04-13-2013, 06:48 PM
I mostly use Inet forums for technical issues; the Gentoo forums as a current example are an essential component of an active technical community, and this post doesn't apply to them.
However, from time to time I poke my nose into other, mostly community and special-interest forums like this, just to see what's being discussed, to insert my own opinions and ideas if I'm sufficiently interested, and to engage in a bit of debate that often creates some controversy, annoys others, sometimes annoys me, but usually results in an interesting, perhaps humorous exchange. Lately I've noticed that these venues seem to be far less diverse and popular than previously. Most are now dominated by a clique of regular antagonists whose main occupation seems to be slinging off at each other, and at any visitor whose ideas diverge from the "forum norms". The whole scene is now very reminiscent of what happened first with CB Radio (for those old enough to remember what that was, and maybe still is), then with IRC and the like (Internet Relay Chat for the puzzled), and now with Inet forums.
It would be a pity if all that remained was Facebook and Twitter, though I've no doubt that the owners of those sites, and the many Government and corporate authorities who now use them as public confessionals (urinals?) for their "data mining" and social monitoring activities, would be delighted for them to remain solo and supreme.
The quality of political and social debate throughout the world is in terminal decline. Blatant deception, lies, coverups and self-promotion are now so accepted by the viewing public, the mass media, the "critics" and recognized commentators as to make all of it a sewer of strident, vulgar verbiage. The alternative media has adopted the role of morally righteous castigator, and is equally tedious and repugnant; and the "discussion panels" on TV are so predictable and politically correct as would be an insult to public intelligence were there any such thing.
I therefore ask of the participants here, and of whatever moderators, overseers or owners may read this, whether it is time to review and perhaps re-enliven the format of this and similar forums. I'm about to press the <Delete> key on a list of them. Disappointingly short as it is, the few on it are the only social connections I've made on the Inet. They have thoroughly disabused me of the present social worth of "Internet politics" and "Internet community action", though I was once an optimistic proponent of such things ("GetUp!" in Australia being a typical example of a crude political deception), and with other activities now requiring more of my time, I've decided to abandon them if no prospect of novelty draws be back. A pity, but one amongst many others.
However, from time to time I poke my nose into other, mostly community and special-interest forums like this, just to see what's being discussed, to insert my own opinions and ideas if I'm sufficiently interested, and to engage in a bit of debate that often creates some controversy, annoys others, sometimes annoys me, but usually results in an interesting, perhaps humorous exchange. Lately I've noticed that these venues seem to be far less diverse and popular than previously. Most are now dominated by a clique of regular antagonists whose main occupation seems to be slinging off at each other, and at any visitor whose ideas diverge from the "forum norms". The whole scene is now very reminiscent of what happened first with CB Radio (for those old enough to remember what that was, and maybe still is), then with IRC and the like (Internet Relay Chat for the puzzled), and now with Inet forums.
It would be a pity if all that remained was Facebook and Twitter, though I've no doubt that the owners of those sites, and the many Government and corporate authorities who now use them as public confessionals (urinals?) for their "data mining" and social monitoring activities, would be delighted for them to remain solo and supreme.
The quality of political and social debate throughout the world is in terminal decline. Blatant deception, lies, coverups and self-promotion are now so accepted by the viewing public, the mass media, the "critics" and recognized commentators as to make all of it a sewer of strident, vulgar verbiage. The alternative media has adopted the role of morally righteous castigator, and is equally tedious and repugnant; and the "discussion panels" on TV are so predictable and politically correct as would be an insult to public intelligence were there any such thing.
I therefore ask of the participants here, and of whatever moderators, overseers or owners may read this, whether it is time to review and perhaps re-enliven the format of this and similar forums. I'm about to press the <Delete> key on a list of them. Disappointingly short as it is, the few on it are the only social connections I've made on the Inet. They have thoroughly disabused me of the present social worth of "Internet politics" and "Internet community action", though I was once an optimistic proponent of such things ("GetUp!" in Australia being a typical example of a crude political deception), and with other activities now requiring more of my time, I've decided to abandon them if no prospect of novelty draws be back. A pity, but one amongst many others.