Well? Does the P&R forum need a massive cleanup and reboot? Some things I notice.

1. Alot of orgers are afraid to go in there.

2. Largely the forum is made up of groups that share similar thoughts, so dissenting opinions are often shouted down. For example, there is a severe shortage of conservative thought and many times they are overwhelmed by liberals. JW's have very little chance of getting a thread going without being ganged up on.

3. A reboot could open the forum to more orgers and hopefully more of the dissenting opinions I have noted above. More people = more diversity = more robust conversation (hopefully).

4. I know more moderation is on the way, a reboot would allow for a team effort of moderators to keep the tone civil and try to avoid some of the dustups of the past.


I love the forum and want it to be live and vibrant. What do you think?

What do you mean reboot? Like, start over?

Mars23 said:

this is a major problem, imo. there have been a few more GD orgers posting there lately though, which is cool.

i think the shortage of conservative thought is partially because it's a prince site, and stereotypically prince fans are more likely to be liberal. but yeah, more conservative posters would make discussions more interesting.

by reboot do you mean wiping all the threads?

Stymie said:

Yep. Clean start.

P&R has always had its "people". That doesn't bother me. Its the ugliness that needed to stop. It hadn't been this ugly since Icenine and all of that mess.

Even more sad is that some very vibrant folks have decided to not post anymore.



I like that p&r is NOT gd but that it has its own vibe. Generally, convos go in cycles and cycles bring about different folks. Race, Abortion, Jws, Election, Race, Abortion, Jws, Elections.....there you have it

Rhondab said:

Nothing will change. Politics has always brought out the worst in people. I have friends in real life that I don't discuss politics with. It didn't use to be this bad but I do feel the is a gang up mentality here whether it be blacks against whites, JWs versus everyone, religious versus non-religious but wha'ts missing is the element of respect. I play my part in that but I am trying to work on it.

Rhondab said:

that's inevitable though.

I'm not sure what you mean by reboot either, but one thing I'd like to see an end to is people posting articles or links with absolutely no commentary of their own and no follow-up. (I'm sure I've done it myself, though I try not to.)

I have no idea how that would be managed.

I think articles and texts of various kinds should provide a basis for discussion and I see why people do it, but when they are just plopped down there and the Orger absconds, nothing is contributed.

I'm not talking about the threads that Mach makes, btw. I think she often creates threads in order to introduce a variety of different topics and viewpoints into the mix. I think she is trying to address some of the problems that we see there.

Perhaps thread topics should be submitted for review and approved? (I hate that idea as soon as I typed it.)

2the9s said:

I love that idea actually.

2the9s said:

oh my goodness, YES

i don't think the mods could manage to approve all topics, but it could be added as a rule to p&r. then threads of the sort could just be reported and locked, maybe?

No, I hate the idea. I think the topics should arise organically from the community. We don't want to have to rely on what the mods think is appropriate for us to discuss and there could be all sorts of conflicts about "Why didn't my topic get approved?" etc.

It opens doors that should be nailed shut.

Sorry I mentioned it.

2the9s said:

Actually, this use to be the "policy" sorta. You had to actually state your point of view about the article you've posted.

I'm sure Mach remembers how this use to roll.


the submitted and approved thing...uh...NO.

2the9s said:

I agree on the posting articles aspect. There is a distinct difference between posting information and posting opinion though. I would tend to let the info slide, but posting an opinion piece without adding why you feel it was post-worthy doesn't add anything to the forum in my opinion.

Mars23 said:

That's a good distinction.

Mars23 said:

I've said it before, but it can be said again: Mars, your ideas and feelings about P&R are fucking great, I really hope you become a mod cos I honestly like to discuss topics like the ones posted in there but as it is now I feel there is little point and virtually no chance of intelligent discussion without members trashing each other.
Go Mars! :pompom:

Teacher said:

same here.

evenstar said:

P&R won't even know what hit it if us GD people go in there and REALLY start discussing things seriously.

don't like the question.

Teacher said:

oh brother

sosgemini said:

Course you don't.

Rhondab said:

I'm only semi-kidding though, P&R could really use an injection of new people posting.

Teacher said:

I know you were...semi kidding and it does.

More than half of the people in P&R need a reboot.
Upside their heads.

Teacher said:

its just the whole premise...it's one things to advocate for improving conditions...an entire other to scrap and start over again....

cha know what i mean?

i miss ED, and the JWs that used to post over there. Where did they go? I'm glad sassy is back he always brings an interesting spin to things.

2the9s said:

I disagree. Sometimes good information is posted... there's really no need to discuss the topic.

I think the problem in P & R is that sometimes there's a little too much "discussing".
[Edited 3/7/08 1:09am]

ehuffnsd said:

It gets hostile in there, and I don't like fighting with people.

Heiress said:

That's usually the case whenever discussing politics & religion, especially on an online forum.

That's why that one saying originated, "When it comes to discussing, politics & religion, you can never win".

Sure, engaging in debates that just go in constant circles have a certain kind of energy, but eventually it's always gonna start escalatin' at certain points.

TheMightyCelestial said:

It's like those big winds that go in constant circles... then before you know it, your house is in pieces.

Heiress said:

...and you're surrounded by munchkins and there's a talking scarecrow, lion and tin-man.

That's why I don't go into P&R, I'm afraid of the flying monkeys...