RF as a Microcosm

[Jistyr]

An odd question has come over me recently, and I am interested to know what everyone here thinks about it:

Can Religious Forums ever be viewed as an appropriate microcosm of the world/society?

This forum certainly has enough different religious perspectives to cover all of the prominent ones in society. And many of the discussions and quarrels that take place here are almost synonymous with those of the real world.

I have my own opinion on the subject, but I really want to hear what you all think about the concept.

 

[Don Penguinoini]

microcosm meaning to a 13 year old?

 

[Jistyr]

microcosm meaning to a 13 year old?

A smaller group of people that can represent society as a whole. How their small scale interactions, if bigger, would be very similar to those of the world.

 

[ChristineES]

It might, but there are things I say here that I don't say anywhere else. I usually don't seek out atheists to debate about religion. If I am with an atheist, I don't talk about religion at all.

 

[Jistyr]

It might, but there are things I say here that I don't say anywhere else. I usually don't seek out atheists to debate about religion. If I am with an atheist, I don't talk about religion at all.

True. There is a big difference between a person on the internet and a person in the real world.

 

[Don Penguinoini]

A smaller group of people that can represent society as a whole. How their small scale interactions, if bigger, would be very similar to those of the world.

No not at all, we are too nice and diplomatic people to represent the wider picture.

 

[doppelganger]

IMO, No. RF attracts an exceptionally well-informed and thoughtful lot, much more likely than most to have taken the time to be familiar not only with the details and ideas of their own cultural traditions, but also more likely to have explored some other cultures' traditions with a level of open-mindedness.

 

[Jistyr]

IMO, No. RF attracts an exceptionally well-informed and thoughtful lot, much more likely than most to have taken the time to be familiar not only with the details and ideas of their own cultural traditions, but also more likely to have explored some other cultures' traditions with a level of open-mindedness.

No not at all, we are too nice and diplomatic people to represent the wider picture.

I agree.

I would also personally answer no, because, no offense to the world, but the members at RF are much more intellectual and civil than society at large. The people here like to get to the bottom of the issues that they discuss, and understand them inside and out, unlike the majority of people who just regurgitate the same words they heard before on the subject.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

An odd question has come over me recently, and I am interested to know what everyone here thinks about it:

Can Religious Forums ever be viewed as an appropriate microcosm of the world/society?

Every single person on this forum has a high enough standard of living that they have internet access.

A few months ago, I saw a news/interview/current affairs program that mentioned that 70% of the world's population has never heard a dial tone.

So... to answer your question, my intuition says probably not.

 

[Scuba Pete]

A microcosm? No.

We are too affluent, too intelligent and (except for me) too darn good looking!

 

[Willamena]

microcosm meaning to a 13 year old?

Sings:
It's a small world, after all
It's a small world, after all
It's a small world, after all
It's a small, small world

 

[methylatedghosts]

I would say not. I would say we all have a thing in common, in that, we ALL here, have some interest or some reason to be discussing things of a spiritual or religious nature. Not everyone wants to talk about such things with everyone else. Or even cares.

So who DO we represent?

-people with internet access
-people who want to discuss religioin/spirituality
-intellectuals
-nice and diplomatic people
-a well-informed and thoughtful lot
-those with open-mindedness.
-affluence(?)
-intelligence (mostly )
-good-looking people (!)

seems already we're reasonably limited with relation to representing the bigger picture

 

[Katzpur]

Can Religious Forums ever be viewed as an appropriate microcosm of the world/society?

I don't believe so. First of all, RF is made up of people who have an interest in exploring ideas and beliefs. Much of the world really doesn't. Everyone here has at least enough education to be able to contribute verbally to some of the many conversations that are going on. Many of the people in the world couldn't if they wanted to. Also -- there are far, far too many Latter-day Saints here to make RF an appropriate microcosm of the world. If this were the real world, RF would have to have 15 million members before the first Latter-day Saint could join.

 

[methylatedghosts]

So who DO we represent?

-people with internet access
-people who want to discuss religioin/spirituality
-intellectuals
-nice and diplomatic people
-a well-informed and thoughtful lot
-those with open-mindedness.
-affluence(?)
-intelligence (mostly

)
-good-looking people (!)

ok, so add

- excess LDSers?

 

[Fluffy]

No. If RF was representative of the real world then the world wouldn't be plagued with so many problems.

Of course in RF we don't actually have to deal with any realities so you could say it is easier for us. However, compared with other forums, I feel that there must be something special about us.

 

[methylatedghosts]

So who DO we represent?

-people with internet access
-people who want to discuss religioin/spirituality
-intellectuals
-nice and diplomatic people
-a well-informed and thoughtful lot
-those with open-mindedness.
-affluence(?)
-intelligence (mostly

)
-good-looking people (!)
- excess LDSers

Add:
-Special people

 

[blackout]

No. If RF was representative of the real world then the world wouldn't be plagued with so many problems.

BINGO!

I WISH the "real world" were more like RF.
Oh. But then I'd really get NOTHING done!

 

[Fluffy]

We are a microcosm of BYU . Not that this would be a bad thing. Given how badly Mormons are treated elsewhere on the net I'm very glad that we are friendly enough to attract them.

I feel that RF, due to its lack of religious agenda beyond equality, is likely to attract more people for minority groups such as liberal Christianity, atheists, paganism etc.

Additionally, due to the language of RF being English, I feel that we are likely to attract a greater number of people from English speaking countries. We don't have any members from France as far as I am aware.

 

[methylatedghosts]

So who DO we represent?

-people with internet access
-people who want to discuss religioin/spirituality
-intellectuals
-nice and diplomatic people
-a well-informed and thoughtful lot
-those with open-mindedness.
-affluence(?)
-intelligence (mostly

)
-good-looking people (!)
-excess LDSers
-Special people

-No Frenchies (ok, people who speak English)

We are a very specific group of representatives aren't we?

 

[Jistyr]

So the census is:

RF > RL

Boo ya!