On topic only: Possibilities in online forums for sustained, purposeful discussions?

[Jim]

NOTE: I’m posting this in the “Same Faith Debates” forum, which in its rules requires me to specify who I’m inviting to post in this thread. I’m inviting people who agree to respect my intentions for this thread, and to try to stay on the topic that I want to discuss, without flooding it with off-topic posts, for example by debating with each other about some other topic. That does not exclude anything that anyone calls “debating,” if you’re actually trying to stay on the topic that I want to discuss. That doesn’t mean that want to debate about it myself. I don’t. I just want to exchange ideas with people.

Topic: How to have a sustained, purposeful discussion in an online forum.

Have you ever wanted to have a sustained, purposeful discussion in an online forum about some topic with anyone who might be interested, without the thread being flooded with off-topic posts? Have you ever found any way of doing that? If so, how? This thread is actually an experiment to see if I can use this forum for that purpose.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

NOTE: I’m posting this in the “Same Faith Debates” forum, which in its rules requires me to specify who I’m inviting to post in this thread. I’m inviting people who agree to respect my intentions for this thread, and to try to stay on the topic that I want to discuss, without flooding it with off-topic posts, for example by debating with each other about some other topic. That does not exclude anything that anyone calls “debating,” if you’re actually trying to stay on the topic that I want to discuss. That doesn’t mean that want to debate about it myself. I don’t. I just want to exchange ideas with people.

Have you ever wanted to have a sustained, purposeful discussion in an online forum about some topic with anyone who might be interested, without the thread being flooded with off-topic posts? Have you ever found any way of doing that? If so, how? This thread is actually an experiment to see if I can use this forum for that purpose.

What topic?

 

[Milton Platt]

NOTE: I’m posting this in the “Same Faith Debates” forum, which in its rules requires me to specify who I’m inviting to post in this thread. I’m inviting people who agree to respect my intentions for this thread, and to try to stay on the topic that I want to discuss, without flooding it with off-topic posts, for example by debating with each other about some other topic. That does not exclude anything that anyone calls “debating,” if you’re actually trying to stay on the topic that I want to discuss. That doesn’t mean that want to debate about it myself. I don’t. I just want to exchange ideas with people.

Have you ever wanted to have a sustained, purposeful discussion in an online forum about some topic with anyone who might be interested, without the thread being flooded with off-topic posts? Have you ever found any way of doing that? If so, how? This thread is actually an experiment to see if I can use this forum for that purpose.

It's going to happen. I don't think it is intentional. But it's like asking a question in a room full of people and they all start discussing it among themselves and the original question becomes forgotten. I circumvent that problem by inviting individuals to a private conversation sometimes. Only they and I can see the conversation.

 

[Jim]

What topic?

I’ve labeled it now in the OP.

 

[Jim]

What topic?

Maybe I misunderstood. Do your ideas for how to have a sustained, purposeful discussion depend in the topic of discussion? Are you asking for examples of topics, so that you can give your ideas about how to have sustained, purposeful discussions on those topics? If you’ve found ways of doing that, you can use whatever your topics were in those discussions, as examples for explaining your ideas.

 

[Terry Sampson]

Have you ever found any way of doing that? If so, how?

Yes. Once, by posting a thread in the One-on-One Sub-forum and by previous arrangement with specific persons, inviting them into that thread. Only once did I have to caution anyone who was not invited into the thread that they had to be invited in order to post in the thread, which they could have requested by sending me a PM. On other occasions, I have opened private threads with different folks using the Conversation mode. Access to the latter option is by clicking on the envelope next to your name in the upper right hand of any page.

 

[Skwim]

NOTE: I’m posting this in the “Same Faith Debates” forum, which in its rules requires me to specify who I’m inviting to post in this thread. I’m inviting people who agree to respect my intentions for this thread, and to try to stay on the topic that I want to discuss, without flooding it with off-topic posts, for example by debating with each other about some other topic. That does not exclude anything that anyone calls “debating,” if you’re actually trying to stay on the topic that I want to discuss. That doesn’t mean that want to debate about it myself. I don’t. I just want to exchange ideas with people.

Topic: How to have a sustained, purposeful discussion in an online forum.

Have you ever wanted to have a sustained, purposeful discussion in an online forum about some topic with anyone who might be interested, without the thread being flooded with off-topic posts? Have you ever found any way of doing that? If so, how? This thread is actually an experiment to see if I can use this forum for that purpose.

I've always considered off topic posts to be irrelevant to carrying on a discussion. Those who truly want to discuss a topic will do so regardless of what others around them are talking about; ignoring them is a very simple undertaking. And if people stop discussing a topic it's because the topic has run its course. So sustaining a "purposeful discussion" isn't a matter of keeping the road clear of other traffic, but of keeping the discussion alive within itself. Some topics are simply not that interesting to others, and if replied to at all, are predestined for a very short life.

.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

NOTE: I’m posting this in the “Same Faith Debates” forum, which in its rules requires me to specify who I’m inviting to post in this thread. I’m inviting people who agree to respect my intentions for this thread, and to try to stay on the topic that I want to discuss, without flooding it with off-topic posts, for example by debating with each other about some other topic. That does not exclude anything that anyone calls “debating,” if you’re actually trying to stay on the topic that I want to discuss. That doesn’t mean that want to debate about it myself. I don’t. I just want to exchange ideas with people.

Topic: How to have a sustained, purposeful discussion in an online forum.

Have you ever wanted to have a sustained, purposeful discussion in an online forum about some topic with anyone who might be interested, without the thread being flooded with off-topic posts? Have you ever found any way of doing that? If so, how? This thread is actually an experiment to see if I can use this forum for that purpose.

Thank you. I've been here for a good many years and think I gave up on keeping to one topic threads. A lot of the questions in part are repeats but I never really seen answers that aren't side tracked and miscued.

I notice people put in bold "this is for christians" for example. That works to an extent but because it's a public forum, it doesn't go very far. Other times it goes off because people debate the question's validity (rather than clarification) before the topic.

Other times I don't think people have enough interest in a topic to stay on track. For example, I'm sure biblical discussions would be great regardless the religion of a person. However, if it's one sided or "owned" by one party, it's hard to appreciate the topic (of religion) without needing to defend why one is interested in it in the first place.

I gave up really. When I post a topic, if I don't get at least a page or two of worthwhile discussion, I drop it. I get bored more easily. That's probably another reason of off topic threads. Not many people offer a new perspective of the same topic.

 

[Jim]

Yes. Once, by posting a thread in the One-on-One Sub-forum and by previous arrangement with specific persons, inviting them into that thread. Only once did I have to caution anyone who was not invited into the thread that they had to be invited in order to post in the thread, which they could have requested by sending me a PM. On other occasions, I have opened private threads with different folks using the Conversation mode. Access to the latter option is by clicking on the envelope next to your name in the upper right hand of any page.

Thank you. That’s very helpful.

 

[Jim]

The responses here have already been better than the best I was hoping for.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Have you ever wanted to have a sustained, purposeful discussion in an online forum about some topic with anyone who might be interested, without the thread being flooded with off-topic posts? Have you ever found any way of doing that? If so, how? This thread is actually an experiment to see if I can use this forum for that purpose.

Before I respond, what do you consider "off-topic?"

Also, what does this thread have to do with religion and from what same faith are you wishing participation here?

 

[Jim]

Also, what does this thread have to do with religion and from what same faith are you wishing participation here?

Are you asking for moderation purposes?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Are you asking for moderation purposes?

Let's go with yes.

 

[Jim]

... what does this thread have to do with religion and from what same faith are you wishing participation here?

Same Faith Debates - Special Rules

"Same faith" debates need not be faith-based, nor do they even need to be religious. What this area is for is to have debates among members of specified group(s), such as "atheists only" or "Hindus only," etc.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Same Faith Debates - Special Rules

I understand the rules.

Please allow me to rephrase since you are struggling to find the answer. SFD is for debates among members of specified group, usually a group associated with a specified paradigm. Which group is this SFD thread for?

 

[Jim]

1. If you create a thread in this subforum it is your responsibility to indicate which group(s) you want to restrict the thread to. If you do not specify group(s), the RF staff may move your thread at their discretion. When you create a thread in this subforum, also do the following:
   1. List the specified group(s) in the title of your thread
   2. Elaborate on those group(s) in the opening post of your thread, if necessary

I’ve specified the group as being people who agree to respect my intentions for this thread, and to try to stay on the topic that I want to discuss, without flooding it with off-topic posts, for example by debating with each other about some other topic.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I’ve specified the group as being people who agree to respect my intentions for this thread, and to try to stay on the topic that I want to discuss, without flooding it with off-topic posts, for example by debating with each other about some other topic.

Well, I suppose "people who agree to respect Jim's intentions" could be considered a group, and you've made some valid points, so I don't see any issue with the location or topic.

If you'd like me to clean up this exchange in keeping with the spirit of the thread, let me know and I can make these posts disappear.

 

[Jim]

Well, I suppose "people who agree to respect Jim's intentions" could be considered a group, and you've made some valid points, so I don't see any issue with the location or topic.

If you'd like me to clean up this exchange in keeping with the spirit of the thread, let me know and I can make these posts disappear.

Either way is okay with me. Actually, I think that it fits the topic and helps clarify it, but I wouldn’t object to removing it.

 

[Jim]

Now I’m thinking that I might be stretching the idea of a group too far, outside of the intent of this forum. Maybe the “Invitation Only” forum would be better.