Posted by Dinah on June 20, 2005, at 23:31:21
In reply to Re: the next best thing, posted by Dr. Bob on June 17, 2005, at 22:48:03
> > You hadn't appeared too open to the idea that reading posts on small boards be limited to only those who could post on them, so I was trying for the next best thing.
>
> Great, let's consider that?
Ahhhh... Still basking. In fact, I rather hate to continue the conversation. Wait a second.Ahhhhh.... being heard....
Sigh. Ok.
>
> > > their could be a portal from the main boards to the small boards which could only be entered by altering your registration to mark that you wish to participate in small boards (which would expire if you didn't join a small board in a reasonable length of time). Once within the portal, those who wish to be part of the small boards could read all the small boards. Or whatever.
>
> So it would be OK for them to read a small board, even if it didn't have any openings, as long as they wished to participate = join some small board?That would be a definite step in the right direction. Since it would decrease the chance of someone stumbling into what looked like a situation where they would be welcomed, when in actuality they would not.
> > Karen Kay, for example, apparently brought many people to Babble with her delightful ways. People who later stayed and continued to post. Had Karen Kay been so delightful behind a glass door where others could see, but not join in, would the result had been the same?
>
> Maybe Karen wouldn't have chosen to be behind a glass door. And if she had, maybe that preference for herself would've been more important than bringing more people in. And either way, lots of other delightful people wouldn't be behind glass doors.I'm quite certain you are right. ;) But I should say no more...
> > contrary to your theory, I don't think that people who were charmed by that conversation, but unable to join in, would be as thrilled being told that they couldn't be part of that group, but they could be a part of this other group instead
>
> Of course they wouldn't be thrilled, but maybe they'd stick around a little longer anyway?To be blunt, why? My feelings were hurt when you slapped my hand over the party, and I've been here aeons and understood your position. If my hand were slapped first thing, why would I want to stay around?
> > Plus, my guess is that the set of potential posters who don't post because their posts are googleable ... is greater than the set of people who don't post because they find Social larger than they would wish.
>
> Hmm, those are independent issues, how large a board is and whether it's Googleable...Yes, and one argument is that non-googleable boards would kill two birds with one stone, since you have already gotten feedback that some people would prefer to be able to chat where there conversations weren't open for all to see. But the equally valid argument would be that two independent variables should not be altered at the same time if you are to measure the result on the dependent variable and come to reliable conclusions. (I'm studying chapter 1 for my CLEP, sorry.)
Soooo... let's see. Making the private boards private is still the considerate and polite thing to do. Hmmmm.... Maybe you could also start a PsychoBabble-NonGoogleable board. Where only those who are registered at Babble can read, and where posts are not googleable. That would give you another group where only the googleability and ability to read by non-Babblers would be the independent variable. To compare against private nongoogleable boards. And also against public googleable boards.
>
> > How many people post on Social at any given time, anyway? Your proposed small groups were limited to 25, right? How many different posters are there on Social in this and the last archive? 50? 100? 200?
>
> In Psychology in January, 2580 posts by 110 posters:
Wow!!! I know and like that many people? I am impressed! And yet Psychological feels so warm and cozy... What a testament to the warm and welcoming nature of Babblers.> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20050219/msgs/468378.html
>
> > Any benefits size wise to the new groups might depend more on stability and continued posting
>
> Right, but continued posting might depend on comfort level, which might depend on size...
>
> BobAgreed, to a certain extent. I'm willing to concede that there are those who find the main boards intimidating. Even though I also personally feel that the risk involved is more than repaid by the benefits gained. But the point I am unwilling to concede is that there are more polite and less polite (polite in the considerate and thoughtful meaning of the word, not as in meaningless protocol), and more divisive and less divisive, ways of achieving the same goals, and that more polite and less divisive ways are far preferable.
Paying to be part of a private board seems like a good idea as well, especially since it would also allow you to dip your toes into another idea you've been toying with for some time. Except it is likely (and rightly so in some respects, you must admit) to initiate a firestorm from those who legitimately can't pay for one reason or another.
poster:Dinah
thread:441543
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20050614/msgs/516381.html