Feedback and Suggestion Box - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Fordim Hedgethistle · 06-13-2004, 09:33 AM

Son of Numenor wrote

Quote:

This endeavour seems simple to me: read the chapters, share what you think, and discuss your thoughts to gain a better understanding of your personal experience with The Lord of the Rings.

Hear hear! *Fordim claps* Hear hear!

Orofaniel · 06-13-2004, 11:24 AM

First of all I would just say that the Chapter to Chapter forum is looking....awesome. =D I'm very positive towards the idea, and I plan on spending some time there when it starts for full.

I've noticed a lot of questions regarding whether the more "experienced" posters should make their posts easier to understand so that everyone can reply afterwards. Fingolfin wrote:

Quote:

However, I also believe that while more 'experienced' posters should aim to try and make their post so everyone can reply (I realise that this is not always possible, especially in debates about HoME and The Letters), the onis should also be on new posters to contribute to the discussion themselves.

I wouldn't say it is the "experienced" posters that make it difficult and hard for others to reply. When I read the really "old" (

) BarrowDowner's posts I find their thoughts and ideas very interesting. This is mostly because I know they have more knowledge than myself. I don't feel the need to post to add my own views sometimes; I just want to read others opinions, and I like that. Every time I usually find a couple of posters with the same views as mine. However, if I wanted to add something I would. I don't think anyone should be afraid to post on the big discussions because your opinions are just as important as ever one else’s' opinions.

The main reason I don't usually post on the big discussions is that I'm too late to discover them! I start reading them when there are two pages and so on. The difficulty for me is simply to keep track with the posters.

I really hope that the Chapters by Chapters discussions will go slower, although I doubt it.

It would, however, be fun to see more posters. As a matter of fact, I would like to post more on those really good book discussions; I'm only hoping it doesn't move too fast. =P (Don’t get me wrong though; I still want good, long book discussions…..)

Cheers,
Oro

Guinevere · 06-13-2004, 03:57 PM

I agree very much with what Orofaniel wrote! I read much, much more than I post myself.

Quote:

The main reason I don't usually post on the big discussions is that I'm too late to discover them! I start reading them when there are two pages and so on. The difficulty for me is simply to keep track with the posters.

Well, I sit and read for hours these fascinating threads (yes! I've read the whole "Canonicity" thread!), silently shaking my head or nodding enthusiastic approval, and thinking up all sorts of replies, but when I've come to the end of the thread, it is usually so that everything I think and wanted to say has already been expressed by others who at that wrote it much better than I would be able to. And I think the BarrowWight doesn't approve of posts that merely say: "Great post! You said the very thing that was in my mind! "etc. So I usually daren't reply, even if I would like to express my approval and admiration.
Also I'm a bit in awe of all those erudite and eloquent Downers as well

But this is by no means meant as a reproach!! I don't want anything different! I'm enjoying reading all those big discussions and I have learnt incredibly much that way.

I think this "chapter by chapter"reading is a good opportunity for me to reread the books once more from beginning to end and not merely in random bits like in the past year.

***Mister Underhill*** · 06-13-2004, 05:45 PM

There's a lot of great advice here.

I certainly am aware of how difficult it is for a new person to carve out a niche on an established board. Getting a curt, dismissive reply can be discouraging, but having your post be completely overlooked and ignored can be just about as dispiriting.

Here's a couple of tips on ways for less established members to successfully join a discussion:

Try to engage other members when you post. You can build a reputation just by making good posts and waiting to eventually get noticed, but it can be a slow process on an older, faster-paced board like the Downs. One thing that can help you along is to actively engage the other participants in the discussion. Read others' discussion points, then challenge them, ask questions about them, give your reactions to them, expand on them.
Give reputation -- and sign your comments. We all like to get positive feedback, and few things will get someone to stop and check out your posts more than remembering that they got positive comments from you. Naturally, I don't mean that you should run around handing out fake reputation just to get people to like you. Be genuine. If you liked something, say so. Don't blow smoke, just be sincere.

If the established members really want to see more new faces actively participating, then we need to encourage them when they appear. It's easy to forget that if you're an established member, you can post just about anything and feel confident that at least a few people will read and respond to what you've said.

These same two tips can be used by more experienced and established members to help others out.

Engage other members. If you notice that someone has posted and that no one has reacted to it, throw the person a lifeline and engage their post.
Give reputation; sign it. You know the drill; if you see something you like, reward it! Think about how cool it feels to get positive comments, then take the time to give some of that back to others who deserve it. It will embolden them to post more often.

To wind up an overlong post, I think Son of Númenor's advice in post #16 is right on the money.

Read, share, discuss.

It's that simple.

Fordim Hedgethistle · 06-14-2004, 10:23 AM

I do realise that this is probably a 'nothing' post, soon to be deleted by a mod if not by the BW himself, but. . .

I just had a peek at the Who's Online (I admit: I am a stalker -- bad Fordim!) and saw that at the moment there are no fewer than six people viewing the 12 hour old Prologue Thread.

I think that this bodes well for getting people involved!

Bêthberry · 06-14-2004, 11:07 AM

About the attractiveness of short posts, the phantom, I concur. There was a reason why Diamond18 called this place the burra-Downs.

And about the number of times that the more senior (older?) (arthritic?) members of the Downs have read the books: not all of us have read them annually over decades.

I first read LOTR as a furtive, 'guilty pleasure' read for fun to balance my 'required' reading for my studies. Then later as I was slogging my way through translating the Old English works I came to know Tolkien's academic stuff and learnt how much of his writing gives new breath and life to the old language and culture. Four years ago, I reread The Hobbit as preparation for escorting a school class to a live theatre production of The Hobbit (brilliant performance from the actor/gymnast who played Gollem!). Three years ago, at the bedside of an ill relative undergoing painful and extensive medical tests, I reread LOTR and became aware for the first time of how prevalent are the themes of loss and death. Thus, this Chapter by Chapter reading will be only my third reading.

I post in perpetual fear that the "annual readers" will always find some obscure line that will undo me.

*Varda* · 06-16-2004, 02:08 PM

I'm sure more people will begin posting as we go into the actual chapters. I only lately saw that this was happening, and have spent the evening reading the entire thread on the Prologue (not an easy task...) after a long and regretted departure from the forum. (I will try and stay back here, this time!)

As for the discussion being more 'accessible', I really think that depends on the individual reader. While perhaps some members could use less shockingly big words

(that, I confess, do daunt me sometimes) it won't kill some people to pick up a dictionary and look up a word.

Like me.

Just give it a little bit more time, and some more people will drop by to see what's going on.

06-13-2004, 05:45 PM	#4
*Mister Underhill* Dread Horseman Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Behind you! Posts: 2,744	There's a lot of great advice here. I certainly am aware of how difficult it is for a new person to carve out a niche on an established board. Getting a curt, dismissive reply can be discouraging, but having your post be completely overlooked and ignored can be just about as dispiriting. Here's a couple of tips on ways for less established members to successfully join a discussion: Try to engage other members when you post. You can build a reputation just by making good posts and waiting to eventually get noticed, but it can be a slow process on an older, faster-paced board like the Downs. One thing that can help you along is to actively engage the other participants in the discussion. Read others' discussion points, then challenge them, ask questions about them, give your reactions to them, expand on them. Give reputation -- and sign* your comments. We all like to get positive feedback, and few things will get someone to stop and check out your posts more than remembering that they got positive comments from you. Naturally, I don't mean that you should run around handing out fake reputation just to get people to like you. Be genuine. If you liked something, say so. Don't blow smoke, just be sincere. If the established members really want to see more new faces actively participating, then we need to encourage them when they appear. It's easy to forget that if you're an established member, you can post just about anything and feel confident that at least a few people will read and respond to what you've said. These same two tips can be used by more experienced and established members to help others out. Engage other members. If you notice that someone has posted and that no one has reacted to it, throw the person a lifeline and engage their post. Give reputation; sign it. You know the drill; if you see something you like, reward it! Think about how cool it feels to get positive comments, then take the time to give some of that back to others who deserve it. It will embolden them to post more often. To wind up an overlong post, I think Son of Númenor*'s advice in post #16 is right on the money. Read, share, discuss. It's that simple.

06-14-2004, 11:07 AM	#6
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	A quick comment and a confession About the attractiveness of short posts, the phantom, I concur. There was a reason why Diamond18 called this place the burra-Downs. And about the number of times that the more senior (older?) (arthritic?) members of the Downs have read the books: not all of us have read them annually over decades. I first read LOTR as a furtive, 'guilty pleasure' read for fun to balance my 'required' reading for my studies. Then later as I was slogging my way through translating the Old English works I came to know Tolkien's academic stuff and learnt how much of his writing gives new breath and life to the old language and culture. Four years ago, I reread The Hobbit as preparation for escorting a school class to a live theatre production of The Hobbit (brilliant performance from the actor/gymnast who played Gollem!). Three years ago, at the bedside of an ill relative undergoing painful and extensive medical tests, I reread LOTR and became aware for the first time of how prevalent are the themes of loss and death. Thus, this Chapter by Chapter reading will be only my third reading. I post in perpetual fear that the "annual readers" will always find some obscure line that will undo me. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

06-16-2004, 02:08 PM	#7
Varda Maiden of Tears Join Date: May 2002 Location: Valinor. Posts: 571	I'm sure more people will begin posting as we go into the actual chapters. I only lately saw that this was happening, and have spent the evening reading the entire thread on the Prologue (not an easy task...) after a long and regretted departure from the forum. (I will try and stay back here, this time!) As for the discussion being more 'accessible', I really think that depends on the individual reader. While perhaps some members could use less shockingly big words (that, I confess, do daunt me sometimes) it won't kill some people to pick up a dictionary and look up a word. Like me. Just give it a little bit more time, and some more people will drop by to see what's going on. __________________ 'It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: someone has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them' ~Frodo "Life is hard. After all, it kills you." - Katharine Hepburn

06-14-2004, 10:23 AM	#5
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	I do realise that this is probably a 'nothing' post, soon to be deleted by a mod if not by the BW himself, but. . . I just had a peek at the Who's Online (I admit: I am a stalker -- bad Fordim!) and saw that at the moment there are no fewer than six people viewing the 12 hour old Prologue Thread. I think that this bodes well for getting people involved!