Ok first of all I'm not trying to change Bedlam.. well ok maybe just a little bit, but not the main rationale for Bedlam, a place to meet, let off steam and derail everyones best intentions!

What I am suggesting is a sub-forum where serious, sensitive or just interesting subjects can be posted.

There are benefits to having this private forum that I think aren't utilised to their full potential.

The reasons are several and I've bumped a few threads up to give you an idea of the kind of subjects I mean.

After ten pages I only found a handful of threads so a couple of things are apparent;

that serious discussion only plays a minor part in Bedlam and those threads are soon swallowed up by the Bedlam staple diet of lunacy and triviality.

Because of this I feel that serious discussion doesn't get enough time to get a foothold on page one,

before some of us have got the brain out of 1st gear and ruminated a reply the moment has passed,

new members coming in to Bedlam are missing out on the chance for some serious unfettered debate that General doesn't offer,

and also seasoned members, some with great experience and opinion are discouraged from using Bedlam.

So the reason for a sub-forum is two fold;

Firstly to give those serious, sensitive or just interesting subjects a chance to get better exposure without sinking like a lead balloon or becoming derailed

and also lend Bedlam a little credibility which some people would suggest is sadly lacking.

Secondly a sub-forum for these issues wouldn't change how the main Bedlam forum feels and can continue as it is, self moderated and utterly senseless.

It would be a case of having both sides of a private forum and choosing wether you want to get involved in a serious discussion or just kick back and let off steam, and you wouldn't have to go trawling through back pages to find that item of interest.

And let's face it when something drops off page 1 who goes any further than page 2 to retrieve it?

I did think of a poll, but then the kind of threads I'm talking of are in the minority so I felt that would give the poll a negative bias,

so perhaps we could discuss it and see if there is any real interest.

Thanks.

Will people not just say that Bedlam is not a serious place, hence the name.

I'm with you though Rob and, am open to Mod inclusion in a discussion.

redrus

The reasons are several and I've bumped a few threads up to give you an idea of the kind of subjects I mean.

Interesting cross section, did you want to raise the topic of penis size again for any particular reason.

I'd like to see a sub forum that allows serious discussion of international news stories.

I've been following a thread in another Thailand forum about the upcoming US presidential race that is nothing short of amazing.

It could be a very good idea but I would like to know what the starting rules would be.

For instance, some issues that may need to discussed is Thai history which has never really worked in the open forums, another could be when a discussion about prostitution/nightlife gets going.

Admin must give the guidelines before we waste our time.

Personally I find TV's total refusal to admit prostitution exists in Thailand quite amusing.

There are plenty of forums that devote themselves totally to this and nothing else for aficionados of the scene.

(Says he who hasn't been allowed to go near it for years. )

I would be in favor of the sub-forum. After all, we need one more place for all the Yank bashers to congregate.

Seriously, if we can openly discuss issues that aren't allowed elsewhere in TV, I think it would be great.

Hallelujah !

When young Robski takes his kethump kerthumping headphones off he does come up with odd brilliant idea now and then....

..Will we be able to discuss the Arts , Music & Literature etc ?

Or as the songs go "Am I only Dreaming" & ""To Dream The Impossible Dream"

Cheers Robs, no offence intended, just a bit of banter "Old Son" ..

..and the title for this sub-forum - is it to be known as the Halfway House Or Day Release ?

(So there is a way out of here finally - for God's sake don't breath a word to Nurse Diesel)

Am I missing something here?

You can start a topic in Bedlam about anything already, Thai or non-Thai related, it doesn't matter, anything about the monarchy would be closed fairly sharpish I expect, but that's about it.

Why is a sub-forum required, anything that gets the interest of just a couple of people would hang around the first page, with the amount of traffic in here, it takes around four days for a thread to end up unwanted on page two.

I would be more interested in hearing why people don't start more more serious topics, I know why I don't, how about everyone else?

Am I missing something here?

I would be more interested in hearing why people don't start more more serious topics, I know why I don't, how about everyone else?

I suspect, that a lot of members like myself pop our heads in Bedlam once in a while, look at the topics, then get out ASAP as it quite often looks like a under 10 age group forum.

So if there was a sub section that had some serious issues then one may be inclined to stay longer than 5 seconds.

I'm all up for a "serious" section that can discuss global issues amongst a "Thailand" related community of posters. Keeps the perspective locally orientated.

Am I missing something here?

I would be more interested in hearing why people don't start more more serious topics, I know why I don't, how about everyone else?

I suspect, that a lot of members like myself pop our heads in Bedlam once in a while, look at the topics, then get out ASAP as it quite often looks like a under 10 age group forum.

So if there was a sub section that had some serious issues then one may be inclined to stay longer than 5 seconds.

There is absolutely nothing stopping you from starting a topic yourself.

I think it will be difficult to keep the PC crowd out of any serious discussion as shown in the 2 topics that started this one.

Better to keep Bedlam as it is.

onzestan

I would be more interested in hearing why people don't start more more serious topics, I know why I don't, how about everyone else?

I tend to start topics (rarely) that are serious to me. It doesn't bother me very much if I discover that others don't find it too interesting.

I take in very little news media because I tend to not let others define what things I should care about. I check in on what's happening every year or so and it seems to be about the same things as last time I checked in. If I was still reading Stratfor and watching the "news channels", I'd probably be a basket case by now. Instead, I have noted huge improvements in the quality of my life by largely ignoring all the passing nonsense.

I have noted huge improvements in the quality of my life by largely ignoring all the passing nonsense.

Yep, pretty much my reasoning too...... I come here for a bit of R&R mostly.

In another forum that I have dipped into to read is a section called:

Land Of Serious Topics.

....yes, yes, apart from the pun of being able to say to people when threads get too close to sensitive issues that the poster should 'get' Lost. It is a nice idea, but where does the line exist between serious and the lighthearted posts? I assume the 'new' serious forum would be private also, does that mean no jokes in 'Serious' or no serious in Bedlam.

Edit: Re-reading the posts above, the only benifit is a section that is not Google searchable from the outside world and to discuss sub-500 members.

Because of this I feel that serious discussion doesn't get enough time to get a foothold on page one,

before some of us have got the brain out of 1st gear and ruminated a reply the moment has passed,

new members coming in to Bedlam are missing out on the chance for some serious unfettered debate that General doesn't offer,

and also seasoned members, some with great experience and opinion are discouraged from using Bedlam.

Firstly to give those serious, sensitive or just interesting subjects a chance to get better exposure without sinking like a lead balloon or becoming derailed

and also lend Bedlam a little credibility which some people would suggest is sadly lacking.

Secondly a sub-forum for these issues wouldn't change how the main Bedlam forum feels and can continue as it is, self moderated and utterly senseless.

It would be a case of having both sides of a private forum and choosing wether you want to get involved in a serious discussion or just kick back and let off steam, and you wouldn't have to go trawling through back pages to find that item of interest.

Hi Robbo,

The jury is still out with me on whether we need a separate forum, I am not entirely sure it would get enough posts to generate a suitable mixing pot, I feel certain posters who enjoy the present Bedlam would not like to get too involved and their input would be sadly missed.

To counteract the dropping off the page too quickly, I would suggest a very small restructure, topics of a similar nature, not neccessarily by the same poster, should be grouped into one thread, there is precedent for this when I was sacked as the official welcome post and it got pinned.

This is not to say these posts are not important or funny, but if the thread title was changed to a Generic Topic, continuous new titles would not populate the list to the dilution of the overall forum.

I must say that in the past, the more serious of my threads have not been derailed, as far as I can remember, but I have desisted in recent times of keeping them on the boil.

The last of your paragraphs, that I have highlighted does have merit and to use a boxing analogy, my feelings are a split decision, but the deciding vote, says Aye, I agree with you, lets have a separate forum, at least we can throw rocks at each other and we can moderate each other by phone

I agree with a 'sub-forum', maybe called something like 'Bedlam serious stuff'.

It would also assist those who can't handle the usual Bedlam banter 'cos it's too juvenile for the superior intellect and vastly exceptional intelligence!

I agree with a 'sub-forum', maybe called something like 'Bedlam serious stuff'.

It would also assist those who can't handle the usual Bedlam banter 'cos it's too juvenile for the superior intellect and vastly exceptional intelligence!

To use boxing parlance, my ribs feel a little bruised but I feel you have missed my point, but I do sometimes feel it is a little 'juvenile' and on occasion I jump straight in, it is just what I need, I also feel, that it would be good to see the view points of yourself, Thad, Jeff et al on more serious generating issues.

Having had a poor educational back ground, I have an insatiable burn to hear and understand others view points.

I also feel, that it would be good to see the view points of yourself, Thad, Jeff et al on more serious generating issues.

Hydro-electric, solar or nuclear ......... I'd go for solar, it's cleaner, safer and sustainable, until that bloody big orange thing in the sky expands to the point where life on earth itself would be unsustainable because of the slow build-up in temperature, or goes nova, in which case the very rapid build up of temperature would have the same effect, but that's a few billion years away and I seriously doubt the human race will survive that long..... British Gas will probably still be sending out bills though

I agree with a 'sub-forum', maybe called something like 'Bedlam serious stuff'.

Maybe just abreviated to BS ?

Upon reflection, I am not sure bedlam really needs a sub for serious issues as most posters who mess around here are obviously mature enough to recognise when a thread is being serious rather than banter.

I think it was taddy who mentioned above that all bedlam really needs is more "serious" threads opened among the fun threads.

So from that point of view, those who feel like having it out on issues they feel are important or worth discussing, go for your life, and if somebody starts taking the piss or sending the thread on an random tangent, I am sure the contributors to the thread will stear it back on track.

That is my two meat pies worth for the day.

Cheers guys!

I agree with a 'sub-forum', maybe called something like 'Bedlam serious stuff'.

It would also assist those who can't handle the usual Bedlam banter 'cos it's too juvenile for the superior intellect and vastly exceptional intelligence!

To use boxing parlance, my ribs feel a little bruised but I feel you have missed my point, but I do sometimes feel it is a little 'juvenile' and on occasion I jump straight in, it is just what I need, I also feel, that it would be good to see the view points of yourself, Thad, Jeff et al on more serious generating issues.

Having had a poor educational back ground, I have an insatiable burn to hear and understand others view points.

I wasn't having a go at you my friend. I was aware that there is one particular poster who only pops in once in a blue moon to say Bedlam's crap and childish. No names no packdrill!!!

I think the words were "lunacy and triviality", but hey if the cap fits.

My resoning behind a sub-forum is just a place to keep afloat some of the sometimes serious discussions that occur in Bedlam,

not a place to flex our intellectual muscle, just somewhere where people know they can go and contribute and serious and sensitive issues can be posted.

We have discussed Religion in a thread I think that was started by Suegha and I did learn quite a lot from it even if I didn't really contribute,

what I did learn was a little more respect and tolerance.

It would be nice to be able to find that thread easily to look back at some of the issues raised,

also new members coming in to Bedlam might find it interesting and want to add something to it, keeping the debate alive.

At the end of the day it's not going to affect me either way, I don't come here that often now, it's just an idea and quite a good one I think that will benefit everyone.

When I first came into Bedlam my first impressions where a big dissapointment and I think that is the impreesion a lot of members get after reaching the required status to get in.

Don't get me wrong it's been fun and sometimes interesting, but like a kiddies ride at the fairground it's not really going anywhere

and after you've been around for the thousandth time it does get rather boring.

There are a few posters that don't want to change and no doubt will get their way, after all it's 'their' comfort zone,

they are the same ones that were saying the same things when I first came to Bedlam and no doubt put many more off returning.

I thought it was selfish then and I think the attitude is selfish now, there are very few places on this world wide web that have the level of privacy and community

that this ThaiVisa forum offers, I just think a little corner of that space could be put to better use to benefit more people.

Ok first of all I'm not trying to change Bedlam.. well ok maybe just a little bit, but not the main rationale for Bedlam, a place to meet, let off steam and derail everyones best intentions!

Robski I am happy to support this idea. Question: Do you want a sub forum within Bedlam (easier) or a new subforum with similar entry rights ie more than 500posts?

CB

Thankyou, I think a sub-forum within Bedlam would be adequate.

As an example; I like to read and I also like to know what other people are reading.

I started a thread where people could recommend books to each other and not everybody is going to find that interesting, but some did.

I can read a book in a matter of days if I have time, or it could take me months so I'm not going to contribute to the thread often enough to keep it afloat, but there's always new books and there's always new ideas to consider so it's an ongoing thing.

If that thread was held in a sub-forum we could contribute without having to trawl through pages to find it and new members could perhaps find something of interest there too, you never know some of the ideas might even light a spark in Bedlam!

There are literary forums out there just as there are Religious and world news forums, but I'm not interested in the finer points of literary construction I just want to know what other people are reading and offer a few reccomendations to others.

So what else would belong in there? Some suggestions perhaps? But I guess anything that warrants debate that doesn't have a niche elswhere in TV and of course the more sensitive discussions that would get blown out of proportion in the regular forums.

I had a thought about a few moderation issues, but I guess you all are too and really that's not my department.

However I think we should be able to discuss ideas and reach a concensus.

A higher post count as an entry requirement? I think not, as the sub-forum should be comprised of threads from Bedlam with a more serious nature.

Maybe a system like news clippings where you can't automatically post a thread unless you are over a certain post count or have access although you can comment on threads, but you can request that a thread posted in Bedlam can be moved to the sub-forum.

It would take time for the sub-forum to mature, just has Bedlam itself has become more self moderating over a long period of time.

I guess there will be members that feel the freedom to discuss other peoples opinions in Bedlam might go to their head, but the moderation of ThaiVisa in general serves it's purpose well and I'm sure that if the same level of observation where applied to subjects in a sub-forum like news and religion, things should be kept on an even keel. Hopefully with the added respect for fellow members that Bedlam has seemed to manage it should be a more interesting for everyone. As for persistant trolls or flamers, well I'm sure you can guys can think up some suitable ways to make them see the error of their ways.

I'm not advocating a free for all of discussion on serious topics, although you never know stranger things have happenend, but rather a place where similar threads can be collected together to make them easier to access and contribute to.

Ok I think I've put my views across quite clearly so I leave it at that, let the thread run for a while and hopefully get some more input, it would be nice to get the thoughts of long term members that don't use Bedlam but contribute to the other forums.

I have taken this for discussion by the mods and admin people. I will advise their decision when made.

CB

In case you run out of topics to discuss.

http://wiki.idebate.org/index.php/Welcome_to_Debatepedia%21

I think Robski has made his point very well and I agree with his proposal. Let's give it a try and see what happens.

Thanks to Rob for remembering the 'religious' thread which was very enjoyable for me. More of the same would be most welcome.

Thankyou, I think a sub-forum within Bedlam would be adequate.

<snip>

a place where similar threads can be collected together to make them easier to access and contribute to.

One thing has caused me to re-think my stance of just letting the topics of a more serious nature just hang loose on the Bedlam main page is 'Outside The Box' can be and has been made to display on the 'View new posts' list.

That's good.