If what we will have is what we do have, then I think I honestly am. There's plenty of places that accomplish that already. If I cannot succeed in maintaining a place that is a haven for quality human interaction, then I'd rather not work on it indefinitely. I won't see it as a waste, however. We had a very good run, and I am proud of the many friendships that were built here, and the interactions and the memories. I know that a lot of the relationships will survive Hubski if I get hit by a bus tomorrow. However, in all honesty, I am not at a point where I can simply let things be as they are, and keep the will to see that the bugs are fixed, the https certificates are renewed, and the bills are paid. Hubski has become similar to many other places on the internet, if not smaller. What we say to each other matters, and how we say it matters even more. The default commenting system for most of the social web is asymmetrical. There is no effort and little recourse for dropping shit on people. IMO is it making it harder for us to value each other.
I'm not sure what you are experiencing, but I just returned to Hubski after an absence and it does not seem to have significantly changed. It's still one of the best places for intelligent conversation in a spirit of kindness that I have come across on the web. If it's never going to be a money maker, have you considered handing it off to someone else or open-sourcing it so a site with the same dynamic could be hosted elsewhere? It would be a shame to see you just shut it down. I am not aware of other sites that facilitate mostly intelligent and respectful discussion like Hubski does. I have always thought the site mechanics are largely responsible for that. In all my years of wandering the internet, Hubski stands out as one of the few best places. I get that it's not free to run, but don't underestimate what you have here, and know that some of us would be quite sad to see it go.However, in all honesty, I am not at a point where I can simply let things be as they are, and keep the will to see that the bugs are fixed, the https certificates are renewed, and the bills are paid.
If what we will have is what we do have, then I think I honestly am. There's plenty of places that accomplish that already.
That's nice to hear, but I have noticed a general decline in the quality of interactions, and people being good to each other in threads. Oddly, that hasn't been the case in chat, and I have been putting some thought to that. This isn't just my opinion, mind you, a number of people have lamented to me in some form or other about an increase in emotional tenor, carelessness, and combativeness. I don't think our spirit of kindness is gone, but I do think we show less care in how we treat one another in threads. A lot of quality users have inactivated their accounts. I never expect or want Hubski to be a money-maker. I want Hubski to maintain a quality that brings value to intelligent, curious, creative, and thoughtful people. I'm not interested in the social web that thrives on influence, posturing, and insecurity, or a house of debate where participants aren't seeking to change their minds. I believe that few things are intellectually more satisfying than learning something that alters your thinking. I do agree that the mechanics have helped. Outright trolls usually have a short tenure here. However, I do think that what we currently have required an active team to prevent a slide into a place where the most emotional voices can prevail. Whether or not we can engineer for a place that doesn't require such a hands-on effort remains to be seen, IMO. Sorry if I sounded like I was making a threat to ragequit. I have no plans to shut down Hubski. I am however, resolved to see if we can improve upon what we have, and I'm willing to rock the boat and risk upsetting users in that effort. If we can make a positive change, it will be worth the effort. Users are upset with the status quo, and good users have been quitting for some time. I owe it to them and myself to see if we can do better. I owe it to everyone.I'm not sure what you are experiencing, but I just returned to Hubski after an absence and it does not seem to have significantly changed. It's still one of the best places for intelligent conversation in a spirit of kindness that I have come across on the web.
I am not aware of other sites that facilitate mostly intelligent and respectful discussion like Hubski does. I have always thought the site mechanics are largely responsible for that. In all my years of wandering the internet, Hubski stands out as one of the few best places. I get that it's not free to run, but don't underestimate what you have here, and know that some of us would be quite sad to see it go.
Quite regularly for many years now, perhaps every autumn, the idea of starting to use hubski has creeped into my mind. Maybe it's a craving for discussion online that is for once not a ticking time bomb loaded with uncontrolled emotion and bickering. So my respects to you in doing your thing to keep this place from deteriorating to your average online forum where a semi-anonymous grey mass just uses the platform to went their inner anger on others. Somewhat ironically though I've been hopelessly unable to integrate myself into this community. Nevertheless I'm still glad this place exists. It's akin to a beacon of light in the dark seas of the internet.