oops to some repetition above.  It sure would be nice to have an edit feature on this program. 

I pretty much divide my online time between WonderCafe and Facebook and investigating the links posted on each. 

My real life peer group tends to be very happy with the freedom we are ensured now that Harper has a majority. At least that is how they see it.

I tend to keep quiet in real life and take refuge here at WonderCafe.  So I am not likely to loose interest in WonderCafe.

from what i have seen in my 15 or so years on internet forums, all boards tend to wax and wane... its a natural cycle.

we may be in a wane right now.  that doesn't mean that the board is dying or anything.

WonderCafe boring?   Which threads do you follow?

Over in Religion one of the best theological discussions I've followed in a long time has been developing - not insults and bickering but a good and respectful exchange of ideas,

Gord continues to invite us to explore the weekly Lectionary readings with him,

and I'm inviting people to join me in my Advent devotionals each morning.

In health and aging many of us are encouraging and supporting a long time member who has serious health issues.  While there is a support thread for another member whose husband faces health issues - this time the thread is in Relationships.

Relatiionships seems to have moved from an "advice to the love lorn" to a place where we can discuss many different kinds of relationships (including love).  The Room continues to welcome people who drop by to touch base almost every day, and others who come when they are feeling weary or need a chance to relax among friends, and perhaps unload about something at the office.  

In Global and Politics a few people keep us on our toes about what's happening in the world and how they interpret it (and they certainly don't agree).

In social the playful ones are busy with a word game for the Season,  and on another thread  a long time member who took a break for several months is back. 

True some forums are not very active.  There doesn't seem to be much interest in "Parenting" which was quite active in the early years of the Cafe.  That might mean that we are not attracting many people in that demographic.   I've also noticed that we no longer have children, or even many teenagers like we used to.   Some who came on as high school students have grown up - and often studies or jobs are their main interests now.  

But some of us who were here almost from the beginning are still around.  And occasionally someone new drops in, some just for a visit, but others to find a home.

Sure, there are things I would like to see happening.   It would be great if one of you saw fit to gift the UCC with the money to run another ad campaign to invite people in.   We can always hope.

I'd like to see more churches sponsering WonderCafe live and inviting people to drop in for discussion.  And I'd like to see something about the virtual WonderCafe in the bulletin or mentioned during the service on a weekly basis. 

I'm not familiar with the way the social media works - how to raise our profile on other forums and chat rooms to invite people over.  But perhaps just a bit of 'word of mouth' advertising would help.   Everybody invite at least one person - friend, relative, team mate, roommate, to drop in to the Cafe.   

As far as I know we are still getting a lot of hits - I suspect the lurkers outnumber the regulars - and I see a lot of different people posting.  I sure hope that the Cafe is around for a long time to come.

Hi sighsnootles,

I concur with Sigh's observation.  All boards cycle between activity and inactivity.

Based on observation WonderCafe does not bring in many new members who dive into conversation.  It is difficult to observe if WonderCafe brings in many, or even any, new members who do not post.  One doesn't need to be a member to read the discussions.

Speaking personally, it is my first Advent season with a new congregation which means that I have new patterns (theirs) to learn as well as patterns of my own which are new to them to teach.  Making December an incredibly busy time.  That will cut into my posting.  I expect that will have some impact on the WonderCafe members who also lead worship services.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Thanks for these great ideas Seeler. As folks probably know, we don't have much of an advertising budget for WonderCafe, so anything you can do to get the word out and invite others to join in would be much appreciated.

Our number of visits average about 38,000 a month, with an average of about different 25,000 visitors per month. These numbers have remained pretty much the same for the past couple of years, since the advertising campaign ended. 

Putting WonderCafe in your church bulletin, sharing WonderCafe conversations with your social media networks, and holding "WonderCafe Live" events are all great ideas!

If you have a website, you could also add one of these WonderCafe web badges to it:

http://www.wondercafe.ca/web-badges

There are also a bunch of WonderCafe bulletin inserts available here:

http://www.emergingspirit.ca/image_galleries/wondercafe_ads/bulletin_inserts

Thanks again for all your help inviting people to join us on WonderCafe!

Aaron (for WonderCafe)

It seems no one from the local United Church reads or posts here.  It also seems that most United Church people I have spoken to in real life over the last few years aren't interested in discussing spirituality and their personal practices.  They go to church on Sunday, attend meetings and socialise during the week (outside of work hours).

Some energetic advertising might help - especially if congregations got on board.

I would attend WCLive if it was offered locally.

It seems to me that if people aren't finding this place interesting, then its' up to them to make it interesting for themselves. I've found that if you post a topic that's of interest to you, others with similar interests are likely to respond. Of course, I'm referring mainly to long time members - that might be a little intimidating for a newbie.

Well, I for one don't really want people I know in real life on here, except those I met here, as I want to remain anonymous so I can speak the whole truth, which I feel is most helpful and most interesting. But it's sad to think of wondercafe being grandfathered out.

I did invite an aquaintence from another forum here once, but it turned out he didn't have time to add another forum to his schedule.

I no longer participate in parenting threads much because it is a sensitive subject and I prefer to get advice from friends. Happy to talk about my own growing up though, if that's helpful to others.

I still find the forum interesting though! It's nice that we sort of know each other. It took years to get to know more people than I don't know on here. But if people keep leaving eventually we won't have many folks. Will it be like 5 folks sitting in a living room together?

WHatever happens, this "place" will remain a special memory and period of my life.

It's really good to be able to speak my mind and discuss with people also interested in spirituality and philosophy, and pop culture. ANd I really like the format, how our posts are each neatly separated and narrow like the pages of a novel, with big avatar on the left, and the yellow background, and our edit features, and our profiles, and the welcome entry page, and it's all so user friendly, not like other forums.

I wonder if our familiarity with each other frightens new comers off though?

Aaron,

What would be really great for us is to advertise in a really right wing hot spot, like the Salt Lake City Tribune.  This is the best and most effective way to get out our name if there is limited cash. 

We will be flooded with fundies, but we will get more reaction, I think if people understand that the people in this forum are at the lead of the philosophy of the most popular church in Canada, and that along with the Canadian Mennonite Central Committee, our philosophy dominates Canadian Christian international policy.

I just think that it would also be a great link for people in the right wing who feel trapped by their small towns et al. All we are doing here is singing to the choir. . . like a gay movement that stays at a cabaret in New York and never goes anywhere.

If there were more people interested in foreign affairs the threads might consist of more than Graeme and I arguing with each other.   The last one was awful!  Two other posters were commenting on us arguing.  Not on what we were discussing, just the fact that we were arguing.

I would like just one person who would read the financial news.... It is so important!  The Euro Zone is on the point of collapse--a big recession could be headed our away (worse than 2008).  They are quite literally in a panic.  For those threads, I get almost no responses.  

Perhaps Jlin is thinking more of religious diversity?  It is a faith site after all, so I can hardly complain about foreign affairs....

I tried an Eastern Orthodox forum--just looked at it, but they were arguing about what to me seemed incredibly boring: like why Eastern Orthodoxy is not in communion with Oriental Orthodoxy.  Zzzzzzzzz....  I came back to Wondercafe.

Also, people do come here from time to time with views that are different.  They give up in frustration after being attacked by legions of enraged WC regulars.  I have seen this happen several times.  They realize they are in the wrong place.

I mention WC in my UU fellowship periodically but so far no one has taken the bait and actually joined (they could, I suppose, be lurking). I think foruming is not for everyone and many who would enjoy WC may simply not be interested in putting in the time or are reading but not interested in posting.

Mendalla

I am telling my son to join, so he can another resident atheist.  Right now he goes onto YouTube to argue with people.   But he really busy....if had time I am sure he would. 

He'd find arguing here more fruitful, I suspect, in that we are actually having substantive discussions. Youtube comments are, IME, the lowest common denominator of online discussion and I ignore them by and large.

Mendalla

EO

I agree with your assessment of people being bullied and attacked on this website by self-righteous one-ness.  I have been the victim of it, it is considered a sort of initiation rite, I think, but anyway, it is unacceptable.

I have also come to the aid of people being bullied, yes, even people who do not think like me, and I  have sometimes thought, "oh just forget it.  I can't deal with this".  

So, perhaps, one thing we should deal with is how to relate to people who are either abusive to us, or have very extravagant self-righteous attitudes.

 Just some thoughts

My interest in WC comes and goes. Sometimes I find the topics and posters engaging. Some times not so much-so I just scale back my participation untill it's more interesting-ot I need advice on something.

Ya know, I'd rather have a nice forum full of friendly people and friends, than one full of strangers who dissagree.

Elanor, jlin:  you are right, and I think that why people launch en masse attacks against the "outsiders."   It is much more relaxing when we all agree!  I too like to relax with people who think like me.

Still, one can have civil discussions, where people may not agree on everything.  After in real life, you will meet few people who will agree you on everything.

The critical zone is when the attacks become "ad hominem" -- i.e. you attack the person, rather than his argument.  LIke saying "You are an idiotic twit."   That is ad hominem.  Saying "I don't agree with for the following reasons..."-- that is discussion.  And accepting that at times, you will just have to agree to disagree.

It really takes self-control.  I am a work in progress in that area, I confess, getting better but not perfect. 

I have tried at various times to get folks here in Oz interested in Wondercafe - but without success.

I suspect that there are cultural differences at play........

Just sometimes I would like posters to express some self-doubt or questioning......... (if nothing else, it would make them seem more human).

It's nice to have threads where we meet with friends, support one another, laugh at each others jokes, share a bit of our lives, relax, and generally agree.  But even these threads are kept alive and interesting when we invite others in and make them welcome.

However, for me, I need to find more on other threads.  I need questions raised.  I need to feel comfortable about raising my own questions.   I need to hear other points of view, I need to expand my way of thinking, I need information about other people's cultures and beliefs.  I need opportunities to grow in wisdom and understanding.   Fortunately, I find it here often enough that I keep coming back. 

Disagreement is essential.  Endless, pointless, circular argument quickly becomes boring.   Insults are generally unnecessary and usually reflect poorly on the one making them rather than on their target.   Humour can be delightful, refreshing, insightful - or it can be hurtful and thread destroying.   Anger and insults seldom change anyone's mind and can otherwise ruin a good discussion.   

We get the good and the bad on the Cafe - for me the good far outweighs the bad.  

It generally gets busy over Christmas.....there is a natural cycle to participation in forums as others have said,

Aaron's suggestions are great.

Also, I would not anticipate that people at my church would participate; however, those who like communicating in online methods probably would.  so, I will try to remember to post threads ...though, that would mean that I had time to read threads, and my own participation is lower at present due to work committments

My first peek in this thread,

Now, my first post.

I left when insulted.

I'm tempted to go back just to read some one who persists (that  would be you)

But much thought, I wager.

I'm a big fan of Krugman.

I read with interest, outrage, impotence -- no solutions to offer, no advice to give.

I took a couple of years of Econ ...(decades ago) I feel I learned some BASIC as the world went on to C**...

I am getting better at ignoring the insults.  I even got a compliment from EDI the other day, even though he does not agree with me on everything!

Politeness!  Makes your day.  

I started out being snarky myself, but i am slowly getting better... a work in progress, like all of us. 

PS, one that one thread where people were commenting on us, I challenged them to pick a side and produce their version of a loving yet persuasive post.   No one took up the challenge.  I think the thread was abandoned at that point.

WC haas been around for 5 years.  In internet-time that is something of an eon.  All communities (online or irl) have a wax and wane cycle to their existence.  Between the tow of these things it is not surprising to see that it is a base core of people who have most of the conversations around here.

That's true GordW. WonderCafe was launched before Facebook and Twitter were used in a widespread way, and I think the site has weathered the growth in popularity of other social media sites pretty well. People often tell me it's the same group who posts on WonderCafe (perhaps not as a compliment to the site), but in my opinion, that group is always changing. The group of people who do most of the posting now is not the same group of people who did most of the posting a year ago - or two, or three, or four years ago.

Some interesting comments on here. Many of the topics that come up on here are very personal views and/or or very political ones. That's par for the course when discussing religion or politics or social issues. I can get triggered sometimes....and sometimes I can misread someone's intentions with their post because we are missing facial expression and body language, or maybe punctuation. If I feel a deeply held value threatened I might argue...I'm not always so good at turning the other cheek in the middle of a debate..I have overreacted before...but I soon forget about it, and I don't hold grudges. Sometimes i might express a deeply held value of mine that challenges a deeply held value of someone else. That's an occupational hazard on here. If we can't discuss and even debate our views, we never learn anything new. Writing is actually the only way I can usually hold a debate or express deep thoughts, because I can take my time and edit...I would get muddled up in conversation...so I appreciate being able to freely express my views on hot topics...and I mean no harm.  I hope I haven't left anyone feeling upset... please let me know if I ever say anything that really bothers you and I hope we can make things right. I truly hope noone has been left feeling personally attacked by me on here. If so, I sincerely apologize. Wondercafe is interesting and stimulating for me most of the time--and sometimes it's too much and i need a break--but because it is interesting and stimulating I keep coming back...I think of you all as my online community....youtube, not so much. I've tried other web forums, and they are so moderated you can't really speak your mind, and therefore have to mince your words...wondercafe is pretty open.