|
Post by Tamrin on Sept 23, 2008 10:58:48 GMT 10
|
|
|
Post by Gaslight on May 5, 2009 0:49:07 GMT 10
I think the Web has gone through at least two phase shifts since Bro. Bessel began his mammoth Masonic resource project. Lists of hand-picked links such as those on his website have to be checked and rechecked regularly, the broken ones weeded out and replaced with new ones. So much easier to let Google slurp every page out there, then let its proprietary algorithms determine relevance and hope the results are not too biased by commercial considerations. I'm growing ever more pessimistic about the future of Masonic communications using computers. I've seen too many mailing lists and discussion forums gutted by squabbles and flame wars, too many websites and blogs dry up completely after a few months as the owners run out of time, money, ideas, and enthusiasm. I'm a little more optimistic about using computers and the Internet to digitise Lodge paperwork, but there's still a huge gap between the level of computer literacy needed to initiate and maintain such communication channels, and the lack of computer literacy among the end users -- the lodge members still stuck in the age of landline phones and fax machines. Gaslight
|
|
|
Post by Tamrin on May 5, 2009 6:38:50 GMT 10
Bro. GaslightFirstly, I extend a very warm welcome. Thank you for joining us. I largely agree with your observations about extinct links. Web sites come and go and so we suffer what has come to be called "link rot," of which we read:I would be grateful if users would notify me of any broken links they encounter on this forum. Moreover, I completely agree with your observations about personal attacks, etc., which is why I require civility here (& credibility), with membership dependent on acceptance. I have decided to adopt Max Ehrmann's advice to avoid loud and aggressive persons ( Desiderata). Having read some of your posts elsewhere I was assured of your civility (& credibility).
|
|
|
Post by Tamrin on May 5, 2009 7:12:45 GMT 10
I've seen too many mailing lists and discussion forums gutted by squabbles and flame wars...
|
|
|
Post by Gaslight on May 5, 2009 13:26:48 GMT 10
Bro. GaslightFirstly, I extend a very warm welcome. Thank you for joining us. And thank you for the welcome! I've been away from Masonic forums and lists for some time, and decided to catch up on traffic. Over on another board 'jmd' recommended this forum, so here I am. Unfortunately it looks as if 'jmd' hasn't posted here in several months. For sure, some people are loud and aggressive to begin with, and react violently to any attempt to stifle them. There is, however, another group of troublemakers who are fundamentally civil and courteous, but take criticism very badly. Often they perceive negative comments as destructive of the persona they're attempting to project (knowledgeable, witty, cheerful, wise, etc.) and feel a need to play to the gallery of thousands -- who usually consist of just a few dozen lurkers who couldn't care less. Again, thank you. I can't remember on which boards our paths formerly crossed, but I do remember your stand on the rights of women in Freemasonry.
|
|
|
Post by Gaslight on May 5, 2009 14:15:34 GMT 10
Bro. GaslightI largely agree with your observations about extinct links. Web sites come and go and so we suffer what has come to be called "link rot," I wonder if there's a similar expression to describe websites that lay a trail of links that lead nowhere? As often as not, such sites are created by dissident Masonic groups, are beautifully designed, and end up telling the interested visitor little more than, "Hey, we're here!" You can spend minutes clicking from section to section, going round in circles, ultimately leaving without any clear idea of who's behind the site, or what he/she/they are planning next.
|
|
|
Post by Tamrin on May 5, 2009 20:40:17 GMT 10
For sure, some people are loud and aggressive to begin with, and react violently to any attempt to stifle them. There is, however, another group of troublemakers who are fundamentally civil and courteous, but take criticism very badly. Often they perceive negative comments as destructive of the persona they're attempting to project (knowledgeable, witty, cheerful, wise, etc.) and feel a need to play to the gallery of thousands -- who usually consist of just a few dozen lurkers who couldn't care less. Ouch! Still, I guess an advantage of starting one's own site is being able to cater to one's own preferences.
|
|
|
Post by Gaslight on May 5, 2009 21:25:12 GMT 10
Ouch! Still, I guess an advantage of starting one's own site is being able to cater to one's own preferences. And being able to enforce your own rules. Heavy-handed moderating will, at worst, earn you a bad reputation. Laid-back or non-existent moderating will usually end in the collapse of your site. Browsing through the forums and topics here, I see you've already brought down the gavel once or twice. I wish I'd done the same when I was running some small lists of my own, all of which are long gone. Gaslight
|
|
|
Post by Tamrin on May 6, 2009 6:26:50 GMT 10
I would rather have quality than quantity and my preference is for the standards set here to be met more by prevention than by cure. Hence the need for approval of memberships before being able to post.
|
|