What improvements would you like to see in this discussion forum?

[Argus]

The problem is when people respond to trolls then they're also instigating the situation. You can't punish a troll for instigating when others encourage the behaviour by responding to it.

Yes, but you forget that a good troll post is one which many will not realize is trolling.

[waldo]

I think we should revive some interviews with politicans and or popular political folks.

yes - I'd actually thought to add this... before the front-end was shut down I had been looking to the suggested upcoming interview with Ralph Klein (before his untimely passing).

[waldo]

Even in this case, the fact that you frequent blogs that resort to sexist name calling shows how childish your information sources are - it does not rebut my statement that you respond to reasoned posts with insults and name calling. If anything, your response implicitly acknowledges that I am right.

given your long-established board insult pattern against legitimate climate scientists, that's quite a self-serving assessment on your part. As for frequenting blogs that resort to insults there are none... none... that can complete with that stable of denier blogs you so readily cite from/draw reference to. Good to read you "acknowledging your rightness"!

[betsy]

In reply to argus,

So what? We should be able to creatively argue or debate to prove a point. I should be able to take on the position of an atheist if I have something to prove about it being idiotic.

Btw, there is such a style of that kind of debate. It happened at the other forum when two debators took the opposing position and did a one-on-one. I forgot what they called it. Apparently, the experience was surprising to both since in their prep and research for the debate, they ended up understanding more about the opposing views.

As for the second component .....that will be up to the reader. Mature posters will know enough how to respond to trollings. Children throw tantrums and run to mommy.

You know the saying about the heat in the kitchen. Why should creativity in what's supposed to be a board for adults be cramped by those who can't hack it?

Anyway, that's just my suggestion. I have something to compare this board with.

Man, when you scroll down below and you see this:

MOST ONLINE: 321

Those were the days my friend......

Edited February 18, 2014 by betsy

[DogOnPorch]

I regularly get sent to the Cooler for reasons that seem pretty odd to me. I can't imagine Charles or Greg actually following me while I post, so somebody must complain then the mods act. This most recent Cooler visit was over me pointing out that a poster calling another poster a bully, was in fact, acting like a bully, as well. Now I wouldn't mind this sort of action so much if others got swept-up in the same mod raids...but to see the same posters post away while I do the Cooler tours makes me think there's an agenda to get rid of me. Well...do you want me to leave?

[Michael Hardner]

I don't remember, was that done in a way to allow MLW forum members to participate ?

It could be a way to attract posters here too, if MLW posters get access to such people for example.

[betsy]

The trolling rule actually creates a problem instead of the solution. Who can really define a troll? As far as I see it, even Argus is a troll for calling my sincere suggestion as a troll! He even says it's even good trolling when people don't recognize it as trolling (which means these people weren't "irritated" by what they read)....so, this is really looking for trolls with a fine-toothed comb.

Some may troll you by calling it a troll-hunt.

Perhaps we can borrow your glasses, Argus.

See my point?

I'm telling you....the simplest first step improvement is to allow trolling.

The rule against flaming will take care of the rest. The onus is for the reader to be able to keep his cool and learn when to ignore.

Edited February 18, 2014 by betsy

[waldo]

Your experience with forums (and your views) are awfully limited....and you're not helping anyone here, especially this board, at all.

Like it or not, there are people with active interest in the subject of religion....thus the forum I go to now protects that section from people like you, or those whose intent is simply to mock or disparage religion.

my experience with forums? You're a psychic as well?

and there are members on this board with an active interest in the subject of religion... and you've received that interest 'head-on'. You simply appear unable to support your 'arguments', most of which appear to simply rely upon link dropping/quoting, with little of your own thought input.

Let it not be an offense to be a "troll."

I'm on another busy forum that specifically states, "Trolling is allowed."

trolling for the Lord... I kid, I kid!

.

[betsy]

Response to waldo.

Well, your response suggests it. What can I say? I don't know you....I rely on your post.

Edited February 18, 2014 by betsy

[GostHacked]

The troll is even crapping up this thread.

[betsy]

I love emoticons. Some hates them. They say it's trolling to be using emoticons liberally. What are those emoticons for if not to use?

That's another thing, too...why do you limit the use of emoticons? And I can't even import great emoticons from other sites here on this board!

I counted them. Only 20 emoticons!

Other forums have their own IMPRESSIVE ARSENAL of emoticons to choose from...and we're still allowed to use from other sites. Sometimes that gives humor. But a lot of the people here lack humor.....

Edited February 18, 2014 by betsy

[Charles Anthony]

I don't remember, was that done in a way to allow MLW forum members to participate ?

Yes --- by supplying the questions first. That was how it was done in the past.

Greg would arrange and announce an upcoming interview. MWLers were invited to post their questions in a thread. Greg would compile them all and present them to the interviewee either in a live recording or by letter. The interview would then be posted crediting the member's who posed the questions. Example: Jack Layton interview

It could be a way to attract posters here too, if MLW posters get access to such people for example.

That is the idea. If MLWers can contact or recommend a political or public character for such a feature, that would be great.

[waldo]

Response to waldo.

Well, your response suggests it. What can I say? I don't know you....I rely on your post.

and my post gave you no suggestion as to my board experiences... so you took an unsubstantiated psychic leap.

[Charles Anthony]

That's easy. Just make a French language sub forum. There's enough bilingual posters that could potentially draw in others. It may take a little while to get going, but it might work.

Oui, ce format sera facile a creer mais j'attend a voir plus qu'un sequestration des discussions.

Peut-etre j'ai la tete dans la lune mais j'adore la discussion couramment et librement billinge --- comme ca se fait au Canada et le reste du monde.

Parcontre, ca se peut que le bilinguisme detourne certaines parmi nous. SVP Pensez-y. Nous avons beaucoup de pouvoir au bout de nos doigts.

[betsy]

Waldo,

You're not aware of it, silly. Whether or not my impression of you is wrong is not the point. It's your post(s) that gave me that impression.

[betsy]

Charles,

I remember that interview with Jack Layton. Were there any other interviews other than Jack?

[Argus]

The trolling rule actually creates a problem instead of the solution. Who can really define a troll? As far as I see it, even Argus is a troll for calling my sincere suggestion as a troll!

It was just that I found your suggestion so ludicrous it was hard to believe you actually were putting it forward seriously. It would have this site officially approve the behavior of those who deliberately goad others into insults, then suspend the insulters instead, thus doubling the glee of the troll.

He even says it's even good trolling when people don't recognize it as trolling (which means these people weren't "irritated" by what they read)..

The point of the troll is to get attention, but as I've stated, there are two kinds of trolling, one designed to goad others into anger, and the other simply to provoke. For example, I could go on this site and start talking about what a miserable, crappy place Canada is, and how my country is so much better and wonderful and richer and more powerful. I could be fairly sure that would outrage a number of people who would respond by insulting me. Alternatively, I could start up a thread on how Barrack Obama is clearly a Muslim and born outside the US, just to giggle at all the people who would respond and deny it.

Trolling is simply not conducive to intelligent discussion.

[Michael Hardner]

Yes --- by supplying the questions first.

Reddit's AMA generates a good amount of buzz... what do you think of that format ?

[cybercoma]

Oui, ce format sera facile a creer mais j'attend a voir plus qu'un sequestration des discussions.

Peut-etre j'ai la tete dans la lune mais j'adore la discussion couramment et librement billinge --- comme ca se fait au Canada et le reste du monde.

Parcontre, ca se peut que le bilinguisme detourne certaines parmi nous. SVP Pensez-y. Nous avons beaucoup de pouvoir au bout de nos doigts.

I'm not bilingual, so I wouldn't be able to take part in the discussions in French. I take your point though; it sort of defeats the purpose of making a "French ghetto" on the forum, limiting all French-language discussion that way. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Canadians are not bilingual. I'm not sure what the distribution is like in the regular forums. Nevertheless, is there really anything stopping someone from starting a thread in French now? The only thing I can think of is lack of an audience. Maybe I'm wrong. Folks he speak French should try starting French threads and you guys should carefully moderate any discussion in those threads that focuses on the language instead of the topic. The only problem is participation and attracting bilingual or francophone posters here. The forum software after all has no option for changing languages.

[cybercoma]

Reddit's AMA generates a good amount of buzz... what do you think of that format ?

It wouldn't work here because Reddit's software allows responses to move up and down based on the number of upvotes/downvotes they get. Trolling and insulting, or even racist and bigoted behaviour normally gets pushed to the bottom and the better (although not always) questions rise to the top. The compromise is that the questions here are vetted by Greg then presented to the interviewee, whose responses are then given back to the forum. I think that works well for this place.

[bleeding heart]

Argus, your points on trolling are spot on.

However, the idea that someone would come here just to mock Canada, deride Canadians, and talk about how wonderful his or her own country is in comparison...well, that's not really an issue, because no one on this forum is so sad and petty, and saddled by weak-kneed nationalism and delicate sensibilities dressed up as ridicule. Fortunately!

[waldo]

However, the idea that someone would come here just to mock Canada, deride Canadians, and talk about how wonderful his or her own country is in comparison...well, that's not really an issue, because no one on this forum is so sad and petty, and saddled by weak-kneed nationalism and delicate sensibilities dressed up as ridicule. Fortunately!

oh... is that what's not going on here? Who knew!

[Michael Hardner]

The compromise is that the questions here are vetted by Greg then presented to the interviewee, whose responses are then given back to the forum. I think that works well for this place.

It would be more interesting to chat 1 on 1 with a guest. How about in 'chat' ? Does the software allow limiting posting in chat ? Charles ?

[waldo]

It would be more interesting to chat 1 on 1 with a guest. How about in 'chat' ? Does the software allow limiting posting in chat ? Charles ?

I doubt you'd get anyone of political substance/significance accepting to responding to anything but pre-provided questions... some of which they may simply choose not to answer.

[bleeding heart]

Rabble had a live discussion with Giller-winner Lynn Coady; but then, that was a discussion about her book, not about politics.