Is it possible to have a sub forum that you have to join to get access to?
We could put a pinned notice in the other stuff forum that anyone who wants to discuss policies should join the politics sub forum
I'll cast my vote for a de-emphasis on CTs generally.
As a relatively new member of the Skeptiko community, it seemed like a rather stark change occurred there over the past several months. The Pizzagate thing still strikes me as a bizarre topic. The stretch to consciousness exploration and science seems to be of the chasm variety.
It also became clear that moderation was problematic for many.
I'm with several others who have indicated their interests to be more in the consciousness science, persistence of consciousness, big question pursuits, etc. I want sceptics here posting. I want proponents posting. I'd like it to be a respectful, passionate debate. I hate trolling and baiting. I don't like personal attacks. A certain decorum should be expected in communication. (As if you were in the same room conversing verbally.)
(2017-08-16, 01:22 PM)Stan Woolley Wrote: [ -> ]Is that not the case with everything? Aren't there always Choices for individuals? 
The danger I meant wasn't so much the 'dark stuff', but much more about our bias's and the possible consequences thereof.
I was talking about our biasses and the possible consequences thereof too.
Alex's final thread in "Other Stuff" warning of the end on 8/21 (solar eclipse day) happened to be thread #911. I'm taking this as an omen that we'd better allow CT's here.
Also, I agree with others' suggestions that "other stuff" and anything from CT or politics sub forums not show up in the "new posts" list.
And one more thing. I think we can look at this like a hobbyist group... our hobby is science related to consciousness and Psi. But as with most groups I've ever been a part of, the main point of being in the group is not to perfect your hobby... half the point of the group is to find like-minded people so you have friendly relationships and discuss life.
And in regards to the types of debates to be had... we can think of them as games. A game will only be interesting if each side is well matched and following predefined rules. And you don't want to play tennis and football on the same field at the same time. I think the wider variety of games the better, but they should be contained in their own arenas. Part of the problem on Skeptiko is people showed up for badminton and got tackled. Also, the application of rules seemed too arbitrary.
I just visited Skeptiko... Apparently Alex is deleting the spirituality section as well and when asked if he would explain what the new Skeptiko is going to be about he responded "I just did... [podcast] 357 [the one about Pizzagate]". Without spirituality, it seems like Skeptiko has completed its transition into a place where only CTs, politics and the mandatory religious bashing are allowed. And with it getting fully "stuck on" CTs, I see it as equivalent to the subforum that is being requested... That is exactly what Skeptiko is going to be within a year, just give it enough time for the hardcore conspiracists to arrive and settle in the ruins.
To my mind the ideal solution would be one that allows people to discuss as wide a range of subjects as can reasonably be linked to psi, but also to give people some reassurance that the main focus will remain on psi, and that things like conspiracy theories and politics aren't going to take over and crowd out psi in the same way as has happened at Skeptiko. And also to ensure that the inclusion of conspiracy theories and politics doesn't increase the burden of moderation on the good people who are giving up so much of their time to work on the site.
I like the idea of an invitation only political forum...though at that point that wouldn't it basically be liberaparolado? Or, as E. Flowers noted, what Skeptiko itself is to become?
On openly accepting some things versus dismissing others - Lots of ideas are dismissed even within the proponent community depending on who you talk to. Parapsychologists aren't united on NDEs, magick, astrology, etc. There are a good many materialist parapsychologists, perhaps even winning plurality in the field.
Likely even more debate on a variety of unrelated topics.
To me what makes parapsychology interesting is the academic rigor and philosophical grounding of proponents ranging from Sheldrake, Radin, Morhroff back to Albert Einstein & Bohm if not further back to Myers, and on the philo side including Henri Bergson, Stephen Braude, William James, Whitehead, all the way back to ancient yogis, shamans, and Neoplatonists.
(2017-08-16, 03:46 PM)E. Flowers Wrote: [ -> ]I just visited Skeptiko... Apparently Alex is deleting the spirituality section as well and when asked if he would explain what the new Skeptiko is going to be about he responded "I just did... [podcast] 357 [the one about Pizzagate]". Without spirituality, it seems like Skeptiko has completed its transition into a place where only CTs, politics and the mandatory religious bashing are allowed. And with it getting fully "stuck on" CTs, I see it as equivalent to the subforum that is being requested... That is exactly what Skeptiko is going to be within a year, just give it enough time for the hardcore conspiracists to arrive and settle in the ruins.
Well, looks like I can delete that shortcut...