Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Фелч Гроган on May 24, 2009 at 8:57am

There's not a lot you can do about this I don't think - other than the privacy and comments options to limit who sees it. It can easily be solved by user awareness - short little curiousity pieces and trivial one line comments don't need to be suppressed altogether. Instead, people should make greater use of the forum and the various interest groups.

But I agree - there is way to much crap that gets posted to the frontpage. Articles there should really be our showcase. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of our species are entirely untrainable and will continue to post crap there out of apathy, igorance or pure contempt for other peoples views on the matter.

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Permalink Reply by NH Baritone on May 24, 2009 at 9:51am

I, for one, look forward to hearing about what people are saying around AN. I consider it part of the joy of existing in community. The Front Page offers a kind of Main Street, and I enjoy seeing the variety of topics and displays that are being created by our community members.

I have made more connections by the happenstance of front page postings than through any other means on AN. And I doubt I'm the only one who would make that claim.

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Permalink Reply by George on May 24, 2009 at 6:47pm

I definitely agree with this in principle. I just think there should be, at the very least, a clear message to all users that their "private" blog is visible on the front page.

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Permalink Reply by vivian on May 24, 2009 at 8:18pm

Why not take blogs off the front page and leave the discussions. Blogs are an individual style depending on the person.

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Permalink Reply by Фелч Гроган on May 24, 2009 at 8:26pm

Because Ning, the hosting provider, offers a prepackaged product. Making what seems to be a minor change to you may be an enormous job as far as actually implementing it goes.

Users conscientiously doing the right thing is the best answer. But its easier to believe in Santa Claus than to expect that.

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Permalink Reply by vivian on May 24, 2009 at 8:43pm

Once again, what you think is the 'right thing' doesn't automatically make it the correct way. Is there a list of blogging rules??? If so then maybe they should be posted. I agree with NH Baritone, I like reading other peoples' blogs and the variety of ways they are done in.

Atheists don't come in neat little packages that all look the same. We're different and should be embraced by our differences. Maybe you should open your mind alittle more and accept people who don't do everything the way you do!

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Permalink Reply by Фелч Гроган on May 24, 2009 at 10:03pm

I've resisted the temptation to suggest posting guidelines as it inevitably invites all sorts of unpleasantness and argument. However, there are many forums out there that have stood the test of time who's posting guidelines would provide a good basis. But none of these guidelines are a substitute for common sense or common courtesy. The best rule for deciding what is appropriate for a front page post is -

Is it the sort of thing that you enjoy reading ?

There is nothing more annoying than a page full of one line statements without any context or explanation, or a bunch of SLYTs (single link youTube) crap, or "I'm off for the weekend !!! BYE !!!". Who the fuck cares ?

If people haven't seen the forum, then go and look at it, understand it and USE IT.

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Permalink Reply by vivian on May 25, 2009 at 10:14am

Would the guidelines for posting be your guidelines, or actual guidelines from the creator/s of a/n? I googled Blog Rules and nowhere did it say that vids and pics were a bad idea. Besides, I thought forums where more for discussion?

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Permalink Reply by Little Name Atheist on May 25, 2009 at 1:08am

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Permalink Reply by vivian on May 25, 2009 at 10:05am

Careful, Meabh,you'll get felch in an uproar again!

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