What do you think about the tone of the threads in our community?

Question:
Given the tone of many threads in Issues & Politics, Dating, Sista's Spot, and the Den, what do think are the primary motivations of posters at AA.org?

Choices:
To share information
To form a plan of action regarding a particular issue
To troll & inflame
To vent
To win an argument at all costs

 

I tried to pick one... but it was hard.. I really and truly believe it is All of the above... over time I've noticed each characteristic in varying degrees among all of the members, myself included... with some more predominant than others...

every poster is different... and every mood changes...

Here's a question.... (no sarcasm- asking sincerely) What do you think the main members of this group believe would be the ideal makeup of posters for AA.org?

college educated...? degreed? christian? atheist? pro American? pacifist?

Do you think the posters would prefer a more homogenous thinking group of posters... not in terms of personality but in terms of style and philosophy ?

That's why I said primary motivation. All of the above is the easy way out... If I put that in the poll, that's the safe answer, so I'll get a bunch of all of the aboves.

I think the only credentials neccessary to post here are being open to new ideals, being able to discuss different ideas absent mudslinging, semantics, and nitpicking, posessing self-confidence, and having a healthy sense of humor.

quote:

Originally posted by ddouble:
That's why I said primary motivation. All of the above is the easy way out... If I put that in the poll, that's the safe answer, so I'll get a bunch of all of the aboves.

In all sincerity I was not attempting to present a "safe" answer... just an accurate one... The way you pose your question would place many posters in a box, that is simply not an accurate portrayal of their time spent here...

There are many posters who post at varying intervals with varying degrees of intensity during different mood swings... motivations change often according to subject matter, other posters involved, how a post is read.. etc.. etc.. you understand...

I suppose I should say I don't think for the main group of posters here there is any significant primary motivation... For instance, I personally think CF is a white dude or woman who doesn't have so much an agenda as an ideology that he/she/black/white functions from... it rubs me the wrong way most of the time.... and then there are other times he/she/blackwhite makes very thought provoking points..

overall an irritation? primary motivation? I would still be reluctant to say... because other posts that CF makes are just as passionate that I change my mind as to CF's motivation.... and so with most of the regulars on this board.... I personally think however that there is a conformist noncomforist mentality that hovers on the board from time to time... sort of like an inbred position held that when gone against passionately makes the one with the ludicrous opinion a laughing stock... not the position itself but just that its different... Naf is an example... can't stand him/her... nor his/her positions.. they are all ludicrous... but still could not say Naf's primary motivation for being here is proselytize against Islam... just that we have a member who is passionately AGAINST Islam.... no matter how wrong I think he is... and he IS...



I think when a poster is definitely out for an agenda the majority of members spot it immediately and really sometimes its fun... it can be boring.... and an idiot makes themselves fair game for the fight club...

quote:

I think the only credentials neccessary to post here are being open to new ideals, being able to discuss different ideas absent mudslinging, semantics, and nitpicking, posessing self-confidence, and having a healthy sense of humor.

I think these are your credentials.... and that's fine... but.. I really would not want to see a board without mudslinging... it happens when there is passion behind a subject... nitpicking, etc...

and lord.. I wouldn't wish a lack of self confidence on even those whose views I oppose... wouldn't be worth the challenge...

and heaven help us if we need to have a sense of humor! whose sense of humor????

I mean people are people... I just think when things get out of hand.. people don't need to be kicked out... they need intervention.. someone to simply say "cool it"...

rather than monitoring emotions.... and how they handle them... nawmean?


I think though... beloved ddouble...

we CAN do without threats... and out and out degrading another poster for the purpose of running them off the board...


that kinda stuff seems to be tolerable to some....

eh?

I think the primary prose in most cases and with most posters is to vent. That is rarely the only purpose of it. But, the advantage of the Internet is that you can say things to others that you wouldn't say face to face. So you can get feed back without it coming along with a right-hook.

However, this also depends on the poster. When you first join a community like this, it's easy to ignore the fact that these are real people you're interacting with because all the are in the beginning is anonymous screen names. But, after awhile you inevitably "get to know" these people... they become familiar. When they become familiar they begin to have more (or less) value, and you naturally begin to treat them as such.

For example... I gave a lot more leeway to Ricland than I ever give to CF. I don't even read CF anymore. Both of these Brothers (if they are Brothers) are in serious need of reorientation (in my view), and neither one knows how to carry on a discussion. All they do is preach. CF got his benefit of the doubt in the beginning, but he blew it. There's a good handful of other posters who have blown there "benefit of the doubt status" as well (at least with me). But a brand new person with fewer than 50 posts hasn't had a chance to develop at all. They can't relate to "community" yet... because they can't see it yet.
To them, they're just siting at their desk typing stuff on a computer screen with an empathy level of zero. It takes a little time... IMHO.

K-

Sure they are my ideal credentials. I don't think most members would have issue with them. Maybe another poll is in order.

When the person who posts an idea determines the thread outcome instead of the merit/lack thereof of the idea, there is a problem. When posters carry internet grudges (which is a silly notion) from one thread to another, there is a problem. When posters are more concerned about the mechanics of argumentation instead of the idea being expressed, there is a problem. You see very few non-attacking requests to fine tune an argument or make an idea clearer.

Similiar to BV (good to see you!), there are some people I won't bother responding to, especially after they've been in the community for a while. I read everyone though - you never know who will provide information that could be useful.

Ultimately, in an unmoderated community, there will always be someone offering bait (for whatever reason) and someone willing to take it.

Good to see you too DD...

I picked "To share information" because I think that ultimately everyone ... well, the majority of people are here, come here and stay here, because there are so many intelligent discussions that take place and we all (most of us) enjoy the absorption of knowledge.

However, for various reasons and due to differing personalities, I tend to believe it's not a matter of dishonesty or just trying to vent or inflame. Most people, whether disruptive or unifying in their presentation are being who they are and giving an honest presentation of themselves.

Some people are just mean and nasty or argumentative or have been swayed in their way of thinking or are just uniformed or unknowledgable about what they speak about or stubborn and bull-headed or selfish or unknowing of how to relate to other people. It's just a human condition. And it doesn't mean they aren't sincere. Just outside the box of what MBM says he's looking for this site to become.

You can't have a specific format designed for a specific person and allow any and all types of people to participate. You either limit the involvement to the kinds of people who fit that vision or you be content to have a "whatever will be, will be" environment. And that's what we have. People are just trying to put their innermost thoughts out into the open for others to see and hopefully to validate in some way.

So, depending on the personality, someone's motivation could be any one of the above choices. But, I believe as a whole, everyone (except trolls) basic instinct here is them just being whoever they are.

quote:

Originally posted by EbonyRose:
Some people are just mean and nasty or argumentative or have been swayed in their way of thinking or are just uniformed or unknowledgable about what they speak about or stubborn and bull-headed or selfish or unknowing of how to relate to other people. It's just a human condition. And it doesn't mean they aren't sincere. Just outside the box of what MBM says he's looking for this site to become.

Actually I totally agree... and D this above is to what I was referring... I fervently believe that every site is a little "community" so to speak.... and ultimately that community likes to vibe with one another in their own way.... nothing wrong with this... just needs to be understood...

that way people can know upfront where not to waste their or the site's time... so they will not be outside the box....

quote:

You can't have a specific format designed for a specific person and allow any and all types of people to participate. You either limit the involvement to the kinds of people who fit that vision or you be content to have a "whatever will be, will be" environment.

Again... I think this is spot on... this may say African America .org... but it has proclivities of what type of African American people should be here... (degreed?) and they will fit with whatever the group says is intelligent.... again... I agree.. I find nothing wrong with this... its just good to know...

that way potential members can determine whether or not they fit in with the vision of the members here and weed themselves out... leaving the group to the most desired... and most tolerable group to dialogue with.... I think this is why Nmaginate used the word "clique" .... one behavior in one member is intolerable... while the same behavior in another member is tolerated.... mainly because of a poster has been designated as "preferred".... and there is nothing wrong with this... it is fundamental to human interaction.... we all desire to be around those that make us comfortable... and we tend to demonize those who do not.... whether warranted or not....

quote:

And that's what we have. People are just trying to put their innermost thoughts out into the open for others to see and hopefully to validate in some way.

I think this is true, sort of... I think everyone communicates to be understood not necessarily validated... though that may be present.... and people continue dialoguing until they believe their point... their thought has been grasped....

even if it is not agreed upon...

quote:

So, depending on the personality, someone's motivation could be any one of the above choices. But, I believe as a whole, everyone (except trolls) basic instinct here is them just being whoever they are.

I think ER's assessment is right on point...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Khalliqa,

Peace,
Khalliqa

"The Goddess emerges as the evanescence of the inferior dissipates.... "

It's really a non-issue - It appears that the people love Fight Club. But my commentary has zero do to with cliques - for me anyway. But I guess n=1 does not a correlation make.


P.S. I'm not in the "box". I just look inside from time to time.

quote:

Originally posted by ddouble:
It's really a non-issue - It appears that the people love Fight Club.

ddouble ...

I don't believe that to be true. I don't think anybody really likes all that arguing and bickering (save for those that have an innate desire to agitate, and then I'm sure the discontent gives the warm fuzzies to whatever need that is! ). But, those that are interested in and enjoy sharing the "intelligent" part of this board would prefer not to waste our time even responding to stupid, ignorant or just plain dumb posts by people who rarely if ever actually stimulate a discussion with thought-provoking or informative or factual kinda things.

I don't think the majority of us want this to be some type of elitist board and, in fact, I would think many of us desire, and encourage and appreciate the concept of diverse personalities all coming together for a common goal. But, what we could do without is antagonists, and haters, and racists and trolls who are neither trying to learn from nor share with others, but just write stuff for the sake of seeing their own fonts in print! They're not hard to pick out of the crowd. And with them gone, more time could be devoted to more important matters.

quote:

Originally posted by EbonyRose:

quote:

Originally posted by ddouble:
It's really a non-issue - It appears that the people love Fight Club.

ddouble ...

I don't believe that to be true. I don't think anybody really likes all that arguing and bickering (save for those that have an innate desire to agitate, and then I'm sure the discontent gives the warm fuzzies to whatever need that is! ). But, those that are interested in and enjoy sharing the "intelligent" part of this board would prefer not to waste our time even responding to stupid, ignorant or just plain dumb posts by people who rarely if ever actually stimulate a discussion with thought-provoking or informative or factual kinda things.

I don't think the majority of us want this to be some type of elitist board and, in fact, I would think many of us desire, and encourage and appreciate the concept of diverse personalities all coming together for a common goal. But, what we could do without is antagonists, and haters, and racists and trolls who are neither trying to learn from nor share with others, but just write stuff for the sake of seeing their own fonts in print! They're not hard to pick out of the crowd. And with them gone, more time could be devoted to more important matters.

Wow...

But isn't this just your opinion? Could you please provide statistical analysis... various forms of media production and the opinions of venerated scholars to back your assertions? could you also make sure that the scholars that are referenced are thoroughly knowledgeable regarding the subject of the poster personalities on this board in particular? so that the pool of members are represented specifically and not an overgeneral viewpoint that does not take into account the statistical error rate? also primary resources and interviews with the posters themselves to provide an unbiased objective look at their behavior from not just your point of view when you speak of the desire of the posters? also could you provide a diverse cross section of interviews so that we do not receive the views of only the posters that you like? could you also provide definitions of haters and agitaters from objective sources like the dictionary, encyclopedia and various sociological papers that reflect current psychoanalysis... and it would be even better if you could define the type of haters that the board has.... and also could you make sure that not only the posters you do not like are evaluated by these methods? could you also provide objective scientific evidence of how you are able to recognize the innate desire of posters? could you also provide a poll that reflects the members evaluations of all who they feel don't provide stimulating dialogue...? could you define for everyone what is stimulating dialogue....? could you point out all of the posters who do not provide informative or factual dialogue so they can be up for banishment or at least some form of recognition that this is not the type of poster we are looking for?

I mean your post is nothing but conjecture and opinion.... shouldn't you have facts to back this stuff up?

wouldn't want to turn this thing into an elitist board full of pompous unsubstantiated rantings of a few members to the detriment of others who would like to voice an opinion without heavy biased finicky scrutiny....


one more thing.... perhaps we should just stop countering arguments... that are offensive... that way any poster who feels the need to hurl out veiled insults or in the case of some... direct threats... can just let their posts remain... but we will at least cease having this very bad presence of incorrigible posters who seek to defend their positions...

cuz then it would be like fighting...

All of that instead of a simple I disagree and here's why. Different discussions require different levels of rigor - some topics need empirical data, some don't - but you know that already. Disagreement and defending one's position does not require the tactics used by some here. Passion does not require belittlement, insults, and mockery. If the difference between bickering and healthy, vigorous discussion is not clear to you & most members here, then I stand by my statement:

It appears the people love Fight Club.

Okay, ddouble ... in the name of mutual agreement ... I will concur with your statement.

But I will also stand by mine ...

Some people are just not equipped to handle being a part of an Intelligent. Black. Community.

And for obvious reasons, I will exit this conversation and offer no more opinion on the subject so that it doesn't turn into a "fight club" in and of itself.

It was a good question, though!

I heard you and K (despite her sarcasm). It just sucks when a thread starts that you're interested in & then it gets mucked up with irrelevant tangents and ad hominem attacks. We know who the primary offenders are, yet we act like we don't see the Big, Pink Elephant in the middle of the room.

VENT OVER

With regret, I have to admit I haven't frequented the member blogs much. I noticed the "Fight Club" thread in the "most recent post" section, and I honestly thought that, given the health&fitness thrust that I know your (DDub's) blog has, that this would be about something akin to the actual "Fight Club" of the movies. Damn, was I way off!

I think, in all honesty, that the motivation of most posters is dialogue on issues & topics. But I believe that many people unconsciously express their hangups and inner issues through their participation in these discussions. (And I doubt that I'm immune; why did I feel the need to get into a detailed explanation as to how/why I came across this thread?)

The operation of that tendency is what leads to the strife. Some people don't like to feel questioned. Others may want to show how much "blacker" they are than others; some may just not understand others and question their motivations.

But I honestly believe that sincere discussion is the goal of just about everyone. The internal individual issues are what interferes therewith.

Sorry Vox!

I am interested in learning some grappling techiques though.

quote:

Originally posted by ddouble:
Sorry Vox!

I am interested in learning some grappling techiques though.

Okay ... I just wanna say one more little thing! Just in case the "grappling techniques" you're seeing are the mental kind as opposed to the physical!

First, two things ... one of which I could be totally wrong about but ...

#1 - you are a really good guy, ddouble. (This I know)
#2 - you are probably waaaay too soft hearted for your own good! (This I could be off base about )

But, if you really want to deal with this situation, you need to know and find a way to accept that the likelihood of things changing around here are pretty much slim and none. I doubt very seriously that MBM is ever going to take the necessary steps to get this board under control. And I don't mean that as a criticism of him, but his conflict between freedom of speech/hands-off as far as policing/hoping that people will control themselves/letting the chips fall where they may/everyone-anyone is welcome here is a lose-lose situation. It will never work ... as evidenced by the fact of where the board is now. But, I believe he feels strongly about all of those factors and doesn't want to change or abandon any of them. And it is his right to do or not do those things.

But, those things will never work together and allow him to have the kind of board he wants to have. It's simply not possible.

So, my (unsolicited) advice to you (which I'm giving in hopes of reliving some of your frustration because, again, I think you really cool! ) is to accept that what this is is what you got. It is (foreseeably) the way it is going to remain. And if there has to be a change in order for you to better deal with it or enjoy your time here, the change is going to have to come from within you. Block folks, change your interests to other threads, spend more time here in your own little piece of the board ... whatever it takes to make you more comfortable!

I, myself, am beginning to be like Sandye, and ask myself (everyday now), "What's the point?" As of yet, I really can't find one anymore. And coming here is more of a habit than an enjoyment. But, like smoking, it's (getting to be) a bad one for me, and just as hard to break. Hopefully, I will find a solution to both of them sooner than later ... and that it will be the one that's in my best interest, whatever it will be!

But for you, I hope you will find your own reconciliation for your dilemma, and not keep telling yourself it's no big deal ... because it does bother you ... at least from time to time. And you're really sweet and I hate to see you disturbed.

Okay ... that's it!! You don't have to kick me out ... I'll kick my own self out! For real, tho, this time!