Skeptiko forums other than its show forum to be closed [split from: Happy fourth board anniversary]

Well, happy 5th anniversary whilst we are at it, because Alex has decided to get rid of pretty much everything except the podcast section of the forums....

I like the guy, but man, he just totally does his own thing eh!

EDIT- Btw, I just realised that could have come across as a little insulting to the forum, which was definitely not my intention! More just sharing frustration.....

[Laird]

Huh. That's an unexpected decision. Alex sure does do his own thing! Maybe you should apply to be moderator of the non-show forums, DD...

Huh. That's an unexpected decision. Alex sure does do his own thing! Maybe you should apply to be moderator of the non-show forums, DD...

Nah, I don't think it would be for me. I'd be too busy for that kind of duty, even though I post(ed) fairly often. Plus, I don't think I'd be a good mod. I'd rather put that energy into contributing here more often 

[Laird]

I've just read the recent page or two of posts in that Skeptiko thread since I last checked in. In response, a sort of principle-recognition strikes me, which of course is probably very familiar to probably most of us from our various other pursuits. The principle is something like this: "You never truly recognise the quality to which you had access until you no longer have access to it". In this case, that quality is quality of contributors, and access is lost when you tell them, "I don't care about your contribution to my board beyond my shows threads".

I used to live a few minutes' drive from the beach, but how often did I swim in the ocean? Almost never. Now, I realise that I was a fool. If I had my time again, I would be at the beach every moment that I had the opportunity.

I suspect that a similar realisation will ultimately dawn upon Alex: "I used to have all of these great contributors, but how much did I value their contributions? Almost negligibly. Now, I realise that I was a fool. If I had my time again, I would be encouraging every contributor who dared to to share his or her thoughts on my board beyond my show threads."

Anyhow, I mean no harm to Alex. He's making his choices and I wish him the very best with them. I really like Alex on a personal level. Maybe it'll work out just fine, and I hope it does. I just suspect that he's making some really thoughtless choices at the moment. We'll see how they go though. He, his podcast, and his forums have survived so far, so he's doing something right!

Anyhow, I mean no harm to Alex.

I suspect something has happened to him - maybe medical, or maybe just the consequences of exploring the question of evil in such depth I suggest everyone with an interest in Skeptiko read the whole thread:

https://www.skeptiko-forum.com/threads/s...ost-157167

I am extremely sorry to see Skeptiko change in this way. As you can see from the above link, there is a lot wrong over there, and I wonder if the website will exist for long.

Which part of Australia are you living in - the country seems to have gone insane. RT often shows scenes of severe police brutality against people who are simply sick of being locked up!

[Laird]

I suspect something has happened to him - maybe medical, or maybe just the consequences of exploring the question of evil in such depth

I can't offer an opinion on that as I haven't listened to a podcast of his for a while, so I don't really know where he's even at these days.

I am extremely sorry to see Skeptiko change in this way. As you can see from the above link, there is a lot wrong over there, and I wonder if the website will exist for long.

My sense is that Alex's ongoing podcasts will provide enough novelty to keep things ticking along on the (remaining part of the) forum. We'll have to see though.

Which part of Australia are you living in - the country seems to have gone insane. RT often shows scenes of severe police brutality against people who are simply sick of being locked up!

I think that this is the sort of question that would be best posed in the opt-in forums, not the public ones, so I won't answer it here.

I can't offer an opinion on that as I haven't listened to a podcast of his for a while, so I don't really know where he's even at these days.

Well here is what Michael Larkin wrote, and I think he is spot on:

Yeah. It's all gone to pot, and a lot of that is to do, I think, with Alex's frequent dalliances with "3rd level" stuff. Honestly, half the time I have no idea what the heck he's talking about, or what he's trying to get at -- it's mostly mumbo jumbo to me.

He seems to assume that listeners are on his wavelength, so no explanations are required, and, what the heck, even if they are required (at least so it seems), he isn't that bothered about supplying them. He could effectively be restricting the audience to those deeply into conspiracy theories -- so perhaps it's no wonder that the level of comments we're getting is becoming weirder and weirder.

He rarely used to swear in podcasts, but it's become a regular thing. Not that I'm personally bothered per se by that, but it might be taken as a kind of signal that anything goes, so come on and comment and swear all you like, say whatever you like. Now and then, he still has the odd decent interview, which is why I'm still here, but by and large, imho, Skeptiko is gradually disappearing down the plughole.

It's quite sad, really. It's still fixable if Alex wants to fix it. But will he? I honestly don't know.

I had to LOL at the 9/11 thread that recently had opened up, because I guess with the forums effectively shutting down very soon, people are scrambling in a frenzy to post all sorts of stuff in a frantic manner.....I don't think the OP knew what he was getting into!

I actually get Alex's stance on the forums. Some people don't want the responsibility or effort of managing a community. I can imagine that it's actually a fairly big job! Things constantly evolve over time and I guess Alex just felt it was the right time to drop it all, when faced with the community asking something directly.

May I ask the owners, admins and mods of the forum if it is okay to encourage those who want to move over here to do so? Or would you guys rather not have the hassle of possibly having to manage some of the extreme CT's?

May I ask the owners, admins and mods of the forum if it is okay to encourage those who want to move over here to do so? Or would you guys rather not have the hassle of possibly having to manage some of the extreme CT's?

There were a group of founder members here, gradually that has reduced in size, so the wishes of all of the founders cannot be known. As one of the few remaining founders, I've always seen that part of Skeptiko as a prime reason why I left. It was not my intention to continue with more of the same. But that's a personal view. We have to varying degrees set the direction of the forum based upon the wishes of not just the founders, but of all of the active members.

We do have the opt-in forums. What goes on there, I've no idea, so cannot give a direct opinion on what happens within it.

I had to LOL at the 9/11 thread that recently had opened up, because I guess with the forums effectively shutting down very soon, people are scrambling in a frenzy to post all sorts of stuff in a frantic manner.....I don't think the OP knew what he was getting into!

I actually get Alex's stance on the forums. Some people don't want the responsibility or effort of managing a community. I can imagine that it's actually a fairly big job! Things constantly evolve over time and I guess Alex just felt it was the right time to drop it all, when faced with the community asking something directly.

May I ask the owners, admins and mods of the forum if it is okay to encourage those who want to move over here to do so? Or would you guys rather not have the hassle of possibly having to manage some of the extreme CT's?

Hi, diverdown, I'm one of the refugees from Skeptiko which used to be a really great place. My thoughts about it since 2015 (and currently) are that it's absolutely mad. Michael Larkin is spot on, on the very few occasions that I look in there, I have either no or very little idea what on earth they are talking about.  

I'm not one of the founding members here, or a moderator (nor do I want to be) but if that crazy stuff comes on this board then that will be the end of me on this forum, too. Others may feel differently, these are just my thoughts.