Based on the content of the Docudharma Mission Statement, it would appear that the desire of the Publisher of this site is to generate a controlled burn within American society…. To coax its citizens onto a path that will better serve all people, American and otherwise. To accomplish the mission, those in control (Publisher, Editors, et al) need to take care not to sew the seeds of wild fire.
Now let’s get out there and change the world!
…an evolution.
As an outsider, an occasional guest contributor, I offer several suggestions (criticisms, if you prefer to characterize as such).
- Quickly get over the gestation period. As the site went through conception, growth in the protected womb, and now after having birthed, several practices [undoubtedly] were commonplace, appropriate, inevitable for the [apparently] close knit founder group. In any such undertaking, this is common and understandable.
After launch, the Principals, the governing hierarchy, must overcome the desire to keep it [the site] as it was…. time to direct the flames inward and control the acreage to only that which is desirable to burn. Wild fires tend to burn everything. Is that the intent of Docudharma?
- Limit the insider lingo, references that may have prevailed when you were a small, homogeneous group of like-minded bloggers.
- Discipline yourselves from making this a broader audience for vacation slide shows.
- To the degree possible, champion substantive comments with an aversion to back and forth one-liner commentary…. chattiness. Expect, demand substantive comments…. be they humorous, profound, for or against. Demand that essayist, whatever the subject matter, style, tone, intent, etc., be serious in their respective contributions. Even frivolity can serve a serious purpose and frequently is needed when the mission is to
…change the world.
So let frivolity shine through when it is demonstrated to be more than frat-house jokesterism.
- The fact that this site is open to any subject matter, to any contributor, speaks highly of the Publisher. With respect for the mission and the site’s Publisher and contributing Editors, guest writers should question their own intent and think deeply about the content of their respective contributions before the public SAVE button is depressed.
- In life, a revolution of thinking, of actions, in outcomes is very difficult to accomplish…. an evolution, a thousand-times more so. Revolutions are, oftentimes, driven by pure emotion, ill-aimed passion. Evolution is more subtle. Just think about the time expended since our ancestors crawled out of the sea and up onto the land. If necessity had not focused these creatures onto our historical evolutionary pathway, we probably would not have evolved beyond the stage of Mr. and Ms Lizard by this point in time, this year, some hundreds of billions since time began.
So, get serious. We don’t have to take our individual selves too serious, but we certainly should take the product of our collective minds very seriously indeed.
EOSBS …end of soap box speech.
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… the name of this site is DocuDharma.
I may or may not have further comment after I have digested what you have written.
… what you have written. I agree with a lot of it, especially the notions about “insider lingo” (a very difficult thing to avoid) and one-liners that can frustrate the reader to the point of not seeing comments as a real discussion and dialogue.
And also agree we must always have frivolity!
I’ll give you my response. As an Admin in Name Only, my opinions here are not official or influential really.
Agreed.
Not sure what this means.
In our primary writing? Certainly. But in commenting? Impossible to control.
On the front? Sure. In the diaries? Nonsense. A sense of community is one of the main reasons I am here. Totally disagree.
Completely DISAGREE. Let community reign in the community and let the community decide how to express itself.
Meh. One man’s frat-house jokesterism us another woman’s Marx Bros. genius. Or both. Stop trying to dictate what people say or think.
Indeed. We all should. but that is an individual decision.
Um, okay. And?
But you forgot the ‘become a community part.’
Which includes jokes, lingo, chat, etc.
Developing into a solid community DOES mean alienating a few outsiders who aren’t patient enough to wade through and learn the ins and outs….but it is still essential.
As with everything balance is key.
Thanks for the very thoughtful critique!
detailed essays criticizing blog mechanizations and functions should always be allowed…. 😉
and ill get serious when they pry my joy buzzer from my cold, dead hand. and that’s not a joke.
your take on DD progress is always interesting…but i would rather have you as an ‘insider’ member of the community than as an outsider critic. your analytical skills would be most welcome on topics other than the workings of the blog, imo.
and if we go around pretending we don’t have insider lingo, then we are like everybody else.
the point is to know who and what we are and have room at the table for as many as possible
we will keep on stumbling… but who are we when we get up? cause i do take myself seriously… and yet,i can be a total ass… at turns lovable, and difficult, condescending, open-minded… you know… without a sense of humor i would be lost
we will keep pissing people off and i say: as it should be
we will form groups… it is our nature
from my perspective, most of the people here, while loving the pack, are not ruled by it
you shouldn’t confuse the difference
and while i sympathize with your post, you should know i find it a bit patronizing
i’m glad you offered it up because it helps me to clarify my own views
and i’m glad you are here, as well, The Ref…
and I love to dance!
Thanks for some food for thought, tho!
And this is one of the funniest diaries yet. This was great: “Writers should question their own intent and think deeply about the content of their respective contributions before the public SAVE button is depressed.” Perfect deadpan.
No fart jokes, please.
These pants were made for the Red Army Choir. Unlike Karmafish, I cannot dance. When moved by something to do so, I employ a non-standard technique. Please join me for the wibbly-wobbly waltz….