Revitalising SIGs

[Castus]

After various Cauldronites and MUXers (MUXites? MUXians?) noted the decline of the SIGs, I got to thinking on how that trend could be reversed. SIGs are great for discussing tradition-specific issues and fostering a greater sense of community and I hope that they may be able to be revived. Some piddling suggestions:

[*]Re-name the SIGs. Hazel and Oak can't be the only one with a nice name :p
[*]New SIG Leaders to promote activity
[*]Some sort of "Ask a -" or interfaith initiative between the SIGs would be fun
[*]Close those SIGs who don't have much activity (not merely recent activity) or merge them when applicable
[/LIST]
Just my 0.02!*

And Juni's and Veggiewolf's...

[Materialist]

After various Cauldronites and MUXers  noted the decline of the SIGs, I got to thinking on how that trend could be reversed. SIGs are great for discussing tradition-specific issues and fostering a greater sense of community and I hope that they may be able to be revived.

Europe, Egypt, Other Stuff. Reconstructionist Style Religions, Other Stuff. New names and managers never attracted me to an old business. If it wasn't good then, it won't be better with a little nip and tuck. Historically based religions, anyway, are unlikely to ever become popular because they require followers to actually work for their religion and be able to understand at least three different dead languages at a moment's notice, not to mention having to translate German/French/Spanish/whatever articles/books unavailable in ex-English colonies (this has been my experience, anyway).

[RandallS]

Re-name the SIGs. Hazel and Oak can't be the only one with a nice name :p

SIGs are named what the people active in them want, provided what they want would be meaningful to an outsider.

New SIG Leaders to promote activity

SIG Leaders are selected based on volunteering and appearing to have good ideas for making the SIG work. While I have no objection to replacing inactive SIG Leaders, we would need volunteers willing and able to be more active.

Some sort of "Ask a -" or interfaith initiative between the SIGs would be fun

I can't really comment as I'm not sure what you are suggesting, but assuming interest from SIG members in whatever you are suggesting, I don't see why not.

Close those SIGs who don't have much activity (not merely recent activity) or merge them when applicableJust my 0.02!*

Closing them would meaning deleting the messages already there which is a bad idea IMHO as it deletes info others may need. Merging is possible, but some of the least active have little or nothing in common (at least that I can see)  Have any specific merger suggestions?

Some very good ideas here, however, even if I'm not sure how to actually implement them.

[Juni]

Europe, Egypt, Other Stuff. Reconstructionist Style Religions, Other Stuff. New names and managers never attracted me to an old business. If it wasn't good then, it won't be better with a little nip and tuck. Historically based religions, anyway, are unlikely to ever become popular because they require followers to actually work for their religion and be able to understand at least three different dead languages at a moment's notice, not to mention having to translate German/French/Spanish/whatever articles/books unavailable in ex-English colonies (this has been my experience, anyway).

 
I didn't think such levels of sweeping condescension could be put into so few sentences, but I guess I was wrong!

[RandallS]

I didn't think such levels of sweeping condescension could be put into so few sentences, but I guess I was wrong!

I just sighed and went on. It is obvious that Materialist has no interest in recon-like religions.

[Castus]

Europe, Egypt, Other Stuff. Reconstructionist Style Religions, Other Stuff. New names and managers never attracted me to an old business. If it wasn't good then, it won't be better with a little nip and tuck. Historically based religions, anyway, are unlikely to ever become popular because they require followers to actually work for their religion and be able to understand at least three different dead languages at a moment's notice, not to mention having to translate German/French/Spanish/whatever articles/books unavailable in ex-English colonies (this has been my experience, anyway).

 Well, um... that's not helpful at all. That's actually rather arrogant and has managed to insult both Recons (If it wasn't good then, it won't be better with a little nip and tuck) and non-Recons and pagans (actually work for their religion). If you don't have anything to contribute that is polite, constructive, or at the very least vaguely related to the topic in the OP, then perhaps you should reconsider clicking "Submit Reply".

SIGs are named what the people active in them want, provided what they want would be meaningful to an outsider.

Alright then, looks like I've have to start polling people. Khitons and Togas subforum, here we come!

SIG Leaders are selected based on volunteering and appearing to have good ideas for making the SIG work. While I have no objection to replacing inactive SIG Leaders, we would need volunteers willing and able to be more active.

I wasn't necessarily advocating replacing people, but it seems like the Kemetic and Graeco-Roman SIGs need Leaders to begin with :p

I can't really comment as I'm not sure what you are suggesting, but assuming interest from SIG members in whatever you are suggesting, I don't see why not.

I meant, like I believe Veggie mentioned in Chat, posting  an "Ask a Kemetic" thread in H&O or and equivalent therefore in order to foster greater discussion on syncreticism and shared aspects of our traditions.

Closing them would meaning deleting the messages already there which is a bad idea IMHO as it deletes info others may need. Merging is possible, but some of the least active have little or nothing in common (at least that I can see)  Have any specific merger suggestions?

Is it possible to lock them as Archives? Stories of the Spirit SIG springs to mind. And at the risk of perhaps sparking riots perhaps a merger of the Baltic/Slavic and Heathen SIGs could be considered. Their traditions seem similar from what little I know...

[Sage]

After various Cauldronites and MUXers (MUXites? MUXians?) noted the decline of the SIGs, I got to thinking on how that trend could be reversed. SIGs are great for discussing tradition-specific issues and fostering a greater sense of community and I hope that they may be able to be revived. Some piddling suggestions:

• Re-name the SIGs. Hazel and Oak can't be the only one with a nice name :p
• New SIG Leaders to promote activity
• Some sort of "Ask a -" or interfaith initiative between the SIGs would be fun
• Close those SIGs who don't have much activity (not merely recent activity) or merge them when applicable

Just my 0.02!*

And Juni's and Veggiewolf's...

 
I say this with the caveat that I know TC is not a traditionally fellowship-oriented Pagan board and I like it that way just fine, and that this suggestion is not meant to be in lieu of regular debate/discussion-ness, but... what about SIGs hosting fellowship or study chats? Say once a month a different SIG could host a MUX chat around different themes or holidays, partly to show what different members are up to, partly to generate new ideas for the SIG as a whole, partly for interested outsiders to poke their nose around and listen to ideas. Scheduling would be difficult, among other things I'm sure.

[RandallS]

what about SIGs hosting fellowship or study chats? Say once a month a different SIG could host a MUX chat around different themes or holidays, partly to show what different members are up to, partly to generate new ideas for the SIG as a whole, partly for interested outsiders to poke their nose around and listen to ideas. Scheduling would be difficult, among other things I'm sure.

I don't do chat, but I don't see any problem with this (so long as it requires zero involvement with chat from me, of course). For those who don't know, chat is beyond my limited abilities to type in a readable manner or to keep up since I cannot multitask at all. Therefore, all chat rooms do is frustrate me and raise my blood pressure.

[RandallS]

I meant, like I believe Veggie mentioned in Chat, posting  an "Ask a Kemetic" thread in H&O or and equivalent therefore in order to foster greater discussion on syncreticism and shared aspects of our traditions.

Ahh, I think that is being discussed in a thread the SIG Leaders forum. BTW, as I do not do chat, I know nothing about anything said in chat unless it appears in a post on the forum.

Is it possible to lock them as Archives? Stories of the Spirit SIG springs to mind.

It's possible, but like closing threads or banning thread necromancy, it is something I really don't like to do on general principle. This isn't saying "no", but it would take a lot of convincing to get me to do it.

And at the risk of perhaps sparking riots perhaps a merger of the Baltic/Slavic and Heathen SIGs could be considered. Their traditions seem similar from what little I know...

I'm not really sure that would work well. :whis:  Besides, both seem to be active, so don't think I understand why merging them would be a good thing?

[savveir]

And at the risk of perhaps sparking riots perhaps a merger of the Baltic/Slavic and Heathen SIGs could be considered. Their traditions seem similar from what little I know...

 
It is, in my opinion, important to keep a separate space for Baltic and Slavic traditions. They are their own thing and could be considered as such.  
If you'd like to learn more about the differences between the traditions, why not drop into the SIGs and ask?

[Jack]

And at the risk of perhaps sparking riots perhaps a merger of the Baltic/Slavic and Heathen SIGs could be considered. Their traditions seem similar from what little I know...

 
Considering we just recently got to have the Baltic/Slavic SIG, I think we're doing pretty alright in terms of activity. And I'll be honest, I don't know what would be gained by merging them, since aside from the occasional discussion of whether Odin and Veles or Thor and Perun have a lot in common, they're really no more similar than any other PIE-descending groups.

Most of the older Slavic references describe the gods in comparison to the Greek or Roman deities, actually, so if you want us to merge with anybody, maybe it should be the G&R SIG. =P

[Hyacinth Belle]

And at the risk of perhaps sparking riots perhaps a merger of the Baltic/Slavic and Heathen SIGs could be considered. Their traditions seem similar from what little I know...

 
My gut reaction here is also a no, for reasons others have stated!

[quarks]

• Re-name the SIGs. Hazel and Oak can't be the only one with a nice name :p
• New SIG Leaders to promote activity
• Some sort of "Ask a -" or interfaith initiative between the SIGs would be fun
• Close those SIGs who don't have much activity (not merely recent activity) or merge them when applicable

 
I think the "Ask a -" questions or the interfaith initiatives could be really interesting.  I'm not sure if any of the SIGs would merge well.  I don't post a lot, but I do read the SIGs, and I think their current divisions are really helpful.  Just my thoughts.