Shades' Paradox

[_John Larsen]

Recent discussions on the popularity of the board had me thinking about this board, and my thoughts turned to what I would call Shade’s Paradox. Shade’s Paradox is:

Any sort of completely open communication forum, which allows for any and all opinions will allow for a small and vocal minority to have a disproportionately strong voice. The minority’s position is made stronger by their willingness to shout-down, hijack or drowned-out communication that doesn’t serve their purpose. This minority’s participation will skew the forum to their own agenda, which is not the agenda of having a completely open communication forum. Thus by having a truly open communication forum, you are not accomplishing your goal but merely creating a forum for a more shrill and abusive communication sub group.

I think this is a paradox because I believe in Shade’s cause, but I can also recognize the reality. I have some ideas on how to fix this, but I wanted to see what others think.

[_solomarineris]

Recent discussions on the popularity of the board had me thinking about this board, and my thoughts turned to what I would call Shade’s Paradox. Shade’s Paradox is:

Any sort of completely open communication forum, which allows for any and all opinions will allow for a small and vocal minority to have a disproportionately strong voice. The minorities position is made stronger by their willingness to shout down, hijack or drowned out communication that doesn’t serve their purpose. This minority’s participation will skew the forum to their own agenda, which is not the agenda of having a completely open communication forum. Thus by having a truly open communication forum, you are not accomplishing your goal but merely creating a forum for a more shrill and abusive communication sub group.

I think this is a paradox because I believe in Shade’s cause, but I can also recognize the reality. I have some ideas on how to fix this, but I wanted to see what others think.

Right on!

Well quoted. I haven't seen Shades & Clones censoring one single post (I might be wrong) at worst, it is relegated to lower glory forums.
I do love RFM. I just could't stand their censorship tactics, but they are getting better, their stupidest slogan was/is, "This is not a forum for defense of (Mormon) faith". Can't find stupidest remark anywhere, except MAD&d board itself.
We all have faith in something, if somebody tears down my "faith" and I am not allowed to respond because I want to stand my ground.
Anyway, in whole RFM is a OK.
MAD&d downright stupid because if gordiottos see that they cannot respond people's rational Q', criticisms they just shut you off.
Great way to go.

[_harmony]

I'd just like to point out that the shrill don't come from just one side.

[_Scottie]

My stance has been made clear to Shades several times.

[_John Larsen]

I'd just like to point out that the shrill don't come from just one side.

I completely agree.

[_Analytics]

Recent discussions on the popularity of the board had me thinking about this board, and my thoughts turned to what I would call Shade’s Paradox. Shade’s Paradox is:

Any sort of completely open communication forum, which allows for any and all opinions will allow for a small and vocal minority to have a disproportionately strong voice. The minority’s position is made stronger by their willingness to shout-down, hijack or drowned-out communication that doesn’t serve their purpose. This minority’s participation will skew the forum to their own agenda, which is not the agenda of having a completely open communication forum. Thus by having a truly open communication forum, you are not accomplishing your goal but merely creating a forum for a more shrill and abusive communication sub group.

I think this is a paradox because I believe in Shade’s cause, but I can also recognize the reality. I have some ideas on how to fix this, but I wanted to see what others think.

I basically agree. It kind of reminds me of local AM talk radio stations where just about everybody who calls up gets on the air. It is the lunatics who have little influence in the real world who turn to such sources for a voice. There are a lot of stupid people out there, and when you are speaking anonymously or quasi-anonymously, you can be loose on your analysis and shrill in your mannerisms without professional or social repercussions.

[_CaliforniaKid]

I think you are correct, Mr. Larsen.

[_Some Schmo]

Well, I don't think there's much doubt to your idea, but I'd just like to point out that any internet forum is subjected to the vocal minority, whether heavily moderated or not. I've visited and participated in several message boards, and they all have that in common. Whether the source of suppression of a wider range of ideas comes from the vocal minority or board moderation is mostly irrelevant.

I personally believe it to be an inevitable characteristic of internet fora, due to the nature of the communication medium.

[_Dr. Shades]

Shades' Paradox--I like it!!

If nothing else, the average Joe will always be just as welcome to post here as any minority, no matter how vocal.

[_Wheat]

I don’t believe this constitutes much of a *paradox* when you stop to think about it. A *law of nature* perhaps, but hardly a paradox.

When the house rules amount to no rules at all, then those kinds of people who are accustomed to an environment of relatively well-mannered restraint and reasonable regulation will naturally avoid taking part. Or, if they do venture forth, they will adapt to the law of the jungle themselves. That’s what I’ve seen happen in this place. Beleiving LDS will either not stay long, or if they do, they will start to serve as good as they get. Sometimes even better in the case of the more capable ones like Daniel Peterson, David Bokovoy (Enuma Elish), William Shryver, The Nehor and others. Of course, when they do that they are savaged even more by the antis here. That’s one of the interesting ironies. MDB, FLAK, and RfM reserve their hihgest level of faux righteous indignation for believers who pack a rhetorical punch. It cracks me up to see them rise in unison to condemn a TBM for what they consider un-Christlike behavior. (LOL!)

That’s why I have more or less lost interest in participating here. I’ve concluded that the DAMU is a greatly overstated phenomenon, made to seem like some massive movement when in reality it is just a few hundred vocal malcontents pretending to be an insurgency.