Our discussions on HDF: your assessment?

[saidevo]

Namaste Satay.

We can do two things -

1. we can change the focus of the forum and make it more entertaining instead of more to the point of dharma. By that I mean, we could install games, chat rooms etc. which will attract younger crowd.

2. or we can continue with the current focus and try to encourage the current members, try to increase visibility and rank in search engines, refer the site to others that we know etc.

... the main purpose of this forum is 'positive presentation of hindu dharma' and not quarrelling among each other of finer points of the hindu theology.

In conclusion, I would like to suggest that to us, the quality of posts should be more important to the quantity. Having said that though 4% participation is very low and we need to continue discussing ways to bring this participation level up.

1. I would rather NOT prefer entertainment (there are many forums for such things) at the cost of the purpose of the forum which is 'positive presentation of hindu dharma' .

2. As some members have opined here, we can have a 'newbie thread', perhaps under every forum, or a newby forum itself where newbies can post freely and be answered in polite and practical terms. We may even have a separate reputation index for newbies until they are comfortable with migrating to serious content.

3. Discussion on everyday experiences and problems and the application of Hindu Dharma to them would be great. One such discussion, started by Atanu is already on about corporate business and Hindu Dharma.

4. A good Hindu/Sanskrit lexicon as part of HDF database with a limited number of frequently used words (may be 5000) could be very helpful.

5. What about a forum that teaches elementary Sanskrit?

Overall, Satay, you are doing a great job; the Forum is young and would go a long way as a major source of reference on the Net for Hindu Dharma.

[yajvan]

Hari On
~~~~~


Namaste,
All have given good insightful feedback on this matter... let me see if I captured it (this is for action and learning purposes so edit as you see fit)

• Quality is king - do not forefit this for other nice to have's
  ( I will take a stab at what quality equals and submit it for your conideration after we agree of its import)
• Simplicity ( this is divine anyway, and I suggest we avoid being too complicated, for max. comprehension)
• Inviting to new members... how so ? perhaps a sub forum section for NTSD ( New to Sanatana Dharma)
• A Every day life folder - how would one handle life issues section within a Dharmic framework
• NOt to worry on quota's - that is if 4% post, great, if 10% even better but not to loose sleep over this
• My favorate: Reading does not = comprehension
  Cut 'n paste is parochial ( that is, very limited or narrow in scope or outlook) and value is limited; What does that sutra, mantra, valli, etc. mean to you , to the conversation. If they come from the wise lets take a stab at what the parable means, otherwise it is just ink on paper, nothing more. This is how we stretch our thinking , our concepts, our undersanding. How will one reach the Infinite if we are content with limits?
• Define your terms - if sanskrit is offered ( I am a proponent of this) then offer the english rendition, and maybe root words of its origin, this is for learning purposes.
• Respect, humble, open-ness to others and thier ideas... a 'no spanking policy'. Recognize good work. We will do this via compliments, and applause. The intent:- catch people doing something right and aknowledge their good work. Make corrections to thinking, but not at the expense of ones good nature or mental health.
• A definitions page - we have talked about this in the past... I raise my hand to assist. It is a learning experience for those that will help and reseach the words with me , if one cares to do so.

Hope these items above captures the initial intent... if we agree, we can move forward...AND for new arrivals, this can be given to them as part of the ground rules for thier kind particiation.

Last - painted cakes to not satisfy hunger, say the wise. If we just talk of this with no action on it, we have wasted an opportunity to improve.

pranams,

[satay]

namaste,
I will create a new forum for New to Sanatana Dharma members. A new forum for Sanskrit definitions of words.

I agree with what sri yajvan has suggested here about positive feedback.

One thing I notice is that we talk about things but stuff never happens. For whatever reason 'life' gets to us and the action items on the list get reprioritize.

[atanu]

namaste,
I will create a new forum for New to Sanatana Dharma members. A new forum for Sanskrit definitions of words.

I agree with what sri yajvan has suggested here about positive feedback.

One thing I notice is that we talk about things but stuff never happens. For whatever reason 'life' gets to us and the action items on the list get reprioritize.

Namaste,

I came late to this thread. I agree to most of all that has been suggested and agreed. A section each for new members (sort of test forum), sanskrit word meanings, and everyday concerns (as suggested by SM and MG) may add inceremental quantitative improvement.

Another qualitative change, which may increase participation, may be to allow more diversity on topics. If we allow some acrimony and differences to prosper, grow and resolve automatically and reserve editorial and rearrangement rights over the quality at final stages, then probably we may have more participation.

Om

[satay]

What about a thread for people who are having either problems or insights, who would like some feedback, but are not articulate enough in Hindu to express it with terms from Hindu (kind of like what the new member was alluding to). A thread for people to post things like, "Hey I have this going on in my life, xxxxx. What would Hindu Dharma advise?" So, it would not be philosophical debate or intellectual discussion of dogma or principals, but just helping someone out with life experiences and scripture. No criticism of person, etc.

namaste MG,
New comers can start these types of thread under 'New to Sanatana Dharma' forum or under 'I am a Hindu' forum.

I appreciate all your feedback.

Thanks,

[Znanna]

I like the Lexicon very much, thanks!

Would it be possible to include the sanskrit spelling of the word also, for those of us who are starting that aspect of study, too?

(Not to mention that I'd very much like to see Yajvan's comments on the root syllables as well.)



Namaste,
ZN

[satay]

Namaskar,

I am wondering about the quality of posts/threads in HDFPuri. What do you think of it?

I have been listening to some lectures on Hinduism from Oxford university (you can download lectures from their web site). I feel that the 'scholary' type discussions based on research and references are largerly missing on HDF though there is continued effort in this area by some members.

We get hung up in personal attacks and emotions instead of focusing on scholary level discussions.

Thoughts on improving this situation?

For more on where I am coming from...listen to some lectures by Dr. Clooney (a Christian scholar!)

http://ochs.org.uk/lectures/previous...value&sort=asc

[DavidC]

1. Are the posts interesting and invokes participation?
2. Are they ( the posts) too shallow in thinking or too esoteric?
3. Are they contempory and relevent?

1. Do you mean do they 'encourage participation?' yes.
2. sometimes, but not too esoteric for me--at least not if I read a bit more.
3. I do not really know; probably.

I thought there were many more members, and I do not know if 4% discussing often is good or not.

A lexicon was mentioned in the past; I do not know where some of you get the words in Sanskrit and with accent marks, but saying where--whether you want to make a forum about it or not--would be helpful.

I had given some suggestions on forums to add (Tantra, Ayyavazhi, maybe Samkhya, though only someone more knowledgeable would know if those would be popular) and religions to add in profiles (Jain, Mazdayasna/Mazdaism/Zoroastrainism, Bahai, African-Eurasian & Australian & American indigenous religions as well as 'ecumenical/inter-religious/non-sectarian' and maybe Theosophy or also Classical Western philosophies (which are really part of European religions.) I study them all but ecumenical 'Eternal Philosophy' describes me best even if I do not know all the details about its definition 'Sanatana Dharma.' If you have any questions about the non-Asian religions I could list some. I also think check boxes to choose more than one would be nicer--mystics might like that.)

If the site becomes more popular as you wish, I suspect there may be a chance you have to pay more to keep it up. One idea would be to have some advertisements for Dharma-related businesses like for Indian crafts such as religious icons. Actually a thread on that might be interesting.

[satay]

Namaste,

A lexicon was mentioned in the past; I do not know where some of you get the words in Sanskrit and with accent marks, but saying where--whether you want to make a forum about it or not--would be helpful.

Lexicon forum is here http://hindudharmaforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=63

I had given some suggestions on forums to add (Tantra, Ayyavazhi, maybe Samkhya, though only someone more knowledgeable would know if those would be popular) and religions to add in profiles (Jain, Mazdayasna/Mazdaism/Zoroastrainism, Bahai, African-Eurasian & Australian & American indigenous religions as well as 'ecumenical/inter-religious/non-sectarian' and maybe Theosophy or also Classical Western philosophies (which are really part of European religions.) I study them all but ecumenical 'Eternal Philosophy' describes me best even if I do not know all the details about its definition 'Sanatana Dharma.' If you have any questions about the non-Asian religions I could list some. I also think check boxes to choose more than one would be nicer--mystics might like that.)

My apologies for not addressing this earlier. A lot of visitors and members have told me in the past that there is already a large sub division of forums here 'way too many' as one member put it. The main theme of the forum is to discuss Hindu Dharma and not necessarily all asian or non-asian religions. Though if we get more diverse group of members I might take your suggestion and create more sub forums. Last thing we want is empty forums. Adding religions to the profile list is not a problem and I will do that this weekend.

If the site becomes more popular as you wish, I suspect there may be a chance you have to pay more to keep it up. One idea would be to have some advertisements for Dharma-related businesses like for Indian crafts such as religious icons. Actually a thread on that might be interesting.

Money is not the problem and neither is popularity of the forum. Most senior members decided a few years back that quality of the posts is more important than popularity. So is the quality of membership rather than number of members.

I will not put more ads on the site. No one has to worry about funding the site even if it becomes way more popular. I will deal with that.

[satay]

namaskar,

I have added some of these in the Profile list box. If you have a list of more religions, please pm me and I will add those too.

Also, added another required field where new members will now have to enter their 'purpose' for joining the forum. I had been thinking of doing this for a while.

Thanks,

religions to add in profiles (Jain, Mazdayasna/Mazdaism/Zoroastrainism, Bahai, African-Eurasian & Australian & American indigenous religions as well as 'ecumenical/inter-religious/non-sectarian' and maybe Theosophy or also Classical Western philosophies (which are really part of European religions.)