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There are 12 posts — by 10 authors — in this topic.
Latest post made by Carol Hayward at 2007 Oct 08 14:27 UTC

From: Ben barker Date: 2007 Sep 22 07:24 UTC Short link

Hi,

It's about six months since we launched this forum as part of the Greater
Bedminster Community Partnership (GBCP).   Time to take stock on this
experiment?

For me the forum was to serve two main purposes:

1.   Promote greater co-operation between agencies (police, council, health
etc) and voluntary, community and business groups by providing a place to swap
information and ideas, mainly related to local issues, that is neighbourhoods
such as Southville, Bedminster, Ashton and Ashton Vale.   I guess that's worked
fairly well with issues relating to traffic, parks and rivers and local
shopping popping amongst others over the months.   We know that some of the
agencies are keeping in touch because we've heard, for example, from local
councillors and the police.   We don't know if other agencies are lurking out
there, listening, but not responding.   Hallo?

2.   Give opportunities to local people to influence events and policies at a
local level.   I think there may have been some influencing, for example, a
Bristol City Council commission is looking at the '106 issue' this Thursday.
They probably would not have done that if the allocation of this money had not
been debated on the forum and local councillors had not picked it up.   Can
anyone give other examples?   On the other hand, forum debates and membership
are still restricted to a very small number of people, compared to the
population of the area.

Of course, other forum members might see the forum very differently.   How do
you feel the first six months have gone?   What would you hope for from the
next six months?

Cheers,   Ben.

From: George Ferguson Date: 2007 Sep 22 08:47 UTC Short link

I think you are absolutely right Ben - but I have been put off participating
by one or two people who seem to think we might be interested in their
obsessive and rather silly views on politicians, police or dogs etc. This
has soured what is otherwise a very useful community tool and I suggest we
all treat each other with a bit more respect and stick to the locally
relevant. Incidentally my widespread experience with councillors of all
parties is that they are generally attracted by public service and service
to Bristol and that they are dedicated to their area and the wider city  it
is certainly not a glamorous job and yes they do sometimes make wrong
decisions  but usually in good faith!

Well done Ben

George Ferguson

Tobacco Factory
Raleigh Road
Southville
Bristol BS3 1TF

Website  http://www.tobaccofactory.com

Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

> From: Ben Barker <benbarker@blueyonder.co.uk>
> Reply-To: Ben Barker <benbarker@blueyonder.co.uk>
> Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2007 08:24:31 +0100
> To: <bemmy-forum@forums.e-democracy.org>
> Subject: [GB-Forum] Six months of the Bemmy Forum
>
> Hi,
>
> It's about six months since we launched this forum as part of the Greater
> Bedminster Community Partnership (GBCP).   Time to take stock on this
> experiment?
>
> For me the forum was to serve two main purposes:
>
> 1.   Promote greater co-operation between agencies (police, council, health
> etc) and voluntary, community and business groups by providing a place to
swap
> information and ideas, mainly related to local issues, that is neighbourhoods
> such as Southville, Bedminster, Ashton and Ashton Vale.   I guess that's
> worked fairly well with issues relating to traffic, parks and rivers and
local
> shopping popping amongst others over the months.   We know that some of the
> agencies are keeping in touch because we've heard, for example, from local
> councillors and the police.   We don't know if other agencies are lurking out
> there, listening, but not responding.   Hallo?
>
> 2.   Give opportunities to local people to influence events and policies at a
> local level.   I think there may have been some influencing, for example, a
> Bristol City Council commission is looking at the '106 issue' this Thursday.
> They probably would not have done that if the allocation of this money had
not
> been debated on the forum and local councillors had not picked it up.   Can
> anyone give other examples?   On the other hand, forum debates and membership
> are still restricted to a very small number of people, compared to the
> population of the area.
>
> Of course, other forum members might see the forum very differently.   How do
> you feel the first six months have gone?   What would you hope for from the
> next six months?
>
> Cheers,   Ben.
>
> Ben barker
>
> Info about Ben barker: http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/benbarker
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/kjp2wX7jWXk6enjMco3mV
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>   in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
>
>   More info about Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum:
>   http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum
>
>   E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
> -----------------------------------------
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>

From: John Purkiss Date: 2007 Sep 25 16:44 UTC Short link

Hi Ben

In brief, I find the forum useful for information and I agree with George
that it could be a very useful community tool.  I find however, that I
simply don't have the time to read every entry let alone respond.  Not that
I'd want to respond to many of the entries - it's a bit like reading the
Evening Post and I gave up that several years ago.

John.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben Barker" <benbarker@blueyonder.co.uk>
To: <bemmy-forum@forums.e-democracy.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 8:24 AM
Subject: [GB-Forum] Six months of the Bemmy Forum


> Hi,
>
> It's about six months since we launched this forum as part of the Greater
> Bedminster Community Partnership (GBCP).   Time to take stock on this
> experiment?
>
> For me the forum was to serve two main purposes:
>
> 1.   Promote greater co-operation between agencies (police, council,
> health etc) and voluntary, community and business groups by providing a
> place to swap information and ideas, mainly related to local issues, that
> is neighbourhoods such as Southville, Bedminster, Ashton and Ashton Vale.
> I guess that's worked fairly well with issues relating to traffic, parks
> and rivers and local shopping popping amongst others over the months.   We
> know that some of the agencies are keeping in touch because we've heard,
> for example, from local councillors and the police.   We don't know if
> other agencies are lurking out there, listening, but not responding.
> Hallo?
>
> 2.   Give opportunities to local people to influence events and policies
> at a local level.   I think there may have been some influencing, for
> example, a Bristol City Council commission is looking at the '106 issue'
> this Thursday.   They probably would not have done that if the allocation
> of this money had not been debated on the forum and local councillors had
> not picked it up.   Can anyone give other examples?   On the other hand,
> forum debates and membership are still restricted to a very small number
> of people, compared to the population of the area.
>
> Of course, other forum members might see the forum very differently.   How
> do you feel the first six months have gone?   What would you hope for from
> the next six months?
>
> Cheers,   Ben.
>
> Ben barker
>
> Info about Ben barker: http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/benbarker
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/kjp2wX7jWXk6enjMco3mV
> -----------------------------------------
>  To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
>  To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
>  in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
>
>  More info about Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum:
>  http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum
>
>  E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
> -----------------------------------------
> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net

From: Alex Phillips Date: 2007 Sep 25 19:08 UTC Short link

Just comparing the Brighton Forum reveals they have a total of 102 posts on 27
topics to date for the month of September. They've over 270 members and look to
have been going for 21/2 years-there's some catching up to be done. I'm not
sure how you measure success. Is it just the number of posts and topics or the
extent to which people engage with and contribute to the forum as discussion
and debate? Or is the forum successful as a means of exchanging
(useful or not) information?



Alex Phillips

From: Steven Clift Date: 2007 Sep 26 02:36 UTC Short link

Think of this forum as a built to last exercise built post by post, participant
by participant over many years.

You've already had a major comparative breakthrough where you've had a local
councillor post information and ask for your input. That almost never happens
online in a public two-way space anywhere in the world.

Of course we'd like that to happen on our Issues Forum every week, but the fact
that it has happened here - and hopefully will happen again - is a major
accomplishment.

Also, because these efforts are volunteer driven, we might ask ourselves how to
double the size of the group and who might have the resources to help us do
some of that recruitment in person. This paper form can be used -
http://e-democracy.org/uk/ifsignupform.doc - to recruit a key public events.
Recruiting online is fine, but the big jumps will come from getting out there.

Steven Clift
Chair, E-Democracy.Org

P.S. If you live in other parts of Bristol and are interested in starting an
neighbourhood forum in your area or perhaps interested in city-wide forums, be
sure to let us know: <email obscured>

From: Tim Erickson Date: 2007 Sep 26 05:00 UTC Short link

On Sep 25, 2007, at 2:09 PM, Alex Phillips wrote:
> Just comparing the Brighton Forum reveals they have a total of 102
> posts on 27 topics to date for the month of September. They've over
> 270 members and look to have been going for 21/2 years-there's some
> catching up to be done. I'm not sure how you measure success. Is it
> just the number of posts and topics or the extent to which people
> engage with and contribute to the forum as discussion and debate?
> Or is the forum successful as a means of exchanging (useful or not)
> information?

One of the toughest things about measuring the success of these
forums, is the amount of value a forum like this has for folks who
read but never post - and the impact that it has, that never appears
in the forum.

Based upon my experiences in other forums, I'm quite confident that
there are folks who read every message to this forum - and find the
content very educating and/or useful, yet never post publicly.

I'm fairly confident that there are folks who have had questions
answered or problems solved, because of this forum, even though the
results never appeared here. Often, discussions that start in a
public forum end up offline.

Does anyone care to share an example of a discussion in this forum
that they have found useful or particularly interesting??

Maybe someone who has never posted before can share their thoughts on
how useful they have found this forum as a means of discussing
neighbourhood issues?

FYI:

   Forum Stats:
      http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum/stats.html
   Forum Membership:
      http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum/members

Best wishes,

Tim Erickson
E-Democracy.Org

From: Stephen Wickham Date: 2007 Sep 28 00:01 UTC Short link

I'm going to refer back to a thread called "Timing" in May 07 here
(including Carol Hayward of 23 May) which is I think where people noticed
they were being locked out by the system when they started a debate. This
isn't a big chat room, it just allows you two entries in some definition of
a day and then tells you you cant post again until "earlier than now"
meaning later, maybe tomorrow if you're lucky, as its New Zealand time being
quoted without saying so. !
So you've got to treat it as a single statement in a hustings  perhaps or
ignore it for two days and then do one all-embracing response to hopefully
at least three other people enthused by your topic. Or fester away at some
unilateral manifesto while you are locked out. :)

I noticed that as the "six months" thread got under way there were actually
no other discussions in progress. there are actually only four entries of
any sort from12th-22nd September. Then somehow the bonfire picks up on 25
sept, Emma starts her pub noise query "everyone" tries to help, maybe even
adds to another topic and next thing you know Emma (I'm guessing) and I
(certainly) are timed out. So it stalls.

There are five entries on the 25th, ten entries on 26 sept and none at all
on 27th why is that?

I've got another contribution to the pub noise thread, its been rejected on
timing grounds, and I'm not resubmitting it now as  I need a
life-in-reserve. So it will probably never appear here. Phew you say!

So instead I add to Tim's questions, I wonder how many good contributions
have been blocked out by the system? and how many people stop for good or at
least a month or two once hit by the choke point?
Anyone care to venture an experience here in celebration of the six months?

I do agree with others (probably more discussed face to face than on line)
that we do ourselves no service getting heated with each other and dwelling
in dog-poo.

Actually I'm fairly disappointed, I don't think people do rise to new
topics, when I mentioned the Cooperage Lane Re-Development situation Ali
Bevan came in with a supportive sentence hoping for lots of contributions,
and that was the utter bitter end of it.
Believe me the first consultation version of that would have changed
Southville as we know it, and we don't know what the second version is
because they are only showing the planners in confidence, who are again
unimpressed. In the mean time we have had a demolition exercise which not to
put too fine a point on it broke the law, despite being permitted, and there
is much more to come down than has come down already, some of it with
asbestos sheet roofs, and a little of it one of the oldest stone buildings
in Southville, two feet outside a conservation area. Anyone interested?

There is some good public interest broadcasting, Charles Bolton quoting the
planning list for this patch only  is an excellent editorial service, and
obviously isn't intended to get a response, just a weekly update

The problem with this contribution is probably that its now too long and
covering too much ground, but at least I should be allowed to place it.

so if you're still reading, thanks, and why not add a comment of your own?

all best
Stephen


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Erickson" <tim@e-democracy.org>
To: "Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum"
<bemmy-forum@forums.e-democracy.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:00 AM
Subject: Re: [GB-Forum] Six months of the Bemmy Forum


> On Sep 25, 2007, at 2:09 PM, Alex Phillips wrote:
>> Just comparing the Brighton Forum reveals they have a total of 102
>> posts on 27 topics to date for the month of September. They've over
>> 270 members and look to have been going for 21/2 years-there's some
>> catching up to be done. I'm not sure how you measure success. Is it
>> just the number of posts and topics or the extent to which people
>> engage with and contribute to the forum as discussion and debate?
>> Or is the forum successful as a means of exchanging (useful or not)
>> information?
>
> One of the toughest things about measuring the success of these
> forums, is the amount of value a forum like this has for folks who
> read but never post - and the impact that it has, that never appears
> in the forum.
>
> Based upon my experiences in other forums, I'm quite confident that
> there are folks who read every message to this forum - and find the
> content very educating and/or useful, yet never post publicly.
>
> I'm fairly confident that there are folks who have had questions
> answered or problems solved, because of this forum, even though the
> results never appeared here. Often, discussions that start in a
> public forum end up offline.
>
> Does anyone care to share an example of a discussion in this forum
> that they have found useful or particularly interesting??
>
> Maybe someone who has never posted before can share their thoughts on
> how useful they have found this forum as a means of discussing
> neighbourhood issues?
>
> FYI:
>
>   Forum Stats:
>      http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum/stats.html
>   Forum Membership:
>      http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum/members
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Tim Erickson
> E-Democracy.Org
>
>
>
>
> Tim Erickson
> Hamline Midway, St. Paul
> Info about Tim Erickson:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/timerickson
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4z5mOWOoRgz5KzaQHIjtXO
> -----------------------------------------
>  To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
>  To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
>  in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
>
>  More info about Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum:
>  http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum
>
>  E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
> -----------------------------------------
> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net
>

From: Alex Phillips Date: 2007 Sep 28 00:35 UTC Short link

I agree with Stephen
this may be locked out as ......no ...ok  my daily 2 posts have not expired.
This format is not the easiest to negotiate-I prefer a phpbb open source forum.
Costs a little for server space but much easier to post and hold a debate. Also
you can dip in and out of topics you're interested in easier. We could do with
a forum just for planning issues. Cooperage lane looks like another carve-up by
unscrupulous developers as we watch helpless from the side lines. And why do
people keep mentioning dogs...not this thread!

From: Emma Winfield Date: 2007 Oct 01 08:15 UTC Short link

Hi Stephen

  I think the '2 posts a day' has definitely stalled the forum (but also can
appreciate it is to stop a core few swamping the board with our own stuff).

  I did get locked out, and then when I had an update I'd forgotten about the
Forum and so didn't remember to post it up!  I'll do so now, and in doing so
will lock myself out again for the 24-hr (ish) period, of course.

  I think it's important for topics to get full discussion, which no doubt
might lead to more than 2 posts in 24 hours from those interested.  However, I
wouldn't want it to be unlimited, as it does at least concentrate your mind on
getting all the info in one email where possible, and stops the "Oh, forgot to
mention, ..." emails.  I try and limit a reply to "do I have anything more to
add to this that hasn't already been said".  Of course, this means you can get
no sense of how many people on the Forum agree with any of the points, as you
don't have a series of "me too" posts!  It's not easy, is it?!

  The problem with one long email like yours is the info on many points is now
buried in one catch-all topic, and not under their own relevant topics.  I for
one would like to know more about the Southville demolition thing, for example
...

  Best wishes

  Emma

STEPHEN WICKHAM <stephen_wickham@btinternet.com> wrote:
  I'm going to refer back to a thread called "Timing" in May 07 here
(including Carol Hayward of 23 May) which is I think where people noticed
they were being locked out by the system when they started a debate. This
isn't a big chat room, it just allows you two entries in some definition of
a day and then tells you you cant post again until "earlier than now"
meaning later, maybe tomorrow if you're lucky, as its New Zealand time being
quoted without saying so. !
So you've got to treat it as a single statement in a hustings perhaps or
ignore it for two days and then do one all-embracing response to hopefully
at least three other people enthused by your topic. Or fester away at some
unilateral manifesto while you are locked out. :)

I noticed that as the "six months" thread got under way there were actually
no other discussions in progress. there are actually only four entries of
any sort from12th-22nd September. Then somehow the bonfire picks up on 25
sept, Emma starts her pub noise query "everyone" tries to help, maybe even
adds to another topic and next thing you know Emma (I'm guessing) and I
(certainly) are timed out. So it stalls.

There are five entries on the 25th, ten entries on 26 sept and none at all
on 27th why is that?

I've got another contribution to the pub noise thread, its been rejected on
timing grounds, and I'm not resubmitting it now as I need a
life-in-reserve. So it will probably never appear here. Phew you say!

So instead I add to Tim's questions, I wonder how many good contributions
have been blocked out by the system? and how many people stop for good or at
least a month or two once hit by the choke point?
Anyone care to venture an experience here in celebration of the six months?

I do agree with others (probably more discussed face to face than on line)
that we do ourselves no service getting heated with each other and dwelling
in dog-poo.

Actually I'm fairly disappointed, I don't think people do rise to new
topics, when I mentioned the Cooperage Lane Re-Development situation Ali
Bevan came in with a supportive sentence hoping for lots of contributions,
and that was the utter bitter end of it.
Believe me the first consultation version of that would have changed
Southville as we know it, and we don't know what the second version is
because they are only showing the planners in confidence, who are again
unimpressed. In the mean time we have had a demolition exercise which not to
put too fine a point on it broke the law, despite being permitted, and there
is much more to come down than has come down already, some of it with
asbestos sheet roofs, and a little of it one of the oldest stone buildings
in Southville, two feet outside a conservation area. Anyone interested?

There is some good public interest broadcasting, Charles Bolton quoting the
planning list for this patch only is an excellent editorial service, and
obviously isn't intended to get a response, just a weekly update

The problem with this contribution is probably that its now too long and
covering too much ground, but at least I should be allowed to place it.

so if you're still reading, thanks, and why not add a comment of your own?

all best
Stephen


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Erickson"
To: "Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum"

Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:00 AM
Subject: Re: [GB-Forum] Six months of the Bemmy Forum


> On Sep 25, 2007, at 2:09 PM, Alex Phillips wrote:
>> Just comparing the Brighton Forum reveals they have a total of 102
>> posts on 27 topics to date for the month of September. They've over
>> 270 members and look to have been going for 21/2 years-there's some
>> catching up to be done. I'm not sure how you measure success. Is it
>> just the number of posts and topics or the extent to which people
>> engage with and contribute to the forum as discussion and debate?
>> Or is the forum successful as a means of exchanging (useful or not)
>> information?
>
> One of the toughest things about measuring the success of these
> forums, is the amount of value a forum like this has for folks who
> read but never post - and the impact that it has, that never appears
> in the forum.
>
> Based upon my experiences in other forums, I'm quite confident that
> there are folks who read every message to this forum - and find the
> content very educating and/or useful, yet never post publicly.
>
> I'm fairly confident that there are folks who have had questions
> answered or problems solved, because of this forum, even though the
> results never appeared here. Often, discussions that start in a
> public forum end up offline.
>
> Does anyone care to share an example of a discussion in this forum
> that they have found useful or particularly interesting??
>
> Maybe someone who has never posted before can share their thoughts on
> how useful they have found this forum as a means of discussing
> neighbourhood issues?
>
> FYI:
>
> Forum Stats:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum/stats.html
> Forum Membership:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum/members
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Tim Erickson
> E-Democracy.Org
>
>
>
>
> Tim Erickson
> Hamline Midway, St. Paul
> Info about Tim Erickson:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/timerickson
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4z5mOWOoRgz5KzaQHIjtXO
> -----------------------------------------
> To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
> To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
> in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
>
> More info about Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum
>
> E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
> -----------------------------------------
> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net
>



Stephen Wickham

Info about Stephen Wickham:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/wickhamstephen

This topic's messages may be viewed at:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/1gHMqle5WTtg8yX0pVFgvd
-----------------------------------------
To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
in subject line and send to: <email obscured>

More info about Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum

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-----------------------------------------
Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net

From: charlie bolton Date: 2007 Oct 01 13:41 UTC Short link

I do wonder if really there is a need for two lists

1. An information/announcement/ low-volume list

2. An anything goes/its my opinion and I'm damn-well going to upt it type list



Charlie Bolton
Green Party Councillor
Southville

>>> Emma Winfield <dilemma@btinternet.com> 01/10/07 08:08 >>>
Hi Stephen

  I think the '2 posts a day' has definitely stalled the forum (but also can
appreciate it is to stop a core few swamping the board with our own stuff).

  I did get locked out, and then when I had an update I'd forgotten about the
Forum and so didn't remember to post it up!  I'll do so now, and in doing so
will lock myself out again for the 24-hr (ish) period, of course.

  I think it's important for topics to get full discussion, which no doubt
might lead to more than 2 posts in 24 hours from those interested.  However, I
wouldn't want it to be unlimited, as it does at least concentrate your mind on
getting all the info in one email where possible, and stops the "Oh, forgot to
mention, ..." emails.  I try and limit a reply to "do I have anything more to
add to this that hasn't already been said".  Of course, this means you can get
no sense of how many people on the Forum agree with any of the points, as you
don't have a series of "me too" posts!  It's not easy, is it?!

  The problem with one long email like yours is the info on many points is now
buried in one catch-all topic, and not under their own relevant topics.  I for
one would like to know more about the Southville demolition thing, for example
...

  Best wishes

  Emma

STEPHEN WICKHAM <stephen_wickham@btinternet.com> wrote:
  I'm going to refer back to a thread called "Timing" in May 07 here
(including Carol Hayward of 23 May) which is I think where people noticed
they were being locked out by the system when they started a debate. This
isn't a big chat room, it just allows you two entries in some definition of
a day and then tells you you cant post again until "earlier than now"
meaning later, maybe tomorrow if you're lucky, as its New Zealand time being
quoted without saying so. !
So you've got to treat it as a single statement in a hustings perhaps or
ignore it for two days and then do one all-embracing response to hopefully
at least three other people enthused by your topic. Or fester away at some
unilateral manifesto while you are locked out. :)

I noticed that as the "six months" thread got under way there were actually
no other discussions in progress. there are actually only four entries of
any sort from12th-22nd September. Then somehow the bonfire picks up on 25
sept, Emma starts her pub noise query "everyone" tries to help, maybe even
adds to another topic and next thing you know Emma (I'm guessing) and I
(certainly) are timed out. So it stalls.

There are five entries on the 25th, ten entries on 26 sept and none at all
on 27th why is that?

I've got another contribution to the pub noise thread, its been rejected on
timing grounds, and I'm not resubmitting it now as I need a
life-in-reserve. So it will probably never appear here. Phew you say!

So instead I add to Tim's questions, I wonder how many good contributions
have been blocked out by the system? and how many people stop for good or at
least a month or two once hit by the choke point?
Anyone care to venture an experience here in celebration of the six months?

I do agree with others (probably more discussed face to face than on line)
that we do ourselves no service getting heated with each other and dwelling
in dog-poo.

Actually I'm fairly disappointed, I don't think people do rise to new
topics, when I mentioned the Cooperage Lane Re-Development situation Ali
Bevan came in with a supportive sentence hoping for lots of contributions,
and that was the utter bitter end of it.
Believe me the first consultation version of that would have changed
Southville as we know it, and we don't know what the second version is
because they are only showing the planners in confidence, who are again
unimpressed. In the mean time we have had a demolition exercise which not to
put too fine a point on it broke the law, despite being permitted, and there
is much more to come down than has come down already, some of it with
asbestos sheet roofs, and a little of it one of the oldest stone buildings
in Southville, two feet outside a conservation area. Anyone interested?

There is some good public interest broadcasting, Charles Bolton quoting the
planning list for this patch only is an excellent editorial service, and
obviously isn't intended to get a response, just a weekly update

The problem with this contribution is probably that its now too long and
covering too much ground, but at least I should be allowed to place it.

so if you're still reading, thanks, and why not add a comment of your own?

all best
Stephen


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Erickson"
To: "Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum"

Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:00 AM
Subject: Re: [GB-Forum] Six months of the Bemmy Forum


> On Sep 25, 2007, at 2:09 PM, Alex Phillips wrote:
>> Just comparing the Brighton Forum reveals they have a total of 102
>> posts on 27 topics to date for the month of September. They've over
>> 270 members and look to have been going for 21/2 years-there's some
>> catching up to be done. I'm not sure how you measure success. Is it
>> just the number of posts and topics or the extent to which people
>> engage with and contribute to the forum as discussion and debate?
>> Or is the forum successful as a means of exchanging (useful or not)
>> information?
>
> One of the toughest things about measuring the success of these
> forums, is the amount of value a forum like this has for folks who
> read but never post - and the impact that it has, that never appears
> in the forum.
>
> Based upon my experiences in other forums, I'm quite confident that
> there are folks who read every message to this forum - and find the
> content very educating and/or useful, yet never post publicly.
>
> I'm fairly confident that there are folks who have had questions
> answered or problems solved, because of this forum, even though the
> results never appeared here. Often, discussions that start in a
> public forum end up offline.
>
> Does anyone care to share an example of a discussion in this forum
> that they have found useful or particularly interesting??
>
> Maybe someone who has never posted before can share their thoughts on
> how useful they have found this forum as a means of discussing
> neighbourhood issues?
>
> FYI:
>
> Forum Stats:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum/stats.html
> Forum Membership:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum/members
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Tim Erickson
> E-Democracy.Org
>
>
>
>
> Tim Erickson
> Hamline Midway, St. Paul
> Info about Tim Erickson:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/timerickson
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4z5mOWOoRgz5KzaQHIjtXO
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>
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Stephen Wickham

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Emma Winfield
Ashton, Bristol
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From: Emma Winfield Date: 2007 Oct 02 14:44 UTC Short link

I'll stick my neck out here and say the 'low volume announcement' list
approach would simply enable people to continue to live on the periphery,
letting a few do the hard work.

I personally believe we all need to give up a bit of our self-focused
preciousness about 'our time' and get into the hard graft of building our
local community.  Yes, it intrudes on my 'private' time to read & reply to
messages, but by doing so I add my little effort to the activity at hand,
which is connecting up the people of Bedminster.  Just one opinion!

Emma

-----Original Message-----
From: Charles Bolton [mailto:charles.bolton@bristol.gov.uk]
Sent: 01 October 2007 13:39
To: <email obscured>; <email obscured>;
<email obscured>
Subject: Re: [GB-Forum] Six months of the Bemmy Forum

I do wonder if really there is a need for two lists

1. An information/announcement/ low-volume list

2. An anything goes/its my opinion and I'm damn-well going to upt it type
list

Charlie Bolton
Green Party Councillor
Southville

>>> Emma Winfield <dilemma@btinternet.com> 01/10/07 08:08 >>>
Hi Stephen

  I think the '2 posts a day' has definitely stalled the forum (but also can
appreciate it is to stop a core few swamping the board with our own stuff).

  I did get locked out, and then when I had an update I'd forgotten about
the Forum and so didn't remember to post it up!  I'll do so now, and in
doing so will lock myself out again for the 24-hr (ish) period, of course.

  I think it's important for topics to get full discussion, which no doubt
might lead to more than 2 posts in 24 hours from those interested.  However,
I wouldn't want it to be unlimited, as it does at least concentrate your
mind on getting all the info in one email where possible, and stops the "Oh,
forgot to mention, ..." emails.  I try and limit a reply to "do I have
anything more to add to this that hasn't already been said".  Of course,
this means you can get no sense of how many people on the Forum agree with
any of the points, as you don't have a series of "me too" posts!  It's not
easy, is it?!

  The problem with one long email like yours is the info on many points is
now buried in one catch-all topic, and not under their own relevant topics.
I for one would like to know more about the Southville demolition thing, for
example ...

  Best wishes

  Emma

STEPHEN WICKHAM <stephen_wickham@btinternet.com> wrote:
  I'm going to refer back to a thread called "Timing" in May 07 here
(including Carol Hayward of 23 May) which is I think where people noticed
they were being locked out by the system when they started a debate. This
isn't a big chat room, it just allows you two entries in some definition of
a day and then tells you you cant post again until "earlier than now"
meaning later, maybe tomorrow if you're lucky, as its New Zealand time being

quoted without saying so. !
So you've got to treat it as a single statement in a hustings perhaps or
ignore it for two days and then do one all-embracing response to hopefully
at least three other people enthused by your topic. Or fester away at some
unilateral manifesto while you are locked out. :)

I noticed that as the "six months" thread got under way there were actually
no other discussions in progress. there are actually only four entries of
any sort from12th-22nd September. Then somehow the bonfire picks up on 25
sept, Emma starts her pub noise query "everyone" tries to help, maybe even
adds to another topic and next thing you know Emma (I'm guessing) and I
(certainly) are timed out. So it stalls.

There are five entries on the 25th, ten entries on 26 sept and none at all
on 27th why is that?

I've got another contribution to the pub noise thread, its been rejected on
timing grounds, and I'm not resubmitting it now as I need a
life-in-reserve. So it will probably never appear here. Phew you say!

So instead I add to Tim's questions, I wonder how many good contributions
have been blocked out by the system? and how many people stop for good or at

least a month or two once hit by the choke point?
Anyone care to venture an experience here in celebration of the six months?

I do agree with others (probably more discussed face to face than on line)
that we do ourselves no service getting heated with each other and dwelling
in dog-poo.

Actually I'm fairly disappointed, I don't think people do rise to new
topics, when I mentioned the Cooperage Lane Re-Development situation Ali
Bevan came in with a supportive sentence hoping for lots of contributions,
and that was the utter bitter end of it.
Believe me the first consultation version of that would have changed
Southville as we know it, and we don't know what the second version is
because they are only showing the planners in confidence, who are again
unimpressed. In the mean time we have had a demolition exercise which not to

put too fine a point on it broke the law, despite being permitted, and there

is much more to come down than has come down already, some of it with
asbestos sheet roofs, and a little of it one of the oldest stone buildings
in Southville, two feet outside a conservation area. Anyone interested?

There is some good public interest broadcasting, Charles Bolton quoting the
planning list for this patch only is an excellent editorial service, and
obviously isn't intended to get a response, just a weekly update

The problem with this contribution is probably that its now too long and
covering too much ground, but at least I should be allowed to place it.

so if you're still reading, thanks, and why not add a comment of your own?

all best
Stephen

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Erickson"
To: "Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum"

Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:00 AM
Subject: Re: [GB-Forum] Six months of the Bemmy Forum

> On Sep 25, 2007, at 2:09 PM, Alex Phillips wrote:
>> Just comparing the Brighton Forum reveals they have a total of 102
>> posts on 27 topics to date for the month of September. They've over
>> 270 members and look to have been going for 21/2 years-there's some
>> catching up to be done. I'm not sure how you measure success. Is it
>> just the number of posts and topics or the extent to which people
>> engage with and contribute to the forum as discussion and debate?
>> Or is the forum successful as a means of exchanging (useful or not)
>> information?
>
> One of the toughest things about measuring the success of these
> forums, is the amount of value a forum like this has for folks who
> read but never post - and the impact that it has, that never appears
> in the forum.
>
> Based upon my experiences in other forums, I'm quite confident that
> there are folks who read every message to this forum - and find the
> content very educating and/or useful, yet never post publicly.
>
> I'm fairly confident that there are folks who have had questions
> answered or problems solved, because of this forum, even though the
> results never appeared here. Often, discussions that start in a
> public forum end up offline.
>
> Does anyone care to share an example of a discussion in this forum
> that they have found useful or particularly interesting??
>
> Maybe someone who has never posted before can share their thoughts on
> how useful they have found this forum as a means of discussing
> neighbourhood issues?
>
> FYI:
>
> Forum Stats:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum/stats.html
> Forum Membership:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum/members
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Tim Erickson
> E-Democracy.Org
>
>
>
>
> Tim Erickson
> Hamline Midway, St. Paul
> Info about Tim Erickson:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/timerickson
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4z5mOWOoRgz5KzaQHIjtXO
> -----------------------------------------
> To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
> To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
> in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
>
> More info about Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum:
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>
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> -----------------------------------------
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>

Stephen Wickham

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Emma Winfield
Ashton, Bristol
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http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/emmawinfield

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From: Carol Hayward Date: 2007 Oct 08 14:27 UTC Short link

Hi all,

I wanted to add a bit to Ben's earlier email and also to reply to some of the
comments raised so far.

When we launched the forum, we set up a number of topics to start the
discussion going and to make sure we did cover a variety of issues. We followed
that up with a discussion around the imminent smoking ban. Did you find these
discussions helpful? Should we be setting up more of them or trying to engage
some guest speakers? If so, any suggestions?

Some people have commented that the quantity of emails can sometimes be hard to
handle - my suggestion is to either set up a folder within your email system
(which I have) or to change your email settings to daily digest which will give
you an idea of the topics being discussed without the detail - you can then
find out more by clicking on the link. (you can change your email settings by
either sending an email with the subject title 'digest on' to
<email obscured> or log on and change your email settings
under your profile)

Alex also mentioned the different format for forums. I think that one of the
advantages of this system is that people can select how they read the messages
so they can opt in to the emails, select a daily digest or go on to the website
to participate. I think that emails just help to encourage more people to
contribute more easily - I personally never seem to get round to logging on to
forums unless I get an email prompt that encourages me to do so.

Add to the topic Six months of the Bemmy Forum [?]

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