I need feedback from members of the forum...

[Violet Crumble]

I've had feedback from a few members that they're not comfortable posting in an environment where there's 'supporters' of Israel posting stuff they strongly disagree with. My stance has been that a forum where everyone agrees with each other on everything dies a slow death because no-one ends up posting, and those who are pro-Israeli are welcome as long as they're not bigoted and they adhere to the rules about no personal attacks.

I have what I think is a compromise solution, but won't implement it unless I get some feedback on whether it'd be a welcome change or not. My suggestion is to retain the main Israel/Palestine forum as it is and to create a new forum for progressive supporters of Palestine only to discuss the Israel/Palestine conflict.

Good idea? Bad idea?

[JayUK]

Good idea. The present set-up leads to the same basic arguments being repeated ad nauseam, often with trolls. A Palestinian-support forum may well provoke equally long dialogues, but better informed and with a more positive aim. There is still likely to be plenty of disagreement - 2SS vs Single State, nonviolent methods vs legitimate violent resistance, the role of religion in a future Palestine, how to link Gaza and the WB politically and physically, etc.

[whodey]

Not sure if I understand correctly - you want to open sort of a sub-forum where only Palestinian supporters will be able to participate? How can that be done, does it mean anyone who supports Israel will not have access to that section of the forum?
On another forum where I am a member, we have a section only for people actually living in the ME that was not even visible on the general index page to members to whom that did not apply. It hasn't been in use for quite a while, but it still exists.
It would be meant to discuss what Palestinian supporter see as different options to bring an end to the conflict?

I agree with JayUK that the ad nauseam repetition of old arguments every time a new member joins the forum can be tedious and lead to forum fatigue in general.

Sorry, but I am really not sure I understand what you mean or how it would apply?

[bb18]

first thing i assume they meant they are not comfortable with me in the forum because i am the only really pro israeli poster in here as for now.

and i don't think it's a good idea, such forums should be progressive and open for all points of views (within some boundaries) and you should not make it a "pro palestinian forum" or a "pro israeli forum".
if i wanted it i could have "liked" b'tselem or lieberman on facebook and solve the problem right there.

also, i find forums which are openly biased to one point of view extremely boring and meaningless as no debate can ever occur.

[Violet Crumble]

Not sure if I understand correctly - you want to open sort of a sub-forum where only Palestinian supporters will be able to participate? How can that be done, does it mean anyone who supports Israel will not have access to that section of the forum?
On another forum where I am a member, we have a section only for people actually living in the ME that was not even visible on the general index page to members to whom that did not apply. It hasn't been in use for quite a while, but it still exists.
It would be meant to discuss what Palestinian supporter see as different options to bring an end to the conflict?

I agree with JayUK that the ad nauseam repetition of old arguments every time a new member joins the forum can be tedious and lead to forum fatigue in general.

Sorry, but I am really not sure I understand what you mean or how it would apply?

I haven't really thought out the details yet, and I'm not even sure it's a good idea, because I'm not keen on blocking access for specific members to any part of the site. It'd definately not be a hidden forum, though. I had a really bad experience as a member of another site that had silly hidden sub-forums in it, and those who were in the 'in' crowd got invited in and sat there and bitched about other members who weren't invited. It sucked and I don't post there anymore.

I can see the point about fatigue setting in from seeing the same arguments every time a new member joins up, but I've got to balance that with the knowledge that there's very little activity in an environment where everyone's basically in agreement on most things. I know I'm more likely to be motivated to post if I'm disagreeing with something someone says.

[Violet Crumble]

first thing i assume they meant they are not comfortable with me in the forum because i am the only really pro israeli poster in here as for now.

and i don't think it's a good idea, such forums should be progressive and open for all points of views (within some boundaries) and you should not make it a "pro palestinian forum" or a "pro israeli forum".
if i wanted it i could have "liked" b'tselem or lieberman on facebook and solve the problem right there.

also, i find forums which are openly biased to one point of view extremely boring and meaningless as no debate can ever occur.

No, it's not just you, bb. I've heard the same complaints for a long time and it's moving to vbulletin that made me wonder about whether it'd be a good idea or not to set up a sub-forum like that. As I said in the previous post, I'm not comfortable with anything that's exclusionary, and I'm just throwing the idea out there. There's also the problem of what one member sees as being a progressive pro-Palestinian member might not be the same as another members view. And then there's the thing I've seen elsewhere where someone will arrive and announce that they're pro-Palestinian or even a Palestinian, and then proceed to use the most extreme right-wing pro-Israel talking points. I don't really want to be sitting here going 'you are what you say you are' 'you aren't' etc.

This forum was started off as, and will continue to be openly biased towards the viewpoint of ending the occupation and the settlements. Also, right-wingers aren't welcome, and anyone who arrives and starts drooling over Sarah Palin, the Tealiban, or gets all nostalgic for the 'good ol' days' of the Bush Administration won't last long. There's pro-Israel folk who oppose the occupation and aren't right-wing, and we've had quite a few members here over the years, including quite a few Israelis. And the main forum would remain, and I would suspect continue to be the area that the vast majority of members stick to, so it wouldn't be like no debate would be occurring....

[liberaljoe]

Not a good idea in my opinion Violet. If people do not like the views of other ther eis no need to read them much less reply to them. I find it very useful observing how other people think that I disagree with. The establishment of cliques is not my cup of tea

[whodey]

I have given this some thought and we could still have a thread where Palestinians supporters can discuss what they think would be the best course by Palestinians to follow.
By nature of such a thread, I dont think ardent pro-Israeli right-wingers would be interested in participating. It may even provide some insight that we are not out to destroy Israel as is often insinuated by right-wingers. And if there is interference with only the aim to disrupt a conversation, that could be handled by the moderators.

bb18, I for one am absolutely comfortable with you presence on this forum. Even more, I appreciate your presence. As I said before, both sides are fed a lot of propaganda and distortion by their own leaderships, their own media and the environment we live in also generally contributes to a one-sided view of the conflict. If there is ever going to be peace and co-existence, ordinary people from both sides need to talk to each other. This is the only way to create better understanding and to get a more balanced view.

[ellenr]

I missed this thread cuz I haven't been here in quite a while.

I liked the way the board USED to be - which was a forum for progressive voices on the Israeli Palestinian situation.
As I recall that was the orginal intent of the forum.

I'm not interested in the same old arguments - I'm not interested in having them or reading them.
And I don't have the time to come here and ignore them.
If that is what this forum will be there is no reason for me to be here.
And I say that with no rancor. I hope it will continue to serve the interests of the progressives here.


Besides - there's a lot going on in the world which is very exciting- Occupy Wall Street - for example- whoohoo!

take care you all,
I'll drop in from time to time to see what's up.

ellen

[Violet Crumble]

Thanks to everyone who gave me feedback on this. After reading what you guys said, I've decided that in the best interests of having a forum that isn't the empty and neglected thing that no-one posted at that it used to be, to leave the forum the way it is and definitely not introduce sub-forums that exclude any members. ...