Some thoughts about being here

There’s been a bit of controversy going on lately, some arguments, some hurt feelings, so I wanted to write something. I’ve written it here and not my journal because it’s not written for me.

Please be reminded that these are my own opinions, but I hope that you can see that they have been borne of my own experiences. Nothing here is aimed at anyone, nor was it written with anyone in mind. I’m not asking you to agree with me, but I am asking that you think about what I’ve written carefully, before you put any kind response.

Sometimes it is said that TOTJO is a temple, a church, so ‘please mind your language’… and although I agree with it, I also disagree. I think of TOTJO now much like the centre of a Roman capital city: There’s the senate where the council sits; a library where study is carried out; a courtyard where students with wax tablets listen to their philosopher teacher; a forum where politics is argued; and a temple where citizens pray.

All of these areas of life can be found within TOTJO, so while in some places (perhaps within ‘Jediism’) a moderated tone is appropriate, in other places (‘miscellaneous’) a more free type of conversation might actually be more appropriate, where controversy, argument and disagreements are allowed to occur. Respect is of course still a requirement, but we shouldn’t necessarily be afraid to engage in difficult conversations, even if they challenge what we hold dear, or we find ourselves up against what seems to completely go against what we believe, even if the other contributors won't change their opinions.

Someone (Cabur?) wrote on the wall about knights taking time to go back to study. Until one becomes a knight the path is set.. you do the IP, you get an apprenticeship etc. such that the path is (pretty much) a straight one. You don’t see as much of what else is going on because you’re looking at the path right in front of you. You get to knighthood and there’s no set path anymore, you have to figure it out. It shouldn’t be a surprise really that some knights get there and realise the Jedi path ends there for them. Self discovery changes a person and it might be that although this feels like home, not looking elsewhere for discovery actually means sticking to your ‘safe space’ and not challenging yourself or exploring. If TOTJO is where you feel empowered, challenged, where you're growing.. great, if not.. don't be afraid to say 'this isn't for me'.

I’m not suggesting knights leave when they get to knighthood, but I am suggesting introspection, to look at what you believe and the place that you’re in and consider that TOTJO is not the only place to learn and may not even be the right place for you. That might seem a bit of a controversial point, but it has been true for several knights including, but not limited to, myself.

There, just a couple of thoughts for your Monday.

TotJO as Rome...?

Headcannon accepted!

Leah Starspectre wrote: TotJO as Rome...?

Headcannon accepted!

Gives a new vibe to [strike]Tusken[/strike] Tuscan Raiders :woohoo:

To the OP, as an ex-web designer I sort of come from the conceptual view that forum categories can be different types of spaces for different types of interaction - specifically to allow members to exercise slightly different natures of focus in conversation. Usually forums are of different themes and that is all anyone pays attention to. But even then sticking to themes doesn't always work, which might be a blend of newbiness, user disinterest and minimalist site design, Though it is not too hard to notice where a post is located haha, and so there is no reason why it couldn't work that way in theory.. but that is not my point.

As mentioned it is not really obvious nor setup that way so as it stands it barely remains possible as one moves through Apprentice forums, and into the Knight forum. The audience changes at those places so the interaction could change. We even have a forum for the Master rank. But they are not used so much in this way because the biggest impediment in practical terms is probably because we all only have so much time an therefore automatically go for the widest audience in our interaction..... which sees all activity tending to be centralized around thematic use of forum's only.

The downside of that is we get a real melting pot where some things melt, some things harden, some things float and some things sink. A real cauldron!!!! BUT that is not the purpose of the forum IMO. So then this 'path' being spoken of in this topic 'perhaps' is simply the small element of structure and subsequently the sense of place one finds, which is allied to a type of purpose from the associated structured IP etc.

Perhaps I'm putting too much into the platform of interaction, but that is just the nature of this particular point of view.

Short of duplicating all thread original posts in different rank level forums for different levels of discussion, I tend to think any movement towards that would require it achieved through user interaction ie website design to sort of shepherd activity into zones with different user guidelines. A move in that direction suits larger membership levels across various ranks, but really needs some reasoning to support motivation to interact in that manner. A Second Life 'Rome' with arena's, halls and rooms would be one visual example, but not a practical one necessarily at this point in time. As a hobby I am building my own 3D first person Temple in a game engine and trying to put in user functionality so it can deliver the same interaction as a website, for example - but I don't expect it to ever reach a stage where it would be released as an alternative to the website. At the base level my interaction here creates a sensation, which can be used to relate more broadly as motivation to drive my growth, and if that happens to help others or the community at some point, then great.

So again as it stands currently, from this perspective of Temple interaction, when one reaches Knighthood they are then left to stand on their own two feet and apply their dedication into focus and therefore being a Knight. Wondering, is nothing happening, is nothing new, what do I get?? A 'feeling' can ensue, but that does not have to be interpreted as being alone or abandoned, as I think that would be a misrepresentation.... an easy one to make in the online context for such a small group. A reaction to that probably reflects a persons values and vulnerabilities, and that can be a good thing, indeed even the next trial one must face resulting from reaching Knighthood perhaps!! But the site is what it is, we can most easily change how we relate to what is here instead of expecting other things to change - but it to can grow and get better. For example as much as I appreciate ren's work on the site, one of the hardest things for me is to interact with it and not be able to build a better version - it drives me around the bend sometimes!!!! That is not a jab at ren, I stopped site design about a decade ago now, and don't have time to commit to delivering a custom interactive database driven website anyway. So sometimes problems need to be bitten off in small chunks so we can spread focus - and not give into the desire to sate every hunger. But I'll steal Edan's disclaimer and say please be reminded that these are my own opinions, borne of my own experiences. Nothing here is aimed at anyone, nor was it written with anyone in mind, and I’m not asking you to agree with me.

I should post in the afternoon as I use less words when I am awake

I confess Adder, I'm a bit confused by your response...

Short of duplicating all thread original posts in different rank level forums for different levels of discussion, I tend to think any movement towards that would require it achieved through user interaction ie website design to sort of shepherd activity into zones with different user guidelines. A move in that direction suits larger membership levels across various ranks, but really needs some reasoning to support motivation to interact in that manner. A Second Life 'Rome' with arena's, halls and rooms would be one visual example, but not a practical one necessarily at this point in time. As a hobby I am building my own 3D first person Temple in a game engine and trying to put in user functionality so it can deliver the same interaction as a website, for example - but I don't expect it to ever reach a stage where it would be released as an alternative to the website. At the base level my interaction here creates a sensation, which can be used to relate more broadly as motivation to drive my growth, and if that happens to help others or the community at some point, then great.

I wasn't actually suggesting we split the forum up in such a way, just suggesting that individuals consider where they are posting such that some areas may not require as much of a 'softly' approach.

A 'feeling' can ensue, but that does not have to be interpreted as being alone or abandoned, as I think that would be a misrepresentation.... an easy one to make in the online context for such a small group. A reaction to that probably reflects a persons values and vulnerabilities, and that can be a good thing, indeed even the next trial one must face resulting from reaching Knighthood perhaps!! But the site is what it is, we can most easily change how we relate to what is here instead of expecting other things to change - but it to can grow and get better.

Indeed, how we choose to respond to things is a great challenge, but shoehorning oneself into something that doesn't fit is silly and leads to distraction and frustration. Learning this is also part of the challenge.

Claps wow

Edan wrote: I confess Adder, I'm a bit confused by your response...

Adder wrote: Short of duplicating all thread original posts in different rank level forums... snip

I wasn't actually suggesting we split the forum up in such a way, just suggesting that individuals consider where they are posting such that some areas may not require as much of a 'softly' approach.

That is what the disclaimer was for, it is just my opinion of the topic you bring to the discussion, not your opinion about the topic. I thought the topic was what your opinion was of, not your opinion of it. My perspective differs from yours so I would expect the opinion to be also, but I apologize if I was offtopic. Was there something specifically confusing ie that you did not understand?

Edan wrote:

Adder wrote: A 'feeling' can ensue, but that does not have to be interpreted as being alone or abandoned, snip

Indeed, how we choose to respond to things is a great challenge, but shoehorning oneself into something that doesn't fit is silly and leads to distraction and frustration. Learning this is also part of the challenge.

Being in the wrong place is not the only source of feeling like your in the wrong place, but I do agree if your in the wrong place then it might be good to see it as such and have genuine intent about ones presence and interaction, as I'd have thought it would make it more rewarding and reduce the chance of wasting ones precious time. For me at least the old saying of ''trust your feelings' really probably works best when in touch with them sufficiently to understand their nature ie 'in time you will learn to trust your feelings' is not a call to abandon doubt but rather to resolve ones inner nature sufficiently to understand the ebb and flow of them and the forces behind that.

Adder wrote:

Edan wrote: I confess Adder, I'm a bit confused by your response...

Adder wrote: Short of duplicating all thread original posts in different rank level forums... snip

I wasn't actually suggesting we split the forum up in such a way, just suggesting that individuals consider where they are posting such that some areas may not require as much of a 'softly' approach.

That is what the disclaimer was for, it is just my opinion of the topic you bring to the discussion, not your opinion about the topic. I thought the topic was what your opinion was of, not your opinion of it. My perspective differs from yours so I would expect the opinion to be also, but I apologize if I was offtopic. Was there something specifically confusing ie that you did not understand?

I think we must have misunderstood each other... I thought you had misunderstood what I was trying to say.