Originally Posted by
kokonutz
But that's a private conversation. From a moderator's side, they get various independent points of input. But there is no collaboration. And from the poster side we have no idea if any other members share our issues/concerns/suggestions or have different ways of looking at them, thinking about them or addressing them.
One poster may have a great suggestion for a forum or a solution to mega-threading or some such, but if they don't know that it's a problem or complaint for others, they may not bother to share their idea, thinking that it's a problem unique to them.
Originally Posted by
essxjay
Of course. Still doesn't mean it's not collaborative. Not all members feel comfortable posting publicly, especially when they're not sure how their fellow members will react.
You keep suggesting that we look at things from a regular member's POV. We do, and guess what? Sometimes they suggest great ideas that we've never thought of, cf. forum glossaries, Nude-o-Scope sticky, lounge threads, etc. Sometimes PMs confirm ideas we've already thought of, such as a forum split. That's collaboration in its most fundamental form. I would bargain most forums already function in this manner. It's a bit rich to suggest some forms of collaboration are better than others or some are wrong because they don't meet your standard of discourse. Not every one is as confident in communication as you or I, koko.
For the record, I think the essential suggestion in the OP has merit. I also think it's out of TB purview to mandate specific types of threads, in particular those pertaining to questions of moderation.
If something like what koko has proposed is implemented, and members don't feel comfortable posting in that thread, they still have the option of sending a PM to the moderator. A thread is simply giving them an additional outlet to communicate and share ideas, and allow for greater collaboration. This may lead to greater improvements.
If a member isn't comfortable posting in a thread, and would prefer to PM a moderator, perhaps the moderator can ask the member, "Can I share your idea in the moderation thread? If you'd prefer, I won't share your user name, but will post that a member suggested XYZ."
Originally Posted by
RichMSN
In the end, that's up to Carol. We can only make the recommendation.
I don't see a problem with at least making the recommendation.