Chatroom

I would suggest a chat room where we can chat real time about stuff that matters to us.

Dunno, maybe. But good discussions here move fast enough that we're typing past each other. And apologizing to / complimenting faster type-y fingered people who post good ideas. Generally, I think it works.

I think real-time chat is kinda a potential nightmare for the admins here. I think even a beta would have to be within the Cider Press quarantine zone. Or pay to play.

Twitter was a good idea too. Once upon a time. And then there's now.

My 2c.

Douglas wrote:I think real-time chat is kinda a potential nightmare for the admins here.

I gotta agree with that statement. Good conversation can become toxic with the simplest of misunderstandings. Then, the thin skin takes over, the claws come out and feelings get hurt.
I always try to think everyone will be decent and be respectful, but my definition of decent and respectful is probably not someone else's. Therefore, a babysitter would be needed to monitor the chatroom, change diapers and insert pacifiers.
For the sake of all Permies everywhere I rescind my suggestion of a chatroom! 🙂

Michael Dotson wrote:
For the sake of all Permies everywhere I rescind my suggestion of a chatroom! 🙂

You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that!

What you see on the public face of permies.com is the result of a crazy amount of hard work behind the scenes keeping the scammers and trolls and bullies and holier-than-thous and I'm-always-righters under control.

Should probably admit that the main tools are less 'pacifiers' and more 'rods of iron', sometimes with velvet gloves, sometimes not. Mine got worn out years ago with too many behind-the-scenes spankings...

Burra wrote:Should probably admit that the main tools are less 'pacifiers' and more 'rods of iron', sometimes with velvet gloves, sometimes not. Mine got worn out years ago with too many behind-the-scenes spankings...

Sometimes those rods of iron are the only thing some folks understand! I don't do the velvet glove thing. You can't put enough sugar on a turd to make you believe that ain't a turd, so don't waste sugar, tell it straight.

Michael Dotson wrote: I don't do the velvet glove thing.

Ah, but here you might have to.

Permies is "a place for gentle souls to discuss permaculture and homesteading". Which means that we expect members to communicate in such a way that the gentler folk who can't take the iron rods or the turds or the harsh jokes don't get frightened off and stop sharing their wisdom.

It's a fine line (OK, a near impossible line) to tread, and an exhausting nightmare to moderate.

I'm going to bump up the Be Nice thread, which I think has stuff in it that explains the problems. That's the place to take further questions.