On Tue, 16 Jun 2009, Steven Krivit wrote: > >Does anyone else have any thoughts, pro or con, on this matter? > pro, very pro
Sometimes on-topic threads die, while off-topic threads attract participants and go for days. But then, the meaning of "on topic" is largely decided by the group. If alt-science experiments attract low interest, it suggests that such experiments are actually "off topic" in the present community. Also, I personally have low interest in Vortex as it stands, and haven't participated much in recent years. (Someone noted that politics has been normal for Vortex for years. Yep.) The Mylow stuff was great, but things like it seem rare, and usually can't compete against ten other threads going hot and heavy. Maybe they're rare BECAUSE they can't compete? The current politics ban is a blackout to remove all left/right/anarchist topics. But it got me thinking. That's why trolls are so valuable. I mean, besides me being one myself. :) Someone mentioned that Vortex discusses all sorts of things between "Mylow" episodes. But in my experience, the "Mylow" threads don't attract interest. They usually only catch fire if the original poster pushes them with numerous messages, competing against other threads, until slowly the science thread steals participants away from all the others. If this isn't done, then experimental science threads stand little chance. The other stuff is more interesting. So why not give PBS its own separate science channel? Rather than VortexB, maybe we should keep the main community exactly as it was, but add a "Classic Vortex:" an experiment-centered list similar to the way vortex once was, back in the Chris Tinsley era, a place for alt-science people to discuss their current work. Build stuff. Run tests on odd claims and weird devices. It might remain pretty dead except when a "Mylow" event occurs ...or we'll find that plenty of experiment threads have always been there, but just couldn't attract a viewership. (((((((((((((((((( ( ( ( ( (O) ) ) ) ) ))))))))))))))))))) William J. Beaty SCIENCE HOBBYIST website billb at amasci com http://amasci.com EE/programmer/sci-exhibits amateur science, hobby projects, sci fair Seattle, WA 206-762-3818 unusual phenomena, tesla coils, weird sci
