articles should stay over at libcom, where it belongs.

Got a good rich chuckle out of that, but it's also a thunk-provoker.

Consider the homey Joël van der Reijden and his massive ISGP project -- a project that has disappeared before. A lot of the mega-resources that were hugely usely to my young brain, once the Internets finally reached Vermontistan, are now altogether gone.

Overall, I think this issue will just continue to shake out along the lines of personal preference. The Data Dump is the biggest reason I'm still here, I think it is fantastic. On a personal/aesthetic level, I think AD and Fruh's threads don't belong in General Discussion, but clearly they do. I'm willing to abide it.

Saurian Tail makes superb points. This infrastructure is creaky. Then again, "efficiency ≠ resiliency." Hopefully the same crap that makes this clunky is also keeping us online, eh? I am reduced to invoking hope because, let's face it, there is no "good management" mothership coming to save RI.