Member feedback poll on Off-Topic thread participation

[TSherbs]

Results of Poll as of today (19 April 2023):

[TSherbs]

I noticed that the "definition of Christian" thread has over 100k views (begun in 2016)

The Second Amendment thread: 171k views!!

The "I Can't Believe this Election" (2020) thread: 117k views

Maybe those exchanges should be Pay-per-View ...



added for perspective: the "What's Your Latest Pen Acquisition?" thread has 1.49 million views.... That's what we're here for, amiright?

[Chuck Naill]

"Can humanity be improved without religion" has 541 views.

"Gender and the Law" got a little over 2500 views.

Merry Christmas got 319 views.

"We shouldn't spend our time here" got 619 views.

[Brilliant Bill]

That's funny!! Moderation is not something I've ever been known for!!!

My favorite employee evaluation contained the revealing sentence: "Bill does not easily compromise." That's when I worked in the Washington lobbying world, and such a pronouncement was a veiled condemnation.

You sound like a volunteer!

I for one wouldn't mind if that subforum went away.

I rather wish it were properly moderated (as opposed to expunging it). I find many of the topics interesting (some of which I have started myself, so I guess that goes without saying).

naw

in too deep

I'd have a few other members in mind if the owner were to ask for nominations, tho. You'd be one of them, Bill.

[calamus]

Those posts tend to address hot-button topics that many, maybe most people feel strongly about one way or the other.
I for one wouldn't mind if that subforum went away.

One is always free to ignore the subforum, and the issues.

I was commenting on TSherbs's observation that some of those threads have huge numbers of views, and suggesting it was due to the hot-button nature of their subject matter.

I would prefer it went way because it has nothing to do with the subject of this forum -- fountain pens and related stuff such as ink and paper -- and because a significant amount of venom leaks into the general forum from that place, chasing people away. More than one penpal has told me that they've either stopped visiting FPG entirely or have begun visiting it much less frequently because it's become, in their opinion, such a toxic environment.

[TSherbs]

@calamus

Don't you think that active moderation would manage this sufficiently? Even without an off_topic forum, humans will periodically express their animus and grudges. Even over fountain pens (and brands, and marketing, and sales forum behaviors, etc, etc.)

[TSherbs]

That's funny!! Moderation is not something I've ever been known for!!!

My favorite employee evaluation contained the revealing sentence: "Bill does not easily compromise." That's when I worked in the Washington lobbying world, and such a pronouncement was a veiled condemnation.

You're hired!