New Forum Idea

[pt_tangles]

As many of you know, PW is sinking again, and I am not entirely certain that I am going to make the effort to save it.  Most have jumped ship, and those who remain are infrequent posters at best (except of course for the ever verbous LadyK). 

And I am sure that most of  you have seen me complain about PC, which has become and will continue to become nothing at all like I wanted it to be (already it has failed to provide a place where Mysteries can be discussed without someone or other comparing those trads to dangerous and useless cults).  Honestly, and without any sour grapes, I just don't think that there is enough in common between the creators/maintainers' vision and mine to make it a place where I could feel at home.

This makes me long for TT.  I miss it.  I miss everyone who was there, and I miss the Witch-focussed conversations that we had.  I was thinking a bit about the idea that was tossed around the first time I was bucking at the core concepts of PC - creating my own forum.  I have some time on my hands, and I could create a place that could strive to fill the hole TT left in me.

I was even thinking of names (names help to cement concepts for me), and what sort of tribute I could make to TT.  I came up with Wickets.  Simple word smooshing.  I looked it up, just to make sure that there weren't any meanings that I didn't want associated with the site (I knew about wickets in cricket and croquet), and I found this: A small door or gate, especially one built into or near a larger one.

I think that is about the perfect image for what I am going for here (we all remember what the front page image of TT was ... Wickets made me think of This).  I will have to do some research on what I will need in the way of software and hosting, but I think that Wickets has already had the first breath of life breathed into it.  I am excited to see what this brainchild will become.

--Phae

Comments

[elf]

I'm not giving up on PC yet. I'm enjoying the "intiation requirements" thread, even if half of it seems to be devoted to "yes, there are actually requirements in some traditions, including requirements that no employment agency would legally be allowed to make."

(I have to fight to keep from saying, "you don't like such requirements? Very simple solution: don't join those groups. Myself, I don't like groups that require vows of abstinence and chastity... note my non-Carmelite nun membership.")

But Wickets sounds good. (Can it be subtitled "Home of the Ubiquitous Others?") Beehive software, or something like that, maybe?

I think TC's problem(s) with the software had to do with activity level more than anything else, and this would be smaller.

More nifty wicket pics: http://www.poppyland.co.uk/index.php?s=KINGS_LYNN, http://www.saxonshorebenefice.fsnet.co.uk/thornham.htm (both churches), doors for urban fairies.

I kinda like that "door within a door" thing. Implies there's a big door for everyone... and a smaller one for just those who need it.

[pjvj.livejournal.com]

Yay!! The Ubiquitous Others! lol

Wickets is cute, but not sickly-sweet cute. And it being Witchy as opposed to "everyone who has an interest in even the mildest form of watered down Paganism" is still, sadly, a niche not yet filled.

And yeah - P/W is going downhill fast. (Went?)

P/C will probably grow, but threads will continue to be like the initiation one - endless explaining, defensive manuevering, and someone in particlular being purposefully obtuse and dragging in tangents. That has its purpose, also, but it is not a primary focus that I have right now - I hate having to be repetitive unless it is due to a lack of clarity. There seemed to be no lack of clarity from the people answering. See the difference between one Osthein who asks successive questions based on previous answers and one IG who asks the same over and over no matter how many times she is answered? Even Jenett got peeved! Wow.

[sonicwylde.livejournal.com]

In all honesty, I dislike the pagancrossroads. I have nothing in common other than I do magic. I do not feel like I belong there.

1) because I am not looking really for a tradition or path

2) I do nto have enough knowledge about trads or paths other than what I have gleaned from you guys

3) I do not trust a couple of hte people not to pull rank or "we made this place a reality, we should more power" card.

I am trying to like it, but in reality, I do not want to discuss magic or witchcraft with atheists. I cannot relate to gwyddion stuff, and I do not feel I have anything to contribute that I care to post there.

I think Wicket is neat. I miss TT and never felt comfortable at TC.

I know beehive is used a lot, what about the software that ravingfire person was using?

[pjvj.livejournal.com]

P.S. I like Beehive. I also have an empty Delphi forum that I grandfathered in way back when.

[sanacrow.livejournal.com]

I am having a great deal of difficulty with PC. I am very close to resigning as staff. I Really Really want to 'start over'.

I have a very underused Dreamhost account. Adding another domain to the account would only be a few dollars a year. As long as bandwidth didn't get too outrageous (or if it did, as long as a few folks could chip into the kitty to cover it), I'd be more than willing to host.

I don't have a lot of time to devote to handling the software side right now since I'm in the middle of a software rebuild at work and am putting in way too much time there... but if someone would be willing to help out to get things set up and assist in covering things while I dug out from the current work boondoggle...

Oh - and I really like "Wickets" as well. Both for the connotations that could be linked to Craft, as well as the mental pictures it brought up for me.

Do we need an LJ community (locked, of course) for planning, or do we want to make use of the YahooGroups list that Robin started way back when about building a forum (UTWFC - Unnamed Trad / Witchcraft Forum Creation (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UTWFC/))?

[vicki-sine.livejournal.com]

I think you have an excellent idea.

One of the things I think might help is to establish some parameters for what is on and off topic.

I really see nothing constructive in debating the existence of the gods with an atheist who is determined to make us see our dangerous delusions.

[pjvj.livejournal.com]

And .... one more thing! I think this bears mentioning though. I do not think PC is bad place, nor do I think it will fail miserably as it is set up with the people there. I do however feel strongly it is not the forum I was hoping for. Wickets would fill the TT niche. PC will fill the TC niche (without the mod drama that occurred at TC). I guess there are very good reasons those two split in the first place. They do fulfill differing needs and those needs differ by quite a margin.

I am disappointed that PC cannot fill both niches, but I think they are too divergent to bridge that gap. The reason I don't think PC is a bad forum is because it does fill others' needs, just not some of mine. That saddens me, but I can go to both places for differing needs - Wickets and PC.

[sonicwylde.livejournal.com]

I am going to play wiht http://www.phpbb.com/ it sounds like it could be good, and its freeware type stuff .

[pjvj.livejournal.com]

It occurred to me that perhaps we were not the only people wishing for a forum that was a good mix of TC and TT so I started a thread at PC asking for input based on my personal preference. It is located here: http://www.pagancrossroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=439.msg6745#msg6745

[estaratshirai.livejournal.com]

Give us a holler when you have something put up, yeah?

[pjvj.livejournal.com]

I am so tired after today's round of postings. If I have to continue to work this hard I may throw in the towel. ~whine~ When does the fun start? /~whine~

[thtrelady.livejournal.com]

I would love something a little closer to TT than to TC. I'm still at TC - if I wanted TC all the time I would have stayed there only. PC is most likely not going to fulfill a niche that TC doesn't for me, and thus I will probably end up wandering off when someone finally does push that button too hard. I want to believe I will stay, but I doubt it.

I want something that is more fellowship than this at least. A place where if a single period is out of place, you don't get screamed at. I'm so tired of having to have my guard up all the time. And I really don't give a rats ass about Gwynwhatever anymore - sick to death of those posts.

/whine /whimper I just want to go home to TT the way it was before powertrips and angst.