Hey, Let's Work Together To Make This Forum Better!

[UntoHim]

I want to springboard off some things Igzy has posted - one just recently and the other a long time ago:

Originally Posted by Igzy

That said, as I've said before, it's hard to use this forum because there are too many categories. I strongly suggest narrowing the number of subforums and consolidating threads. Probably six or eight subforums are all you need. It's too hard to find things, IMHO.

I agree this place needs a major overhaul. I need to consult with the forum host company. They owe me some free advise - I've been paying monthly fees for a long time and have required very little of their time. If anybody wants to point me to some other forums with better setups let me know. One thing to keep in mind is that we have a WHOLE forum here to work with, not just ONE BOARD within a forum. This actually gives us much more flexibility and the ability to customize - of course this also leaves a lot of room for some amateur like me to foul things up!

Again, let's keep in mind that this forum exits for former AND CURRENT members...so whatever can be done to attract current members to feel safe, valued, respected and honored is what we need to do. Many Local Church/LSM leaders are strongly advising that current members stay away from open forums where they have no control (meaning the BARM forum and this one). They say there is nothing but "poison", "negativity" and "death" - most of us know that this is simply not true, but lets take this advantage of this new chance to prove them wrong. This does NOT mean we should let off the gas on our criticisms and exposing of the false teachings and harmful practices. I know that this can be done in an atmosphere of understanding and love. Forum software and setup can only go so far to create such an atmosphere - it takes some humans!

Personally, I would like the Bereans forum to go away, so that this could become "the forum."

I would not like to see the Bereans forum go away. If for no other reason then for documentation of all the dialogue between ex LCers and other ex members and some current members. There are some good third party contributions as well. Besides, the BARM forum focus is (or is supposed to be) on apologetics whereas LocalChurchDiscussons forum has many focuses. Apologetics is only one of many topics of discussion.

Originally Posted by Igzy

If I might be a bit constructive, I think we need to be able to talk about things other than the LC here. We need a section of the board to talk about spiritual matters in and of themselves. This is smart, gifted group of people and I'm interested in what you guys think about things without their always being in terms of the LC. For example, I've wanted to start a thread about the nature of faith. But I don't want to discuss it in terms of the LC or with obligatory jabs at the LC. Also, I'd like an area on the board where we can talk about anything. Sports, politics, macrame, anything.

I heartily agree! Just focusing on matters revolving solely around the Local Church can get real tedious. I probably don't have enough time to participate much on a board covering sports or politics but I see no reason why we can't have an area (board) for those discussions.

The real weakness of this board is that by nature it requires people to dwell on the past. Or more basically, it's a board that requires a somewhat negative attitude. You have to have a problem with the LC to fit in. Any social setting based on a negative can turn into a death march.

Excellent observation (as usual from Igz). The problem is there are no easy answers to these problems. One problem, as I see it, is that LCers have a tendency to be on the other side of the pendulum - there is nothing negative about the LC to talk about...Lee's teachings are perfect and complete...their practice of "the church-life" is basically perfect and complete...they hold all the "recovered truth" and on and on. This is to say nothing of the fact that anybody who speaks of their history in anything but glowing terms is a "destroyer of the divine building". Nevertheless, all these problems not withstanding, I don't think a forum such as this one needs to be a "social setting based on a negative" (I'm not saying that Igzy is saying this however). Some forum boards, apologetics for example, will always have a contentious "atmosphere", but it does not have to be negative. Anyway...I'm just talking out loud here.

Ok gang. Let's get some feedback. Post it here rather then disrupting other threads, OK?

One choice we have is to simply things - make the whole forum less "busy". This would include taking away many of the "modules" - mainly the ones on either side of the main, center module (the one containing "recent threads" and all the various boards) It would certainly not break my heart to eliminate the calendar, quips and quotes or listen up.

The problem with the BARM setup (one Board with one set of threads) is that things get easily buried. Currently there are over 50 pages of threads. It takes LOTS of time to search for some thread or theme you want to bring back to reactivate and bring back to the top. The search feature is cumbersome and takes more time then it's worth. When there is a multiple board setup (like we have here) one can locate something of interest by simply scrolling down the one page. I do think many of the boards and sub-boards (sub-forums) can be "hidden" behind a fewer number of "categories" - then one would have to click on any particular category of interest and it would then reveal the various boards/sub-boards would contain various threads (are you confused yet, because I am)

I am open to any and all suggestions to make the forum for "user friendly".

[countmeworthy]

UntoHIm,
Thank you for the time & $$ you have spent in providing a sounding board, an outlet and a fellowship gathering of sorts through this forum.

I would hope more current LCrs would visit this board.

The former LCrs have a lot to give to the LSMrs/LCrs besides focusing on the negatives of the LC. We were ALL attracted to JESUS and the LOVE in the saints at one time. Sadly, we soon 'learned' there was nothing better than 'the Recovery'.

That spirit of Pride, Manipulation and Control is what is bringing the LSM down. We all know how hard it is to shake off the dirt..it is because we handled precious jewels in the LC.

I personally would like the LSMrs/LCrs to know there is much more to the Word of God than what we 'learned' in the LC under Lee. We can help them.

Maybe we can divide the forum into 2 sections. One section for testimonies of our lives in the LC & upon with threads on what went wrong in the LC under Lee's leadership.

The other section could be made up of building up, encouraging the saints in the Word of God for the purpose of letting the LSMrs/LCrs how GOD in Christ through His Holy Spirit has healed us and strengthened us every step of the way....giving the saints HOPE in Christ and in the brethren.

Obviously it's not as easy to formulate but I thought I'd throw my .03 worth.

[manna-man]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Again, let's keep in mind that this forum exits for former AND CURRENT members...so whatever can be done to attract current members to feel safe, valued, respected and honored is what we need to do.

Amen UntoHim!

Our attitude towards all believers should convey love. Good,bad or indifferent. Yet we should have the liberty to express candor within the perameters of love. Amen!

Honesty, Integrity and Love!

I will do my best to convey such a spirit!

Grace to all men!

Don Hose Jr.

[manna-man]

Blessed is He who fears The Lord and finds delight in His command!

Praise The Lord Jesus Who has consummated His plan! For us!

May we all be found lost in His abiding faithfulness!

Peace to all men!

[awareness]

Let's Work Together To Make This Forum Better

Yeah, let's post Life Studies and those Holy Something in the Morning thingies.

[Cal]

I realize a forum like this needs subdivisions of subject matter. I just think as it stands there are too many subdivisions.

There needs to be fewer and they need to be more general. I don't think subforums for different areas of the world are necessary, for example. Simply having a subforum for discussion of situations existing in the LC churches today. By doing this, the reader can go from reading about a situation in the GLA to one about South America without any trouble.

Another subforum that seems unnecessary is the sister only one. It just isn't used. Better simply to have a subforum for personal fellowship for everyone.

I might subdivide as follows.

Introduction and Personal Accounts (the term "testimony" is LC-speak)

History

LSM

Situations in Churches and Regions

Doctrines and Theology

The "Cult" Question

Fellowship, Encouragement, Worship, Prayer

Off Duty (fun, hobbies, politics)


This isn't necessarily the best arrangement by any means. But I do think there needs to be some consolidation. It gets to the point that too many subforums make things harder rather than easier to find, especially since may threads cross lines anyway.

Just my two cents.

[manna-man]

Igzy,

You nailed it down! Your suggestioms are very practical.

Don Jr

[Cal]

One other point I would make is to set up the minimum number of subforums, then only add a new one when it become obvious it is needed.

[Cal]

Other possibly needed category is "Announcements and News."

Maybe also "Writings about the LC" (e.g.Ingalls, Myer, Anderson, Tome). But no subcategories. Just put them all together to make them easier to find.

[OBW]

Here's my version of the "A List":

Administration (include a “sticky” for Registering and Posting)
Introduction and Personal Accounts
History (Nee, Lee, LC)
LSM & its Writings (Nee, Lee, BBs)
Writings About the LC
Doctrines, Theology, Practice
Other Christian Fellowship
Off Duty (fun, hobbies, politics)


There might be reasonable cause for subdivision in a couple of cases, but not unless there is an abundance of threads on a particular sub-topic.

[UntoHim]

Thanks for the input guys. I have consolidated one category - Regional Concerns - which was good practice on how consolidation can be done in the fasted and most efficient way. It is rather time consuming. Maybe one of you guys who are forum software literate could help out?

Also, what about keeping the "wing" modules which contain valuable information but do limit the amount of information that can be displayed in the Recent Thread module. There may be a way to push all that lower on the page so that the Recent Thread module will be the entire width of the page, like on the BARM boards.

[Cal]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Also, what about keeping the "wing" modules which contain valuable information but do limit the amount of information that can be displayed in the Recent Thread module. There may be a way to push all that lower on the page so that the Recent Thread module will be the entire width of the page, like on the BARM boards.

They are okay. A little busy but not fatal. I'd add things like concerned bros and assembly life to the link list though.

[11of101]

Originally Posted by OBW

Here's my version of the "A List":

Administration (include a “sticky” for Registering and Posting)
Introduction and Personal Accounts
History (Nee, Lee, LC)
LSM & its Writings (Nee, Lee, BBs)
Writings About the LC
Doctrines, Theology, Practice
Other Christian Fellowship
Off Duty (fun, hobbies, politics)

To this list I would like to suggest; Gamblers' Heaven.
Whereby the moderators take bets on, for example;
the likelihood of Dong Yu Lan receiving a formal letter of quarantine 2/1.
the color of a BBs shirt worn at the next ministry message, white 1/1, hawaiian 1000000/1.
the likelihood of a DCP lawsuit within, 5 years 3/1, 10 years 2/1.

[Testing123]

I may be the only one with this problem, but since the forum's inception, I have never been able to stay logged in. On the main page, at the upper right, my information (username, password) is there using "AutoFill," but as soon as I submit it, the sign-in goes through but immediately bumps me off. The only way I'm able to really sign in is if I clear my cookies, which is too much trouble every time. I'm using Safari.

[manna-man]

Originally Posted by Testing123

I may be the only one with this problem, but since the forum's inception, I have never been able to stay logged in. On the main page, at the upper right, my information (username, password) is there using "AutoFill," but as soon as I submit it, the sign-in goes through but immediately bumps me off. The only way I'm able to really sign in is if I clear my cookies, which is too much trouble every time. I'm using Safari.

Testing, Did you know you can have multiple browsers on your system? I suggest that ou download Internet Explorer. Safari will always be your default browser unless you allow IE to be. It's easy switching default browsers so it should never be a problem for you.

Peace

[Cal]

I recommend Google Chrome as a browser.