Hi Guys,
As you know, I was - until this morning - one of the Moderators on the Richard Dawkins discussion forum, a forum with some 85,000 members of which some 20,000 were regularly active. We'd have up to 1000 members on-line at once and I believe recently became the #1 atheist forum on the internet in terms of traffic and membership numbers.
The forum was experiencing technical difficulties over the past several months because of high traffic volumes and limitations with the server's bandwidth and access to archived posts. The search function was disabled to try and cut down on database stress, but the system became more and more glitchy, with the dreaded "general error" message interfering with posts and Moderator functions. we tried cutting thread lengths down to 10 posts per page at CJ's suggestion, but this only reduced the errors, not eradicate them.
A decision was made to try and improve the situation and the Moderators were led to believe that a revamped forum with different software to phpBB would solve most or all of the issues. We were told for several weeks that we would have input into any new forum system, and that the current forum's content would be moved across to a new and better performing software platform. We were told that we would be able to help test-drive the new forum and help work out kinks in the system. It was going to be an extension of the front page and lose some of its forum feel, but we were assured that it would be largely business as usual with some minor changes.
The Mods put their heads together and came up with lists of functionality that needed to be preserved and issues regarding transfer of data. We kept getting non-committal and vague reassurances that changes weren't too far off and that we'd be involved when the time came. The Mods tried to stress the importance of the forum's culture and relationships and how we didn't want to see them lost. A week or two ago, Chalkers (Andrew, the tech weenie) commented that we didn't need a Tech Support section, as members could be directed to an external software FAQ site. We pointed out that the Tech Support forum was mostly about rule interpretation, challenging warnings or suggesting improvements and other feedback from the membership, and wasn't a simple "how to operate the software" tech forum. This was met with silence.
Right up till Monday 22nd Feb, the Mods were being reassured that positive change was forthcoming and that we'd be involved at the right time.
Instead, we have had a fait accompli thrust upon us at no notice, and when the membership and Moderators were quite rightly aggrieved and posted their feelings, Josh apparently took it upon himself to shut down the forum. He has also erased several critical posts made by Moderators on the public forum and erased complete threads in which the very loyal and enthusiatic membership were expressing their shock at the sudden turn of events. We all found ourselves locked out of the forum with little or no notice.
Josh quite condescendingly ordered the Moderation team to not contact Richard Dawkins, to not express any dissent and to not make waves. His methods were very heavy handed, offensive and have caused great offence to many members, a lot of whom will not be returning to any future forum that Dawkins may be setting up.
I view this as tragic, as the discussion forums were a vehicle for knowledgable members to propagate and continue Dawkins' fine work in spreading rational thought. We saw many, many fence sitters wavering in their faith come down on the side of reason, and converted dozens and dozens of faithful from their superstitions. Some of the posts were remarkable examples of good science, logic and reason, and now all this has been lost. In 30 days time, they will be gone forever when the database is permanently taken off line.
The forum had a wonderful community feel about it and catered for a range of people from all backgrounds from all over the world. Many dipped their toes in socially, and ended up becoming involved in great discussions about faith, philosophy, current affairs and science. Members have actually met each other via this forum and forged wonderful friendships. Sciwoman even met her fiance through this site.
I think that they are greatly diminishing the broad appeal of the forum by moving to a strictly science based front page comments section. They are risking losing many, many supporters and the good work that they do, both on on behalf of and in Richard's name.
Josh and Andrew's apparent lack of understanding of the forum dynamics and the depth of feeling within the 85,000 strong membership is pitiful, and they have not done Richard any favours with their actions.
I am very saddened in the events today. The membership and moderators have been dismissed with apparent casualness and Richard Dawkins has probably lost many supporters and advocates.
The fundies must be rejoicing at the end of a major tool against their BS.
Durro
I was just getting bits and pieces from here and there.