The day the ID died

[DragonHeart]

Hmm...how about a resource thread? There are probably topics people may want to discuss but aren't really knowledgeable about. And yes, people are lazy. So why not make it easier? I'm not talking putting up links for every single topic discussed in ID but maybe more general resources, like Factcheck, Project Vote Smart, etc. The flipside being that it can then be reasonably expected in discussions that people will cite and link to their sources in debates. It would also help out the people who take on topic suggestions from the thread.

Let's see...maybe a "Happening Today" or "In the News" type of feature? Every day anyone who finds something interesting going on in the world can link to it with a comment or two. Big topics that foster lots of discussion can be split into new ID threads.

~DragonHeart~

[Meier Link]

Hmm...how about a resource thread? There are probably topics people may want to discuss but aren't really knowledgeable about. And yes, people are lazy. So why not make it easier? I'm not talking putting up links for every single topic discussed in ID but maybe more general resources, like Factcheck, Project Vote Smart, etc. The flipside being that it can then be reasonably expected in discussions that people will cite and link to their sources in debates. It would also help out the people who take on topic suggestions from the thread.

Let's see...maybe a "Happening Today" or "In the News" type of feature? Every day anyone who finds something interesting going on in the world can link to it with a comment or two. Big topics that foster lots of discussion can be split into new ID threads.

~DragonHeart~

I have no objection to this either. Just had to put that out there. If the resource thread is done up well enough I will sticky it also. Even if it isn't I will probably still sticky it and let people put up links to reliable sources for information. Then again the links will also be monitored.

[Alpha]

Hmm...how about a resource thread? There are probably topics people may want to discuss but aren't really knowledgeable about. And yes, people are lazy. So why not make it easier? I'm not talking putting up links for every single topic discussed in ID but maybe more general resources, like Factcheck, Project Vote Smart, etc. The flipside being that it can then be reasonably expected in discussions that people will cite and link to their sources in debates. It would also help out the people who take on topic suggestions from the thread.

So like a thread with links to websites with information that people can investigate for themselves? Sounds interesting, but it would rely on the quality and usability of any suggested sites. I'm about to go look into this Project Vote Smart a little bit more; do you have any other (specific?) suggestions?

Let's see...maybe a "Happening Today" or "In the News" type of feature? Every day anyone who finds something interesting going on in the world can link to it with a comment or two. Big topics that foster lots of discussion can be split into new ID threads.

I really, really, really like this idea. Let me know if I'm on the same track: a semi-informal thread where you can post about a current event on whim. For instance, someone could just link a news page, and give a couple of words/sentences/paragraphs on their thoughts about it. Each new 'event' need not even come with an expectation of anyone replying -- it's just a space to air quick thoughts. If discussions develop, they can migrate to their own thread, or stay brief and contained within this thread.

If that's what you're getting at, then I think that's fantastic. It reaches right across many of the concerns raised in this very thread about the adversarial nature of discussions; it seems like it would carry no expectation of 'being an expert'; and so on and so forth.

Do you want to expand on this idea, DH? Or does anyone else have an interpretation of it? I think this could be a goer very soon.

[Rocky]

Let's see...maybe a "Happening Today" or "In the News" type of feature? Every day anyone who finds something interesting going on in the world can link to it with a comment or two. Big topics that foster lots of discussion can be split into new ID threads.

I'm also in agreeance with this. Personally this would encourage me to post more since I like to look up rather obscure world events, and topics like these are easy and fun to post on, moreso than just a general "what do you think about Abortion".

[Alpha]

Let's see...maybe a "Happening Today" or "In the News" type of feature? Every day anyone who finds something interesting going on in the world can link to it with a comment or two. Big topics that foster lots of discussion can be split into new ID threads.

...a semi-informal thread where you can post about a current event on whim. For instance, someone could just link a news page, and give a couple of words/sentences/paragraphs on their thoughts about it. Each new 'event' need not even come with an expectation of anyone replying -- it's just a space to air quick thoughts. If discussions develop, they can migrate to their own thread, or stay brief and contained within this thread.

[This suggestion] reaches right across many of the concerns raised in this very thread about the adversarial nature of discussions; it seems like it would carry no expectation of 'being an expert'; and so on and so forth.

If we had a few less formal, more general topics ID may not be so intimidating. Besides, there's a lot of topics out there that are interesting but aren't really strong enough to base a thread on.

I think this is fantastic, and I wonder if you would be willing to write up an OP for it, DH?

Just putting it out there, because we've really only seen Meier and Rocky put their 2 cents in so far... are there any more comments on this suggestion? I even used bold and red to draw attention to it! And I saved you the inconvenience of having to scroll back up! If there's nothing else added, I think you should go ahead, DH, if you want. Up to Meier if it's to be stickied, of course.

Haven't got the time to look in depth at those sites at the moment, but from the number you got there (particularly the breadth), that sounds like a pretty good suggestion also.