This question is not 100% hypothetical

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   frogdroppingposted 13 years ago

   The hypothetical part:
   
   Say HP were cheesed off enough to think 'The religion sub-forum takes up too much valuable staff time, it's got to go'
   
   The non-hypothetical part:
   
   You spend most if not all of your time in the above forum, warring with words etc etc. You may (or may not) have written a few hubs. You may or may not read and rate hubs. But - the main body of your contribution to HubPages is your forum posts.
   
   What will you then do?

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   aka-djposted 13 years ago

   I doubt that your (hypothetical) scenario will happen.
   Mainly, if you look at the no of topics and posts that are
   contained in the said forum, you'll quickly notice, it has a greater
   contribution rate by a factor o ten/100, over others.
   It keeps people active on HP.
   
   I'm sure publishing hubs is far more a focus and priority for HP staff,
   but I think the R forum makes them smile! (re members being logged in
   and contributing to HP popularity etc)
   
   That's my thoughts on it, anyway.
   
   As for what I would do?
   Probably be more involved elsewhere, within HP, and without.

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   libby101aposted 13 years ago

   I'm sure that would be just horrible for some people! However, some religious folk write hubs and rate other hubs and actually have brains! Some write a few religious hubs but many, many other hubs related to health, science, love, and life that has nothing to do with religion!
   
   Hard to believe isn't it?
   
   LOL!

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   wyanjenposted 13 years ago

   Interesting
   
   Maybe the hypothetical answer would be:
   
   People will continue to spend time warring with words, spouting off about religion - but since there is no more R forum, the posts start to appear in places they don't belong... like the hubber's hangout for instance...

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      Kidgasposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      That would be bad.

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   frogdroppingposted 13 years ago

   @ aka - you look an all round contributor  
   
   @ libby - I meant those who don't do much of anything other than forum posts.
   
   @ wyanjen - I doubt that would be allowed as the HP staff do a good job of separation topics found in the wrong place.
   
   @ kidgas - likely
   
   And I haven't pointed this at religious hubbers, only the sub-forum.

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      wyanjenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Sure - they do a great job keeping topics in the right places.
      I'm thinking more about individual posts though, not so much entire threads. For a time there, somebody was throwing anti-Obama posts in the most bizarre places... completely out of context and off-topic.
      
      The phrase that comes to mind is "You can only hope to contain it." Without a religion sub forum, the other topics would maybe need extra moderation so they don't hijacked.

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         frogdroppingposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         *nods* True, true. Like I said, the hypothetical part was the removal. I don't expect it to happen. I don't even bother with it over much.
         
         I asked the question in relation to the fact that so many people dislike it. Then mused further ... on the fact that some folks spend most of their time in it, rather than distributing their time indulging in a team-player ethic across the site.
         
         But anyone that does use it as their main source of productivity on-site has yet to answer.

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            wyanjenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            
            I noticed that too

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   Jeff Berndtposted 13 years ago

   Perhaps a forum filter is warranted? I mean, a switch to flip so we only see posts in the forums that we want to participate in in our hubtivity feed?
   
   Or is there already one of those?
   
   I imagine I'd not get sucked into silly religious discussions if I could flip a switch and not see posts that are so astonishingly appalling that I feel a deep-seated need to let the world know that no, not all Christians buy into that madness.
   
   Of course, I should be disciplined enough not to rassle with proverbial pigs, but a switch would make it easier to stay on the wagon.

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   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   If you eliminate any of the forums on religion, then it will spill over into other forum threads.
   
   Religion has influence in too many topics as it is now. Some people use their religious beliefs to support politicians and if  the politicians are not of the right "faith", then they will not vote for them, even if it's the lessor of two evils.
   
   Religion has a great affect on people, and it's becoming increasingly dangerous as it is. At least if the religious folks are on the forums, then they are not outside in public doing more damage.
   
   Keep the forums the way they are. I would prefer HP staff define or list, what type of comments are deemed as insults. If it is left as is now, then the ambiguity level and subjective nature of insults, will no doubtedly get out of control.
   
   Just a thought.

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      frogdroppingposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Cags - I wasn't asking if anyone wanted it removing. I was asking what those that use it almost exclusively would do if it wasn't there.
      
      I still agree with your point about it spilling over though

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      Castlepalomaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Cagsil
      
      Agree
      
      Too many other forums out there are one-sided and crush many other peoples wide range viewpoints

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   frogdroppingposted 13 years ago

   Um ... just to clarify guys - I am not asking if the religion sub-forum should be removed.
   
   I am asking those that use it the most - as their means of site participation - what they would then do in terms of contributing to the site as an alternative way of utilizing their time.

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      Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      
      
      Religion would still be talked about in other forum threads. Therefore, I conclude my usage would not change.
      
      Is that better Froggy?

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         frogdroppingposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         No Cags because you know that you are a team player across the site. You may well have an incredibly high forum post count - but you have in excess of 100 hubs, you help out when someone needs it, you read, comment and rate.
         
         Your site participation is not predominantly about the sub-forum.
         
         Geddit?
         
         Listen - I enjoy HubPages. I know well the difference that joining the site has made to my life. I can just about afford to run my first home in well over two years. This is because I found a site that has enabled me to earn extra money.
         
         This is a site that wasn't built upon the backs of users doing little or nothing other than row in the forums. Back then, the forum was so much less than it is now.
         
         It was built on the backs of hubbers such as relache, Darkside, Mark Knowles, Hal Lacino, Misha, Patty Inglish, Pamela Grundy and so many more.
         
         Their diligence, their ability to write well crafted hubs, to use the site, grow and develop with it, coupled with the HP teams dogged efforts to constantly adjust, tweak and overhaul the site as a means of supporting their writers, their users, is what made Hubpages the site it is today.
         
         It's called team-work. And Hubpages is a place that I work - albeit under my own motivation. I was questioning if they'd then contribute their time better - not you

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   Originposted 13 years ago

   I would like HP to let us have a 'filter' option on our account, so we can choose to not follow certain forum topics. That would be great!

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    schoolgirlforrealposted 13 years ago

    I rarely come here, it has been a den of argument!
    Basically you're saying I think that HP won't remove it cause the discussion or arguments rather keep things going!! how sad!!
    Hmmmmmmmm
    
    It's a place I don't need to go really.
    I don't have questions about my Faith.
    I only respond to ridicuouls absurb things
    that seem to be hard to ignore. It's like
    a festation or disease that wants to like a virus
    infect everyone.
    
    Go to the forums to socialize and chat and find this "scum" these barassive (is that a word?) comments, these fights, so pointless yet sometimes unavoidable.
    
    It's like tempting people with cigarette ads..........
    HP is leading us to toxins and we are becoming toxic waste!!!!
    
    ??

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