While we are discussing change, there’s some sort of forum bug that is bothering me.
The “Unread” page shows an unread topic. So I read that topic. But it still shows as unread, even after refreshing the “Unread” page. And when I read it again, there’s nothing new there.
Something is losing count somewhere.
At present the topic that bugs me is “What does the BGV theorem say?”
To deal with this, I stop following that particular topic. But it would be better if the problem were solved.
Oh, and is there a bug-reporting thread that I should have used?
Um. I only care if the blog starts to not be welcoming to anyone not a proven scholar. 9whoever that is)
As long as the best intellectual threads/posts are open to people then anythings okay.
Yes I noticed the front page was not the same.
The scholars have done solved these issues and in fact made them worse. one way or another.
Anyways these esteemed scholars could also dialogue with everyone.might learn something.
Thumbs up i guess to the new format.
Well PS has been very welcoming to you despite showing everyday that you’re not a proven scholar in anything. Keep up the good work as it is very hard to get every answer wrong to every question on every test.
It seems like there are 3 ways a thread now gets on the “front page”:
Special categories: Office Hour for visiting scholars, Peaceful Science to discuss blog posts, etc. I think this is mostly run by a small group (basically @swamidass at this point).
The Scholars category, this is for the recognized scholars, which include graduate students, post docs, research and teaching faculty, etc. from a variety of disciplines (theology, philosophy, sciences).
Featured Conversation is where threads from the Conversation category (open to everybody) can get “elevated” to the front page. I’m not sure if we have a good feel yet for what does and doesn’t get into the “Featured” subcategory and, maybe more importantly, when a thread should come out. This then, it seems, is the place where the “non-scholar” can get their stuff up front.
I actually didn’t think the change was too bad. I think it’s good that a few interesting conversations are promoted to “Featured” and still are seen on the front page. In general, threads should start as normal Conversations, being promoted only when it gains traction and there is enough substantial dialogue going on.
One thing to think about, in my opinion, is what our Scholars category should represent. Lately, some of the Scholars threads on the front page are no more special than a Featured Conversation (at best). I tend towards the opinion that our Scholars threads should exhibit our highest level of engagement and fruitfulness in discussion, similar to the “Featured Article” in Wikipedia. They should be examples we can point to if someone asks what PS is all about. This is why I feel they should be:
Non-anonymous. Nothing said there should be something that you would be uncomfortable saying in an actual public venue in person.
Substantive. Discourage one-line replies or nitpicking minor mistakes in your opponent’s posts.
Tightly moderated - no personal insults or questioning each other’s expertise or motivations.
One way to use the Wiki in a more realistic way is instead to use it primarily as a topical compilation of important and insightful threads on various topics, instead of trying to take the insights from those threads and transforming it into an article, which takes too much work.
Keep up the good work as it is very hard to get every answer wrong to every question on every test.