Conservatives Disenfranchised?

[Angel4Truth]

The problem with always offending the veterans though is a common one today. Large business does this all the time and then when they file bankruptcy they ask what went wrong without realizing that its always that they forgot what grew them to begin with. Cutting corners, relaxing standards and ignoring warnings. Failure to listen, failure to drop the newly implemented ideals that started problems and failure act untill most of the customers/membership is gone.

For some reason explosive growth causes many to think they need to fix what isnt broken to begin with.

 

[Nadiine]

The problem with always offending the veterans though is a common one today. Large business does this all the time and then when they file bankruptcy they ask what went wrong without realizing that its always that they forgot what grew them to begin with. Cutting corners, relaxing standards and ignoring warnings. Failure to listen, failure to drop the newly implemented ideals that started problems and failure act untill most of the customers/membership is gone.

For some reason explosive growth causes many to think they need to fix what isnt broken to begin with.

Yep I agree. We had collectively complained for months on end - I'd note that we believed alot of the staff higher up was liberal tho, so our complaints no doubt fell on deaf ears as this was what they wanted for the site. LESS CONSERVATIVISM.
Well, they got it.

But numbers had been sharply dropping since Erwin's Ecumenical vision last year around June. & it's gotten worse ever since with policy that supported "we're all Christians if we sport a shiny Christian icon" - when trolls & nons just grabbed icons/accounts claiming they were Christians.

I know why Conservatives left, but since it's been open season on Christians for a long time, I'm wondering why non conservatives took off.

 

[Angel4Truth]

15 days ago now I asked if anything currently being done to look into the issues raised here - can anyone respond?

 

[desmalia]

Angel, I don't think staff is planning to respond to individual threads like this one anymore (at least not as often as in the past). From what I understand they're primarily gathering info for the most part these days. So the response will be seen more by changes that are made or not made over the next several months. Seems like maybe CF is going through another transition period right now to try and get the numbers back up. So I think it's safe to say we've been heard. But how that will be dealt with may not be seen for a while.

 

[MrJim]

Staff doesn't even want us to know how many people are actually logged on~~i asked about it and got some story about server issues but I don't believe them anymore..

 

[katholikos]

Can I ask what you guys are talking about ?

 

[desmalia]

Staff doesn't even want us to know how many people are actually logged on~~i asked about it and got some story about server issues but I don't believe them anymore..

I know things are looking kinda bleak right now, but I'm still holding out hope that staff is working to become one voice (which is so vital!), with one direction for CF (whatever that may be). Most Internet forums don't get much response from staff about these sorts of things, so it's really not that strange. I guess I've gotten used to waiting to see what will happen next, lol. I just really hope that they'll pick a direction and stick to it. No more of this finger to the wind stuff. Once that's established, Christians may come back in droves, or it may be a whole different forum. Time will tell.

LOL, plus, I'm rarely logged in because this silly forum keeps booting me off. Some kind of programming glitch. I can only imagine how many others are struggling with this same problem.

 

[MrJim]

Can I ask what you guys are talking about ?

On the front page at bottom there used to be a list of total people on the site, broken down by members & visitors. I can remember 3000+ and rarely under 1000 for the longest time...last ones I remember were 200-800 total..

 

[desmalia]

Can I ask what you guys are talking about ?

Hi, and welcome!
I see that you're new to CF, so I can understand your questions. Much of what is being discussed here is related to the direction changes to the forums over the past year or so, and particularly to how things have been for conservatives here in the past few months. Before the big changes happened on July 7, 2007 (generally referred to as 7/7/7) and a change of ownership shortly after, the site as a whole was quite different than it is now. Prior to 7/7/7 the site had fairly strict and defined purpose and direction. Not everyone was happy with it, but it was somewhat carved in stone, so to speak. 7/7/7 became the start of a short-lived "wiki" era, where member opinion became the rule and all forums were opened up to discussion by people of all faiths. It was very chaotic, though some good things happened too. Since that time, changes have been made periodically, including the re-introduction of the Nicene Creed, and it looks like they are changing yet again. Christian members have left in droves since 7/7/7 and it's become a major issue in the past few months. We've been asked for our feedback as conservatives, so that is what we're giving in this thread.

 

[MrJim]

Hi, and welcome!
I see that you're new to CF, so I can understand your questions. Much of what is being discussed here is related to the direction changes to the forums over the past year or so, and particularly to how things have been for conservatives here in the past few months. Before the big changes happened on July 7, 2007 (generally referred to as 7/7/7) and a change of ownership shortly after, the site as a whole was quite different than it is now. Prior to 7/7/7 the site had fairly strict and defined purpose and direction. Not everyone was happy with it, but it was somewhat carved in stone, so to speak. 7/7/7 became the start of a short-lived "wiki" era, where member opinion became the rule and all forums were opened up to discussion by people of all faiths. It was very chaotic, though some good things happened too. Since that time, changes have been made periodically, including the re-introduction of the Nicene Creed, and it looks like they are changing yet again. Christian members have left in droves since 7/7/7 and it's become a major issue in the past few months. We've been asked for our feedback as conservatives, so that is what we're giving in this thread.

Also the site was sold to another guy a few months ago (forget when)...sorta promised to turn it into something better but..

 

[katholikos]

Hi, and welcome!
I see that you're new to CF, so I can understand your questions. Much of what is being discussed here is related to the direction changes to the forums over the past year or so, and particularly to how things have been for conservatives here in the past few months. Before the big changes happened on July 7, 2007 (generally referred to as 7/7/7) and a change of ownership shortly after, the site as a whole was quite different than it is now. Prior to 7/7/7 the site had fairly strict and defined purpose and direction. Not everyone was happy with it, but it was somewhat carved in stone, so to speak. 7/7/7 became the start of a short-lived "wiki" era, where member opinion became the rule and all forums were opened up to discussion by people of all faiths. It was very chaotic, though some good things happened too. Since that time, changes have been made periodically, including the re-introduction of the Nicene Creed, and it looks like they are changing yet again. Christian members have left in droves since 7/7/7 and it's become a major issue in the past few months. We've been asked for our feedback as conservatives, so that is what we're giving in this thread.

I see. Well, I have a feeling I have a foot on both sides of the fence on this one:

1) I am very conservative myself, and I don't think others like atheists or Muslims or whatever have a right to come to a Christian site and start smearing Christianity. And I don't like Liberals who start putting forth abortion and same-sex marriage as viable positions that a Christan can adhere to. Those things are offensive to me.

...however...

2) I am a Catholic, and I have experineced being banned from "Christian" websites for the sole reason of posting and defending the Catholic POV on various doctrinal issues. Some sites won't tolerate it. Other sites will, but will also allow their members to unleash an onslaught of vile insults on me. (Maybe they figure that is more entertaining than just banning me.) So when you say "the site had fairly strict and defined purpose and direction. Not everyone was happy with it, but it was somewhat carved in stone, so to speak," I wonder where I would have fit in.

 

[MrJim]

I see. Well, I have a feeling I have a foot on both sides of the fence on this one:

1) I am very conservative myself, and I don't think others like atheists or Muslims or whatever have a right to come to a Christian site and start smearing Christianity. And I don't like Liberals who start putting forth abortion and same-sex marriage as viable positions that a Christan can adhere to. Those things are offensive to me.

...however...

2) I am a Catholic, and I have experineced being banned from "Christian" websites for the sole reason of posting and defending the Catholic POV on various doctrinal issues. Some sites won't tolerate it. Other sites will, but will also allow their members to unleash an onslaught of vile insults on me. (Maybe they figure that is more entertaining than just banning me.) So when you say "the site had fairly strict and defined purpose and direction. Not everyone was happy with it, but it was somewhat carved in stone, so to speak," I wonder where I would have fit in.

You would have fit in well~OBOB practically ruled the roost around here, always the largest congregational forum and had even more interesting folks back then~you should have met Rising Suns--very interesting fellow, think he's now in training as a monk at a monastery in OK...

 

[GreenMunchkin]

I see. Well, I have a feeling I have a foot on both sides of the fence on this one:

1) I am very conservative myself, and I don't think others like atheists or Muslims or whatever have a right to come to a Christian site and start smearing Christianity. And I don't like Liberals who start putting forth abortion and same-sex marriage as viable positions that a Christan can adhere to. Those things are offensive to me.

...however...

2) I am a Catholic, and I have experineced being banned from "Christian" websites for the sole reason of posting and defending the Catholic POV on various doctrinal issues. Some sites won't tolerate it. Other sites will, but will also allow their members to unleash an onslaught of vile insults on me. (Maybe they figure that is more entertaining than just banning me.) So when you say "the site had fairly strict and defined purpose and direction. Not everyone was happy with it, but it was somewhat carved in stone, so to speak," I wonder where I would have fit in.

You would fit in here, too

Welcome very lots!! Tis ace to meet ya

 

[A New Dawn]

2) I am a Catholic, and I have experineced being banned from "Christian" websites for the sole reason of posting and defending the Catholic POV on various doctrinal issues. Some sites won't tolerate it. Other sites will, but will also allow their members to unleash an onslaught of vile insults on me. (Maybe they figure that is more entertaining than just banning me.) So when you say "the site had fairly strict and defined purpose and direction. Not everyone was happy with it, but it was somewhat carved in stone, so to speak," I wonder where I would have fit in.

It didn't have anything to do with the Catholic-Protestant issues, it had more to do with the Christian-Non-Christian issues. How liberal/non-Christian did the owner of the site wish to get. For the first 5 or 6 years, it was a strict conservative Christian site. There were lots of areas non-Christians could post in, but some sections were physically blocked off to everyone except Christians with a Christian faith icon. That all changed on 7/7/7. All the walls were knocked down, anyone could post anywhere, and they started allowing non-Christians and atheists on staff. I think that the last thing there is the straw that broke the camel's back as the site had been getting more and more liberal as time went on (not that some of the changes weren't bad).

As far as where you'd fit, Catholics have their own congregational forum, and were always welcomed on staff. I'm sure you wouldn't have a problem fitting in.

 

[katholikos]

You would have fit in well~OBOB practically ruled the roost around here, always the largest congregational forum......

Actually, I went over there, and was appalled at the number of Catholics who seem to find a way to justify voting for the pro-abortion candidate. I found it very upsetting. I don't know why so many of my Catholic brothers and sister have so many screws loose.

It didn't have anything to do with the Catholic-Protestant issues, it had more to do with the Christian-Non-Christian issues. How liberal/non-Christian did the owner of the site wish to get. For the first 5 or 6 years, it was a strict conservative Christian site. There were lots of areas non-Christians could post in, but some sections were physically blocked off to everyone except Christians with a Christian faith icon. That all changed on 7/7/7. All the walls were knocked down, anyone could post anywhere, and they started allowing non-Christians and atheists on staff. I think that the last thing there is the straw that broke the camel's back as the site had been getting more and more liberal as time went on (not that some of the changes weren't bad).

As far as where you'd fit, Catholics have their own congregational forum, and were always welcomed on staff. I'm sure you wouldn't have a problem fitting in.

Thanks for that. I do often feel like a man without a home though. My fellow Catholics have gone off the deep end by the legions, many of them buying into Liberalism. (Not all, but too many.) Many Evangelicals are good supporters of life issues, but see me as some kind of Pagan. LOL. So I'm kind of a floater.

 

[MrJim]

Actually, I went over there, and was appalled at the number of Catholics who seem to find a way to justify voting for the pro-abortion candidate. I found it very upsetting. I don't know why so many of my Catholic brothers and sister have so many screws loose.

YES~now you can see what we're talking about; it wasn't always that way over there, and occaisonally an OBOBer who hasn't been around for a while will show up and note the very same thing...

 

[A New Dawn]

Actually, I went over there, and was appalled at the number of Catholics who seem to find a way to justify voting for the pro-abortion candidate. I found it very upsetting. I don't know why so many of my Catholic brothers and sister have so many screws loose.

And I think that has only been since 7/7/7. Before then, one had to be in complete harmony with Rome in order to post there as a member of OBOB. There is a more liberal Catholic forum around somewhere, but I'm surprised to hear that things have gotten that loose in OBOB. (Disclaimer: I don't go there, so I'm only reacting to what you have said, though I do know that, historically, it was much stricter.)

 

[A New Dawn]

Thanks for that. I do often feel like a man without a home though. My fellow Catholics have gone off the deep end by the legions, many of them buying into Liberalism. (Not all, but too many.) Many Evangelicals are good supporters of life issues, but see me as some kind of Pagan. LOL. So I'm kind of a floater.

Maybe you should come over to the dark side.

 

[katholikos]

And I think that has only been since 7/7/7. Before then, one had to be in complete harmony with Rome in order to post there as a member of OBOB.

Wow. That sounds like MY kind of forum! LOL

...There is a more liberal Catholic forum around somewhere.....

Oh ya, I saw that too. I thought: "More Liberal than OBOB?" I was scared to peek inside.

...but I'm surprised to hear that things have gotten that loose in OBOB....

It seemed to me to be about half and half. I actually got reported for saying that one of them was not Catholic. Technically I was right, according to a strict reading of the Catechism. But I guess it was against the rules to put it out there like that.

 

[A New Dawn]

It seemed to me to be about half and half. I actually got reported for saying that one of them was not Catholic. Technically I was right, according to a strict reading of the Catechism. But I guess it was against the rules to put it out there like that.

Yeah, it is one thing, now, to point out that one's doctrine isn't Catholic (or Christian), but you can't say that they aren't.