The Philosophy Thread

[Louanne Learning]

on the political discussions here

We hear you, and will continue to be careful not to break any rules. Thank you for your patience with this.

this is a writing forum, and it's beginning to bloat with a lot of content that has nothing to do with writing.

The philosophy thread is in the Lounge, and rule # 1 in the rules states –

This is a writers forum: We discuss writing here, with the exception of The Lounge.

Besides, there’s interest in this thread. Lots of the ideas we discuss are relevant to writers.

Nothing even remotely related to politics or controversary of any kind

Got it, and we'll do better in the future.

And I'm really not a fan of philosophy

Yes, not every thread is for every member, and that’s okay. Hopefully, there’s enough here for everyone!

***

On a personal note – From my “artistic experience” thread it’s probably been gathered that I think all writers are artists. And from this thread, it’s probably been gathered that I think all writers are philosophers. How so? Well, there’s the attraction to using language with precision and care to explore “what it’s like to be us.” Philosophers and writers alike work to communicate complex ideas, and investigate human nature/existence, and reality itself. Both, really, are storytellers with truth as their driving force.

Why do I cling to these opinions? Well, it’s grounded in a wonder and awe for human potential, and a sincere desire that writers who visit these pages find some spark to reach for that potential inside themselves. I guess it comes down to a belief in oneself, and encouraging that I think is an important goal of a writers’ forum.

I hope there is room on this forum for these opinions.

 

[Homer Potvin]

The philosophy thread is in the Lounge, and rule # 1 in the rules states –

That can easily be rewritten and all non-writing areas can be closed. Problem solved.

Besides, there’s interest in this thread.

That is irrelevant. So would a thread about politics or sexual techniques. This isn't an egalitarian thought experiment.

I guess it comes down to a belief in oneself, and encouraging that I think is an important goal of a writers’ forum.

That has nothing to do with a growing glut of content that has nothing to do with writing.

I hope there is room on this forum for these opinions.

There are room for all opinions but let's remember why we're here. You're not going to find a creative writing thread on a Philosophy forum. Or a philosophy thread on a fly-fishing forum. There certainly are liberal arts overlaps between philosophy and writing, but they are few and far between. Let's focus on those areas and not every existential question that pops into our heads, please.

 

[Louanne Learning]

You're not going to find a creative writing thread on a Philosophy forum

Actually, you do. My philosophy forum has writing contests, too. And I started a "What is Art?" thread there. Oh boy, those philosophers have a lot of opinions!

 

[Louanne Learning]

Throughout my teaching career, a word that popped up in every Professional Development Day was "integration"

Making everything connected to everything else.

 

[Homer Potvin]

You don't know when to quit....

 

[Trish]

Throughout my teaching career, a word that popped up in every Professional Development Day was "integration"

Making everything connected to everything else.

If I may (and Homer feel free to delete, with my apologies), integration would be wonderful, wouldn't it?

We could all express our opinions and hold hands and see everyone's point of view as valid and never resort to personal attacks to make a point— oh wait. That's not how a lot of humans work, and it's not how a lot of writers (who are also hopefully human) work, either.

No one wants to be the bad guy who has to ban someone because they got a little too hotheaded and forgot how to shut their mouth. He's not asking for a lot - just no politics and no drama. I'm guessing you preferred a lack of drama in your teaching career as well? While structured discourse may breed innovation, when it teeters over into personal (as these topics often do) it does the opposite and creates animosity.

Frankly, I wouldn't want to moderate it either.

 

[Homer Potvin]

If I may (and Homer feel free to delete, with my apologies), integration would be wonderful, wouldn't it?

We could all express our opinions and hold hands and see everyone's point of view as valid and never resort to personal attacks to make a point— oh wait. That's not how a lot of humans work, and it's not how a lot of writers (who are also hopefully human) work, either.

No one wants to be the bad guy who has to ban someone because they got a little too hotheaded and forgot how to shut their mouth. He's not asking for a lot - just no politics and no drama. I'm guessing you preferred a lack of drama in your teaching career as well? While structured discourse may breed innovation, when it teeters over into personal (as these topics often do) it does the opposite and creates animosity.

Frankly, I wouldn't want to moderate it either.

There's no animosity or hot headedness or personal considerations and nobody is getting banned. But I am getting very tired of having to explain myself or justify why we have rules and guidelines. We didn't pull these out of our asses. They have been tested and developed after seeing forums grow and die, lose their way and have to find them again, and develop toxic cliques that have to be excised. Now, I don't see any of that happening here but I also didn't stop wearing my seatbelt because I haven't been in a car accident lately.

Whether they make sense or not, the rules and guidelines are 100% non-negotiable. I'd think that would be glaringly obvious by now, but maybe not. I love open discourse but that is not carte blanche to veer off in ten zillion directions under the guise that everything is connected. Whether it is or not is irrelevant. Like I said, not an egalitarian thought experiment.

We're going to take a break on this thread. I will reopen it Monday. Or I can just close it permanently because I'm getting very tired of having to mod it. I believe over the last decade the iterations of the WF staff have been very fair and transparent and largely hands off, and I don't know how to be any clearer on this particular subject.