Thank you.jm:
Thank you to all 4 of you, Bootstrap, Josh, Ken, and Temporal1. You have been very good sports about this. At least you haven't left me know if you aren't. i really do appreciate you all for that.
It was harder for me than i imagined, but violating the spirit was a non-issue. It gave me some extra time to focus on some personal difficulties i must face, but have no means to rush. In some ways, one week was not long enough.
no surprise there was no cheating. i would have been surprised if there was. i didn’t log on at all. i didn’t want to accidentally make a mistake.jm:
I haven't seen any evidence of cheating. And no one has squealed on anyone.
Obviously, i don't know if there were any private messages sent during the week, and at this time, i'm quite willing to say that all 4 have earned your $70.00 each. I know that at least some of you have said you don't want the money. I will be messaging each of you, and you can tell me what your preferences are. Whether you want it, or whether you want me to donate it to a cause of your choice. I'm good with either option.
(to me) it was pretty typical, except steve was quieter.jm:
One of my fears was that the posts would drop dramatically. That no one would post. But, as the experiment showed, we had a lot of posting going on. The content of the posts were different. For the most part, there was very little political posting. And when the politics did show up, it was towards the end of the experiment.
typically, there are varieties of members, i look for them and value them! they are the main interest i have on forum.
i counted 25 posting, all recent+familiar posters, new member Praxis posted.
(maybe it’s because of the large noisy family i grew up in?) i can more easily “deflect” volume? i’m not sure.
i was surprised to see an immediate dominate voice, and, an immediate controversy, even tho it wasn’t Politics. i didn’t expect that, not without a pause in those two dynamics.We did have folks "step up to the plate" in posting. Someone made the comment about being free-er to post, but not wanting to be dominating.
I think that there will always be those who dominate the flow of conversation.
When one leaves, another one will come along to take that place. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. I did notice that steve didn't post as many new threads/polls. i'm wondering if he didn't feel the need to distract from politics?
No newly registered members that week.
i’m sure there were MANY fewer hearts!
Possibly, if the “Foe” option were labeled “Ignore” it would be used more often. (my impression is) most think foe is too strong.jm:
Most of the comments that i have heard, have been in favor of the results of the experiment. Most people have enjoyed the break from politics and current events.
i imagine the word “foe” was originally used in a comical way between young friends, but the forum population has changed.
Also, i think when Robert did his 40 Day Sabbatical, i suggested making a subforum for Politics, i never got any feedback.
Your experiment made me think of it again. There may be an obvious reason not to try it, i don’t know.
It would allow Politics, but not “feature” it everyday, just because of post count. Every member could choose to read and/or post. (underlined to help Robert’s vision.)
i submit the idea again. maybe as a one week or one month experiment?? experiments are good.
to me, a reasonable compromise with those who suggest banning Politics. a suggestion that has repeated over years, on MD+MN.
i empathize with the idea.
i have a sort of ambitious response in mind, but, not sure i’ll manage it, so, this will serve in case i don’t get to it.jm:
So, first, i'd like to hear from those most affected by the experiment. Josh, Bootstrap, Ken, Temporal1. What are your thots?
And after that, then, i'm open to everyone else. I would ask that you not respond to each other's posts. Just tell us your thots. Even if it is the same as another poster, tell us in your words, try not to respond yay or nay to a previous posting.
It reminded of MD days when there were various challenges that would come up. Most were comical.i want to thank you all, again, for your participation.
-jm
i’d enjoy it if you’d think of some more. That sort of thing might distract from annoying topics!
Request:
i’d like to read thoughts from Robert and mods: appleman, Country Boy, DanZ, justme, ohio jones (The Team).
