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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 169. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ron1953 on July 30, 2010, at 10:52:05
OK, I've already said, perhaps too many times, that I think the civility rules, blocks, etc. are a detriment to this so-called forum, and I've gotten positive and negative responses. Even if I'm totally full of crap, the fact remains that this site is severely lacking in active members and posts, and in order for it to be an active, informative, enjoyable and helpful place, something(s) would have to change. Things like a "point system" may be interesting to Bob and a couple others (for reasons I cannot fathom), but I don't see such tweaks as enhancements.
I'm posing the question to the other PB members: what changes might you suggest to make this place more vibrant?
Posted by manic666 on July 30, 2010, at 13:20:15
In reply to The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by ron1953 on July 30, 2010, at 10:52:05
Posted by obsidian on July 30, 2010, at 17:57:54
In reply to The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by ron1953 on July 30, 2010, at 10:52:05
I do like the fibre optic lights idea :-)
I really don't know, and I'd like to see more people here. I suppose it makes me curious about how things are handled on other sites. I am less concerned here with what is right/wrong, better/worse, and more with what will keep us bustling.
I'd love to hear ideas.
I do however, hate the point system idea, wouldn't consider it for a second.
Posted by PartlyCloudy on July 30, 2010, at 20:15:32
In reply to The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by ron1953 on July 30, 2010, at 10:52:05
Posted by PartlyCloudy on July 30, 2010, at 20:22:20
In reply to Emoticons with movement (nm), posted by PartlyCloudy on July 30, 2010, at 20:15:32
Posted by sigismund on July 31, 2010, at 1:48:18
In reply to The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by ron1953 on July 30, 2010, at 10:52:05
>I'm posing the question to the other PB members: what changes might you suggest to make this place more vibrant?
That's an interesting (if less than productive) question which I shall not address, it having been argued about with little result for the last 4 years and perhaps longer for all I know.
Instead here is something to reflect onThree in the Morning (Chuang Tzu)
When we wear out our minds, stubbornly clinging to one partial view of things, refusing to see a deeper agreement between this and its complentary opposite, we have what is called 'three in the morning'.
What is this 'three in the morning'?
A monkey trainer went to his monkeys and told them: 'As regards your chestnuts: you are going to have three measures in the morning and four in the afternoon.'
At this they all became very angry. So he said: 'All right, in that case I will give you four in the morning and three in the afternoon.' This time they were satisfied.
The two arrangements were the same in that the number of chestnuts did not change. But in one case the animals were displeased, and in the other they were satisfied. The keeper had been willing to change his personal arrangement in order to meet objective conditions. He lost nothing by it!
The truly wise man, considering both sides of the question without partiality, sees them both in the light of Tao.
This is called following two courses at once.
Posted by manic666 on July 31, 2010, at 3:40:04
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by sigismund on July 31, 2010, at 1:48:18
sigmund you do my head in buddy but you funny.Ok im on two more site,s, but have old an new friends on babble. They have a total an fresh approach to forums,as always im in trouble a lot of times for straight talking.But there mods take time to know a person an no it may be a spontanious reaction post, so they write you an ask whats the problem an lets sort things out, they done BAN or BLOCK you on the spot.They dont say you must say your sorry like a little child to the other poster ,makeing it impossible ,if you ment something you ment it, so you carnt say sorry or whats the point in saying it.They warn you an the other poster if its them who caused your reaction.Plus other members stick up for each other,an not hide in the shadow,s for fear of a block. Member,s can make an use a avatar in there profile , showing up at the side of you post ,those brightening the hole page. TWO forums that get use a lot are JUST FOR FUN where you tell stories ,music, films,jokes, compleatly away from the bad feeling,s you may be haveing.An the second is the RANT PAGE ,to get things out your system an not get band or blocked,you can get told to cool it ,an that does the trick.When your blocked on babble it does a lot of harm to a patient , worse when its for not apologising. imotion,s are stored an build up, take my buddy bulldog , comes back of a ban ,still mad at being blocked an straight away is blocked again.That should have been sorted, not let a man stew for week,s till he explodes back on babble. i was blocked for 6 weeks so i went to other sites who have members in thousand,s with mabye a 100 posts a day,some sh*t ,but most interesting. i have 1 hour on the the computer in the morning an 2hours at night, not all on med sites, but babble needs mods an bringing up to date to get young members.An you aint going o get them on this old fashioned format
Posted by PartlyCloudy on July 31, 2010, at 7:11:43
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by manic666 on July 31, 2010, at 3:40:04
Posted by PartlyCloudy on July 31, 2010, at 9:31:30
In reply to Coupons to print out with posts (nm), posted by PartlyCloudy on July 31, 2010, at 7:11:43
Posted by ron1953 on July 31, 2010, at 10:51:01
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by sigismund on July 31, 2010, at 1:48:18
> >I'm posing the question to the other PB members: what changes might you suggest to make this place more vibrant?
>
> That's an interesting (if less than productive) question which I shall not address, it having been argued about with little result for the last 4 years and perhaps longer for all I know.
> Instead here is something to reflect on
>
>
>
> Three in the Morning (Chuang Tzu)
> When we wear out our minds, stubbornly clinging to one partial view of things, refusing to see a deeper agreement between this and its complentary opposite, we have what is called 'three in the morning'.
> What is this 'three in the morning'?
> A monkey trainer went to his monkeys and told them: 'As regards your chestnuts: you are going to have three measures in the morning and four in the afternoon.'
> At this they all became very angry. So he said: 'All right, in that case I will give you four in the morning and three in the afternoon.' This time they were satisfied.
> The two arrangements were the same in that the number of chestnuts did not change. But in one case the animals were displeased, and in the other they were satisfied. The keeper had been willing to change his personal arrangement in order to meet objective conditions. He lost nothing by it!
> The truly wise man, considering both sides of the question without partiality, sees them both in the light of Tao.
> This is called following two courses at once.That is an excellent piece of philosophy, which I'm afraid too few can understand or embrace, as evidenced by the single-mindedness so common in PB.
I think it may be best for me to end my visit to the kiddie pool and head back to deeper waters.
Posted by Dinah on July 31, 2010, at 11:25:35
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by manic666 on July 31, 2010, at 3:40:04
> i have 1 hour on the the computer in the morning an 2hours at night, not all on med sites, but babble needs mods an bringing up to date to get young members.An you aint going o get them on this old fashioned format
I think you have something there. Mind you, I not only like the old fashioned format, but I rather like the people it draws. So a flashier Babble might not suit me so well. But there are more people who aren't like me than are like me. So if Dr. Bob is looking for numbers, the newer software might draw more people.
There are just so many more choices nowadays. It's a lot harder to carve out market share. And when momentum shifts, it's hard to reverse that shift.
And while I personally dislike disappearing posts, I wonder if Babble would be more appealing to newcomers if the moderation and subsequent negative posting were done off board, as they are in so many sites. I can't help but think that if I were new to a site and saw post after post about how awful the moderator is, and how much people dislike the site, it would send me looking elsewhere. Depending on my tolerance for discord, it might send me looking elsewhere even as an established poster. While in reality it's difficult to judge how much greater discontent is here, compared to places who remove such posts and handle discord off board. Moreover, it might be less shaming to posters to have Dr. Bob privately ask them to rephrase or apologize if they don't wish to be blocked rather than the current process which I personally interpret as demeaning, though obviously Dr. Bob interprets it differently. I never thought I'd be in favor of off board moderation, but I think I'm slowly coming to favor that alternative. With the Admin board being left for more prosaic and less heated suggestions for improvements and technical issues.
But those are all choices Dr. Bob has made, many based on his own values. As he said, Babble can't be all things to all people. As it stands right now, maybe it's greatest possibilities are as a niche market for people who don't like the more modern format and who value transparency over peace. Who don't mind the more public profile of Babble. And who value the intelligent and thoughtful posters who post at Babble of course.
Posted by manic666 on July 31, 2010, at 13:34:57
In reply to Coupons to print out with posts (nm), posted by PartlyCloudy on July 31, 2010, at 7:11:43
Posted by PartlyCloudy on July 31, 2010, at 13:57:40
In reply to partlycloudy that went over my head ,was it funny (nm), posted by manic666 on July 31, 2010, at 13:34:57
I was thinking of all the bumf I get handed back to me with my grocery receipts - coupons for junk I don't need nor want, and unrelated to what I have in my shopping cart.
But you know what? I'm not very funny. I don't think there's much I can personally do attract more people here.
pc
Posted by manic666 on July 31, 2010, at 14:11:13
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by ron1953 on July 31, 2010, at 10:51:01
The blocking is the main bugbear,I mean we are mentally ill ,we carnt be polite all the time its not that easy.We may read something an think jezzz. We carnt just walk away an cool down an compose, its BANG/// there an then..if later you think mmmmmmmmm i was a bit out of order there then you post you were.Or if the reciever post,s they were really offended,Many times i have seen a block were bob look,s at it as offencive, yet the person he defends doesnt give a sh*t, an ask,s for the person to be unblocked as it makes them feel guilty
Posted by sigismund on July 31, 2010, at 15:52:44
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by ron1953 on July 31, 2010, at 10:51:01
>I think it may be best for me to end my visit to the kiddie pool and head back to deeper waters.
Off to Admin then?
Posted by Willful on July 31, 2010, at 16:17:39
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling? » manic666, posted by Dinah on July 31, 2010, at 11:25:35
I totally think newer software and a board more like the general type of board that people use out there, where the world has switched programs over the last five or six years, unlike this place, would make a huge difference.
Other boards have so many functions that people like, that this board doesn't have. You can look up posts from other posters, look up their profiles-- where people are actually likely to put a little information about themselves-- and you get to know them a little-- people have avatars (not necessarily sort of babyish ones like some places)-- and can modify posts after they're written (not necessarily something we would want to adopt-- I'm just saying that is common).
that would be more likely to attract new people who stayed-- imo-- than some ideas that have been discussed lately.
as far the civility rules, that's a dead horse so I'm not going to say much-- but I do think we could lighten up a bit on that. We don't have to tolerate flaming or outright insults and hurtful statements, not to nitpick one another so much on some marginal or slightly angryish remark in the ebb and flow of disagreements.
I mean posts where people rant on and go out of their way to be mean or degrading. Other than that-- what's the point of all civility? Are we so fragile here? Maybe we all need to toughen up a bit-- and support people whose feelings are hurt rather than run around banning people who ran afoul of some fairly tenuous sense of some passing and often ambiguous comment being hurtful.
but anyway... we know where that goes...
Willful
Posted by Willful on July 31, 2010, at 16:18:21
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling? » ron1953, posted by sigismund on July 31, 2010, at 15:52:44
Posted by ron1953 on July 31, 2010, at 16:35:01
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling? » ron1953, posted by sigismund on July 31, 2010, at 15:52:44
Not to admin. To continue to deal with real life, as opposed to denying it.
Posted by sigismund on July 31, 2010, at 22:51:51
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling? » sigismund, posted by ron1953 on July 31, 2010, at 16:35:01
>To continue to deal with real life, as opposed to denying it.
There should be something in The Way of Chuang Tzu about the catastrophes that arise from facing up to things.
I must have a look.
Posted by ron1953 on August 1, 2010, at 0:57:01
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling? » ron1953, posted by sigismund on July 31, 2010, at 22:51:51
> >To continue to deal with real life, as opposed to denying it.
>
> There should be something in The Way of Chuang Tzu about the catastrophes that arise from facing up to things.
>
> I must have a look.Ah, but they're REAL catastrophes, not imagined ones....
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 1, 2010, at 1:11:57
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by ron1953 on July 31, 2010, at 10:51:01
> the kiddie pool
Would anyone be willing to try to show ron how he might rephrase the above or to encourage him to apologize? You may have the power to help him avoid being blocked again. Thanks,
Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 1, 2010, at 1:12:44
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by Willful on July 31, 2010, at 16:17:39
> I'm not very funny. I don't think there's much I can personally do attract more people here.
>
> pcIt's not just funny posts that attract people. I think being supportive is doing a lot, but if someone wants to do more, they could. As Dinah suggested, they could also be positive about the site and me. They could tell others about the site. They could allow their posts to be shared/tweeted as links to this site. They could share/tweet links themselves.
> Other boards have so many functions that people like, that this board doesn't have. You can look up posts from other posters, look up their profiles-- where people are actually likely to put a little information about themselves-- and you get to know them a little-- people have avatars (not necessarily sort of babyish ones like some places)-- and can modify posts after they're written (not necessarily something we would want to adopt-- I'm just saying that is common).
>
> WillfulI've thought about bringing back the old search engine. And profiles are on my to-do list. Which do you think would make more of a difference? Avatars and the ability to modify posts have both been opposed by posters.
Thanks for your ideas!
Bob
Posted by manic666 on August 1, 2010, at 3:13:51
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling? » ron1953, posted by sigismund on July 31, 2010, at 15:52:44
I think the rant forum cool, as i have different mood swing,s,as a lot of babblers do. So it can vary day to day,sometimes i feel weird an dont give a sh*t,others happier an cool.This can effect post,s but at the time of posting you dont reolise. .So say have 1 moderator on the rant posts thread,s to deal with the //haveing a bad day let it rip post,s.Thus reduceing the ban block trouble.Where i live people interact with what babble would deem insults ,but to me an my surroudings are just banter an no offence is taken , you just come back with a witty comment. Can someone tell me whatRON 1953 has done wrong ,i dont get it .can someone explain
Posted by ron1953 on August 1, 2010, at 5:56:23
In reply to Re: being blocked again, posted by Dr. Bob on August 1, 2010, at 1:11:57
> > the kiddie pool
>
>Would anyone be willing to try to show ron how he might rephrase the above or to encourage him to apologize? You may have the power to help him avoid being blocked again. Thanks,
>
> Bob
Would someone be willing to show Bob that I'm not concerned about being blocked, and that I am a fully-grown 57-year-old who doesn't jump through hoops for his entertainment.
Posted by ron1953 on August 1, 2010, at 6:04:21
In reply to Re: being blocked again, posted by Dr. Bob on August 1, 2010, at 1:11:57
> > the kiddie pool
>
> Would anyone be willing to try to show ron how he might rephrase the above or to encourage him to apologize? You may have the power to help him avoid being blocked again. Thanks,
>
> BobOne more thing: Can someone please tell Bob why "kiddie pool" may be a very fair and accurate characterization of Babble as it now stands.
It also strikes me funny how Bob found exception to the term "kiddie pool" and chose a condescending, talk-to-a-child way of expressing it.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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