Tone/How to Post

[Alyssa]

Hey everyone!

I've been thinking about how we can set the tone in the forums, and what will serve our users (does that term sound too remote? it's one I've really latched onto) best/ There are two elements in this.

1) The structure of how we talk - basic stuff about capitalization, paragraph breaks, text formatting
2) What we talk - how much we are willing to accept problems, what our goals our, whether discussions are contentious or amicable.

What do you guys like seeing for #1? I find that short posts, or ones with short paragraphs (like 3-4 sentences tops, preferably 1-2) are easy for me and are most likely to get read. Any post over, say, 250-300 words I have to really work to get through.

People seem to really like those here, though. Do you guys find them helpful or enlightening?



'What' we talk is something I'm not too worried about - we seem to have set a good, friendly, productive tone here. I would like to create more structure/impetus for more 'action' - talking about how we're taking CS into the real world.

What do you want to see here in terms of how people talk?

[JD]

Since this is a beta test right now, I think it's fair to ask, is there going to be strict governance of what can be said on this Website? I'm sure that once this site if opened up to more people there's going to be a wide variety of things discussed, but with some monitoring and editorial invovlement. Not to be contentious at all, but are there going to be places on this site where people can be informal while still talking about Christian Science? Just wondering what you guys are looking for and what you think is appropriate and inappropriate, and how someone like me who is a little older than the target audience should participate (once it's opened up to the larger audience).

For example, if I wanted to make the following post, would it be discouraged for its content or lack of brevity? If not, what section would it fall under?

I saw the band Queen (ala "We Will Rock You" fame) in concert tonight, and thought I'd share some of the insights I had there on how I shouldn't be judgmental of others.

There's a whole world of people out there who are good people. Some might not have the highest education, some might be more of the hard-working blue collar-type, but they are still good people. I know we have to try hard, as organizations, to uphold the high ideals of Christian Science. But as individuals, I think if I/we warmed our hearts a little more and were less judgmental of myself/ourselves and others while trying to be picture-perfect Christian Scientists, I/we might attract more people to our churches and to this religion. And maybe retain those who might drift away because they are going through challenges and don't want to feel judged by others.

Personally, I was raised pretty strictly -- for a lot of good reasons probably -- to where I was discouraged from taking part in things like rock concerts while growing up. So, I didn't see how "the other half lives" until I was an adult. But when I think of Jesus asking his disciples to be fishers of men, and the lesson they learned about "casting their net on the right side," I think about how we should be making ourselves available and our churches to feel comfortable to real people -- the average person who needs Science just as much as those of us who have been studying it for a while.

I know change doesn't happen overnight. And I can only speak for myself, because I know there already are CS people who are very friendly and naturally embrace others with warmness and kindness. As I'm getting deeper and more earnest in my study of CS, I want to genuinely embrace more people too.

[Ariana]

Hey Jada. Thanks for your question. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your post. What we want on this site is open, honest discussion of pertinent issues such as these. We don

[Lindsay]

I also have a pretty tough time getting through the really lengthy posts, and I've noticed that the precedence of having such long ideas to read through and respond to limits my activity on this site.
As to the content of our posts

[Hogster]

I for one find these long posts fascinating although I must say it takes me a lot longer to get round to reading them ... At times it also makes me a feel a little inadequate if I'm unable to write a post (or a reply) of similar length ....


David

[Alyssa]

Okay, so here's what I'm thinking:

We do need to have some explanation of standards/expectations when people enter the forums, probably in the form of a header topic (a sticky one that just stays at the top).

However, it seems like a mix of people like a mix of posts. Yeah diversity!

We can explain there that you can post long or short, just keep it coherent and appropriate, and also that you don't *have* to read everything immediately - it just helps if you're replying to a thread.

In terms of forum tone/purpose: Lindsay, I know you said you don't think the forums have a vocalized purpose yet. I think that our purpose (creating a space to encourage active healers) doesn't require that we exactly set the tone and way people post, that it's okay to let everyone coming on (the users) set the tone and use it for whatever they need... so I like the way things are going so far, and I'm willing to let them continue with relatively little guidance. Does that make it difficult to use the forums?

Interested in your thoughts,
A