Congrats Team ER.org

[Midpack]

I spent some time on nextdoor.com this morning where there are several Covid-19 threads. What a useless mess. Extreme views from both sides, conspiracy theory nonsense and plenty of insults. Most want to reopen NOW or everyone stay at home until there's a proven vaccine, both repeatedly insulting each other - what's the point?

I've seen the same on a few other forums I participate on.

We're all still learning on ER.org as elsewhere, so we've had out moments too (I sure have) - but compared to what I read on nextdoor.com and others, this is a prestigious nonpartisan thinktank.

 

[sergio]

I spent some time on nextdoor.com this morning where there are several Covid-19 threads. What a useless mess. Extreme views from both sides, conspiracy theory nonsense and plenty of insults. Most want to reopen NOW or everyone stay at home until there's a proven vaccine, both repeatedly insulting each other - what's the point?

We're all still learning, so we've had out moments too (I sure have) - but compared to what I read on nextdoor.com, this is a prestigious nonpartisan thinktank.

I quit months ago... 99% of the posts on NextDoor were useless (selling or giving away old crap like rocking chairs, politics, nitpicking about unkept lawns, etc.) I never posted anything but would occasionally browse. I like being one the "quiet people" in our neighborhood.

 

[REWahoo]

... compared to what I read on nextdoor.com and others, this is a prestigious nonpartisan thinktank.

And that is entirely due to the crack team of moderators assembled by Andy R and Janet H. I know both had concerns they were disrupting the interwebs by providing E-R. org moderators with compensation packages far above the norm, but it has certainly proven to be worth every penny!

 

[Midpack]

And that is entirely due to the crack team of moderators assembled by Andy R and Janet H. I know both had concerns they were disrupting the interwebs by providing E-R. org moderators with compensation packages far above the norm, but it has certainly proven to be worth every penny!

+1, definitely true. On the bright side, they haven't had to close down as many as I might have guessed, hope springs eternal.

 

[Amethyst]

It's the same here. The one worthwhile post I have seen was an ad for the new farmers' market delivery service. The area has a great farmers' market which had to close down, and we'd never have known about the service w/o Nextdoor.

I quit months ago... 99% of the posts on NextDoor were useless (selling or giving away old crap like rocking chairs, politics, nitpicking about unkept lawns, etc.) I never posted anything but would occasionally browse. I like being one the "quiet people" in our neighborhood.

 

[gauss]

I have avoided them also. I assumed there would be many "We have a child molester living in the neighborhood" types of posts. I don't need to know about this.

Thanks again to the ER.og leadership for maintaining a reasonable balance with a light hand.

-gauss

 

[Helen]

I concur, this site is dabomb! Thank you moderators and fellow members!!!

 

[braumeister]

providing E-R. org moderators with compensation packages far above the norm

Yes, it was already pretty good, but with that huge COVID-19 bonus and the ongoing hazardous duty supplement, I'm nearly at the point where I could buy a glass of water!

From the kitchen tap, that is.

 

[target2019]

And that is entirely due to the crack team of moderators assembled by Andy R and Janet H. I know both had concerns they were disrupting the interwebs by providing E-R. org moderators with compensation packages far above the norm, but it has certainly proven to be worth every penny!

I self-moderate. Can I get a baby cut of the spoils?

 

[harllee]

My Next-door does have moderators that shut down most Covid 19 discussions so it must depend on the location and who the moderators are. My Next-door is also doing a good job of telling folks which grocery stores have TP, sanitizer, etc and which restaurants are open for pick up.

I also appreciate the good work of the Moderators on this Forum. Thank you

 

[Ronstar]

.... this is a prestigious nonpartisan thinktank.

Exactly the reason why I only go to er.org for Covid (or almost any other) news.

 

[Nemo2]

"Oops, sorry, must have wandered into the wrong room....didn't realize this was a meeting of Adulators Anonymous........don't get up, I'll show myself out..."

 

[JoeWras]

Although I give credit to the mods for the work they do, I'm disappointed in the members here and some of the tone of responses. I'm even disappointed with my own contributions. We could do better. The mods can't keep up and keep an even keel.

So I ignored the containment area forum, and found that the oxygen has the left the room in many of the other threads. They just aren't dynamic as normal, since the energy is in the containment area.

With that in mind, I took a break. Came on today to check it out, and was not happy with some of the sniping going on on the Covid threads.

With that in mind, I'm going to take an extended break and hope the air returns at a later date. Ya'll are the best, but right now the sea is just too foamy.

 

[REWahoo]

If the crowd on E-R.org is too rowdy for comfort, I'm not sure anywhere on the interwebs is safe for you. Hope to see you back when you are up to it.

 

[statsman]

With that in mind, I took a break. Came on today to check it out, and was not happy with some of the sniping going on on the Covid threads.

With that in mind, I'm going to take an extended break and hope the air returns at a later date. Ya'll are the best, but right now the sea is just too foamy.

Better to make it a long break. I don't think things will get better in the coming weeks. In fact, some are already chomping at the bit to pounce on any failures going forward (re-opening the country, further cratering the economy, where are the $#@%@&^* tests, etc.).

 

[Mr. Tightwad]

Next-door never ceases to amaze me with its level of discussion. I have a negative opinion of most humans. Next-door confirms my beliefs.

 

[iloveyoga]

I concur, this site is dabomb! Thank you moderators and fellow members!!!

Thank you very much! I enjoy this forum and have learned a lot.

 

[Dtail]

Thank you very much! I enjoy this forum and have learned a lot.

+1

 

[Marita40]

Yes, I wholeheartedly appreciate the mods here too. It is a breath of fresh air.
In terms of Nextdoor and Facebook neighborhood sites, yes ours are full of hateful political wrangling. The other half are all busy sewing masks. I think this crisis brings out the best and worst of people. The scariest thing I see is paranoia, the Covid19 "informants" who have nothing better to do than rat out their neighbors or the kids on the block for not standing exactly 6 ft apart or not wearing masks. To be honest I find it terrifying that such folk are so ready to report on each other in this matter: think if it were a greater matter such as a crackdown by the state on ethnicity or religion or political views. We appear to be one baby step away from that here.

 

[intent]

I second the OP.

In a previous life I administered a large travel-related forum, and part of my job was visiting and analyzing the pluses and minuses of hundreds of online communities with the goal of stealing the pluses and trying to avoid the minuses in our own. What I learned was that launching and operating a successful online forum community (that isn't targeted to pre-adults) requires an almost miraculous combination of factors to all have to come together. You need good ownership, a great moderation team, hardware (or, today, a rapidly scalable cloud service) that can handle high loads and traffic surges, reliable and user-friendly forum software, organic publicity, a monetizable group (i.e., advertisers willing to pay to reach them, or members who want to buy products/services the ownership is selling), good SEO, and a lot of luck.

But most of all, to have any chance at a successful online forum, you absolutely must have a large membership base that is thoughtful, mature, intelligent, helpful, and has a sense of humor.

Today I visit three forums regularly - this is one of them.

 

[COcheesehead]

On Next Door, I have my preferences set to only include my specific neighborhood. I think the default will expand the reach miles from where you live and could include folks that none of us would consider as “neighbors next door”.

We use it to let people know dogs are loose or a package was not delivered correctly. The occasional car break in.

It’s as useless or useful as you want to make it.

 

[NameRedacted]

I spent some time on nextdoor.com this morning where there are several Covid-19 threads. What a useless mess. Extreme views from both sides, conspiracy theory nonsense and plenty of insults. Most want to reopen NOW or everyone stay at home until there's a proven vaccine, both repeatedly insulting each other - what's the point?

I've seen the same on a few other forums I participate on.

We're all still learning on ER.org as elsewhere, so we've had out moments too (I sure have) - but compared to what I read on nextdoor.com and others, this is a prestigious nonpartisan thinktank.

The nice think about NextDoor is it lets you know who all the crazy people in your neighborhood who should be avoided are.

 

[CDRE]

Thanks to each of the Administrators and Moderators. You folks rock and I truly appreciate your awesome efforts in maintaining an appropriate balance.

 

[Janet H]

And that is entirely due to the crack team of moderators assembled by Andy R and Janet H. I know both had concerns they were disrupting the interwebs by providing E-R. org moderators with compensation packages far above the norm, but it has certainly proven to be worth every penny!

Yup... awesome benefits, including ringside seats, rock star parking and even virtual snacks. We have some extras however; help yourself.

 

[Red Badger]

If the crowd on E-R.org is too rowdy for comfort, I'm not sure anywhere on the interwebs is safe for you. Hope to see you back when you are up to it.

I don't read any C19 threads, posts, etc. If I still get scuffed up here, I've likely earned it.