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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.
Posted by alexandra_k on August 1, 2010, at 6:52:17
In reply to Re: being blocked again, posted by Dr. Bob on August 1, 2010, at 1:11:57
> 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,
Reading the above phrase results in my skin crawling. Then I get a shuddering sensation. Then I feel angry and a little like throwing up. Every time. Without fail. Lets see if I can articulate why...
You don't tell Ron what you find problematic about what he said. This would be direct. Instead you address the rest of the community. That is indirect.
Instead of directly asking Ron to apologize or rephrase and taking responsibility for your decision to block him if he doesn't meet your demands I think you attempt to shift the blame. That is indirect... And that makes my skin crawl.
It seems that you are saying that if posters care about Ron and want to help him avoid a blocking then they need to attempt to justify why it is that you think Ron owes you a rephrase or an apology and do what they can to coax him into meeting your demands.
I think that you need to take responsibility for your own actions Dr Bob. You decide whether you will block a poster and you decide how long you will block them for. You decide what they need to do to avoid a blocking (e.g., you decide that apology or grovelling is an acceptable out whereas explaining oneself is not and so on).
I don't think it is fair of you to insinuate that Ron doesn't care enough about the community or that the community doesn't care enough about Ron and that is why the blockings happen. I really do think that this is what you are insinuating. And I don't think it is fair of you at all.
Things like this... Is why many have left. But heck, many have said why they left and I don't suppose I need to speak for them. It is there is the archives. Maybe someone will actually listen / take it on board one day. But then I really do get the feeling that someone doesn't really care about the people who have left. I mean smaller boards / fewer posters have been on the agenda for a while now... Nicer to have those who don't complain (so much) I'm sure.
Posted by PartlyCloudy on August 1, 2010, at 7:37:38
In reply to Re: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by Dr. Bob on August 1, 2010, at 1:12:44
> > I'm not very funny. I don't think there's much I can personally do attract more people here.
> >
> > pc
>
> It'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.
>I don't feel I can be very positive about the site with the changes that you have instituted and especially with the ones you propose - I find them insupportable. (And so I do no comment on them.) The only thing left for me to do is laugh and and try to derive the support I can from the site from my history here, and protect my privacy, which is actively being eroded in the name of increased traffic.
Sorry I can't support you in this, Bob.
pc
Posted by Dinah on August 1, 2010, at 9:14:17
In reply to Re: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by Dr. Bob on August 1, 2010, at 1:12:44
Avatars would be no worse than signatures, especially if you made seeing them optional. I'd assume they'd be subject to the civility rules? It's a bit distracting, particularly with the animated ones, but not offensive.
Actually, Babble signatures haven't turned out to annoy me enough for me to turn them off. Which says a lot of positive things about Babble posters to me, given my feelings about signatures on many sites I visit.
Posted by ron1953 on August 1, 2010, at 9:55:11
In reply to Re: being blocked again » Dr. Bob, posted by alexandra_k on August 1, 2010, at 6:52:17
That's often the effect of his interference, isn't it?
Posted by manic666 on August 1, 2010, at 10:44:18
In reply to Re: The Question Remains: Why Is Babble Not Babbling?, posted by manic666 on August 1, 2010, at 3:13:51
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 1, 2010, at 11:00:17
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 it may be best for me to end my visit to the kiddie pool and head back to deeper waters.
>
>
> Off to Admin then?I'm actually finding this thread quite amusing.
Posted by fayeroe on August 1, 2010, at 15:32:27
In reply to Re: being blocked again, posted by ron1953 on August 1, 2010, at 5:56:23
Posted by fayeroe on August 1, 2010, at 15:38:08
In reply to Re: being blocked again » Dr. Bob, posted by alexandra_k on August 1, 2010, at 6:52:17
Posted by sigismund on August 1, 2010, at 17:05:29
In reply to Re: being blocked again, posted by ron1953 on August 1, 2010, at 5:56:23
>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.
This is perfectly obvious. To me, anyway.
Posted by sigismund on August 1, 2010, at 17:07:04
In reply to Re: being blocked again, posted by Dr. Bob on August 1, 2010, at 1:11:57
What's wrong with 'the kiddie pool'?
I thought it was (almost) affectionate.
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