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Underground > Policy & Help >

the Head Shop in the Conversation

Disco is My Class War

02:55 / 26.11.01

A propos of the statement of intent discussion, I have a little request that I've been meaning to make for a while.

Lately lots of threads that would normally subsist in the Head Shop hve been appearing in the Conversation -- stuff about slash, alternative sexual congress, maybe the flirting thread, and Cholister's fascinating sexual violence/bdsm threads. Lately, also, the Head Shop has been looking mighty devoid of inneresting material, with the exception of Ellis's various new threads and the Gaming thread, and a few other things like kooky's anorexia thread. Seems like everyone had a bit of a brain-break for a while and now that the heads are starting to kick in again, it's all happening in the Conversation. (Sorry if this offends, whatever, I'm just not interested in comparing drug experiences...)

So why is that? And can it be redeemed in any way? I guess I have a vested interest: I'm always interested in the many conversations had around here about sex and gender (y'all know this). And I feel it's important that this stuff is seen as complex intellectual debate, and responded to as such, rather than threads acting as a depository of personal confessions which don't get self-reflexive or critical, which can tend to happen in the Conversation a bit.

Does this make sense?

06:15 / 26.11.01

I think that, in some cases, people are posting them there because they expect almost instantaneous thread-rot... that is, expecting a thread on flirting to end up being mostly made up OF flirting rather than being ABOUT flirting. Apparently it turns out we're on our best behavior.

ONLY NICE THINGS

07:17 / 26.11.01

Good question. I think that the best thing to do in the short term is to suggest to people if a topic appears in the Conversation which shoudl perhaps be in the Head Shop that we suggest that it be moved before the threadrot sets in.

Meanwhile, misplaced threads like "your favourite drug trip" should be moved by the moderators. That;s what the moderators are for.

[ 26-11-2001: Message edited by: The Haus of Lauds ]

07:29 / 26.11.01

quote:Meanwhile, fuckwitted threads like "your favourite drug trip" should be moved by the moderators. That's what the moderators are for.

I think this is the job of the board rather than a specific moderator. If a thread is "fuckwitted" then no one will reply. It shouldn't depend on the personal opinion of a moderator. I've seen a few of my threads plummet out of sight with no replies. That is fair feedback.

Regrettable Juvenilia

08:19 / 26.11.01

As far as dealing with the problem Rosa sets out - I've noticed this too, and maybe it would be useful if moderators of one forum had the power to move threads *into* that forum as well as out (having asked if anyone minds first, maybe). Tom can't reasonably be expcted to do this all the time. Of course, the Head Shop needs a moderator first...

[ 26-11-2001: Message edited by: Flyboy ]

ONLY NICE THINGS

08:20 / 26.11.01

I think we are using the term "mistaken" in different ways. I mean not that they are intrinsically stupid - often they are very interesting and illuminating - but that it is mistaken (or, more fairly, perhaps a sign of newness to Barbelith) to have started them in the Head Shop.

[ 27-11-2001: Message edited by: The Haus under the Ocean ]

ONLY NICE THINGS

08:20 / 26.11.01

YOu are absolutely right. I can only claim in my defence a fug of depression so black as to blot out the sun of reason. And a fundamentally protective feeling about the Head Shop.
Sorry, all. I am going to cxhange it to "misplaced", and ask all, if they have the time, to amend their reactions accordingly.

Sorry, all.

08:20 / 26.11.01

Maybe we need a moderator for the Conversation, purely so that any threads with Head Shop potential can be transferred - Tom doesn't seem to be here all that often, so a few tend to get missed.

The Return Of Rothkoid

10:11 / 26.11.01

Either that, or for all moderators to have access to the Conversation - that way they can move threads to their own forum at will. Otherwise, there'll be a period of lag-time while PMs or mails go back and forth to co-ordinate it...

Then again, I don't know how happy Tom would be with there being several moderators for the fluff part of the board...

11:23 / 26.11.01

If there are specific things that people want to move (or talk about moving) then the Policy is the place to go. I'm here as often as I can be at the moment, and the first place I always check is The Policy. If the debate reaches a consensus, I'll move it ...

11:26 / 26.11.01

(Off topic, this:

quote:Originally posted by E. Randy Dupre:
Tom doesn't seem to be here all that often, so a few tend to get missed.

wasn't intended to be a complaint, just a statement of apparent fact. Sorry if it came across as bitching.)

[ 26-11-2001: Message edited by: E. Randy Dupre ]

15:04 / 26.11.01

I sort of went off posting long, hugely-intellectual threads in the Head Shop after the board went tits up a couple of times and everything was lost. Without being too precious, is there any way we can safeguard against total loss of material? It's a pain composing a whole load of referenced theory only to have to type it all again...

05:59 / 28.11.01

I would suggest keeping a backup at home of the work you're most proud of. Hopefully those problems won't arise again - but you never can be certain...