Toward a New Foundation

[AshtonBlack]

what's in it for "them" besides some extra members?

Or us, for that matter.

Indeed so.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

On the OP,

I am completely opposed to micro-payments, or any other type of compulsory payment scheme for this site. It is payed for completely by voluntary contributions and that works very well. People are here because they want to be - because it is a community - and they pay for the same reason.

I am also not personally interested in turning it into The Richard Dawkins Foundation (Lite). I don't speak for anyone else in this, but it doesn't interest me at all. There are plenty of sites out there with such pretensions - The Reason Project has already been mentioned - why try to mould this place into yet another.

You might have more luck floating this idea over at TAF - OBC has similar dreams.

[DanDare]

On the OP,

I am completely opposed to micro-payments, or any other type of compulsory payment scheme for this site. It is payed for completely by voluntary contributions and that works very well. People are here because they want to be - because it is a community - and they pay for the same reason.

I am also not personally interested in turning it into The Richard Dawkins Foundation (Lite). I don't speak for anyone else in this, but it doesn't interest me at all. There are plenty of sites out there with such pretensions - The Reason Project has already been mentioned - why try to mould this place into yet another.

You might have more luck floating this idea over at TAF - OBC has similar dreams.

I'm not suggesting commandeering this site. I'm suggesting we refugees start anew with our own site without it being owned by a single fugure head.

[J.A.Poisson]

I'm suggesting we refugees start anew with our own site without it being owned by a single fugure head.

If you do this, then a) good luck, and b) for the love of puppies don't use the word rational in the title.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

On the OP,

I am completely opposed to micro-payments, or any other type of compulsory payment scheme for this site. It is payed for completely by voluntary contributions and that works very well. People are here because they want to be - because it is a community - and they pay for the same reason.

I am also not personally interested in turning it into The Richard Dawkins Foundation (Lite). I don't speak for anyone else in this, but it doesn't interest me at all. There are plenty of sites out there with such pretensions - The Reason Project has already been mentioned - why try to mould this place into yet another.

You might have more luck floating this idea over at TAF - OBC has similar dreams.

I'm not suggesting commandeering this site. I'm suggesting we refugees start anew with our own site without it being owned by a single fugure head.

Apologies if I misunderstood but it certainly came across that way - as much from others responses than from your own posts, I will concede.

By all means start your own site. I wish you luck and, if it's any good, I will support it. However, I get the distinct impression that the understanding of most in the thread was that Rationalia was to be the basis for this vision - there have been comments in the thread to that end.

[DanDare]

By all means start your own site. I wish you luck and, if it's any good, I will support it. However, I get the distinct impression that the understanding of most in the thread was that Rationalia was to be the basis for this vision - there have been comments in the thread to that end.

Yes, I got that impression too, which is why I started the thered. My apologise if it came across badly. I have been up all night, and it is now past dawn, trying to bandage the open wound in the network so to speak.

Anyway, I think it could do the Dawk Refugees good to pull together and build something new from the ashes. We shall have to wait and see.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

By all means start your own site. I wish you luck and, if it's any good, I will support it. However, I get the distinct impression that the understanding of most in the thread was that Rationalia was to be the basis for this vision - there have been comments in the thread to that end.

Yes, I got that impression too, which is why I started the thered. My apologise if it came across badly. I have been up all night, and it is now past dawn, trying to bandage the open wound in the network so to speak.

Anyway, I think it could do the Dawk Refugees good to pull together and build something new from the ashes. We shall have to wait and see.

Good luck with that. Most of us that were here when you arrived have already been through that once though - and we quite like what we built here. Feel free to stick around, or to try something new, as you choose.

[Robert_S]

Greetings to you people on the New Forum, we come in peace from the Old Forum...

I just can't help but think of:

[Thinking Aloud]

You might have more luck floating this idea over at TAF - OBC has similar dreams.

I'm not suggesting commandeering this site. I'm suggesting we refugees start anew with our own site without it being owned by a single fugure head.

For reference, Ratz avoided that approach by creating an Association that owns the site. Avoids the "Dear Leader" issues that clearly cause trouble elsewhere.

[I'm With Stupid]

I'm suggesting we refugees start anew with our own site without it being owned by a single fugure head.

If you do this, then a) good luck, and b) for the love of puppies don't use the word rational in the title.

www.clearthinkingoasis.com?

[lordpasternack]

Dan, even though Sam Harris is the founder, he doesn't spend much time stressing it, and states that anything you choose to do for the Project should be considered your own work.

As for 'a new foundation' - what exactly do you mean? A charity? A general strong front in promoting critical thinking and science? Some sorts of specific community projects?

I've actually considered myself that there is quite a bit of untapped talent here (and not in THAT way), which could be put to some nobler purpose if we found some impetus to do so. Even just producing entertaining and educative ezines, which we did do at least once.

The other side of the coin, though, is that most people are here just to relax and discuss some various issues. There are also some present who couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery, anyway.

So yes, there's latent talent, but also some reasons why it isn't all shining as it arguably could.

But of course you and the other new guys are part of here now too and are more than entitled to discuss any noble plots and schemes you may have, with every other person here.

[Horwood Beer-Master]

a new Global Foundation of Reason and Science

To what end?

World domination of course!!...

Somebody mention world domination?

[Spearthrower]

Nah, I never donated funds for that. The aims of the foundation where to promote science and reason world wide.

That sounds quite nebulous.

Nebulous, but commendable with a dose of optimism!

I assume Dan means something along the lines of Sagan's promotion of science.

[Pensioner]

My loyalty is 100% given to this site now, end of story for me.

[DanDare]

Well, its been a day now. I've slept and had a chance to take stock.

Here are some thoughts. The RDF was set up with a number of serious goals in mind: http://richarddawkinsfoundation.org/fou ... ourMission
They didn't realise it but I believe that the forum community was the beating heart of that foundation and an important driver of its mission. I could be wrong but the near future will probably tell.

I'm glad to have discovered rationalia, and will stay on here, but I for one would like to take up the mission of the RDF with the talent of as many of those who made it work as possible. Without a single figurehead like Richard that will be difficult. As well as arranging grants for RDF he supported the site with his own funds, using the site to help promote book sales and dvd sales. These sales may take a bit of a dive without the forum members, not because we are churlish, I for one still like his books, but because we were a cheap advertising conduit.

Anyway, if we can form a new organisation, with an "association" as the owner (thanks for the idea) we can start over. Instead of a figurehead owning us perhaps we can enlist figureheads (or grow our own, images of 2 headed mutants spring to mind). Running a phpbb forum is not hugely expensive for a group. We would also build an articles area but each such article should link to a forum thread for discussion (sorry, Josh, you had it the wrong way around mate).

The forum should also be the clearing house for organising action. Rather than a "centrally planned" structure we should consider something like The Brights are trying to do.

The old RDF forum rules were pretty good so lets re-use those. So, any of the old RDF mods and members even a bit interested? Have some ideas to chuck in?