It is hard for me to believe..

[Kenosha]

..just how irrelevant this forum has become.

There was a time when the majority of posts were relatively well informed and intelligent "sounding".  Even if the post was poorly informed, at least the author was competent at writing a coherent sentence.  With exception of one or two memorable posters, the membership was able to keep on topic, and carry on relevant, smart discussion about the goings-on in our town.

Over the past year or more, it has become a place where self-serving fringe perspectives are spewed by anonymous malcontents; who have no real interest with the advancement of our community.  My intelligence is now almost guaranteed to be insulted upon opening a thread.

I would even go so far as to say that this was a place one would go if they wanted to take the proverbial temperature of the public on a given issue.  I know that many of our public and private "leaders" read this forum at least on occasion.  I'd be willing to bet that this is no longer the case.  

It is sad, really.  I think what was once a strength of the Tulsa Now organization has become a liability.  Perhaps some more stringent, targeted moderation would spruce things up a bit.

[Kenosha]

Hey...Whether you agree or disagree with me, please respond.  This is a conversation worth having...

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by Kenosha

..just how irrelevant this forum has become.

There was a time when the majority of posts were relatively well informed and intelligent "sounding".  Even if the post was poorly informed, at least the author was competent at writing a coherent sentence.  With exception of one or two memorable posters, the membership was able to keep on topic, and carry on relevant, smart discussion about the goings-on in our town.

Over the past year or more, it has become a place where self-serving fringe perspectives are spewed by anonymous malcontents; who have no real interest with the advancement of our community.  My intelligence is now almost guaranteed to be insulted upon opening a thread.

I would even go so far as to say that this was a place one would go if they wanted to take the proverbial temperature of the public on a given issue.  I know that many of our public and private "leaders" read this forum at least on occasion.  I'd be willing to bet that this is no longer the case.  

It is sad, really.  I think what was once a strength of the Tulsa Now organization has become a liability.  Perhaps some more stringent, targeted moderation would spruce things up a bit.

Any Poster in particular in mind?

[Admin]

These comments are appreciated. We generally just feel the backlash whenever we do moderate someone. We edit post in most cases and only when they get very out of hand or offensive. We only have 3 people on long-term ban and tend to use that as a last resort only. Perhaps, since the number of users and posts has grown a lot more, it is time to be more stringent in rules enforcement.

Constructive criticism and feedback is always appreciated.

[Conan71]

Which anonymous malcontents are you speaking of Dr. Pompazoidi?

I think it's a great public forum for exchange of ideas.  The River Tax has been one great example of how public opinion can be changed or bolstered within a discussion.

I really don't see it the same way as you, but then again, I'm usually a glass-half-full person.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by Admin

These comments are appreciated. We generally just feel the backlash whenever we do moderate someone. We edit post in most cases and only when they get very out of hand or offensive. We only have 3 people on long-term ban and tend to use that as a last resort only. Perhaps, since the number of users and posts has grown a lot more, it is time to be more stringent in rules enforcement.

Constructive criticism and feedback is always appreciated.

"...time to be more stringent in rules enforcement."

Or, at least until after the Oct. 9th Election?

[}:)]

[rwarn17588]

Translating for Kenosha: I don't like the way the discussions are going, so I'm going to act like David Arnett.

[sgrizzle]

While Friendly Bear seems to be the resident malcontent of the week, I don't see that things are exactly running away or anything. Sometimes it seems like the rules are too tight, othertimes it seems like things aren't caught quickly or strongly enough. I think that as long as Ken Busby isn't the moderator on this website, some of us will be happy.

Likely no-one spends as much time here as me, I've seen this forum ebb and flow just depending on the world around it. If the river vote wasn't coming up, the posts count would probably be about half right now.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

Translating for Kenosha: I don't like the way the discussions are going, so I'm going to act like David Arnett.

Kenosha has a hat?

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

While Friendly Bear seems to be the resident malcontent of the week, I don't see that things are exactly running away or anything. Sometimes it seems like the rules are too tight, othertimes it seems like things aren't caught quickly or strongly enough. I think that as long as Ken Busby isn't the moderator on this website, some of us will be happy.

Likely no-one spends as much time here as me, I've seen this forum ebb and flow just depending on the world around it. If the river vote wasn't coming up, the posts count would probably be about half right now.

Mr. Busby would be an acceptable Moderator, IF he discloses that he is a quoted SUPPORTER of the Kaiser River Tax, with TWO, TWO, TWO Our River Yes yard signs.  

Not one.  

TWO.

2

II

Dos

Deux

Zwei

..

[:O][:O]

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

Translating for Kenosha: I don't like the way the discussions are going, so I'm going to act like David Arnett.

                                               

Bingo, we have a winner! If the Tulsa Now Forum becomes Tulsa Today it loses any shred of relevance, credibility, or integrity it has.

[rwarn17588]

Continuing a thread I meant to expand upon ...

Online forums do best when there is *participation.* Kenosha, you need to stop sulking like you have in recent weeks and start engaging.

The free marketplace of ideas can be messy and irritating. But it's one of the pillars on which our country was founded. And it does no good when you're sitting on the sidelines.

Participation also keeps ill-conceived ideas from getting a foothold. One rather persistent poster here keeps yanging about ideas that have already been effectively refuted and thus exposes herself/himself to be a fool.

And those who think TulsaNow is bad obviously haven't checked out the woeful Voice of Tulsa, which is now little more than about two dozen participants, many of them which are misanthropes and thinly veiled bigots. Heck, one of its members even advocated mass murder.

[cannon_fodder]

I agree that all the discussion is not constructive nor structured.  However, not all important discussions are structured nor do they begin as constructive.  Asking the moderator and admin to decide what is important is a tall order.

Who decides what topics are noteworthy or whose opinions are properly expressed to be of worth?

[MichaelBates]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

While Friendly Bear seems to be the resident malcontent of the week, I don't see that things are exactly running away or anything. Sometimes it seems like the rules are too tight, othertimes it seems like things aren't caught quickly or strongly enough. I think that as long as Ken Busby isn't the moderator on this website, some of us will be happy.

Likely no-one spends as much time here as me, I've seen this forum ebb and flow just depending on the world around it. If the river vote wasn't coming up, the posts count would probably be about half right now.

Mr. Busby would be an acceptable Moderator, IF he discloses that he is a quoted SUPPORTER of the Kaiser River Tax, with TWO, TWO, TWO Our River Yes yard signs.  

Not one.  

TWO.

2

II

Dos

Deux

Zwei

..

[:O][:O]

Ken Busby was the moderator at last night's event at the Central Center, and he did an excellent job -- very evenhanded. I didn't see anyone, either on the panel or in the audience, get stopped from saying something they wanted to get across. Like a good ref, he let the players play ball.

[Hometown]

I'm always mindful of being a guest here and I appreciate this electronic community.

Now I would respectfully suggest that TulsaNow has trended towards the Right.  I try to tell myself I'm not bantering with the same old Reaganites.  I'm communicating with the reader that does not post.

It does seem that excesses on the Left are punished rapidly while some excesses on the Right are tolerated (probably seen as God's unquestioned truth).

And the discussions around Development tend to get clubby with the insiders using a lot of technical city planning jargon that discourages participation from laymen.

But I honestly look to TulsaNow for information.  And what's really odd is I've noticed myself ignoring live people around me while I'm eager to communicate with TulsaNow's online community.  Wonder where this is all headed?