If if were possible to give that comment two “little red hearts”, than I would do so
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I’m going to just dump some thoughts here, considering it’s flagged as ‘Site Feedback’ although it’s not necessarily specific to the topic. That being said, I don’t have an issue with non-SE23 residents posting here - even those that have never lived here. Some of the issues that Forest Hill face are likely replicated across the country, and I’m sure there’s plenty to be learnt from those outside of SE23.
I find that tensions seem to escalate quite quickly in this forum, although I’m not part of any others so maybe that’s just how they all are. It might not help that we’re all cooped up at home because of COVID.
I generally stay away from topics that have already got a bit heated, or where people resort to quoting each other and challenging the minute details of the words they have written. I don’t mind being challenged but I don’t have the time, or frankly the mental capacity, to be arguing about a pedestrian crossing. I expect new members, or those on the periphery of the forum, are put off contributing if they see this happening regularly.
I also get the impression that there’s some specific dislike for Chris, and I’m sure there’s context I’m missing about this, outside of sharing his political opinions - which often seem to stoke high emotions.
I’m not quite sure where I’m going with this or if there are any actions to take, but felt like I should add my thoughts, as it stops me being more active here.
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I could not have put it better myself. I still have a very strong affinity with FH and whilst I may not live there now it upsets me when people feel I shouldn’t have a voice.
However, spats like this are quite rare, they just tend to stick out as the explode rapidly, but disappear just as fast.
However, I am glad we have a site that allows it to happen (within reason) as I would dread a world where everything is sanitised.
Thank you for your thoughts again, fantastically summed up.
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I think some people struggle with forums, because forums don’t have the block/follow systems of other social media platforms (and this is a deliberate design feature of forums)
No echo chambers or worldview curation here. So there’s a constant risk of encountering opinions that differ from our own.
Like @Thewrongtrousers, I relish that kind of environment.
However, some people struggle to tolerate different opinions, so they react by denigrating and marginalising anyone whose worldview differs from their own.
It’s easier to make a personal attack than it is to come up with a reasoned counter-argument.
I think there are two main reasons for this. My worldview, whilst generally inline with the UK as a whole, differs from the SE23 majority, and so some people seek to marginalise me on that basis.
In some ways I understand this reaction. It’s difficult for people inside the bubble to realise just how skewed and one-sided the political climate is in Lewisham. And there’s a natual tendency for people to distrust and dislike those who differ.
Also, when I was involved in moderating the forum, I (very occasionally) intervened against people for breaking the forum guidelines, which has left people with lasting resentment, which was then exploited and amplified by mobs on other local forums and social media platforms.
The Internet can quickly become a hostile environment when conspiracy theories and hate campaigns gain momentum, and sadly that can manipulate opinion in the real world too. Some really smart and decent people got pulled into the hate mobs. So sad.
One of the reasons I left SE23 was because of coordinated attacks by certain local people. I don’t regret moving to Tunbridge Wells, but I’m sad at how things ended in SE23.
I’m uneasy to see the same aggressors starting to make baseless attacks on @ForestHull too. I think for some, local community affairs are a power play.
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Diversity in the usual sense of that word is something that most sane people see as a good and healthy thing. However, a vital aspect of diversity which is often overlooked must surely be tolerance and respect for opinions and values that differ from ones own. This has become increasingly difficult for a lot of people these days, it seems to me. I suspect that the internet has an awful lot to do with it.
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I’ll add my bit from a personal perspective not a moderator.
This forum, and indeed any other local forum or group, should be for those with genuine interest in SE23. For me that would include:
Those living in SE23
Those moving to SE23
Those considering moving to SE23
Those who have lived in SE23
Those who work in SE23
Those studying in SE23
Those who visit SE23
Those who have family in SE23
All the above categories who are in neighbouring areas
Anyone else with an interest in SE23 not listed above, of which I am sure there are many.
I think recently we have let a few non-se23 posts and topics go, which takes us towards general politics and more general discussions. Those sorts of discussions have been extremely devisive over generally the last few years and it’s no different here, one of the reasons we stopped general politics.
I think we all need to mindlful of they way we put our opinions forwards, the written tone if you like.
I’ll add my thanks to @Londondrz who, despite moving away, has moderated this forum for years, much more than I, and helped keep the forum going. I hope he uses the forum for many more years.
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crikey,
I’ve got an account on the East Dulwich Forum but I don’t live there.
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I largely disagree with your worldview and politics - but I’ve never let other peoples differing politics get in the way of a discussion - it’s just knowing the topics to skirt around.
At some point in the past, I (and I’m sure others) lost faith in you as a person/site administrator. Now you’re no longer the owner, whether or not I trust you has little to do with anything - you’re just somebody I largely disagree with on the internet.
Nothing personal - just some context from somebody who mainly reads the posts on this forum with a heavy level of ambivalence
Edit:
100% agree with this. Tone is so very difficult to get across correctly on the internet.
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I’ve lived here six years now. I don’t really care about the strength or duration of other people’s connections to the area. It’s interesting to hear how the area has changed, or how it compares to others today.
But whether someone’s lived here fifty years, fifty minutes, or now lives fifty miles away, I get disheartened and (to be honest) bored stiff when simple local interest posts get derailed into an exchange of political swipes. There are a lot of these swipes here and I find they add nothing but bad feeling. Whoever/wherever they come from.
Yes we all have different opinions, and sharing them to a degree is healthy. But some of us share more loudly than others, in language that becomes personal, or aggressive, or holier-than-thou, or smug – and I don’t really see the point of these additions.
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Agree too much political undertones which has greatly reduced my activity over the years in the local forum. It’s rather tiresome
Yes, you are quite right. I was much more active in the past also but it stopped being worth it.
Wider discussion of political matters (amongst other things) poisoned the well for a time- thankfully it seems more focused on local matters with the moderators performing an unsung task of keeping the ship largely on course.
I don’t envy their task of drawing a balance between keeping it civil and being seen to suppress opinion. I don’t always agree with the decisions made but I respect them and that as a quorum they reflect a range of political positions
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I notice that several of the people commenting on this thread to bemoan political posting are people who themselves enthusiastically dived into political debates on this forum - but generally from the politically opposite angle to me.
The original post of this topic was a plea to respect forum members wherever they live.
It was not a plea for critique about politics or posting style. I think some people here are just taking the opportunity to let off steam, taking swipes at a person they’ve disagreed with politically in the past.
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I totally agree with this statement, for months I’ve not posted on here until recently, because I see the same old people clapping themselves on the back for their superior views. It’s like a little clique, who just interject to make sure they have the last word. Why you’d want to hang around a local forum after a number of yrs baffles me but hey there’s not much on Netflix these days.
This forum has become stale and lacking in diversity. It puts off new users and current who want to speak about local issues, it should be a way to connect with your neighbours or local community. Yes you all have a voice and may have some connection but those voices are less valuable or relevant to me than someone living here now. Especially as those voices seem to be of a certain age, white and privileged.
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I find ageism, racism and attacking people’s background quite off-putting on a forum, and it makes me want to participate here less.
I think the most important form of diversity on a forum is diversity of opinion.
And ironically by attempting to marginalise “opinion minorities” like me, you’ll be reducing diversity on this forum.
I couldn’t care less whether you’re black or white, old or young, @chamonix.
I consider contributions from all people on this forum as equally valuable.
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My point is diversity.
I’m also white and privileged but I want to hear other peoples views not just certain members
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As is my point