I don't think TNH is such a great source for information on how to moderate a virtual community. She's put together a vibrant and active community over at Making Light, which is great. But she goes on from that to infer that she's hit on some basic Universal Truths Of Moderation. Many of her basic truths are, IMHO, completely wrong (such as the absolute necessity of moderation in the first place). I'm sure she does some things well (disemvowelling is a clever tactic) and has some good insights, but to learn from her, I think it would be necessary to study what she actually did while Making Light was growing, not what she now thinks she does. (And of course no matter how well or poorly you moderate, success depends mostly on who your community's members are and how they behave.)
What were they using before the bathrooms came?
And is this puzzle specific to Indian culture, or could it be about water-closets being introduced to any culture?
It's interesting that the kids quit, along with the women, which rules out some menstruation-related taboo, I think.
Possibly unrelated, but still strange and wonderful: the water bridge effect.
posted by hattifattener 16 years ago
In "Tact filters."
I don't think TNH is such a great source for information on how to moderate a virtual community. She's put together a vibrant and active community over at Making Light, which is great. But she goes on from that to infer that she's hit on some basic Universal Truths Of Moderation. Many of her basic truths are, IMHO, completely wrong (such as the absolute necessity of moderation in the first place). I'm sure she does some things well (disemvowelling is a clever tactic) and has some good insights, but to learn from her, I think it would be necessary to study what she actually did while Making Light was growing, not what she now thinks she does. (And of course no matter how well or poorly you moderate, success depends mostly on who your community's members are and how they behave.)
posted by hattifattener 17 years ago
In "Curious George: I'm Loosing My Mind!"
BlueHorse: The author of that quote is James Nicoll.
posted by hattifattener 17 years ago
In "Curious George: What the hey?"
What were they using before the bathrooms came? And is this puzzle specific to Indian culture, or could it be about water-closets being introduced to any culture? It's interesting that the kids quit, along with the women, which rules out some menstruation-related taboo, I think.
posted by hattifattener 18 years ago
(limited to the most recent 20 comments)