The World Table: Already a Failure?

[_Doctor Scratch]

It's been less than two weeks since the launch of the FAIR- / Mopologetics-sponsored project known as "The World Table," and already, per what I've learned, it is showing signs of atrophy. Here are a few of the items that have been brought to my attention:

1) As many know, "TWT" utilizes a ratings system, whereby other posters rate each other in terms of honesty, fairness, and so on. Currently, among highly active posters, Wade Englund has the lowest score--and this includes low ratings from fellow LDS.

2) The moderating team appears to be largely an LDS "cabal," with a few "puppet" Christians to help sell the idea that this is actually an inter-religious affair.

3) Bryce Haymond, the co-founder of Mormon Interpreter, is seemingly a key player in TWT scene.

4) In spite of the fact that TWT was pitched as an opportunity for sallying forth an "army of apologists," none of the major, classic-FARMS/BYU-associated Mopologists have emerged as key participants. One wonders if they are afraid to submit themselves to TWT's "Way of Openness," or, instead, if they are afraid of getting low ratings.

5) There is apparently a great deal of anxiety amongst LDS participants over "old history" resurfacing on The World Table. These participants evidently fear the Ghosts of Mopologetics past, and one wonders if in-depth conversations on, say, "Metcalfe is Butthead" or the 2nd Watson Letter will be permitted.

Of course, it's still too early to tell whether or not these are fatal flaws in TWT's structure, but it does seem clear that the site's founders had/have ulterior motives, and that kind, honest, interreligious conversation was not their main goal in creating the forum.

[_Chap]

The time I looked, it was very LDS. I can't see it turning into anything interesting.

Where there any Muslims when you looked?

[_Sammy Jankins]

It's too early to call it a failure in my opinion. But I haven't seen any interesting conversations there yet. The way some of it is written it comes off as people are more worried about their ratings than expressing their views.
Also does the format look different when one is logged in?

[_TrashcanMan79]

Anyone else having difficulties registering? I've tried a few times and never made it to completion.

[_SteelHead]

Wade is getting thumped on the ratings. Hard to imagine, I have always found him so reasonable.

[_cwald]

Im registered... but haven't found a conversation I'm interested in commenting yet.

I think it's still a little early to call it a failure.

I am surprised by the lack of apologists. Where is DCP and midgley and Shriver etc?

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

Wade is getting thumped on the ratings. Hard to imagine, I have always found him so reasonable.

Yes, Wade is getting killed on the rating system. I imagine that most mopologists will also find that there positions are not going to be favorably rated. Maybe that's why they are not posting.

In any event, I think it's fair to say that, contrary to DCP, the World Table has not "fundamentally changed the way we interact on the internet". I think we can confidently say that The World Table is pretty much killed, buried, and nailed in a coffin, and then that coffine is thrown into Mount Doom, before dropping Mt Doom under the continental plates.

[_Res Ipsa]

I read through a few of the threads and stumbled on something that will keep me from registering:

Mark, during this beta besting phase we are still ironing out kinks, and your profile helped us to find one. One of the things The World Table does is provide a forum of credibility in addition to civility for people engaging each other over divisive topics. It dawned on me over the weekend that one of the things that contributes or detracts from credibility is the profile photo people use. Your use of Alfred E. Neuman from MAD sends a message that detracts from what you want to accomplish with a high score at TWT. For that reason I need to rate you much lower. Please consider replacing it and putting a photo of yourself on your profile as a step toward full disclosure, transparency, and credibility. Thanks.

Really? This muckety muck "had" to pop into the discussion to rate Mark based on his photo?

Not interested.

[_Runtu]

I don't think it's a failure at all. There's not much of interest to me at the moment (except two comments on a "Who gets to be called Christian" thread), but you never know.

I've thought about posting some stuff from my blog, such as the piece about Book of Mormon evidence. That might stir things up. Who knows?

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

I don't think it's a failure at all. There's not much of interest to me at the moment (except two comments on a "Who gets to be called Christian" thread), but you never know.

I've thought about posting some stuff from my blog, such as the piece about Book of Mormon evidence. That might stir things up. Who knows?

Runtu,

That's a great idea!