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Now, I say this with the greatest respect, but, looking through the old threads, it would seem virtually every single one is more interesting than most of the stuff on the homepage.
It’s just that the really interesting discussions I remember seem to have faded away somewhat. Feel free to disagree, this is just my personal opinion. So may I suggest the bumping of old, interesting threads, or simply starting an argument more often.
Again, I apologize if I offend any who disagree, and thanking any of you who don’t.
I had the same thought today, when I was browsing through some of the older threads, but I didn’t think the posters here would appreciate the comment! A lot of the topics which 3 or 4 years ago were allowed to take place would be closed much quicker these days (possibly because the Moderators are getting more strict, but also possibly because lots of the posters here are far too sensitive and don’t understand jokes, and take things not intended so as personal insults), and there are arguably less controversial/funny/bored posters than there used to be. The fighting that went on here some time ago was legendary!
Agreed. Some of the threads yekke2 linked to are brilliant. Bring back the arguments! The only true disagreement currently trending is the whole vaccination debate, and that just doesn’t do it for me. And all the other threads are about tragedies. Not that these aren’t important, but couldn’t we spice it up a bit? I think it’ll be a good idea just to find an old argument and restart it.
I think it’ll be a good idea just to find an old argument and restart it.
so you WANT to be a ba’al machlokes?
what do you get out of arguing?
we should find as little as possible (outside of torah) to argue about
I think it’ll be a good idea just to find an old argument and restart it.
I always get frustrated when (in real life experience) conversations become arguments instead of discussions. As a general rule, arguments end up with repeating the same thing over and over again and continue to getting personal, and a lot of fighting over what I meant and what I said and who was right.
Discussions [in real life] are much more constructive. It’s not about me and you; it’s not about whose write or wrong. I wonder what is more interesting on an online blog?
we should find as little as possible (outside of torah) to argue about
That is the intended outcome – after you hear what I have to say, you delete all your arguments out of sheer embarrassment as you come to understand the true logical and rationalistic explanation of whatever topic you are talking about. It is a lot of fun.
Especially on an online forum, where you know that what a person writes isn’t necessarily what they think. In fact, one of the posters here told me that he enjoys taking a side in any discussion/argument – whether he agrees with that side or not, depending on his mood – to take the intellectual challenge of arguing your point until the bitter/sweet end.
They aren’t real Machloikes (not including the MO/Zionist etc.), merely exchange of opinions in an intellectual discourse.
NeutiquamErro – I have to thank you. So many times posters have tried to make the same point but have said things like, “nobody interesting posts anymore”, or “where have all the good posters gone to?” etc. I always feel hurt by that, as if someone walked into a room full of people and asked, “nobody’s here? where is everyone?”
Your point was made so gently and I am grateful to you for that.
To quote the same eminent scholars:
“An Argument is an intellectual process; contradiction is just the automatic gainsay of anything the other person says…”
I haven’t heard that in years! Thanks for bringing it up!
Several points. Firstly, I am not suggesting starting an argument, merely continuing one. This is generally more fun, as it allows one to nitpick, much the same as I am currently doing.
And in the same vein, CoffeeAddict, aren’t you in danger of starting an argument here? So in keeping with your own dictum, I’ll steer away from disagreeing too strongly. But, if it isn’t too controversial, the answer to your question is Yes, I derive great pleasure from it.
And regarding Y2’s point regarding arguing – sorry, disagreeing amicably – online, I believe it has one strong advantage, that it enables the participants to be far more concise and to the point than in real life, where there is a much higher likelihood of getting sidetracked.
But of course, none of that is what I actually think.
Not necessarily, I could be arguing in my spare time!
Another ‘issue’ is the tendency some posters have to hijack threads. One or two off topic posts won’t ruin the thread, but a subconversation will. So if you have a discussion which isn’t directly related to the thread at hand, but does have a connection, simply start a new thread and post a link.
yekke2:
I agree with your complaint. It’s especially annoying when the side point is banal and the main topic isn’t. It can throw a good discussion off course.
But it is worth remembering that it’s not always for the worst. The Harry Potter thread, in my opinion the best in the CR, is really about similarities between yiddishkeit and HP. And then someone mentioned time travel and it all went a bit crazy, and as it veered off track it became something wonderful. But I still agree with your original point.
I am afraid we are partially to blame for the hijacking of the Harry Potter thread. But that thread had already died down from its original conversation; continuing it in a different vein wasn’t so terrible. In the middle of an ongoing conversation, however, it is wrong to change the subject.
Newbee – http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/going-to-hotels-for-pesach#post-562245.
5 Bad Habits of Orthodox Jews. Now there’s a good idea for a new thread.
Not really sure your’re waiting for my most treasured ‘pieces’…
It seems that somebody misunderstood NeutiquamErro and thought your meant ‘Keep The CR Moving’.
I propose s/he is banned under the First Decree of the Keep The Coffee Room Interesting Movement!!
Aye
Aye!
(Am I too late?)
Whilst we’re dealing with this matter, I wish to propose a second motion to the General Committee of the KTCRIM. This proposal will be true to the stated aim of the group that it is to keep the CR interesting, a side point to which is that it should be free of mindless nonsense that hinders the interesting content.
That is that the Moderators, blessed be they, shall remove, and not merely close, any thread instigated by the banned individual, if it is deemed to be unworthy of discussion or of any merit. This shall apply to any thread that fails to generate a true discussion and/or is self-reverential and/or makes no or little sense.
These shall be removed under the Second Decree of the Keep The Coffee Room Interesting Movement.
Awesome! 🙂
The Harry Potter thread started off good, but then morphed into a discussion of different questions and comments on the books. More appropriate for a Harry Potter fan club site than Yeshiva World!
I don’t think the real complaint is that there are no more controversial threads. I think you are saying that there is no content and the threads are about meaningless and non applicable topics. I second the motion.
YYBC:
I fundamentally agree with you as far as the meaningless topics are concerned, but the point I was making, and still am, is that there are fewer topics that provoke discussion. And good discussions arise from interesting topics and/or disagree. It is not that disagreeing is the ultimate aim, it’s addressing topics that people care about enough and are interested in enough to make their opinions known and discuss them. This does not necessarily mean controversial.
And as for the Harry Potter thread, I disagree completely. The discussion was interesting, fun and involving, so who really cares if it was a bit random. We all enjoyed it, as far as I could tell. And nobody made you take part. I don’t see how it is different from the Discworlder’s Club or that kind of thing. It is a representation from the YWN users of their appreciation for a certain inyan, and I can’t see anything wrong with that.
Look at that! We’re arguing already! Mission accomplished! (“No we’re not!”) Btw,I don’t think out isreally machlokes, being as we don’t know each others identities. Nothing is personal, and there are no hurt feelings. We’re just trying to make our points.
“self-reverential”
I think “self-referential” was intended.
“In fact, one of the posters here told me that he enjoys taking a
side in any discussion/argument – whether he agrees with that side
or not, depending on his mood – to take the intellectual challenge
of arguing your point until the bitter/sweet end.”
Interesting…
The campaign is a success! The number of posts and threads have increased sharply over the past few days. Baruch HaShem for Pesach vacation and bein hazemanim! 🙂
Comlink:
I think both terms can be used
NeutiquamErro didn’t ask for an increase in quantity of posting; he wanted an increase on the quality of the posts.
Er… Bump?
There was a couple of interesting threads, but we seem to have gone back to a little bit of mild trolling or other types of posts which don’t have any response…
whilst the truly interesting topics seem to fall into obscurity despite the desperate attempts at sustained life support from several honourable members. I say this not to offend,
Oh, sure, why would someone be offended by being told their posts were boring, desperate attempts…hmm, I wonder what you say when you do want to offend.
29 – Trust me, you don’t want to know. I’ve been on the receiving end a couple of times. 🙂
I think a large part of issue here is that the current generation of CRers are just too nice and polite. Which is obviously a good thing, but it does result in a less interesting conversations. In order to have a truly memorable discussion, the participants have to be either brilliant, or really be going after each other.
But not to worry; Yom Haatzmaut is almost upon us… 😉
A basic problem we have is that almost always (except for in Halachic discussions), there is a clearly defined correct position and an incorrect position. And those knowledgeable/intelligent enough will take the correct position, and those arguing are easy prey. This leads to a few half hearted arguments followed by a [silent] concession by the wrong party.
For some reason, in the Olden Days, they didn’t have that problem. There were many intelligent posters who were fighting cats and dogs. Perhaps the reason was that they were taking different ideological points of view, and from there battled it our on a personal and general level.
The problem doesn’t affect me at the moment, for I begin zman again tomorrow. But for the rest of you, I wish you best of luck.
These fine, honourable people whose boots I am not worthy to kiss
Is there an emoticon for vomiting?
This is the most boring thread I’ve ever come across.
Can we Come Up With Something Interesting?
Well, I think I’ve put in a decent days work:
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/assorted-tzniyuspritzus-questions
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/practicality-on-the-palestinians#post-577640
Also, check out http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/why-do-women-like-flowers#post-576964 and all of the relevant responses; best fireworks I’ve seen since July 4th.
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