Forums announcements, suggestions, etc..

Here's an idea for an improvement to the site: make a stickied thread where mods (and only mods) can post what arguments can no longer be reiterated, as they've been decided on.  That would put pressure on people to actually back up their opinions rather than just ignore the thread to death.

I have a suggestion, why don't you put porn on the site so that people have something to look at besides this bullshit?

Can we get rid of the angry ranting section?
Or at least empty it out?
It seems to be just a magnet for peopple who like posting things that aren't moderated and adds nothing to the debate
An suggesting
CInlef

I concur with Cinlef.  However...

Keeping the angry ranting section actually makes sense, it keeps the general discussion forum from being flooded by meaningless nonsense.

That said, emptying it out periodically would help, as it would conserve on bandwidth.

Well, now that it seems Daniel has returned to the site and things are happening around here, I have a suggestion:
Why don't we make an "Off-topic" sub-forum, where people can just chat about random things, (in a civilized way, of course)?
I mean, at the very least, it would blur the "battle lines" between the three camps (round, flat, and morons (actually, probably only the former two, no one likes the morons)).

And at most, it would provide everyone with some entertainment, and make people stop calling each other morons, simply because of their world views (hehe...pun intended).

Anyways, regardless of whether this is accepted or not, an answer letting me know your thoughts on it would be appreciated.

I think an off topic section is a great idea, have to wait and see what Daniel thinks though (since it is his forum).

Sounds like a great idea!  I added an off-topic forum called "Everything Else". It should be interesting to see what people on here do when they're not arguing about the shape of the world.  The FES forums seem to draw people from a pretty wide range of backgrounds..

Guys maybe we should prune the membership list as only 20 or so of us are actually contributing memebers ofthe forum.
A suggesting
Cinlef

we really need a sticky stating the basic ideas of flat earthism, so new people don't have to ask all the same questions.

Like me...

Though, tbh, it would probably get spammed to death by roundists like me.

Like me...

Though, tbh, it would probably get spammed to death by roundists like me.

lock it and make it sticky.

we really need to trim the member list of our 700+members like at most 50 post enought to justify them having an account.

we really need a sticky stating the basic ideas of flat earthism, so new people don't have to ask all the same questions.

I've started an FAQ but people seem reluctant to answer:

http://theflatearthsociety.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1137

Here is an suggestion. I know this is a big project but what we really need to do is go throught the 6k+ gneeral disscussion posts, Delete all duplications and spam ad hminem attacks etc and put all the best and clasisc threads somewhere else (a Seciton called Archives maybe) so as to stop us from rehasing the same old arguments. I get thsi would take tons of work but I and i'm certain many other regular users would happily volunteer to do it, since I feel it would help piut the shape of the Earth question to rest by stopping us from repeating ourselves endlessly. To forestall allegations of RE bias I'd be happy to work with the any FE's who wish to volunteer. So can we do this oh mighty admins, and pending that any volunteers?
An enthused
Cinlef

Here is an suggestion. I know this is a big project but what we really need to do is go throught the 6k+ gneeral disscussion posts, Delete all duplications and spam ad hminem attacks etc and put all the best and clasisc threads somewhere else (a Seciton called Archives maybe) so as to stop us from rehasing the same old arguments. I get thsi would take tons of work but I and i'm certain many other regular users would happily volunteer to do it, since I feel it would help piut the shape of the Earth question to rest by stopping us from repeating ourselves endlessly. To forestall allegations of RE bias I'd be happy to work with the any FE's who wish to volunteer. So can we do this oh mighty admins, and pending that any volunteers?
An enthused
Cinlef

Good idea, in fact why don't we make sub forums for each different part of the FET (gravity, the conspiracy, etc) and make one stickied 'official' thread which clearly states that part of the theory.

It should also include commonly raised problems with the theory that have been debunked.

In fact, I may start a thread just now if that's ok with the mods.

Also should we none FES refer to ourselves as Spherical Earthers since technically the FE model is round?Alot of newbies raise the whole circumnavigate the Earth thing but thats technically possible on a round but flat earth
An spherical
Cinlef

I think we should but the name "Round Earther" seems to have stuck. Perhaps we should take a vote?

i vote sperical earth i also vote to go to all the sodding call centers withlots of guns (or mabey a tank) and annilite it as my internet keeps cutting off because of these bastards
-a thourlly pissed off grim

Spherical is a more accurate description, but I liked Round in that one can also say RE stands for "Real Earth" (as opposed to "Fake Earth").  Although I suppose SE could also be "Standard Earth".

Suggestion:

I'd like to suggest the creation of a new forum for Flat-Earthers, mods (of course), and perhaps those who've shown themselves to be reasonable and open-minded from the RE side, only.

For criteria for non-FEers to get in, I was thinking along the lines of:

-Has shown oneself to be a reasonable and open-minded poster.

-Has challenged an REer in an FE vs. RE debate at least once.

-Has never posted a flame.

I don't suggest a similar RE forum, as what would be the point? If they have anything they happen, for whatever reason, to discuss among themselves about RE, A: there's plenty of other forums on which to do it, and B: they can do it in the General Discussion area; none of the FEers I've seen thus far would stoop to the level of interrupting their discussion with a mindless flame.

Thanks!


--Chal

Yes but how would you get the people you want there, and keep the people you dont want out?
You could not just post the URL direct into the forums because the flamers would get hold of it.

That would be up to the limitations of the board code. I'm pretty sure there are methods for making "private forums" which only grant access to members who are on the "Ok" list. I've seen it plenty of time with mod-only forums, private guild forums on gaming boards, things like that.

If you wanted someone in the forum, you would simply flag their account as "ok". If you didn't, you wouldn't.

well the site creator has all our e-mail accounts, would it not just be simperler to e-mail those who he wants to join the new forums.
-grim

That would be up to the limitations of the board code. I'm pretty sure there are methods for making "private forums" which only grant access to members who are on the "Ok" list. I've seen it plenty of time with mod-only forums, private guild forums on gaming boards, things like that.

If you wanted someone in the forum, you would simply flag their account as "ok". If you didn't, you wouldn't.

That's how I was thinking it'd work. Most forums have such a system, and there's also a Usergroup system. Usergroups can be given access to boards, admin privileges over a board (by assigning the usergroup as the board moderator as opposed to individuals), and what have you. I was thinking along the lines of a "Believers" or "Flat Earth Society" usergroup which would be given access, and perhaps acceptable nonbelievers would be flagged individually, or have their own, separate usergroup.


--Chal

Chaltier,

  If you were to take part in setting up a forum, I recommend you take any experience you have from this one and others (not necessarily to abandon this one) and create one of your own for flat earthers exclusively and membership and access subject to the rules you create for it.  And have it completely separate and independent of the this forum all together and without any connection with it.  If you placed the forum under the control of this society, I predict it would have a shorter life span along with other assorted troubles.  Why sacrifice a legitimate flat earth society to be in any way under the whims of those who are opposed to this idea?  They have millions of organizations of their own and to allow them to control the little one you create?  Pardon me for saying so, but they can take their ideas to the fire with them.  They certainly have enough room for expression without censoring ours.  (or perhaps they are interested to wedge into flat earth affairs because their false science is so damn boring!).

- Dionysios

Dionysios if the FE model is right then why be threatened by Res? Truth is great and will prevail as (Jefferson?) said. Free debate will never destroy a truth. It will of course tear superstition flawed logic and lies to shreds. But if your confident in FE theory no worries right?
An amused
Cinlef

Just as democracy blasphemously gives Judas Iscariot and the Devil on the same vote as Jesus Christ, so free debate obscures the truth.
  The strength of the truth is in its quality.  The Devil's strength lies in quantity.

- Dionysios

Dionysios lots of ignorant people shouting the same thing doesn't win a debate. Debate allowes the quality of the truth to shine throught.Also democracy is surely harder for the devil to manipulte than any other form of government since the mass of people governm and it must surely be harder to corrupt the majoriy of people than to tempt and corrupt a single monarch or emperoro.
An enraged
Cinlef

You're more naive than I had bargained for.

- Dionysios

So Dionysious, your argument is this "It's better to have a bunch of like-minded individuals sitting around discussing our 'correct' model instead of having a mixed group of people who will point out the errors in my model and help figure out a way for it to work."

Everybody else's argument is "That's stupid.  Ignorance of any holes in your theory doesn't make it correct."

And your counter is "No you're stupid!  I know what I'm talking about.  I hate it when people tell me I'm wrong about something.  Logic and reasoning are trifles."

And we say "How can you say that it's better to never hear opposition?  Are you that worried that we'll prove your flat-earth model wrong?

And you say "No... I don't have to talk to you!" *Covers ears and shouts random nursery rhymes so as to block out our voices*

And we're like "We'll wait for you to mature.  You have such strong arguments but don't wish to encounter any opposition.  It's ridiculous."

And you say "I CANT HEAR YOU MY EARS ARE COVERED!"