I agree,

Let's look at some other solutions. From now on if you see another way to do it then please, enlighten me. If you want to keep the idiots out then you need a solution. Having stricter moderating in those forums is one way you could achieve this. I'll give you a few more ideas.

• If the intelligent people who are posting in those forums refrain from being idiots themselves (joking around/giving short answers) then the idiots won't jump in there because they won't have a sense of belonging. Will that ever happen? Maybe, but personally I think that it's difficult for people to continue a constant mature state in any of the forums. Keep in mind, 99% of the users on cB are in their early teens to late twenties. We aren't the maturest bunch of posters out there. Let's be honest, we all like to have a little fun. I can't even do it myself. Everyone would have to have a universal understanding that the "intelligent" forums are not for immature little fuckers. It could but it's unlikely.
• What if we just made another user group. The members would have to meet certain criteria to become apart of that group (we can't make it difficult, maybe just fill out an application). I think that most people would just be too lazy to apply. The people who are really interested would apply and join some in on some of the more "intelligent" conversations. You would get a few morons here and there, but the application would filter out the majority of them.

With an application, how can one deem who is smart enough to participate? How can you decide who gets in and who is too dumb? I mean, obviously some people are dumb and everyone can see that, but you can't tell them that they're not smart enough to be in there.

I think the smart and dumb and those in between should be able to participate in the same discussions together if they want to.

^ Ditto. My main concern with this is how to resolve the elitism that will envitably come about with the creation of this subforum. I mean, it's implicit in the name, isn't it? "Smart Section?"

No no, you just have an application that anyone can fill out. Just make sure it takes effort. It doesn't have to determine if you're smart or not. They just take the time to fill out this application, and we let them in.

I think that it would filter out the majority of idiots because most of them are too lazy to take the time to fill out the application.



I agree, and that's why I think that if we did go with an application solution then anyone should be able to apply and enter into the more engaging conversations. I don't think the application should be a test, think of it as a filter. People who put the effort into filling the application out are actually showing interest. It's not perfect, but I think it would filter out most of the garbage.



That is on of my concerns.

I was being unimaginative when I named it "Smart Section"
Create your own name, it was just a joke'ish.

None, it would just be a time consuming application. It would just be a bunch of bull shit that you would have to fill out and agree to so that lazy, stupid people wouldn't even bother.

Personally, I don't think that the technology section should be included. There are so many people who need help. I don't think you should cut people off if they need help.

I don't think you should cut people off from anything at all. If they want to participate, let them participate. It's dumb people that make the smart people smarter by having to contradict them. This is the real world and not everyone enjoys extremely serious, meaningful discussion all the time. I'm sure every individual enjoys it maybe once in a blue moon, but not everyone does. When they do, they post there. The people who like it more post there more often. Everyone has to deal with people that don't. Just tolerate it; they're people.

I don't think you're stupid. I just think that there are many people who dislike you.



You're right. That's why I was suggesting an application. Everyone can get in. All they have to do is apply. All it takes is effort. I realize it's not perfect, but it would filter out a large percentage of people who are just trying to cause trouble.

I think with the application Josh is just trying to stop "drive by posting". most aren't going to want to fill out and application just so they can come leave some pointless posts, we have a ton of other forums for that.

i don't think an application would eliminate dumb people, just a certain type of them. for instance there's people who post in debate who i personally think are stupid, but they're posts still somewhat contribute to the debate. they don't post things like "i disagree,abortion is bad" and then leave, those people are just posting to post it seems. they are the ones i have more of an issue with, and i can see an application possibly getting rid of some of those.

Can't you guys just ignore those and move on? It just doesn't feel like trying to eliminate those "drive-by" posts really warrants for creating a whole application system or whatever.

Plus, if it's an open forum without a password, I'm pretty sure people who really don't care about anything wouldn't even read the notice that says "please apply before posting" and would post their meaningless post anyway.

Your never going to get away from "stupid" people. Their everywhere. Everyone has a different opinion of who is stupid and who is smart so we can just exclude those who certain people think is stupid.

I think were making it more complicated then it needs to be to have another locked forum for another group of people that are "smart". I think it the end it would just scare a lot of people away because they feel dumb.

Is this really necessary? To go as far as making people fill out a application? Also is it really necessary to make this smart section out in the community center? We could always keep it in interests and name it what ever and those sub forums will be subforums of the smart section?

Why not just create more and more thoughtful topics instead of creating a "smart forum" (I realize that's not exactly the name it will have if it's going to happen) and/or using applications to see whether or not someone is smart enough to post in those forums?

If we want to see more thought-provoking discussion, it'll happen gradually knowing the CB community and the sort of posts we generally see and read. Creating a forum such as this isn't going to change that.

Am I one of those people?I often wonder.

I would take the time to fill out an application. I love doing things like that. There's certain debates I like to add my 2 cents to.

To make things simple, you could have a dumbass section and then a smartass section. (Kidding.) Sorry, I get nosey sometimes and wonder what changes will be happening here.

I do like the idea as a whole, but there are some flaws. Always flaws in most of the ideas brought up anyway, so I suppose it doesn't matter.
The 'application' idea is a bit odd, but I don't mind it.
I just hope it doesn't turn out badly.

Essentially, you can't tell people that they aren't allowed, but you can force people to make an effort to get in so they don't want to get kicked out. That way, even if they aren't intelligent, they'll still be encouraged to act intelligent.



I agree, the best solution would be to make thoughtful posts. Stupid people are driven away by intelligence. That's just the way life is. Stupid people don't want to feel stupid so they mingle with crowds of equal or lesser intelligence. It's simple group dynamics.

On a side note. My idea of an application wouldn't be to decided whether or not someone was intelligent. It's it's just a filter. Essentially, the application is a time waster. Anyone can apply, and everyone will get accepted. It just take more time and effort to apply.

Here's my logic in this:

If you create an application then people who put time and effort into applying will be less likely to act like jackasses in those forums because it took effort to get there. The application would not be a test. It would just be something to discourage trouble makers from entering these "smart" forums.

I don't think anyone should be restricted from any forum. I would rather manipulate people into believing that they don't belong.

And intelligent people are driven away by stupidity.

I like this idea A LOT, actually. I think it could potentially inspire people to post with more substance. The fun stuff is, well, fun but provocative and thought provoking conversation is good as well without it having to be in a debate type forum.

Not sure what I think about the "application" idea. I do think that the idea is viable if the thought process is that if people would care enough to fill out an application, they would be more likely to care about how/what they're posting.

Intellectuals Corner

For a name?

I really think art and writing could be grouped into one, considering writing is a form of art. And they both lack popularity.

^Thats not a bad idea.

Or Writing could always be grouped with Books?

Oops - that was supposed to be a response to the other thread about combining the interests subforums.

Well, the whole "smart section" sounds like a good idea. As long as thats not what we decide to call it.

> News
> Technology
> Debate

in one whole section and there could be another section:

> Art
> Writing
> Books

and maybe we should call it Literature and the Arts or something?

yknow i really just dont see the necessity in this. i've refrained from adding any input so far, but there's really no need to segregate the community any further. the most this would do is make dumb people FEEL dumb. with the VIP Lounge already existing to split up the community and make others feel 'left out', i just dont see a reason to have people APPLY to be recognized as smart so they can reach a few little forums.

I agree. It's not going to change anything. If better topics are more common, the demographics of CB will probably change. Gradually of course but it would change and attract people who are interested in the thoughtful topics...

This is exactly what I'm thinking. Like you said, "thought process is that if people would care enough to fill out an application, they would be more likely to care about how/what they're posting." That's all the application would be.

People who fill it out will be less like likely to jump into those sections and "disturb the peace". It's a solution that will keep people from feeling segregated, but at the same time keep a majority of the trouble makers out.



You're not getting it. You wouldn't be segregating the community. Anyone and everyone would be allowed to apply. The ideology behind the application is, "If people would care enough to fill out an application, they would be more likely to care about how/what they're posting."

Anyone and everyone is allowed to apply. There is no segregation. The application is merely a mind game. They aren't applying to be recognized as smart. They are applying so that they will put more time and effort into a post. No-one will feel dumb because everyone will be accepted.

It will only separate the trouble makers (topic hijackers) from the people who are actually trying to have a good conversation. That's a good thing.