Good idea to start this fresh, Estel, and thanks to Alandriel for linking to the old threads. I really hope that this invites new people to take part in creating the future of b77.
LOL, I've been feeling like Ro sometime ago: swayed by every new opinion that was posted.
And I hardly remember what views I used to hold in the older threads.
As to opening the board:
- I liked it as a closed board. Not because I don't want some people here, but because of what I also said in the thread on TORC: because of the liberty it gives us to post more private stuff than (presumably) we would on an public board.
- I've also been convinced by the previous arguments (see old threads) that we should open up at some point, so as to become a normal messageboard, and have a better chance for development.
So, what's to be done - are there different ways in which we can open up, or is it just all or nothing?
- I would like the board to be only partially visible for non-members, and I'd like some way to regulate registration (ie
not : you enter your e-mail addy and can start posting) - these are totally selfish wishes to retain some privacy, but I have no idea how this could be done in a way that's fair and welcoming to newbies.
- I think the most important task at the moment is to come up with a solution to our governance questions. We said that this would best be done while we are still small, so if people start inviting like crazy now, we really should get on with the process.
On the other hand, it seems to me that only a very small percentage of newbies is interested in taking part in creating the structure of b77 - so, if only one in ten new posters ever get round to voting anyway, maybe we needn't worry about this at all?
- That said, I agree with those who said we shouldn't react to Ted's challenge. Yes, part of me wants to prove to them how daft they are, and just say come and see if you don't believe me. But another part of me thinks that if they won't believe me, they can go to hell, I don't have to prove my innocence to anyone.
If we opened up this board now, people like Oreo would register in a second; people like Ari-Anna would still have to be told about it via email.
Excellent point! Part of the problem of being in the "not-cool-enough"-club is that you never know what's up in the first place.
- As to the problem of having people here who might try to upset the board (Oreo, Angel): on the one hand, in some way I think this can't be that bad - we ignore them, we tell them to fuck off, and if that doesn't help, we ban them (we'd need to define when and why and how we bad someone!).
The reason for this is, I don't think I'd have a big problem with that. I've had run-ins with people here, and I'm still on TORC, in spite of there being some jerks there - I think I just am able to put up with such unpleasantness.
On the other hand I'm thinking why should we have to bother with such people in the first place, if we don't have to. Why invite unpleasantness? It's our board, and, to borrow Ted and Jonathan's mantra, if we don't want something we don't have to have it.
(Though, seeing this is their view, basically, might be reason enough to consider a false view.
)
For example, Voronwe said he'd deal with Oreo. Ok, yes, I think if Oreo got nothing but trouble or silence from us, he'd not want to post anymore at some point. But until then, we'd be stuck with dealing with him. I don't think I'd mind, but I also don't see why we should have to.
I don't think flinging open the doors is a good idea. Perhaps doing it slowly - doing it during a time when there isn't some big hullabaloo - not making the boards publically viewable unless a person registers, but giving the ability to people to register and get it without an invite...
call it, turning the lock and opening the door just a crack, rather than flinging the door open
I like that in general. But activating a registration would mean giving the person the right to post, too, wouldn't it?
It would get people inside even before they've seen what's up here.
Maybe we'd need a way to have people register, allow them to see the boards, but not be full members yet? (Like not being able to post before a second registration?)
I don't know - I like all these things in theory, but when I think about putting them in practice, I can't see how they should work.
In fact, I think the only thing that can work is take it easy with the invites for now, don't panic because some people on TORC don't like us, get a structure settled on pronto! and then open up completely like any other messageboard.