Dan Z wrote:Disregarding post count - and focusing on individual posters - I think that MN, as it exists now, is more skewed toward plain Anabaptists than MD was at its end.
i was not posting on MD for the 3 months prior to the crash.
before that, my post count was down. i wanted it to be down.
i wonder if you have a thought about (my perception) that by far most members register on MD-MN seeking information about CM's/plain CM's/plain CA's?
my perceptions is, it's the plain clothing, headcoverings, even the horse+buggies, maybe black cars .. these VISIBLE choices are what most attracts, or identifies, others to Anabaptists -
(most who are truly new do not understand conference differences, or other differences) ..
my perception is, these visible things, combined with actions+life choices, are what draws initial interest,
regardless of where the path goes from that point?
for me, it was part, but, i think, a small part (?)
the Mennonites i crossed paths with IRL did not "dress plainly;" i had seen Amish folks (in the background of my life) but never interacted with them .. i.e., i occasionally saw some women shopping locally, and men coming to work on construction sites (but these never interacted with me; honestly, never said hello or smiled in passing, even when close by.) i did not understand if there was any connection, at all, between the non-plain and plain.
my personal interest was because of the non-plain folks i interacted with, but,
i believe the visible choices serve an undeniable purpose, overall. even if subliminal.
(possibly it was subliminal for me.)
after i registered on MD, over years, i noticed a similarity in introductions, even tho folks' experiences, and articulation, widely vary. (it's interesting that quite a number arrive knowing about conservative Anabaptists, some have specific questions/requests.)
i.e., i believe, recognized or not, the visible plain choices serve a purpose for the entire Anabaptist umbrella (?)
i won't do a poll, because i believe much of this is subliminal, so, a poll would be useless.
another perception:
it seems, MN is growing at a faster rate than MD had been in the prior year or two?
so. if you have a moment?