Group Mode for the Discussion Forum

[Genus]

Not as in Dangerous Groups ;-)

Think of the unadulterated forum boards being in "Open Mode"

I think it would be massively beneficial for the debate and discourse whereby we could make a "Private Group" on the forums and invite people to it, also verify requests to join it from new Group Members. The person who set up the Group, could moderate it, along with trusted humans.

I refuse to block or report anyone on the forum, choosing to deal with people face to face, on their terms or mine (whichever is the path of least resistance base on the gravity of the matter), however I've found of late that others seem to think it's funny to bait & switch thus causing overhead for the Mods and CM's and stifling the debate, it's a worrying trend. Moreover, I've noticed of late the behaviours creeping in which totally undermine, or literally block valid opinions on what could be considered both sides of the fence, within the context of providing feedback. A true consensus is rarely achieved, if ever.

I refuse to subscribe to the Swing Voter mentality of "say something often enough and it must be true" when apathy becomes the norm, and Private Groups using the official boards resources would I am sure provide a more actionable flavour of feedback for the Design Team, and give the Mods and Community Managers an easier life. Civility, it seems...is required to be a managed construct on t'internet...who knew right?!

Of course, it would make the "community management" aspects a little more complicated, however with truly Private Official Forum Groups (with the Mods and CM's still being able to see within), I'm sure that all important level of debate could be found and help FD in the mid-term...if not more quickly.

Any chance?

 

[damon8r351]

I get what you're trying to say and to a certain degree I support it, but oh god, comparing it to Mobius? I hope you've braced yourself.

 

[Genus]

I get what you're trying to say and to a certain degree I support it, but oh god, comparing it to Mobius? I hope you've braced yourself.

Good point. That reference was more about trying to paint the picture than, you know...the other thing. lol

So edited. Just to avoid the very thing I'm trying to avoid.

 

[Adhock]

What you mean like you can make a clan on the forum and you get your own dedicated subforum?

I think I saw something like this on Roll20. There's a general forum and then there's a forum in the games themselves. If the games are set to private/invite only then it's like their own mini-forum for the group.

...Eh. I'm not really sure how viable that would be for Frontier, ether in terms of costs or feedback. Otherwise you just get a bunch of people all with the same opinion nodding along to each other and not really discussing anything unless you've got that one devil's advocate. "That Guy."

Opposing viewpoints can more often lead to discussion, better refining things down to exact details. Those details are what Frontier looks for in the terms of Feedback.

It's when discussions break down there's a problem.

 

[Genus]

What you mean like you can make a clan on the forum and you get your own dedicated subforum?

I'm sure some of them would be considered clans. My wish, would be to invite all the people that can hold a conversation and debate a topic in a civilised manner, whether they agree or not.

Opposing viewpoints can more often lead to discussion, better refining things down to exact details. Those details are what Frontier looks for in the terms of Feedback.

For this purpose entirely.

It's when discussions break down there's a problem.

In order to avoid this where possible. It's about Culture.

 

[Adhock]

Fair enough. I'm just not sure how much of this would mitigate human error. I've been a part of groups of all sizes and a lot of them break down because of an interaction between two people.

Civil debate can be a great thing but everyone has a breaking point about something somewhere. It's inevitable that someone is going to reach it.

No amount of privatized separation is going to prevent person A from getting upset at person B when their reach their limit and just start calling them stupid for not accepting their viewpoint.

Granted though I'm getting off subject and this idea was meant more for people who have similar ideals.

I'm pretty sure this might lead to tribalism and then you have opposing groups attacking each other.

On the plus side it might make for places for people to gather and find people in game more easily for the average link up then trying to sell your Player Group. (Still a PMF of One and now it looks like I have to go to war against an entire Powerplay Faction. *Sigh*)

Anyway what I'm getting at is that I don't think it will mitigate flame wars in any way. Just evolve the manner they're conducted in.

 

[Genus]

We have all that already.

I fundamentally disagree that in applying an alternative framework to debate, that can be found on the open boards at the moment, whilst allowing a group of like minded people with differing opinions about "stuff" to debate topics free from having to actively ban people, put up with bait and switch tactics, or indeed, bother the Mods and CM's with what must be a mountain of banality, would result in what you outline.

Maybe the less considered groups would want to, but in a boundified system of discourse, it would not be possible as it currently is on the public forum.

It's about Culture, that relies on many factors. The absence of it, and the inability to effectively police it, results in the Community at war for sure. And we have that already.

Imagine being able to conduct a civilised debate with everyone in your friends list at one time. A nice thought, but it would be messy. Just move that premise to the main boards and make the group private.

Simples.

Flame wars, for those who enjoy them, will be able to be conducted on the public posts for everyone to join in, while the Private Groups have their own debates, which may even provide a consensus. Take that one example, put it through all the different PG's will all the different lenses on all the different topics, and you have actual cybernetic system providing a higher quality of actionable information for FD.

Unless the majority of Groups end up being gangs of mentals of course, then an extra layer of process would be necessary, whereby under performers can be marginalised away from norm. It's all been done before and it works.

Moreover, I'd go out on a whim and comment that the level of engagement on the Official Forum would increase meaningfully. FD will have access to and essentially own all that information and data. And build the capability to add some wisdom to it.

 

[CMDR MRMAURICE]

This would split the community in half. One suggesting the other has more control over any discussion. The other thinking that mere mortals should be ignored . Use the block function, it's much easier.

I use the forums in the way you describe (kind of). Facebook is another platform that is a mess when it comes to elite discussion and reddit isn't my thing and has its own flaws. Here however is where the real and raw discussion are held. Splitting that to a hierarchy isn't needed. We have rules, that's all that is needed. It's not a bad idea but I don't think the official forums is the place for this concept. Just my opinion.

 

[Genus]

This would split the community in half. One suggesting the other has more control over any discussion. The other thinking that mere mortals should be ignored . Use the block function, it's much easier.

The block function and the rep system are not fit-for-purpose. On the whole, I ignore them. I mean I give rep out till I have none left, but only to encourage people that seem to be almost afraid to speak out on certain topics because it guarantees muppetry in public.

Here however is where the real and raw discussion are held. Splitting that to a hierarchy isn't needed. We have rules, that's all that is needed. It's not a bad idea but I don't think the official forums is the place for this concept. Just my opinion.

I'm not suggesting the forums as it is is changed or split.

Just add Groups, it's not a binary proposition.

 

[Spacecat]

So, you're censoring your own internet? That sounds fun.

 

[Genus]

So, you're censoring your own internet? That sounds fun.

More like just setting up a web page (and enabling others to do the same) for those into its content.



Which seems quite popular to be honest.



Also, the browser is controlled by FD. Bonus for them.

 

[Deleted member 115407]

Why don't you just make a discord server and invite people to it?

 

[Genus]

Why don't you just make a discord server and invite people to it?

Frontier need to own the information.