Future of the Forum

[Akhenaten]

Will there be pictures?

 

[AdMan]

That is a feeling of rejection. And, to be fair, I feel that sense too.

But take a moment to consider who is rejecting, and who is being rejected.

It is JREF rejecting the forum community, not the Forum rejecting you.

And at base, JREF does not participate in this community in any meaningful way.

So what is important? The preservation of a pointless link to a neglectful JREF? Or the preservation of your link to a community?

Well put.

 

[Spindrift]

This news is really disheartening to me. While it does appear that the forum will continue in some guise, it certainly will not attract and maintain the caliber of poster it now has without the gravitas of Randi's name. I understand the stated desire to narrow JREF's focus, but I'm not aware of another place on the Net that has the expertise assembled at JREF in such a wide array of disciplines. Have a question about Etruscan architecture? Quantum chromodynamics? Assyrian religious observances? Start a thread, and you'll get not just an answer, but an authoritative answer. You won't get that at many, if any, other forums.

"The gravitas of Randi's name"? Really? Maybe I'm unusual but James Randi had nothing to do with me finding this site. I'm pretty sure I was looking for info on colloidal silver and I ended up here.

And the expertise isn't assembled at JREF, it's assembled in this forum, the bastard child of JREF (apparently). If the transition leaves the forum pretty much the way it is you can still ask about Etruscan architecture, Quantum chromodynamics, Assyrian religious observances and cake.

 

[Myriad]

Have a question about Etruscan architecture? Quantum chromodynamics? Assyrian religious observances? Start a thread, and you'll get not just an answer, but an authoritative answer. You won't get that at many, if any, other forums.

All is not lost, though. I will do my best to take up the slack by making up convincing-sounding nonsense about all those topics and any others that come up.

If others pitch in, we can maintain a pretty high standard of at least seeming authoritative if you don't look too close. Which would still be better than 99.7% of the Web sites out there.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Thanks for the vote of confidence!
Actually I'm Australian, but one of these days I'll get around to dual citizenship

Cold Foster's for everyone!!!!

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

The other is that it violates the JREF's own privacy policy, an enforceable contract.

Good luck enforcing it.

 

[The Man]

Rick has turned off the caching, should fix the problem when cached records expire

Finally able to log in after 3 days.

 

[Rat]

You are making the assumption that incumbent members will abandon ship in droves. Why do you think that?

Because I've seen similar situations before. Where are all the members of the Dawkins forum now? I think a few ended up here, some went here, some went there, but the community pretty much disappeared.

"The gravitas of Randi's name"? Really? Maybe I'm unusual but James Randi had nothing to do with me finding this site. I'm pretty sure I was looking for info on colloidal silver and I ended up here.

Not me. I was reading, as I recall, a Dawkins book that mentioned Randi, and it was the first I'd heard of him. I googled him, and I ended up here.

 

[icerat]

Because I've seen similar situations before. Where are all the members of the Dawkins forum now? I think a few ended up here, some went here, some went there, but the community pretty much disappeared

The Dawkin's forum actually got shut down though didn't it? Here all we're really dealing with is a name change and removal of some of the less traveled sections.

 

[Michel H]

The Dawkin's forum actually got shut down though didn't it? Here all we're really dealing with is a name change and removal of some of the less traveled sections.

And what would be the new name? And which sections would disappear?

 

[Belz...]

Personally, I am flabbergasted that the JREF would give up an asset this valuable.

I'm not. It has been apparent for quite some time that the foundation didn't give much of a toss about the forum.

And things are not looking up.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Again with all due appreciation to icerat, it sounds like JREF wanted a way out and jumped on the first bus that happened by.

This brings up the awkward part and since no one else will ask, I will.

icerat: How do we know you're not just yanking our chain? Or worse, are well-intentioned but not up to the task? Nothing's worse than an eager, incompetent volunteer. You do sound like you know what you're doing and have apparently convinced JREF of that. However, JREF is looking to dump the forum, so I'm not sure their due diligence would be that reassuring. Please do not take offense, this is a skeptics forum, taking things on faith doesn't cut it.

You'll be the first one banned.

 

[AdMan]

The Dawkin's forum actually got shut down though didn't it? Here all we're really dealing with is a name change and removal of some of the less traveled sections.

What happened to the Dawkins forum I think is instructive.

Maybe a clean break from the JREF, now that the decision has been announced, is a good idea.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Also please tell us your real name. We want to know who we are dealing with. Thanks.

His real name is I. C. Erat.

 

[Belz...]

No, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc. should be their focus.

Yeah but you can't carry much of a debate there.

 

[jhunter1163]

You are making the assumption that incumbent members will abandon ship in droves. Why do you think that?

I hope they won't, but I fear that the way this has been handled will be severely off-putting to many of us. I will, though, here and now state my own intention to remain, and also to continue as a moderator until I get devolunteered.

 

[Belz...]

You haven't been around long enough, they do send out donations/membership requests occasionally.

I never got one, to my memory, and certainly not in the last 4-5 years.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I, for one, welcome our new Swedish overlord...

I always considered Icerat to be our most valuable member.

 

[platonov]

The Dawkin's forum actually got shut down though didn't it? Here all we're really dealing with is a name change and removal of some of the less traveled sections.

I dont wish to piss off our new overlord(s) but ...
Really ?

If the current admin/mod* team aren't on board many of the members may not see it that way.
[If I may state the bleedin' obvious].

 

[abaddon]

I hope they won't, but I fear that the way this has been handled will be severely off-putting to many of us. I will, though, here and now state my own intention to remain, and also to continue as a moderator until I get devolunteered.

And fair play to you for that. I find encouragement in the fact that so many are motivated to step up and volunteer. I have seen plenty of fora go quietly into the night with nothing but a whisper. The willingness to actually do something gives me hope.