In an effort to curtail the shenanagans that go along with it, the P&R that category has been removed, however culling the bad parts has left the forum without an outlet to discuss current events, I recommend adding a category named current events.
> In an effort to curtail the shenanagans that go along with it, the P&R that category has been removed, however culling the bad parts has left the forum without an outlet to discuss current events, I recommend adding a category named current events.
To discuss what, exactly?
:bad:
I doubt that a discussion on current events could happen without devolving into P & R in short order.
For the most part, I am for having less categories than more. I may be alone here, but I turn them all on, and read the ones that look like they might be interesting by the subject matter regardless of the category.
I agree that a discussion about current events could "devolve" to P&R, but don't think it needs to. I just think that "General Non-Surveying" covers all the other nonsurveying topics. (If it were up to me the site would be reduced to 3-5 categories. I'm not suggesting that, because, like I said, I can just have them all on.)
I'm with Tom on this one, except I think we don't need categories at all.
When I first started reading the old message board, I was confused as to why there were categories. After a while, I realized that you could search and sort by categories; so they did serve a purpose. Would having a Current Events category help that?
I don't feel the need to turn certain categories off or on, I do that at my own discretion.
>...the P&R that category has been removed; however culling the bad parts has left the forum without an outlet to discuss current events.
If current events had to be discussed in the P&R category prior to its demise; wouldn’t a new current event category just become a de facto P&R? Wendell has already decided that the increase in traffic from removing P&R is a better for him than having to constantly ban yahoos with no impulse control.
I’m cool with that from a business perspective (while simultaneously being deeply saddened that of all the message boards I frequent on the interweb, the one dedicated to my chosen profession is the only one where some posters become self absorbed disrespectful children the second a political or religious topic is broached).
> To discuss what, exactly?
The Russian meteor event?
This new category would essentially be pulling a few things from General Non-Surveying.
I'm not sure it would be worth any effort to split them.
IMHO there are enough categories now...
:good: Just what I was thinking. It would be a de facto P&R.
> .. I think we don't need categories at all.
In the beginning (ie/ old RPLS board) there was a need to separate P&R from Survey things, so categories were born. And lo, the people saw that categories were good. And so the people said "let there be other categories". And the lords of RPLS made it so.
Hmm...Is this post a "P", or an "R"?
> ....of all the message boards I frequent on the interweb, the one dedicated to my chosen profession is the only one where some posters become self absorbed disrespectful children the second a political or religious topic is broached...
What other message boards do you frequent? Does anyone there post topics of Political or Religious flavor?
(This is the only message board that I visit, well, since the 'other one' took a nose dive; so, IMWTK):-S
Are surveyors the ONLY ONES passionate about their beliefs?
Comment on the term havinge
The pronunciation of said word must resemble what it must have sounded like when Sergeant Schultz told the Commandant that he was havinge dinner.
> > To discuss what, exactly?
>
> The Russian meteor event?
>
> This new category would essentially be pulling a few things from General Non-Surveying.
>
> I'm not sure it would be worth any effort to split them.
My thoughts exactly. There's nothing current that can't be discussed in the existing categories, save Politics and Religion.
Introducing a new category, such as the one suggested, reminds me of an old adage; vampires can't come in if you don't invite them. 🙂
Consider havinge a category named ask James Fleming
This would be my choice for categories. Not really interested in the political or religious aspect of any of these discussions, but I would seriously like to know what an
Euro/USD intraday FX short squeeze is?, Do treasuries get redeemed at maturity by the sum of a variable rate over their term, or is the redemption fixed by the percent yield at purchase? ...and roughly one thousand other questions related to economic theory and
practice.
> What other message boards do you frequent? Does anyone there post topics of Political or Religious flavor?
Some are political; some are outdoor related (generally fly fishing and upland/waterfowl hunting; some are, well, unique; but at all posters tend to be courteous to those who hold opposing views. Could just be that I'm more likely to read and participate in a group where civility is valued higher personal political and religious beliefs.
> Are surveyors the ONLY ONES passionate about their beliefs?
One can be passionate about ones beliefs without endless bickering, name calling and resorting to emailing Wendell when you perceive you've been treated unfairly. In fact, I would argue that one especially passionate about their beliefs would be best served by not acting in a manner that gives the impression that those who hold said beliefs are buffoons.
Not that I don't love a well pointed barb, I still think one of the best posts in a political related tread on the old board was Al Chace's: "Cam, you idiot, I'm agreeing with you"
Comment on the term havinge
Yeh . . .
we could have the category refresh daily and simply remove or get rid of posts that are many hours old, so the badmouthing doesn't continue, the category doesn't get cumbersome and only relatively current events are actually visible/available.
