Following on from the thread "be nice...", don't you think there would be a lot less disrespect and flame wars if all members had either
a. attended an apostfest (i.e. met their fellow posters)
b. joined by post (i.e. given their name and address to the board owner)
Have you noticed that most of the posters who post their pics and join in with christmas gifts and so on aren't trouble makers?
I'm sure their are exceptions, but I'm just hoping this may bring out some ideas for a nicer board, if not... world peace.
I wonder sometimes on a slightly deep note, about how many youngsters I knew who got disfellowshipped as they rebelled from adult authority... I've seen threads made here clearly in rejection of moderators and any kind of control. Is this to be expected? Should such ones be allowed to cause anarchy? Is it in fact good to have these episodes which help keep things interesting??? Now there's a question!!!
Good point ballistic. I, for one, would love to go to an apostofest, but there never are any in New England. Hell, I'd go to Quebec if I knew where/when.
As far as your other point, I must comment that I wonder how my older brother would post on this board. (He was d'fed at 19-rebelling, that sort of thing) He's content to just move on, I guess. Maybe he's a bigger person than I am...who knows?
ballistic...it really is hard to be too sassy or hateful to people you have met in person. I wish everyone from this boaerd could meet. There would be better discussions and fewer flame wars IMO. It would also be cool if users started out by posting their story before jumping in to a discussion on any topic, sans the fluff threads. That would give everyone the chance to get a "snapshot" of one's background and a clue as to where they are coming from. This might be hard to do for some as they need or choose to remain anonymous, but it would make the user more of a person than an anonymous opinion.
Some good idea's Ballistic - I think it is harder to fall out with people when you actually know them
The funny thing is that the people who made the most fuss about "freedom of speech" and were so against any form of moderation ... were about the only ones I ever had emails from asking me to remove topics and edit posts etc ... even when they were posting the exact opposite on this and other forums.
I for one would very much like to be more open and I know that there are many here in a similar situation to my self with family IN who they do not want to lose.
The more open you can be the more interesting your posts can be. I have some excellent letters exchanged with the Bethels both London and Brooklyn that would make interesting topics here.
My letters to them got shunted around and read by all the Elders in my local Congregations before I got the replies to them, so local lurkers would be able to immediately identify me from the contents.
My family was aware that I was writing these letters so the fact that others knew about them did no harm.
Just one example of how not being open can hold you back.
good thoughts. It was great meeting you last summer and it makes a world of difference to meet people from here, imho.
I loved what Valis said: "it really is hard to be too sassy or hateful to people you have met in person." mmmmmm, I think I'll try to be sassy from now on! That's an intersting concept
