Divided we fall!

[LWPD]

I think too many of the people who switched boards over an argument react to disputes because too much of their social interaction is through Internet discussion boards and chat rooms.

Post of the thread

Joe nailed it above. There's a problem when the meta aspects of 'the board' is engaging more attentive discussion than the topics the board's purpose is supposed to serve. I think you'd find a direct relationship between the probability of message board schisms and the time individual posters invest participating on and then otherwise discussing said board. Add in mechanisms for 'disgruntled communication' in the form of a chat room...and you have a recipe for factionalism. As DMK mentioned this pattern tends to feed on itself as 'universal satisfaction' will never be achieved....and a disaffected group inevitably becomes a series of sub-groups.

The initially broad concept of 'communication on a shared topic of interest' eventually morphs into something else entirely...as the posters themselves start to become the primary topics of interest. While to some degree that may be inevitable...the further along it grows the more likely the 'community' is to eventually disintegrate if the 'unifying interest' isn't protected and kept relevant through the quality of the posted content.

Regardless of where people chose to post I advise them to be good to themselves. Don't put 'too much time' into something designed for leisure. Never let others 'own' your state of mind with the content they post...but if you do...don't blame anyone other than yourself for allowing it to happen. Only you control your 'internal climate' through what posts you chose to read, who you chose to interact with and what you chose to give value to...don't abdicate that power. Most importantly when thinking about your ideal message board environment...put a primary focus on conveying a first hand representation of it through the quality of the content you contribute. Lead by example.

LWPD (as mentioned Ingersoll deserves credit for allowing this board to exist...I only hope that if he ever chooses to leave COTG...that he will pass on ownership to one of the other 'Commissioners'...there's too much quality content here that should be protected and preserved going forward)


Internal climate control
Controls the climate
That's why I rhyme at
The temperatures I'm at

-Kool Moe Dee 'How Kool'

[Darth Turkish]

This thread, once civil, is doomed for sure.

[moparpaul]

I don't think there is really anything else that can be added to this discussion. We are pretty much in the know where everyone stands on this so with that I'm locking it down.