What do you think of the quality of OT discussion today?

[Borachio]

On the other hand, it's only posts (good or bad) that compose the forum. If you don't post anything, there's no forum at all.

Good post good. Bad post not so good. No post worst. Maybe.

Any post might be better than none, often enough. Though, of course, there'll be exceptions: I've deleted a lot of mine on this principle.

 

[Quackers]

I do my best but the overall quality of posts remains stubbornly high

Also, I laugh at the idea there are no cliques. There is a well defined one which originates in the WH forum which is a common disease in OT.

 

[Hygro]

I guess so, but like for example I've written several times how it might be better for liberals in the long run if they sit out an election and really make the Democrat party not take them for granted anymore, rather than vote in yet another election where they're just folding to the party that knows they will get their vote no matter what. They KNOW Hillary is going to end up like Obama but they're just going to acquiesce in the general and vote party line. Why wouldn't your standard Washington politician, let alone a Clinton, use you like a doormat? I always associated people on the left as the agitators(I don't use that as a necessarily bad term, some things need to be stirred up), but here I just see more and more complaining and just taking what the establishment gives. If you don't have the money and you give up your vote, what power do you have? What good is it voting for Hillary if she's going to do a bunch of moderate/conservative stuff you don't like AND it's going to get put down as "socialist" or "liberal" by the masses if/when it fails? Why not let a Republican do it and let him go down in flames?

But almost no one ever addresses that or explains why that's not a good idea, they just go on with the same complaints and bravely taking down people who are never going to see a word they wrote, or they pick out 10% of the post and distort it and throw the rest away.

While election fraud was the real culprit, a number of liberals did this in 2000 and voted for Nader and received much ire.

I've read at least a couple of your posts suggesting that and it's one of the reasons I always pay extra attention when I see you post. I've never responded to the point, and it's still marinating in my head. But it's helped build your reputation in my mind.

The lack a reputation system in this forum makes it harder for people to know what kind of feedback the quiet people are thinking. It'd be cool if we had one, but had it hidden away in peoples' profiles (not stars under their avatar etc).

Perfectly adequate for a message board dominated by young men with few worries who are exactly one hour ahead of their time. Or a golden age, as some people would prefer to call it.

If by few worries you mean a constant anxiety about our future both as individuals and as a society and stewards of an abused planet, then yes, the quantity of worry-categories are few



Both cliques and community are built through interpersonal affirmation and posting about one's own life. That's the one downside lately is there's been less of that than before. Start getting stoked on one another as people and it will all come rushing back.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

On the other hand, it's only posts (good or bad) that compose the forum. If you don't post anything, there's no forum at all.

Good post good. Bad post not so good. No post worst. Maybe.

Any post might be better than none, often enough. Though, of course, there'll be exceptions: I've deleted a lot of mine on this principle.

I look at it this way: Just because you can post something, it doesn't mean you should.

Also, I laugh at the idea there are no cliques. There is a well defined one which originates in the WH forum which is a common disease in OT.

Of course there are cliques. Some who are (or have been) part of one emphatically deny its existence, while others see cliques where they don't exist.

 

[Hygro]

Of course there are cliques. Some who are (or have been) part of one emphatically deny its existence, while others see cliques where they don't exist.

I think what this tells us is that there is the perception of cliques, which may or may not exist in practice, and that perception is the recognition that there are like-minded people enjoying that they agree with one another.

 

[Phrossack]

I think what this tells us is that there is the perception of cliques, which may or may not exist in practice yet still recognize that there are like-minded people enjoying that they agree with one another.

It's not just a group of friends. It's a pack of dogs who pile on top of anyone they dislike. The main cliques have made WH too hostile to visit, and are starting to have the same effect on OT.

 

[trader/warrior]

I think it's generally on an upwards swing recently. One thing I think is different from years back is that both CFCOT and online internet discussion in general seems more "established", more older people who have been around for a while and less people interested in having huge megathreads on the same issue for the millionth time, but as a consequence also a bit less liveliness.

But as we know from a few years back, just a single member with a willingness to post and controversial opinions can really shake things up in a forum. Maybe we could use a few new milder posters like that, and hopefully with more diverse interests than libertarianism and the civil war.

Good post good. Bad post not so good. No post worst. Maybe.

Now you're making me feel like a freeloader for being such a lurker.

 

[Kyriakos]

It's not just a group of friends. It's a pack of dogs who pile on top of anyone they dislike. The main cliques have made WH too hostile to visit, and are starting to have the same effect on OT.

Well you can just not pay attention to them? No one else seems to, anyway, one-trick ponies who think anyone with different views is some lolidea of theirs like 'racist' etc

 

[Phrossack]

Well you can just not pay attention to them? No one else seems to, anyway

1. That would involve ignoring a lot of the most active posters on WH. Not much of a discussion board if there's little discussion.

2. Most posters do pay attention and attempt to deal with these particular cliques.

 

[Kyriakos]

I don't think most people care, tbh. I don't since some years now. No use arguing with a brick wall and so on Just post your thing and don't mind every single of the other posts/reactions.

 

[Phrossack]

I don't think most people care, tbh. I don't since some years now. No use arguing with a brick wall and so on Just post your thing and don't mind every single of the other posts/reactions.

It's hard not to mind when these cliques completely dominate WH and are very prominent and respected (if also increasingly disliked) in OT. Ignoring a few fringe posters is one thing. Ignoring those who dominate the community and who seem to be immune to infractions? That's something else.

 

[Oruc]

And how do you think it might be improved??

lax moderation.

How do you rate your own style of posting?

Gods own. As you well know Borachio HAH!

What, without directly criticising anyone, would you like to see less of?

Those I dislike and snark as it has become known.

What would you like to see more of?

Those I like.

Both cliques and community are built through interpersonal affirmation and posting about one's own life. That's the one downside lately is there's been less of that than before. Start getting stoked on one another as people and it will all come rushing back.

People knowing personal details about myself leaves me uncomfortable, Why is everyone so interested in people they'll never meet?

 

[Kyriakos]

It's hard not to mind when these cliques completely dominate WH and are very prominent and respected (if also increasingly disliked) in OT. Ignoring a few fringe posters is one thing. Ignoring those who dominate the community and who seem to be immune to infractions? That's something else.

Not sure if 4-5 posters can actually dominate the OT, but even if they could (and in the distant past it was far worse in that respect) there are still many more posts around. Infractions are less now, due to the changed rules, which ultimately i think is for the better cause they mildly allow for telling people off in non-RD threads, as long as the aim was to deter from more negative tones there unrelated to the thread's topic.
But really, it is just a forum, and the Colosseum is just a part of the site. In the end no one advances in life due to being in this forum or any other 'entertainment' one on the web. So it should not matter if some 'clique' here posts stuff you or others don't like, cause in the end it is just pointless and even more mundane than having people post stuff cause they want to discuss something in a well-mannered way

 

[Phrossack]

Not sure if 4-5 posters can actually dominate the OT, but even if they could (and in the distant past it was far worse in that respect) there are still many more posts around. Infractions are less now, due to the changed rules, which ultimately i think is for the better cause they mildly allow for telling people off in non-RD threads, as long as the aim was to deter from more negative tones there unrelated to the thread's topic.
But really, it is just a forum, and the Colosseum is just a part of the site. In the end no one advances in life due to being in this forum or any other 'entertainment' one on the web. So it should not matter if some 'clique' here posts stuff you or others don't like, cause in the end it is just pointless and even more mundane than having people post stuff cause they want to discuss something in a well-mannered way

A few generally respected posters working in concert can absolutely dominate a small forum like WH, especially if they chase off newcomers. OT is bigger and more difficult to swallow, but they are very influential there.

And your comments amounting to "It's just a website, dude" don't really matter. We're supposed to offer our opinions of the state of OT and offer suggestions on how to improve it, not just dismiss every criticism with a wave of the hand.

 

[downtown]

I think the quality is a little better than before, but I don't see as many threads that interest me. Getting rid of absolutely terrible posters, as OT has done recently, tends to have a pretty positive effect!

 

[Hygro]

People knowing personal details about myself leaves me uncomfortable, Why is everyone so interested in people they'll never meet?

People I've met:

Antilogic
Bill3000
BvBPL
Cutlass
Downtown
Dutchfire
Godwynn
Integral
Kaiserguard
Part_Time_Civver
Whomp

and I've been at a couple of parties that Sims2738 was at, too.
I feel like I'm leaving someone out.

 

[Oruc]

People I've met:

Antilogic
Bill3000
BvBPL
Cutlass
Downtown
Dutchfire
Godwynn
Integral
Kaiserguard
Part_Time_Civver
Whomp

and I've been at a couple of parties that Sims2738 was at, too.
I feel like I'm leaving someone out.

Why? Why are you meeting up with internet people?

 

[dutchfire]

It's cheaper than a hotel?

 

[Mise]

I've met a bunch of great people on here IRL, and have a load more on fb. The CFC meetups in London are always great fun

 

[madviking]

yea, i've met:

Jericho
Integral
Dachs
Cheezy
Owen
wrymouth

they're all good people