Quality of CIPD online discussions

Mark

I leave it to other readers to assess whether your sweeping suggestions and generalisations that: a) the responses to Communities as a quorum of membership opinion are statistically invalid; b) blank lines as a reply to a reply are a civil or appropriate way of responding to a valid point made; c) all contributors must be “activists or extremists; d) comment from the monitors is inherently biased and thus invalid, whatever the evidence produced (is this not also suggesting they have a “second set of rules, contradicting your point just made?); e) the site monitors have a hidden agenda in pursuit of some fiscal/financial interest (for whom?); f) the efforts by some contributors to find a way of making the site more responsive (not necessarily democratic) are an excuse for scorn and sarcasm, and g) Steve’s remarking on your lack of photograph warranted a scathing response regarding his own profile… are useful contributions to the discussion on this thread and/or appropriate to a professional discussion board (even such an informal one as communities), rather than simply impolite, aggressive and intimidatory, particularly to members who may already be nervous about “dipping their toes” into the “Communities” discussions.

In my opinion they are not appropriate; neither has your self-contradictory response done anything to modify my opinion, so I’m afraid neither coconut nor apology this time :-)

However: On a far more interesting, rewarding and relevant subject:

I agree with Mike that “agree/disagree” or “useful” “buttons” would give useful feedback and enable less articulate members to voice their opinions (and maybe be encouraged to join in more actively?), however I would also agree in principle with Mark’s suggestion that measuring the mere “popularity” of a given opinion through a “like” button might detract from the willingness of some people to express opinions they know are contradictory or controversial, detracting from both the freedom and quality of discussions.

I quite like the "useful" button for a thread but am not convinced about an "agree / disagree" button - sounds more as if we were to go down an "ask the audience" route to see what the majority feel and that may depend on who is reading the thread at the time.  Whilst I generally agree with a lot of what contributors add there may be some areas for which I would like further clarification or the suggestion made has, i feel, missed something; if I feel the comment from other contributors has covered all that I would have wished I tend not to add an "I agree" comment, except where there are differing viewpoints added and I want to add weight to my preferred recommendation / analysis.  If i disagree with a comment I like to put down some reasons why rather than just say i disagree (and think that is true of most contributors).

Think it will need a lot of careful thought about how it is going to be introduced (if it is of course and have no doubt it will if adopted!) to ensure that it is useful - e.g. does each comment get voted on for agree or disagree with a bar chart showing the level of agreement or otherwise?  What happens if someones adds to a recommendation once you have "voted" and you, on reflection, think that amended suggestion is more valid than the initial one - can you change your "vote"? And is it a thread or a comment which is "useful"?

Peter

Good points Peter

I suppose my thinking is based on my (usual) mindset that I don't mind people disagreeing with me, so long as that disagreement is open to exploration of ideas towards an outcome of either agreement, compromise or a mutually acceptable/comfortable "agreement to disagree", rather than being merely a prelude to confrontation.

I do, however, take you point that agree/disagree can be almost a clone for "like/dislike"

Perhaps a more enlightened selection might be "understand/don't understand" since understanding should be the prelude to either agreement or disagreement but is, of itself, non-judgemental.

In the context of "Communities" I would, I think, prefer to know whether my views are understood rather than whether they are agreed with. To be judged a grumpy old wombat because I am wrong or believed to be talking rubbish would be uncomfortable but acceptable, to be so judged because I have been misinterpreted or have expressed myself inadequately well would be far more frustrating, and to find I had badly misguided someone on that basis I would find devastating.

P

Hi all.. yes I did not communicate very clearly.. having a negative "I disagree" is NOT a good option.. but the two 'buttons' of:

"I agree - I would have said this too but did not want to repeat a good message"

and

"Useful"

any 'tick box' system should (in this context) be positive only - we are all grownup enough to write anything negative more specifically.

Cripes, is this what we think is important - a button to say how relevant/important/how much we agree with a point?

Why does it matter how many people agree/disagree/support/won't/will comment?  If one person contributes to a post that is enough.   Why would popular support make a point more valid than another?  And, I disagree that anyone should be encouraged to explain their point in any way at all.

I don't agree that threads should necessarily develop into a debate, and actually, that's all from me on this one as I'm in danger of repeating myself.

Hi Megan. Amanda's original post showed disappointment that there isn't as much debate on the forums as she'd like to see.  We've seen in numerous posts where people agree / disagree with each other and by stating their reasons why it naturally turns in to a debate, albeit possibly very different from the one which Amanda originally intended.  It's important for less experienced practitioners (and in fact any practitioners) to be able to understand opposing views, especially since they may be very valid.  This develops my ability to consider a variety of options for future scenarios.

Yes, some of us do feel that it's important to know whether others support the views already made or not.  A complex question with 1 brief answer that hasn't been expanded on and no further responses hardly gives the originator confidence, yet if a number of others support the view this builds on confidence.

So some people do see the validity.  My tuppence'th anyway...

...and worth pointing out all discussion on new 'I like this' type-button functionality might be largely hypothetical as we don't know whether this communities software has that ability. (I can look into it...)

For me the really stand out thing in this thread is that you: the communites reader/ visitor/user/contributor/addict (that's Steve and I!) really care about them - and are interested in how they can develop and improve - and that's always good to know.

Thanks, as ever, for all your postings

Best wishes

Johanna, Digital Team, CIPD

Just to add:-

Have delved into the archives and pulled out my own first, faltering steps into communities, several years ago

http://www.cipd.co.uk/community/subjects/subject/discussion.aspx?PostID=27415

 I for one found it immensely reassuring (and lucrative !) when in a most isolated situation, to be able to access the informed opinions of others who have probably been there and done it and for this reason alone (information-exchange) communities I think perform an invaluable function.