Thoughts on Adding a Politics Forum

[Dan.Linehan]

How about "Global Awareness", that's the attribute that brings things back to personal development.

Affairs sound so tawdry..

[Erin Pavlina]

I like Global Awareness. I think that conveys what we're going for.

[seeker5]

Why don't you say what you really mean:

"World Affairs and Issues"

Global Awareness sounds like a new-age-euphemism.

[Angela]

I like Global Awareness, too.

(I'm in favor of global affairs, but don't tell Danger Man )

[Savage]

Global Awareness sounds like a geography lesson to me. Can you point to Sir Lanka on a map?

[Angela]

How about Universal Awareness? Can you point to my soul on a map?

How about: Global Interdependence.

[Michelle]

I vote for "World Affairs and Issues".

"Global Interdependence" is an issue in itself.

[Savage]

I prefer World Affairs to World Affairs and Issues, since affairs and issues mean virtually the same thing in this context.

If all else fails, we could just go with "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe."

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I prefer World Affairs to World Affairs and Issues, since affairs and issues mean virtually the same thing in this context.

If all else fails, we could just go with "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe."

I was thinking of "Issues" in "World Affairs and Issues" as in political stuff that doesn't fit in "World Affairs", as well as the forum being a place for people to work out their own issues, and beliefs toward political subjects.

I like "The Restaurant at the End of The Universe".

[Dan.Linehan]

The more an individual understands World Affairs the higher their Global Awareness would be.

World Affairs seems like a discussion of external events that an individual can't control, like an AP news feed. Global Awareness is something internal that everyone has.

Knowing about world affairs is a means to an end towards improving your Global Awareness.

Think globally, act locally sorta thing.

[jamestl2]

Here's the perfect name for it:
"The Dark Abyss"

Some more serious names for it could be:
Elections & Government
OR
Law & Civics
OR
Statesmanship & Municipality
OR
any combination of those words

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I'm not sure politics works well as the main theme of a new forum. What if we simply called it "World Affairs" or something like that? It would be the place to discuss politics, but the overall theme would be focused on discussing what's going on in the world, politically, economically, socially, morally, environmentally, etc..

I like that label.

Select a Candidate 2008

[jamestl2]

So,
I guess we've got a "World Affairs" Forum for now .

[Erin Pavlina]

Yeah, we'll be live with it sometime tomorrow (Jan 21). Until then no posting. Our moderators will post a sticky with some information about appropriate posting behavior in that forum.

[jamestl2]

Sounds good,

Will the staff move all the already "Politically-Oriented" Threads to the new forum? (Such as all the Ron Paul, poverty, charity, etc. type of threads.)

[Erin Pavlina]

Yes we'll move political threads to the world affairs forum. In time. As soon as we can

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

Yes we'll move political threads to the world affairs forum. In time. As soon as we can

I'm curious, what was the reasoning behind the placement of the forum - below Technology and above of Social?

[Rose of Cairo]

Originally Posted by seeker5

I'm curious, what was the reasoning behind the placement of the forum - below Technology and above of Social?

I asked myself that too

[Erin Pavlina]

No reasoning in particular. Is there somewhere else it would seem more appropriate to you?

Basically we put it at the bottom of the list, but before the more spiritual forums. it's not like the order of the forums means much.

[Savage]

Took a stab since it seemed like a reasonable enough placement. Did you have a different preference?

[carenkh]

I'm actually more reluctant to visit the fora now, I'd really rather not have this topic on here.

I know this is an opportunity to look within and see why, etc., but I don't want to. It's a very heavy (energetically) topic for me - I come here to be lifted up, not brought down.

(Nothing outside me can bring me down, etc. etc.) I'm apparently not vibrating at that level in regards to *politics* (no matter what you want to call it) yet.

Bleh.

[Erin Pavlina]

Since we started the forum there hasn't been any problems. People are kind and respectful. Which I'm glad to see.

I don't usually read the technology forum posts. You get good at tuning out what you're not interested in.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

Since we started the forum there hasn't been any problems. People are kind and respectful. Which I'm glad to see.

I don't usually read the technology forum posts. You get good at tuning out what you're not interested in.

Erin, I've noticed something different about you throughout this thread but haven't bought it up before. What I've noticed different here is that you don't really seem to exhibit a sense of compassion from your side for those of who are unhappy with this political forum. Whenever someone has complained about it throughout this thread, you've pretty much simply disregarded their viewpoint and talked about how great it's from your viewpoint or how much you want it and what you want to do with it. It's almost like you're so intent and focused on having this forum work out you're just not able to have compassion for other people' viewpoint. I know compassion is a big deal in your life, so this has been somewhat suprising to me.

Maybe my impression is wrong?

[Erin Pavlina]

It just feels to me like people are being unnecessarily fearful of something that may not even hurt them. I'm keeping a tight watch on the forum and if it goes South i'll be the first person to pull the plug. But it's like saying, "I don't want to go in the water so I don't want you to build a pool." Other people may want to swim and no one will force you to go in if you don't want to.

[Andreas]

Well spoken, Erin.


Looks like we have a World Affairs section now, and I'm grateful for it. I think this community is ready for this type of discussion. While certainly a varied bunch, I agree with Steve that this forum has "a unique atmosphere of curiosity, friendliness, honesty, and hope." This is really a personal development forum for smart people.

We're ready for this, and I think the participants of this new section are going to benefit greatly.

It's only missing one thing: it needs a caption that says "forum section at the end of the universe!"

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Andreas

Well spoken, Erin.

I thought it was a silly point. The metaphor about the pool can be extended to those bystanders who don't want to get splashed by the water or don't want to accidentally fall into the water. Erin's only looking to make sure the people in the water are behaving, not looking at whether people fall in or get splashed.

Ugh, I'm getting upset over this silly thing which I thought I had put behind me. It's probably the recent stupid Anti-Ron Paul posts that's carrying its effect over.

[pc99]

Originally Posted by seeker5

I thought it was a silly point. The metaphor about the pool can be extended to those bystanders who don't want to get splashed by the water or don't want to accidentally fall into the water. Erin's only looking to make sure the people in the water are behaving, not looking at whether people fall in or get splashed.

Ugh, I'm getting upset over this silly thing which I thought I had put behind me. It's probably the recent stupid Anti-Ron Paul posts that's carrying its effect over.

heehee seeker, if i don't want to get splashed i stay well away from the pool, which you can as well by avoiding this new forum