Just a couple of ideas!

[xplicit^]

Hello ladies and gentlemen!
First of all I want to say that I am glad that I've found this great site!!!

I've read a couple of suggestions and I just wanted to report a little bug.
On the general page the "forum" link is not working, so that I will not be provided to the forums by clicking there. Maybe someone could fix it. Afaik the page consits of HTML code only, so it wouldn't be so difficult.

My 2nd suggestion would be to make an IRC channel. I think it's really handy and it would be cool to meet you all there.

And my last idea .. (well as a web developer) I thought of freshing up a design and since I work with graphics a lot, I could help you out. I am also into php/mySQL, so feel free to ask me if you really decide to change something.
I will be glad to help you

Greetz,

xplicit^

[Magius]

LINK NOW INCLUDED

Greetings,
Three suggestions. I don't know why I did, but I went around the main message board for phpbb and surfed some message boards. I found a message board with a skin that I thought was great, it's called <i>Chronicles</i>. My suggestion is to make it available as an option for us to choose in our profile options, or to make the whole site in chronicles skin. Visit this website http://www.eddingschronicles.com and click 'message board' at the bottom of the screen, to see the board I am talking about.

Secondly, with all the major world themes and activities going on, I came to think that being the well rounded individuals that we are, we would probably be interested to hear what people have to say about world issues. I for one would love to. My suggestion is that we start a forum called 'News' or 'World News'. In this forum people would talk about the most recent news and what they think about it. I know there are people here with subscriptions to different newspapers, so I know some of us read about world issues. I for one have a subscription for Maclean's magazine, for those of you living outside of Canada, you may not have heard of it. For those who do reside in Canada, I'm sure you have heard of it.

Lastly, following the above thought pattern I came to believe that if the News forum takes off and there is interest, it may be worthwhile to start a forum about Changing the World. Here people could share stories they have heard, read, or personal sources that have done something to change the world for the better. More importantly, the forum could be a place to elucidate upon ideas of how we can work to change the world. Ideas for how things could be done better, even if we lack the power, it will still be great to talk about them. This forum would include all aspects of life from politics, environmental science, economics, education, sociology, technology, and so on.

xplicit, I like your idea of an IRC channel. I think another good idea would be ICQ, I offer this only because I am addicted to the sound effect when you type...you know the typewriter sound effect.

What's your take?

[HVD]

These are good ideas, guys. xplicit, in the past we have set up an IRC chat scheduled for a certain time. These did not prove to be very popular, although back then the forums were less than half their present size. We'll look into the possibility of another scheduled chat in the future, and consider the option if it proves popular.

Magius, discussions are underway behind the scenes about the possibility of a news section on the front page, and a link from that to a forum topic. We also hope to provide a choice of skins in the future. Do you have a link to that Chronicles site? Trust me, exciting things are afoot.

[Skeptic]

Believe it or not, Pax and Ben suggested the Chronicles skin not too long ago as a new option for a forum style. When we get some time, you should see some of these changes taking place. The news idea has also been in discussions, but we have been too busy to impliment anything as of yet. Please continue to post suggestions to keep us motivated and inspired for the redesign of the site.

[Magius]

With my aforementioned ideas from my previous post I have the following ideas:

- if the idea for the World Change forum should be accepted, and should it be a hit, I thought that we could start a Guild. A group of trusted members that are devoted to changing the world for the better. By trusted I mean people that respect each other and know they can share ideas with the other members without being demeaned, belittled, or ridiculed. I also mean people who are serious and well versed with world events. The word 'devotion' here being important, seeing how it wouldn't work very well if a group of us are working on the research and statistics to formulate a theory when all of a sudden members start dropping off or can't be relied on to attend within reasonable time intervals (say once a week or every other week). I also thought that this guild could become the website, with the message board as an option. Given that the Chronicles style may soon be installed for the message board, we could also make the website conform to similar colors to make it all one scheme of colors, layout.

- Lastly, we could form an alliance which could be another forum on the message board. This alliance would be an extension of the guild where we look for other websites with World Change as their topic, or something closely related. We would invite the webmasters of these websites to join the alliance, add our alliance logo to their website and a link, and attend regular meetings at the Alliance forum. This alliance of websites with the same goals in mind can work to observe its tools and resources from around the world and the internet, in order to work together to not only formulate ideas, but to research and prove these ideas. After these essential steps we could put the alliance to work in publishing these theories and conclusion we draw and to attempt to influence organizations, business owners, ministers, cabinet members, and/or governments around the world to implement our ideas. Or atleast to see what they think.

I am well versed in website building, as well as logos, 3D pictures, and animation. So any webpages and/or titles, pictures that may need designing I am willing to do or to help out with. I would actually prefer, though it is often rigged with problems, work in teams on a single project. This will help us build our communication outside of the message board, it will help us become confident and trust each other, but it will also help us to learn to work together to solve a problem and reach a common goal. Some of the ingredients for an effective Guild and possibly future group of influential advocates of the cohabitation between Man and Nature.

Edit: I thought I would also add that most webmasters would also love to receive something in return for having our Alliance Link on their website, so I thought that we could have a page on the website that contains the list of member sites (AS LINKS TO THEM) that are part of the Alliance. This way they get advertising from our website.

What's your take?

[Kajun]

I like the Alliance idea a lot. Like a WebRing, but not poo. Happy to help out there if it becomes a live thing and to help promote / join ixyl up. If not, the World Change forum is still a fine idea and should present some very encouraging results.

The Chronicles skin is well made but impossible to use IMHO! So it should be added as an optional skin, which is fairly easy to do. Alternatively, have a look round all the other phpBB skins at the phpbb.com demo site

[ben]

Some good ideas, let me shed some light on what I can...

The News forums will be a feature in the new launch of the website which will happen in a short while.

The Chronicles skin can be added as a user choice on the forums, it seems a popular choice although there may be problems with it running with the version of phpbb we are currently using. We are looking into that.

Magius, I don't think there is a room for a specific Changing the World forum but if you want to set up a 'Guild' then I guess the best way to do that is to start a Usergroup which you moderate and add people on to join the guild. I can set this up if you want just let me know what you plan to do with it and what it's role will be.

cheers
- ben

[SmoothXXI]

I didn't want to start a new thread, but my idea is simple. Oh by the way, Hi everyone. yeah, I'm not a computer knowledgable person. But can someone find a way to put wordspell in here. My spelling sucks big time, I type as I speak. Phonetically. can someone do that?

[Pax Vitae]

Personaly I always use MS Word for typing up my posts, as I can save a copy for me, and it checks grammer and spelling.

[Smooth]

Thanks Pax, funny how I didn't think of that.

[Skeptic]

Actually there is a phpbb MOD for spell check. It might be an interesting addition. They're is nothing that pises me offf more thasn peeple thate can't spel rite.

[BluTGI]

hmmm a philathripic group sounds better than a guild.


Throw my name in, only if the bylaws say that i can also do like bad stuff too.

[Metavoid]

Blu, join [url=http://www.whitehouse.org/administration/skullandbones/index.asp]
Skull and Bones[/url]. You'll get to do plenty of evil stuff there.

[Frighter]

time is too precious to waste on the backspace key.....

[Magius]

Greetings fellow colleagues in life,
after having spent much time in this humble abode, I come to think that there is much good that can be said about our little niche. I realized this in reading one of the other posters kind words about this site. This poster I refer to is roygabv and here is the statement he made...

Man, I am not only loving philosophy, I am loving this site. After finding this site two days ago, I have spent countless hours on this site, and have learned stuff people learn in a lifetime. So, thank you to the moderators, and webmasters of this site, and to all the contributors, who are all very friendly, and open-minded. I think I've finally found my niche!

If we could only fill one person with similar joy just once a month, we could really make a difference. Having said that I think that it might be a good idea to further our cause and bring more people in by adding a link on the main page where we could put some of the positive claims about our message board. You know, the same way a book gets reviews, a product, and so forth. We too could have a reviews page that people could visit to see what all the fuss is about. This could get people energized into joining, but also expectant to have a similar experience. I would nominate roygabv's words as one of the reviews.

Ben,
thank you for offering me a Usergroup. Unfortunately, right now I neither have the time or energy to devote to moderating such a usergroup. I have spoken to two ILP members about helping me moderate such a usergroup, seeing how I have very little time, but they too were busy. I will take a rain cheque and get back to you when I get time to devote to the usergroup. I also wish to mention, that if anyone is interested in making this idea a partnership or even a larger group I wouldn't mind starting it right away.

What's your take?

[Magius]

So here I go with my crazy ideas again...
I was reading some Orson Scott Card books and thought about how great it would be if our little message board actually had some impact on politics, economics, and so on. Wishful thinking. But that idea got me thinking about how great it would be to go to message boards that have real politicians talking about real issues. Or even a science forum where scientists talk about their projects and stuff. In the end I got the following idea...we could spice up our conversations by adding a forum in which we would invite Professors from universities to make posts on their personal views on whatever topic they wish. And we could ask them more about it or inquire as to sources and things like that. I would have no issue with going to professors and asking them to participate in such a forum, given certain rules, from my university. It could be a sort of "Chat with an expert" type of thing. We could also ask them to add 'Prof. [enter nickname]' before their nickname so we can distinguish between poster and professor.

Anyway, just an idea. Let me know what you all think

What's your take?

[Pax Vitae]

Its good to see you back Magius!

[Magius]

Thanks Pax,
it's good to be back and to see you here. I look forward to our future discussions.

Cordially,
~Magius

[Guest]

Gadfly,

You have taken the idea straight out of my mind. As many might know, or not, I've started a sort of partnership with another forum. Mainly to give XXI an online identity. As well stated on many occassions, I do not want anything that will compete with this site. Nothing at all.

I just want to know, because a forum for XXI is in the works (a more proffessional one than the old XXIAffiliates), if it is possible to give a link to ILP from my main page. And if I am even allowed to do so, because I'm not an official part of ILP, and the fact that I'm trying to expand a company might cause a conflict of interest.

[Smooth]

oops, I think you should all have figured out that was me, right?

[Marshall McDaniel]

Welcome back Gadfly!

[Magius]

Greetings Marshall,
you have kept things in good order as I see it. Though things have slowed down a bit I think we will be able to begin to incite some interesting debates. I am going to be leaving the country for about 10 days starting May 13th, after which I will devote much time to a fairly new and controversial idea I had going on. Well, I think I have mentioned it briefly a few times a couple of months ago, but I will attempt to write a thorough essay (not school related, simply my own interest) about doing away with blame and punishment (I will post it in the essay forum as soon as it is done - reserch is already prepared). I am most interested to find out what you will think and say once you have read it, I have always held your comments in the highest regards and the deepest of respect, even when we didn't see eye-to-eye (which is seldom).

Thank you for the welcome, from all those who have welcomed me back. It is most greatly appreciated. It never ceases to amaze me how a few symbols (letters) can make a person feel so good.

Take care,
Cordially,
~Magius

[Pangloss]

Indeed, welcome back Magius. Looking forward to reading your new stuff. Am in the thick of it with work at the moment, but will become active again in a month or so.

Till then,

Leo

[Magius]

Leo,
I have thought of you on a number of occasions, I have been curious to hear how things are going with your political career. How is Mr. Blair? I'm glad to be back and thank all of you for such a warm welcome. I look forward to all the inspiring and informative discussions we will surely be having.

Cordially,
~Magius

[kesh]

Im not sure if this idea has been proposed before but i think it would be a good idea to have a thread or sticky topic in which anyone looking for a subject of interest; such as someone looking for a topic on Kant or a topic that has been discussed before such as Laughter.

I'd propose some sort of index, its just having someone to go through all the topics and list them that seems to be the problem. Because there are so many topics that are repeated that many great ideas are missed or just re-worded. If there was some sort of index or sticky post, people could redirect a new topic somewhere they may find of interest and delete the unnecessary one.

Just a suggestion anyways.