 The Recent Growth Of Our Forum |
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| Dan |
 Jul 28, 2004, 10:29 AM
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#31
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 God  Group: Basic Member Posts: 1908 Joined: May 01, 2003 From: Sri Danananda Member No.: 96  |
It seems to me that the issue here is simply one of projecting a particular image that will enable a desired dialogue and attract those who may best contribute to such a dialogue. I do not believe it is fair to say that Shawn's recent interest in creating space for a more scientifically and philosophically oriented membership is a 'deviation' from his intended audience. Just look at what he has devoted his life (and the majority of the content of this website) to, and it should become clear what he is primarily interested in. Perhaps those who condemn Shawn's proposed actions should take a step back and ask themselves why their interests should be Shawn's first priority.
The question as I see it is, what effect might a predominantly poetry-based chatroom, composed of members who cannot contribute significantly to a scientific/philosophical dialogue, have on generating the desired dialogue with the appropriate membership? Is it possible that Shawn's forum is lagging in realizing his (presumably primary) scientific/philosophical interests because of a perception of this forum among the target scientific/philosophical audience as an unrelated poetry site? Or, is it simply that his target audience does not feel interested in such a dialogue here because they are not interested in the subject matter or have already engaged in sufficient dialogue elsewhere? |
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| Robert the Bruce |
Jul 28, 2004, 12:31 PM
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#32
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For what it is worth. I think the rancour expressed about this subject demeans the people who should feel free to post their poetry. I also think a separate board connected to this one is a great way to do that and allow continued debate on subjects which do not disappear from the main site board that are subjects deserving further discussion. Poetry should be read and seldom commented upon and it also should be available to be seen without having to go through some process or searching.
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| +Steven Curtis Lance |
Jul 28, 2004, 12:41 PM
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#33
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 Supreme God Group: Poet in Residence Posts: 8583 Joined: Jan 22, 2003 From: Perris, CA USA Member No.: 449 |
On the Eve of Exile
I shudder to think about it today But it hurts me deeply I must admit How some would wish poetry go away So be it then I must get used to it I look at poetry and find no shame Why must it be lesser than other things? Is it a sign of ignorance to blame Art and artists for the change which it brings? Why must our poetry be second-class To the least neuroscientific a*s? Why must what we say be hidden away? Why ghettoize? Why marginalize? Why Can you not realize that all is one? Silence poetry and what have you done? |
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| Shawn |
Jul 28, 2004, 01:16 PM
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#34
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 God Group: Admin Posts: 1498 Joined: Jan 22, 2003 From: CA Member No.: 9 |
thank you, J, for providing some contrary opinion, which I have been waiting for. However, Dan has hit the nail on the head. The popularity of the poetry and other miscellany is detracting from the hard science-based approach I have been intending for this site. This hard science-based approach is what will distinguish mind-brain.com from the rest of the softer sites that merely talk their goals into the ground. The objective of mind-brain.com, as stated on the front page, requires a hard scientific approach. Nothing less will, and I am set on achieving this objective. It is not a personal vanity thing. It simply is what must, and will, be done. The main reason for splitting the site is to permit more focus, and thus greater growth. Without the splitting, we will not be able to achieve the desired focus. Hard scientists intent on achieving the site's objective do not want to be distracted by poetry and other miscellaneous items. Likewise, few poets really care for the neuroscience posts around here and would rather that the forum focused more on their art. The split does not degrade the diversity, but rather allows for the further growth and evolution of the respective topics. I know you don't think the site is broke, J, but it is. Here are the two main problems: 1) On the neuroscience side, a lot of neuroscience-related individuals get turned off by the poetry and other miscellany. I know what I want to do, neuroscience-wise, and what needs to be done, and am confident I can target the right audience in short time if the neuroscience did not co-exist with the poetry. 2) On the poetry side, a lot of poets get turned off by the neuroscience. A lot more targeted traffic (than what this site is currently getting) would be possible if the neuroscience-content did not co-exist with the poetry. The solution to these problems is to have two different sites. They can still be integrated with each other to some extent. However, having separate sites will permit more focus on the respective topics, and hence more growth and more traffic for each site than what would be possible if the topics were lumped together, all on one site. The current integration of poetry with neuroscience at mind-brain.com has the unfortunate consequence that their further growth and development has been hindered by the presence of the other. I do not have any doubts that the split will be a good thing. If anyone has any doubts, then I would ask that you give the splitting a chance and wait to see the final result, bearing in mind that, in the unlikely event that it doesn't work out, the sites can always be merged again into a single site. However, I am convinced that the splitting will work to everyone's benefit, and that everyone will be satisfied with the split and realize the necessity for this course of action when they see what the two sites will become. |
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| Shawn |
Jul 28, 2004, 03:31 PM
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#35
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God Group: Admin Posts: 1498 Joined: Jan 22, 2003 From: CA Member No.: 9 |
Now, one possible alternative to the dramatic splitting of the site is to just move the hardcore neuroscience stuff (including databases, but not necessarily forum boards) over to the mind-brain.org domain (which I currently own). Mind-brain.org would be strictly a neuroscience site for neuroscientists, whereas mind-brain.com would have more popular appeal. But in order to do this, I'd have to find webhosting for mind-brain.org.
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| +Steven Curtis Lance |
Jul 28, 2004, 03:41 PM
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#36
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Supreme God Group: Poet in Residence Posts: 8583 Joined: Jan 22, 2003 From: Perris, CA USA Member No.: 449 |
Please feel free to use the money I sent you to accomplish that, if that is what you decide to do. I want to be of service to you, and to your site which I have loved and tended well.
--- People wonder why I do not explain It is because I despair of being Understood indeed of being seeing There is no communication but pain I know no one will understand again But the four people who understand me With everyone else I hide things inside Dara and Laura and my son Teddy And sweetest of all my butterfly bride When I try to explain I make things worse It is best for me to write poetry The universe refracted through my verse I find that people better understand The explanation of my writing hand (Transcendental Sonnet #823) --- Namaste |
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| Dan |
Jul 28, 2004, 04:08 PM
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#37
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God Group: Basic Member Posts: 1908 Joined: May 01, 2003 From: Sri Danananda Member No.: 96 |
I guess the essence of the dilemma is to create a forum that the science-types will be more likely to engage in. Whether that place is at mind-brain.com or mind-brain.org should make no difference to them. However, leaving this place as it is seems to be quite important to many who participate here. |
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| Shawn |
Jul 28, 2004, 04:24 PM
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#38
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God Group: Admin Posts: 1498 Joined: Jan 22, 2003 From: CA Member No.: 9 |
If a new site for the neuroscience stuff is created, then that would mean that the (over?)-emphasis of this forum on neuroscience should be toned down and that for poetry and other items made more prominent....
Steve, by far, you're the best supporter this site has had, and also the one most responsible for the start of this forum, but we should think about this a bit more. And also, I'm not quite ready yet to crown you the savior of mind-brain.com! |
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| -J- |
Aug 05, 2004, 03:01 AM
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#39
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Overlord Group: Basic Member Posts: 421 Joined: Apr 28, 2004 From: Mauchline, Ayrshire, Scotland Member No.: 2189 |
Dear Shawn,
Thank you for your kind words. I understand your problem entirely and no matter what choice of action is finally taken here in this forum, you should know that I support it. This place has been a haven for my poetry, but it has also been a haven for quite a few philosophical debates which I have also entered into here. Split or not I believe my time here has never been wasted. Thank you for giving people like me and 3144 others a place to be. Namaste John |
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| anonymust |
Aug 05, 2004, 07:56 AM
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#40
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"no matter what choice of action is finally taken here in this forum, you should know that I support it." oh Really? what if shawn shut the forum down? you would still "support it"? people say the stupidest things sometimes. all the times |
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| +Steven Curtis Lance |
Aug 05, 2004, 03:02 PM
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#41
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Supreme God Group: Poet in Residence Posts: 8583 Joined: Jan 22, 2003 From: Perris, CA USA Member No.: 449 |
Anonymust? That's not cool, OK?
John is my friend, and he just pretty much singlehandedly saved the art of poetry on this site, so I'm grateful to him. I would be pretty much out on me arse if it weren't for John and a very few others like him hereabouts. Because he spoke up for poetry, soon this site just might stop being ashamed of it and ghettoizing it. That works for me. John is now my homeboy for the rest of his life. Let's be nice. Respect and solidarity. |
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| Rick |
Aug 05, 2004, 05:04 PM
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#42
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 Supreme God Group: Basic Member Posts: 5916 Joined: Jul 23, 2004 From: Sunny Southern California Member No.: 3068 |
I found this place with a google search on consciousness expansion. I came here for how the neuroscience relates to the hard problem of consciousness, but now I read the poetry too. For all the scientific and philosophical work in the field to date, it might just be possible that the poets will approach or surpass as good an explanation as can ever be found. |
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| -J- |
Aug 11, 2004, 03:54 AM
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#43
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Overlord Group: Basic Member Posts: 421 Joined: Apr 28, 2004 From: Mauchline, Ayrshire, Scotland Member No.: 2189 |
Dear Anonymust, I stand by my words and here's the reason why: The worst possible scenario was a split : this discussion was a separation of the poetry site from the main body site of neuroscience. The threat of shutting down the entire forum wasn't even "put on the table" for discussion. Even though I do not have anything else to go on except : the fact that this forum has existed and thrived for the time period it has : the explosive growth it has experienced over a relatively short space of time : the content of Shawn's message which promotes not only the sigularity theory but it would also end in a global understanding promoting a peaceful solution to present day schools of thought etc.... With these few parameters to work from and a dialogue with people who know Shawn very well, I felt very comfortable indeed in saying what I did in my previous post. Just to make things clear, there is no animosity from me towards you whatsoever, all you did was point out something that I didnt even contemplate and still don't. But I do agree partially with your statement and I take a creative stance and add two words to make it a statement that I can wholly agree with people say the stupidest things sometimes but not all the times Peace -J- |
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| anonymust |
Aug 11, 2004, 10:54 AM
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#44
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i love the J
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| Shawn |
Aug 16, 2004, 06:38 AM
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#45
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God Group: Admin Posts: 1498 Joined: Jan 22, 2003 From: CA Member No.: 9 |
there is and never was anything to worry about regarding the shutting down of the forum. In the worst case scenario, I was contemplating moving some boards on the forum to a new site in order to have two sites that were more topically focused. Originally, I'd planned to move the poetry and other related topics to a different site, but after feedback and a kind donation from Steve, have decided otherwise and will keep the poetry and other materials here at mind-brain.com, and will move or copy much of the neuroscience material to mind-brain.org, hopefully in the upcoming week. Mind-Brain.org will be an exclusively neuroscience site, geared towards the practicing neuroscientist, whereas Mind-Brain.com will retain its multitude of topics and will be geared towards the public as it is currently.
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| AmbientSnowflake |
Aug 16, 2004, 01:44 PM
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#46
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 Overlord Group: Basic Member Posts: 432 Joined: Aug 09, 2003 From: Tastes Like Chicken Member No.: 24 |
I found this place with Google, as well. I used to be on graveyardofthegods.com. I wanted something with less emphasis on blah blah philosophy. It's fun. But I couldn't post poetry there. They were way to smart for me anyways. I like this place. People don't care that I have the IQ of a dishwasher. |
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| lgking |
Aug 16, 2004, 01:56 PM
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#47
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 Awakening Group: Basic Member Posts: 192 Joined: Apr 25, 2004 From: Markham , Toronto GTA, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 2154 |
Thanks for your comments, Shawn and others: As I understand it, all kinds of knowledge begin as theologies and/or philosophies.I explore them with the hope that they can help us create technologies and arts to feed bodies, minds and spirits. The Epistle of James--the brother of Jesus--with its emphasis on the value of works is one of my favourites.
IMHO, theologies, sacred scriptures, philosophies, political speeches, books, the media, chatroom palaver, which, at their worst do harm, are evil. If they do no positive good, they are useless. A faith without any practical and good value is not worth believing. |
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| AmbientSnowflake |
Aug 16, 2004, 02:04 PM
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#48
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Overlord Group: Basic Member Posts: 432 Joined: Aug 09, 2003 From: Tastes Like Chicken Member No.: 24 |
What does that mean? It drives me nuts. |
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| anonymust |
Aug 16, 2004, 02:50 PM
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#49
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and IM
I have no idea. i hate it tho and "me thinks" |
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| Rick |
Aug 16, 2004, 02:53 PM
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#50
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Supreme God Group: Basic Member Posts: 5916 Joined: Jul 23, 2004 From: Sunny Southern California Member No.: 3068 |
IMHO is Webspeak for "in my humble opinion."
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| anonymust |
Aug 16, 2004, 03:16 PM
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#51
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thats gay, IMHO
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| Unknown |
Aug 16, 2004, 03:31 PM
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#52
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Unregistered |
IMESHO=in my ever so humble opinion (sarcasm at it's best!)
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| AmbientSnowflake |
Aug 16, 2004, 03:39 PM
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#53
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Overlord Group: Basic Member Posts: 432 Joined: Aug 09, 2003 From: Tastes Like Chicken Member No.: 24 |
WAYBADH, TJID, why are you beating a dead horse? the joke is dead. also, WAYBADHTJID, both versions are accepted in 23 countries around the world.
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| anonymust |
Aug 16, 2004, 05:47 PM
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#54
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its the evolution of words and concepts.
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| AmbientSnowflake |
Aug 16, 2004, 06:53 PM
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#55
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Overlord Group: Basic Member Posts: 432 Joined: Aug 09, 2003 From: Tastes Like Chicken Member No.: 24 |
Anonymust, your avatar, and blip are quite amusing. We're talking, "laugh out loud," funny.
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| lgking |
Aug 16, 2004, 07:07 PM
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#56
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Awakening Group: Basic Member Posts: 192 Joined: Apr 25, 2004 From: Markham , Toronto GTA, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 2154 |
Ambient asks:
and then adds,
And, Ambient, now that you know what the acronym--I think this is what it is called--means, are you feeling better? Or does the whole idea of the use of acronyms, per se, bother you? I sympathize with you, because I had the same problem when I joined my first chatroom http://www.theboomer.com at the end of the 20th. C--[Sounds odd, writing this latter. It makes it seem so long ago, doesn't it?] I overcame the problem when I learned that all I had to do was ask. Even the rough characters--and most of them are polite--inhabiting the Boomer are willing to answer direct questions like, what does that mean? BTW (by the way), the Anomie subsection of The Boomer is a collection of some of the rough stuff. Incidentally, perhaps a google search will bring up a list of the generally accepted acronyms. |
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| anonymust |
Aug 16, 2004, 07:10 PM
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#57
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Unregistered |
Im a person that is funny
looking |
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| AmbientSnowflake |
Aug 16, 2004, 07:18 PM
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#58
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Overlord Group: Basic Member Posts: 432 Joined: Aug 09, 2003 From: Tastes Like Chicken Member No.: 24 |
It drove me to the mall once, said it would pick me at 3 o'clock... and didn't! <weep> |
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| rhymer |
Aug 17, 2004, 11:33 AM
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#59
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 Supreme God Group: Global Mod Posts: 2060 Joined: Feb 27, 2003 From: Wigan, UK Member No.: 385 |
I posted a list of abbreviations of this type way back.
I can amend it if requested. You can see it here |
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| Unknown |
Aug 18, 2004, 02:37 AM
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#60
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Unregistered |
From a serious discussion about the growth of this forum to a juvenile disscussion about the in's and out's of abbreviations
woo hoo way to go |
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