All posts in the topic Topics in this Forum (Short link)
Summary
- There are 5 posts — by 3 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by Dan Randow at 2007 Oct 01 23:52 UTC
Hi Folks, It is great to see the number of people who are posting thoughtful, and provocative contributions to this forum, and to see the variety of issues that are being raised. Thank you all. This is the stuff of a public issues forum. As the forum gets busier, it is becoming more important to follow some posting guidelines, so that people do not get overwhelmed with a lot of posts that are difficult to follow. In particular, it is important to use "Topics" correctly. I am opening this "Topics in this Forum" topic to explain how topics work, to list the benefits of using topics, to provide some simple guidelines for using topics, and to draw your attention to some of the active topics that we have in this forum (see below). I encourage you all to read this post, and take some time to follow the topic guidelines. Over the last few days, various folks have posted to the "Guest Speakers" Topic, http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/24st8NYmTWDckdt1SGobrt about issues that are not specific to the Guest Speakers process, and that are already being discussed in other Topics. As we go on, when people do this, I am going to keep diverting those posts to their "rightful homes". This will unavoidably cause some disruption to the flow of conversation, but will result in a forum that is more manageable for all. I encourage others to take up "Topic Cop" roles as well, so that we can develop some momentum towards a Topic Happy Culture in this Forum! cheers, Dan . . Dan Randow, Forum Manager Canterbury Public Issues Forum http://canterburyissues.org.nz <email obscured> ph 03-377-5377 . . . . . HOW TOPICS WORK Posts in the forum are organised into Topics. The Topics are listed on the "Latest Topics" page. http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/canterburyissues/messages/ A Topic is made up of all the posts that have the same subject line (or topic title). When a Topic gets a new post, it moves to the top of the list on the Latest Topics page. Topics make it easy to keep conversations about different issues separate. Using the Web view of a Topic, it is very easy to read all the posts about one issue, one after the other, on a single page. There is more about the benefits of using Topics, below. There are also some examples of Topics, below. USING TOPICS CORRECTLY To use Topics correctly, follow these two guidelines. 1: Adding to a Topic. Only add to a topic if your post is actually on that topic. If it's not, then start a new topic (see "Starting a Topic", below). To add to a topic using email, just reply to the email keeping the subject line unchanged. To add to a topic using the Web, login to the website, visit the topic and find "add to topic" there. You can easily navigate from each email to the Web view of the topic, by following the link in the message footer. 2: Starting a Topic. Only start a topic, if your post is actually on a new topic. If it is a comment on a topic that already exists, then add it to that topic (see "Adding to a Topic", above). When you start a new topic, make sure you give it a title (or subject line), that accurately describes the subject that you are posting about. To start a new topic using email, post an email to the group with a subject line that has not been used before. To start a new topic using the Web, login to the Website, navigate to the Topics page, http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/canterburyissues/messages/ and click "Start a topic". BENEFITS OF TOPICS Shows respect for the people who have already posted to the topics, especially when you read their posts, and respond to them in your post. Makes it easy for people who visit the Forum on the Web to follow the separate conversations, while they are occurring concurrently. Many people follow this forum by visiting the Website, http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/canterburyissues/messages/topics.html or using Web Feed Readers. http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/canterburyissues/messages/view_thread_rss Both of these tasks are much easier if the title of the post accurately describes its content. Makes it easy for people who visit the site on the Web to follow the separate conversations, while they are occurring concurrently. Many people who receive the postings via email, receive a lot of email. It is much easier to follow conversations using email, if the subject line of the email accurately describes its content. Makes it easy for people who receive the "Topic Digest" by email, to find out what is actually being discussed in the Forum. EXAMPLES OF TOPICS The "Peak Oil and implications for Christchurch" topic http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4cYOM0GlXpQrfpeMxF4Ebs is a good example. Another good example is the "Introductions" topic, http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/3z8Cb3CfqQI0nD7A09zv0X a good place to introduce yourself, when you begin posting to the Forum. In his enthusiasm for people introducing themselves, the Forum Manager (Dan) has made "Introductions" a "Sticky Topic", so that it always appears at the top of the list, even if other topics contain more recent posts. Here are some other examples of Topics in the Canterbury Online Public Issues Forum. "Guest Speakers" http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/24st8NYmTWDckdt1SGobrt A topic for explaining what the Guest Speaker role involves, and for discussing who the Guest Speakers are, and when they are going to participate. "Who should be the new Mayor of Christchurch?" http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/2IeK6Jp4BrwiatTvmmzW2j A topic where there is already an active discussion about "independence" in local government elected representatives. "City Mall Redevelopment" http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/7mDFZrNyorFE8DAaCauRso "Light Rail for Christchurch" http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/2aLOaST73Chtkn14RQAcuu And here are some old ones, that have much potential for reactivation. "Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy" http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/6nPHyGE6C3ROfCuAJsCbLI "Traffic congestion" http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/2iFwmhySAGzn1a0Yo8ob28 "Pollution in the Avon / Heathcote Estuary" http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4LnjwhOW3fA5C5s3Suy5EF "Disengaged and disillusioned young people" http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/iomzGhn31ucKqqqV18JPn "Police operations in Christchurch" http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/1lapX15wpxAZLAnnuSxpFz "Central Plains Water Scheme" http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/3yXe824VDroQnkYrwzClBa By the way, the "short links" that appear on the topic pages are useful for linking to topics and posts, because they're short.
Paul, In "Democracy and Listening", http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/5h65Psep9VR7B2zcNS9OL7 you posted: There have been good posts on this site, but the value of those threads are lost easily by super imposing new topics. Why do people answer a question by starting a new thread. I ask you to re-position comment to the appropriate thread. Actually, I think people are using Topics pretty well in this forum. The Topics page http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/canterburyissues/messages/topics.html shows that half of the latest 20 topics have 5 or more posts. Using topics well does make it easier to follow conversations, but it is just as important that people can post without being subject to harsh criticism for their use of the technology.
The Christchurch Polytechnic Students' Association is organising a Mayoral
Forum for this Wednesday, 12th September at CPIT from 12-1pm.
Candidates confirmed to attend are Blair Anderson, Byron Clark, Kyle Chapman,
Jo Giles, Bob Parker, Paulus Telfer, Peter Wakeman and Megan Woods.
This event is open to the public so come along and ask your would be Mayor
those really tough questions that will induce silence or the fabled “No
comment”.
The CPSA will also be putting on a BBQ for any one and all,
Kind regards
Marcus Puentener
CPSA Events and Marketing
940 8903
Marcus, My apologies as I will not be able to be present on Wednesday.
Out of respect for Cr. Graham Condon, I will be cancelling a number of public
campaign engagements this week.
We are all deeply saddened by the loss of Graham. He was a tireless worker for
this city, a courageous and inspirational person and a wonderful mate and
colleague.
I feel it's inappropriate to be undertaking my mayoral campaign tasks this
week.
I would prefer, instead to focus on whatever support we can provide to Graham’s
family.
His funeral is on Friday.
Bob Parker
Sue Wells correctly observes that it is impossible to post on multiple matters within the posting limit, without doing so in a single topic. This makes it harder to follow the discussion on a single matter, as it is interspersed with comments on other matters. Posting on a single subject in a single "Topic" makes it easier for people reading your posts to follow a conversation, as can be seen in the following examples. Central Plains Water Scheme http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/canterburyissues/messages/topic/gJf2N1mlyNhrx1F0ZJVBB Should Christchurch residents pay for their water? http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/canterburyissues/messages/topic/2oDIxIqTsU6Kap0YleMaLv But there are inevitable exceptions to this. CPW scheme http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/canterburyissues/messages/topic/5LGAV5jtJcSTCNtSkRn5vN I encourage contributors to this forum to comply with the spirit of the guidelines, which encourage a few thoughtful posts on a few topics. This does make it harder for posters to express views on a large number of subjects simultaneously, but it makes it easier for readers to follow the conversation, which after all is why most people seem to be here (only 60 of the 200 members post each month).