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Forum Post: Advice: Create a Seperate Forum for Intellectual Discussion

Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 25, 2011, 9:18 a.m. EST by lobotaru (12)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

We need to create a separate forum that allows for intellectual discussions and event planning. The current forum has become too much of a mash up of completely random posts with the most informative ones being drowned out by all the rest.

11 Comments

11 Comments


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[-] 1 points by engineer4 (331) 11 years ago

Just needs some open and transparent moderators that would keep discussion on topic of the post....and some mutual respect and courtesy.

[-] 1 points by blazefire (947) 12 years ago

That would be nice.... or perhaps some sectioned forums???? Welcome pages, political pages, conspiracy crap, intellectual pages, event pages, etc, etc... it would organise it all.... just that little bit better!!

[-] 1 points by RedJazz43 (2757) 12 years ago

Sounds like two separate forums. One for intellectual discussion and one for event planning, as these are two quite different things. Or this forum might be left for event planning and another created for intellectual discussion or vice versa. Vice versa actually sounds better to me as there are too many trolls, kibbitzers and casual and uninformed supporters on this forum to make it very effective for event planning

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[-] -1 points by Glaucon (296) 12 years ago

Intellectual discussions don't stop at the planning phase. They are useful in all phases of a project.

[-] 1 points by RedJazz43 (2757) 12 years ago

Perhaps, nevertheless intellectual discussions are different from planning actions. Once the idea of an action gels from being a mere idea, it is no longer an intellectual discussion, but a practical discussion, which is not to say that intellectual issues might not intevene at every stage, for example in asking how a particular action relates to the values of the movement at every point in the planning of an action. That said, there is still a rather sharp distinction between an intellectual discussion and actually planning something practical.

[-] 0 points by Glaucon (296) 12 years ago

I don't believe so. A discussion is simply a raising of arguments and counter-arguments to make a point or to help guide a decision. You make decisions in the planning phase, and all these decisions need to be supported by strong arguments that flourish through intellectual debate. Until the project is fully realized, there is thinking being done throughout all phases.

When working out the details, it's often important to remember what the general ideas were. If the forums are separated, it's trickier for the planners to fully understand what the architects want. It's also desirable at times to go back and forth between these two phases if it becomes apparent that certain aspects of a plan cannot be put into practice for whatever reason. I would separate the discussion in different categories, but not in different forums.

[-] 1 points by RedJazz43 (2757) 12 years ago

I haven't seen a single thing effectively planned or even begun on this forum. I'm not sure any "reform" of the forum could make that possible. There is plenty of intellectual discussion and planning that goes on at all the occupations and I suspect that anybody who raises that here has never actually been to an occupation.

[-] -1 points by Glaucon (296) 12 years ago

True indeed. These discussions are only useful for planting ideas that might be heard by people attending GA's. The planning is done live, so it doesn't make much sense to have a forum for that. I guess I would just keep this forum and add some categories. I doubt many occupiers who go to GA's come here anyhow. We're most likely debating in the wind.

Here are the categories I suggest:

  1. High Five (For OWS supporters who don't want "trolls" to debate their ideas.)
  2. Bitches Brew (For OWS non-supporters who bitch, but don't debate.)
  3. Debate Club (For OWS supporters and non-supporters who want to debate.)
  4. Spam/Conspiracy Theories

There could be a point system so that posts in a wrong category are redirected in the right one. This way the anti-semites can be placed in the Spam/Conspiracy Theory category and they won't be able to cry censorship.

[-] 1 points by RedJazz43 (2757) 12 years ago

Yes, the only reason I come here is because my job, my health and my proximity to an occupation prevents me from attending one live more often and I like to keep somewhat attached to the movement between times, but if I were more technically adept I suspect I could find a better discussion forum connected to the movement.

[-] 0 points by Glaucon (296) 12 years ago

Agreed.

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[-] 0 points by BofL (434) 12 years ago

This site was designed to defeat you. If you are looking for the intellectual discussion forum, look no further http://occupywallst.org/forum/interesting-read-about-the-constitution-and-corpor/#comment-413890 I invite you to read learn and teach here. Make it a great day!