Special features

Sometimes we can use special features to enliven the pod. I have seen birthday parties being celebrated, or calls to healing and so on, which can foster conviviality.

Have you any special features in your pod?

Re: Special features - featured members

Answering my own question first, [didn't want that title in the main thread]:

In our Gaia Networking pod, we have started a ”Featured Members” feature; where we ask questions of some members, so that they can give their tips about how to enhance community experience on Gaia and ask questions if they have any, about the same.

We had ~KES [who left this mod pod by mistake, and the devs are trying to get her back in]; and now it's Sandy. 

Re: Special features

Hi Meenakshi,

Yes, just had a lovely birthday party on Thursday in the God Pod :) lots of fun. We had a beach party there a while back, I think it's fun to do this sort of thing.

Other community building activities have been

-sharing spiritual creativity - we have people who are poets, visual artists and writers of various kinds as well as musicians so sharing and discussing our art together has been enriching.

- prayer requests - we can support and encourage each other through sending light and love each others' ways in times of need

- discussing in depth personal issues as they come up, in relation to spiritual life - this has been awesome

- working together on social justice issues - Tibet of course but some others like Guantanomo

- sharing humour and favourite songs

- sharing beauty we find in various parts of the web

I have reflected a lot on why the God Pod is probably the most active one on Gaia right now, though it's only four months old. I believe it's because of the way it was set up to be a safe place where people can share anything about their lives, from the heart, and that we  discuss so many different things in all spheres of life.

While I think it's good and important to have groups focussing in on specific areas, it's hard for many of them to sustain an ongoing and active dialogue than when you have a group where people feel they are in a true online community where they can integrate all aspects of their life and thought.

Peace,

Nicole

[Mod note: bold-faced the main points- meenakshi]

Re: Special features

I agree with what Nicole said.  :)

The God Pod has such a variety of discussion topics that there is something there for almost anyone. 

I also think one of the most important factors is the environment that Nicole promoted… very actively I might add.  Even though it doesn't work for some, it seems to be appreciated by most members.

Another thing I like about the God Pod is that there are also many blog entries and series that get posted.  I've discovered some interesting blog discussions and bloggers that way.

Blessings,
Marmalade

Re: Special features

(Meenakshi thanks for boldfacing, makes it a lot clearer!)

Thanks Marmalade, and especially for mentioning the blog discussions. Some of these have been very enriching to all of us, especially some recent ones by Centria - Alan and I keep talking about the stories we weave, code word “Bears” :) (see Centria's blog about the bear who came into her garden) - and the blog discussion on not being enlightened has proven an awesome thread.

Thanks too for mentioning that it doesn't work for some - oh and remind me sometime to tell you the story about Alan's brother Stewart and Parker Shockley (the first really obvious case of the style not working for someone) , it's so cool…

It's true that there are some who find this environment impossible for many reasons, my ex- partner being one of them LOL. And I think that's something we all have to accept, no group can possibly appeal to everyone, no matter how broad. It's perfectly fine, good to know and remember though.

I've missed you so, dear friend. Good to see you again, hope your trip was great.

Love,

Nicole

Re: Special features

Now I'm curious what specifically is the “it” or “environment” that “doesn't work for everyone,” and what is the perspective or what are the perspectives of those it “doesn't work for?” This is not an idle curiosity, as we are all talking about matters that can be applicable to or generalized to many pods.

BTW, zFilms has a special feature “to enliven the pod,”  the Featured Films of the Week (Board,) one current release and one old, with comments and reviews, that I post each weekend, to stimulate discussion. It hasn't been wildly successful, even the few times I emailed a week's post to all members, but I think it's a good feature with lots of POTENTIAL to enliven, and I continue it…..

Blessings, OM Bastet

[Mod note- did the boldface thing-Meenakshi 11:38 EDT]

Re: Special features

If we could have the discussion on environment as a separate thread, following from OM's post : “Now I'm curious what specifically is the “it” or “environment” that “doesn't work for everyone,” and what is the perspective or what are the perspectives of those it “doesn't work for?” This is not an idle curiosity, as we are all talking about matters that can be applicable to or generalized to many pods.”

On the board- Cultivating Communities 101

And keep this thread for the Special Features?

Re: Special features

Okey dokey Meenkashi

Special features?

I mentioned in my previous post about the posting of blogs in the God Pod.  That is something that interests me very much because I came to Gaia to blog.  So, I have a question:

How do other pods feature and incorporate blogs into discussions?

Blessings,
Marmalade

Re: Special features

None of my 5 or 6 pods incorporate or feature blogs in anything but a casual occasional way. I'm interested to hear other options. I mean, I can see mentioning or cross-posting them if they are relevant, but I can't imagine how to use them systematically.

Ears open, well, eyes, actually, :)

OM Bastet

Re: Special features

OM, the thing about the God pod is that so much is relevant… God relates to everything right?

Love,

Nicole

Re: Special features

Warning: humor ahead:

Well, yes, but I don't think there is enough disk space on the Internet to DISCUSS everything God is, let alone discuss it on the God Pod. Thus, fortunately, some blogs are not relevant.

:))
OM Bastet

Re: Special features

LOL, OM! No, they are all relevant but yeah, there's not enough time or space to do it all.

As Steven Wright says,

“You can't have everything. Where would you put it?”

:):)