Thread running for Hall of Fame!

As OM Bastet mentioned, there is the Collective Wisdom pod/Group where exceptional threads or blog entries can be nominated for the Gaia Hall of Fame :)

It was suggested the one on God given gifts be nominated. Do you agree? Do you have another thread you would nominate?

If you have thoughts to share, please respond with the name of the thread you would like to nominate and why you think it is noteworthy.

Thanks,

Nicole

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Nicole,

I am honored that OM would like to nominate Our gifts thread. 

For me, Is God Anything? is the discussion that inspired me to join your pod, and the place where your pod really took off.  I would nominate it.

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Thanks, Dave! What about the thread do you think makes it of general appeal?

Love,

Nicole

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Nicole,

What I liked was / is how it honored anyone to speak of their context of god openly, and without attack.  Most deeply spiritual blogs are moderated to discuss a particular form of spiritual belief, and in general others are not welcome to participate in it, unless they generally agree with the moderator's views.

Is God Anything is quite the opposite… everyone can share what they believe, and even though the members can have very different views, everyone's comments are equal. While it can generate challenging dialogue at times, it does so more as an exploration, than a debate or the attempt of one member or group of members to win an argument. 

That is what I like about Is there a God, and Is God Anything in particular.

Love to you for making this pod a reality.

Dave

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Dear Dave,

Yes, yes! But I would like to add that I need every one of you to make this we-space the unique and fascinating place it is. I cannot do it by myself. And you are all so very, very good at creating the we-space! All I do is hold it.

Love to you,

Nicole

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

For me, Is God Anything? is the discussion that inspired me to join your pod, and the place where your pod really took off.  I would nominate it.

Oh, the pod had began an explosion at least a week prior, actually.  However, I have re-read teh thread and agree with you - there is a lot in there from thoughts to observable positive community behavior.

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

I think ther is immense value in a repository of wisdom.  Those of understanding can find it useful, but those same people probably could find the wisdom in the un-reposited natural state.

I have remained quiet, since I have not come to a conclusion as to whether or not I agree with the hall of fame.  Indeed, there is quite a bit about Gaia with which I do not agree.  I do not agree with the “hottest” people, or the “hottest blogs.”  I can somewhat agree with the “hottest” discussion since that is normally a group of individuals.

You see, I think all of this “hottest” business and “Hall of Fame” initiatives can create an environment of “have and have not” and sort of reminds me of high school cliques as far as developmental stage of us as a whole are concerned.

Some of the best pearls of beauty I have found are not the “hot” ones.  Those are the ones so deep, so personal, so creative - that it blows everyone's minds and they run away as if they are lemmings on a mission.

I am really, really, really trying to not be negative about this.  However, I will relate a personal story.  Last summer, I walked away from zaadz.  It appeared there were quite a number of folks in pods that were self-serving.  Stroking their egos through “I did this, and I am this, and I am this much enlightened.”  Moonstar pointed it out to me (I really did not do much on the pods, probably for that reason), and then began seeing it. 

Believe it or not, a little more than a year ago, I even got a mail asking “why do you bother posting in Empowered by Poetry?  You don't get any comments.”  Wow.  Yes, I'm a big dog.  I can handle the truth.  Yet, it seems that there were some who were using the pod as a poetry voting contest.  That's not what I am about and why I write.  So, I stopped posting, but still wrote it in the blog (I am still catching up and posting old material to the pod now, though).

Eventually, the “love” got to me, sickened me.  Many here were giving out love (seeds?) to collect love (seeds?) and stroking their ego.  I am not into that. 

Quite frankly, the glow thing about Gaia bugs me, too.  I have no doubt there are some folks out there who do everything that they can to increase their “glow.”  The nice thing about this is that the Gaia team obviously understands some of these trends, so wisely do not release the “formula.”

So, too, does the possibility of a Hall of Fame become a love fest and popularity contest.  We have to be careful with such an instrument.

Thank you for reading.  I obviously have some unresolved thoughts on this.

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

I'm really glad you shared this, Christopher. I invite the rest of you to share your thoughts on this aspect too.

I have had similar mixed feelings. I spent most of last year away from zaadz partly because of depression but also partly because of very mixed feelings about the commercialism etc. I have made my peace because I believe these negative aspects are eclipsed by the power and beauty of we-spaces like this pod.

Love to you,

Nicole

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Wonderfully honest jeepdog.

I too have noticed that there is a formula for being the hottest, and the same 4 or 5 people tend to be hot all of the time. Some of the hots really deserve it in my mind, and their contributions are continuously enjoyable and enlighening.

On the other hand, I’ve seen circumstances where the hottest topics can be the ones that behave in ways that have no respect for Gaia’s values and ToU’s.

What up with dat?

Your point on the Hall of Fame is well taken. Have you visited the pod to see what it says about its creation, and whether you agree with its published intent?

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Yes, I have.  I would be a false pretender had I not done so before commenting. =)

I agree with the published intent.  Indeed, I like the published intent. 

Yet, espoused theories and reality in use can be two completely different animals.  I need to keep feeling this animal to discern if it is “elephant” as advertised.

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Christopher,

I get your point as well - very well made and there is a lot of truth to what you say.  At the same time, I believe focusing on what others do and for what reasons they do what they do keeps us in a certain dynamic that is similar to “resisting what is”.  In order to establish a real change (and this is just my belief) we're better off making our own actions come from a different angle, i.e. doing what is right to do in the moment without looking for any pre-determined outcome.

Hope that makes sense,

Frans

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Thanks.  I am all about change and action.  I also belive in caution in forming assumptions for a pre-determined outcome.

Yet, in an on-line environment, I see the pitfalls of such a concept as “Hall of Fame.”  I do not see it negative to find value in all content here - think of it as Gaia as a complete “Hall of Fame.”  We do not need halls, since the entire structure from the foundation to roof is built on the infamous.

Do we really need to climb Olympus and rank-order the gods?  If we do, and it may be useful, we need to understand how that can ultimately underpin Olympus.  Hence, guard against it.  Guard against it vehemently.

Peace -

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Hmmm I must have missed this post in my notifications, and am just noticing it now many days later.

jeepdog said …..and rank-order the gods? 

Christopher, I would say this in all caps but that might be jarring:

There is no rank ordering of any kind in the Collective Wisdom pod. Soon there will not even be any difference between nominated and elected, which could be viewed as rank orders i suppose.

I am disappointed that you were seeming to imply such a thing. It just isn't there. Where did you get that idea?

And of course all the content in the site is wonderful and useful. But don't libraries have “featured books” displays? And isn't it useful to have people point out some of the useful content on the site? Things do get buried. They do get lost in the multitudes.

Remember the concept of these threads is WISDOM. While the site contains lots of interesting discussions, not all have usefulness of wisdom to offer a wide variety of people in their daily life. The basic approach, until I added the Spiritual and Site Boards, was that.

I am just kind of sitting here amazed and puzzled at what you said, it seems so irrelevant to the facts of the CW pod.

Blessings, OM Bastet

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

I just discovered this thread, and as cultivator of said Collective Wisdom: The Hall of Fame for Zaadz Threads, I thought I would say a few (haha) words.

First, this is the best feedback about the pod I have received, and I am hungry for perspectives, so thank you all very much !!!!

Ya know, if I had it to do over again, I would delete the words of voting, and Hall of Fame. In fact, if it weren't so time-intensive, I would have rewritten the whole darn thing already. I know those words offput many people here in the Community and in fact they don't accurately reflect my view of the purpose of the pod, which is, as Christopher said, a “repository of wisdom.” It's not really about Fame at all. I might called it The Library of Community Threads and just like a real library, books that the library staff chooses or people donate are what get into it !!!!!

I can't agree with you Christopher that people would find these gems “anyway.” I am running across gems all the time, can't even keep up with all I want to nominate. Also, if people could find books “anyway” we wouldn't need libraries. (Until there is an amazon for internet threads, haha.) You did use the term “people of understanding” would find them anyway. It's the people without understanding but with need and openness that are my target….

I adore organizing information for greater accessibility and usefulness; that is one of the gifts I bring to the co-creation of my Ideal World, so in some sense I am just doin' what comes natcherly, and what I can't stop myself from doing…. :) Thus I made a way for people to find wisdom ABOUT CLASSIC HUMAN QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES that they could relate to.

Do keep on feeling the elephant, Christopher. I did that for a looooong time with Z-NETWORK before I decided it wasn't IMO redundant or superfluous, because I see so many pods I judge to be that. Judging, whatever.

I believe that associating Collective Wisdom pod with any ideas of hottest, or one-up, is –what's the term – prejudice: judging something by its superficial similarities to something else. There is –at least to my eyes and my intention – absolutely nothing of hottest, or  have and have not, or cliques. Anyone on the site can join. Anyone can nominate ANY THREAD/BLOG+COMMENTS  (that meets our criteria of threadness and our simple criteria of wisdom.)  Anyone can affirm a nomination (new terminology for “vote.”) A Member can affirm every nominated thread. Every nominated thread can be affirmed or elected. (In fact, I might just post the number of affirmations, and eliminate Elected. Or maybe who cares about how many affirmations, just nominating is fine. No, I want some indications of validation by others. OTOH most threads just aren't being read, so lack of affirmations is just lack of readers……)

Anyway, Nicole, it was an interesting new idea to open this matter of threads from here being potentially nominated, to the whole pod here, and I appreciate the heck out of all the views. All the threads mentioned can be nominated…… So in a sense the title of this thread is misleading. Threads don't “run for” the Hall of Fame. They get nominated when I get the time, or when someone else nominates them.

Maybe I better just bite the time-bullet and get those changes (mentioned above) done.

If anyone ever sees any evidence of the Collective Wisdom pod tending in any way toward being a love fest or popularity contest, I would welcome a heads up, although chances are I would have spotted it and squished it already. Do you see any of that so far? I totally agree with you Christopher, we have to be careful with such an instrument, and I appreciate your checking out before speaking of it. I'm sad that views of other very different things could be contaminating views of this. I hoped my description/content would speak for itself. But I can see the challenge.

What it is is a time-challenge and (not unrelatedly) it also suffers from people's lack of skill in easy reading….. Those are its two main downsides as I see them.

Maybe I will ask your indulgence for a few more reading-minutes to share my deepest place from which I created the pod. I see so many people wandering through life and experiencing suffering that could so easily be prevented or alleviated with a bit more INFORMATION, or access to a few more perspectives, like a wise person to talk to about their issues. At the same time, I saw so many of these classic issues being profoundly and thoroughly discussed here on the site, with a huge variety of useful perspectives, recommendations, personal stories, etc. My heart ached. I looked around for some way to bring the resource to the need as I perceived the need. The pod was what emerged as a possible answer, so I went with it.

As the concept of a collection of threads from different pods was itself was so innovative, I looked for a term people were familiar with that might act as an educational metaphor, and Hall of Fame was the closest. Halls of Fame are not competitive elections, winner-loser. People are elected when enough “voters” decide they are worthy. At least in my limited knowledge of how Halls of Fame work. So it is a marketing-innovative-product-education term, only a metaphor.

So far I have not promoted it widely on the site, because this is beta-test time, and you guys are helping a lot. And I have already made some revisions based on other input and insights. But when I am ready to launch, I hope with all my heart that people within the Community discover this resource, and then tell their friends, and that the pod truly does become a library of collective wisdom. The wikipedia of life's problems – that just popped into my head.

Thank you all for indulging me with this long sharing. I feel honored to have a place to say these things to the community that have been in my heart and mind, even if it IS off-topic for this pod, except that creating the pod, doing the pod, is one of my Services to my version of God…… So mebbe not……

Blessings,
OM Bastet

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Well, this was certainly a nice and open post, 1Vector3/OM! Certainly your icon fits your post voice.

• First, that stating of the whys of the pod.
  
• The fact that the pod is public and people can complain.
• More and more examples of what winners should be will be available as threads make it, which will impel people to try to nominate threads that match the quality of these
• Examples of good reasons to nominate will also be there for all to see to lead the pod to sort of regulate itself
• The more useful the content, the more traffic and members
• The 'genres' of categories will make the threads more about content and less about controversy or a pet 'cause' (a well-liked topic crowding out many other good topics.)

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

…I am happy that all of the really good stuff is on permanent record in the Akashic…

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Well, OM and Dave, we are, as usual, connected at some complementary soul-level. What a delight to keep running in to you in my journey!

One of the things that I am so interested in is people's fear of winning. What is really so bad about winning? After all, to be successful (and I know, many people have a real difficulty with that - but I emphasize that success should be defined by each person individually) one must intrinsically “win,” whether it is a book sale, a new client, a sold piece of art, or whatever ways you are personally creating right now.

At the same time, I think we look at the idea of winning (or fame, to put it more succinctly in the idea of this thread) in a win-lose kind of way, which is what makes most of us spiritual sorts very uncomfortable. After all, aren't we beyond the need for fame or winning? And aren't we beyond the need for competition?

Well, yes we are - if we look at it as win-lose. In reality, there is no competition, because we are all one, and therefore, we all have the same connection to any experience of life as anyone else. Further, as I talk about in great detail in my book, each of us contains the hologram of the entire universe - and therefore, any experience - in our minds - as does every other person in the entire world (or universe, if that's how you think).

Because of this, there are literally endless amounts of any experience of life for all of us - there is no competition, because we can all connect with the same frequency of experience by changing the frequency that our mind is flowing at right now.

All of this means that while we spiritual sorts tend to be afraid of the notion of competition (or eschew competition altogether), I believe it is a very different thing to be okay with recognition for good, enlightening work. After all, as OM so correctly points out, without libraries, we would not be able to find truly amazing works by truly amazing authors. Without the Hall of Fame thread, I know I would be out of the loop about some great wisdom around here.

That said, I totally agree with you, Dave, that some of the most “popular” threads are totally in contrast to the intent of the site - they are critical, argumentative, confrontational, and, in general, not very compassionate. They are intended to incite people's irriation, or fear, or whatever - they are definitely intended to get attention.

I find myself sometimes being irritated that those kinds of threads or posts seem to get the most responses, while many, many others of us are constantly putting out interesting, good, and (hopefully) inspiring work, and not getting a peep back from the community.

At the same time, I take a deep breath and have seen that some of those argumentative, confrontational, and well, let's just say it - obnoxious - starts to threads have lead to some of the greatests discussions and wisdom - and, ironically - the most respectful discussions.

For instance, how about the thread, “Dude, don't talk t me about peace?” where I met you and OM? What a great thread, started in the most confrontational of ways.

So, I guess what I am saying here is that I agree with OM in his intent of allowing people to find great wisdom out there - after all, if it weren't for that kind of intent, much great wisdom would be lost. I'm a great point of example on this - if it weren't for word of mouth, some awards, and the dedicated efforts of my readers, no one would ever find my book - and I would not be able to reach so many people with my life-changing message. So, awards and sales have definitely been good for me - I am not seeking the “wins” as such, I am seeking that those bits of recognition allow others to find my work - work that they would otherwise not know about, or, without someone else telling them that it is life-changing or good, would not pick up. That's just the way it is - until someone else tells you that it is good, you might just not find it or put time into it. It's a very human resonse! :o)

And, I agree with you, Dave, that some of these threads that end up being most popular are really not in the intention of zaadz or gaia. I would love to know your thoughts on why it seems that the most controversial posts sometimes get the most “love” (or at least, responses!) :o)

Much love to all -

Tara :o)

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Tara,

It is soooooooo wonderful to be in touch again.  I can always ask how you have been, but we soul buddies pretty much know now don't we?

I love where you are taking this discussion, regarding win / lose, and with respect to what it is that creates good dialogue out of 'controversy'.

You have instilled so much thought in your note, that I want to reflect on this a bit, but will offer the following now…

1) I agree that there is nothing wrong with winning, if it is the reflection of our authentic efforts.  I am not a fan of winning at all costs, or establishing winning as the goal.  Winning instead, is a measure of one's own progress towards their life's goals. 

This goes equally with making money too.

Also, whether we wish to acknowledge it or not, North America's culture has a deeply ingrained value of winning. Doesn't matter if it is a debate, a scholarship, a Super Bowl, or a World War… our nations do not like to lose.

2) In the Mod Pod, we are discussing the recent banishment of a Gaia member for his over the top controversial and attacking contribution to the community.  Some people really liked this person's approach, and others were insulted by it.  So, what does this have to do with the relationship to controversy and popular blogs?

In one way, it goes back to the desire to win.. everyone wants to chime in and nurture the controversy along, or to try to shut it down as anti-community.  Both create more traffic to the discussion, and thus make it hot and popular.  I would hypothesize that controversial blogs tend to attract more people of different views, than those where everyone is pretty much in agreement with the topic of discussion.  When everyone agrees, there is not much more to say.

Also, many people tend to thrive on controversy, whether it is about Eliot Spitzer, a huge car wreck, or a perceived 'outlier' at Gaia.

Anyway, I love that we connected again.

Take care,

D.

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Tara, after reading your post, I have to reiterate how fortunate I feel to have stumbled onto this pod when I first joined Gaia and how proud I feel that my first post as a member was on this God pod. Nicole and all the (by necessity growing list of) moderators, thanks for maintaining this effort and keeping it an oasis.

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Dear soloma

You are the one who makes me proud. All your beautiful and mindful contributions have helped make this pod rich.

Love

Nicole

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Dear soloma

You are the one who makes me proud. All your beautiful and mindful contributions have helped make this pod rich.

Love

Nicole

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Hey, Tara I'm a “she.” LOL !!!

Will and Tara both “zoomed out” at least a couple of powers of ten, and I am in alignment, because zoom views are not either-or. My original discussion was aimed at a particular zoom-level, responding to particular thoughts from others, and I am always delighted at vaster perspectives, and they have IMO enriched the discussion.
 
THANK YOU, and thanks still to Nicole for allowing space for this possibly off-topic digression in this thread.

Blessings, OM Bastet

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Ooops, OM, I knew that - sorry for the typo!!! And you are right - I think I did “zoom-out” - which I do rather regularly, frankly (just ask my hubby). Anyway, glad you got what I was trying to say, which is to respond to someone's thoughts about a fear of the Hall of Fame thread being used in a way where others were aiming to compete for the title, so to speak.

:o)

And Dave - I loved your response. I absolutely agree with you that the notion of winning - at all costs - tends to be a very programmed response in this country, and that is a real issue. It certainly sets up a “I win if you lose” kind of dynamic - one that is really never good for anyone.

I have to go do some publicity stuff now, but I will be back later to add more. Oh, and yes - we do seem to know how everything's going without asking, don't we? :o)

Much love,

Tara :o)

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Thank you Tara,

Have fun being Public!


Dave

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Welcome Tara and congratulations! And OM, I think you will find I am not very obsessive about threads, less and less each day in fact :)

Love to you,

Nicole

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Congrats, Nicole, and I hope it's contagious !!! I am learning to be less obsessive about the threads under my care, too !!! LOL.

Tara, no no no, Sweetie, it seems that you heard “ZONE out” which is entirely different. I said “ZOOM out,” by which I mean get an overview, see the Bigger Picture of which the old object of attention is a smaller part. Zooming out is consciousness-expansion, and is extraordinarily powerful, and I was thanking you for that and saying it was helpful !!!!

Namaste
OM Bastet

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

my dear OM, consider yourself infected (laughing)

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Hiya OM! :o)

Thanks for such a sweet response (and Dave, I am back from being public, which totally cracked me up!!)…

No, I totally got it - the “zooming-out” thing - and really, that is what my hubby would say that I do. We'll be sitting there in the car, chatting on about something, and suddenly some random thought will connect the whole thing in my brain, and there I go, wandering off in the oneness of the universe and plucking a bunch of thoughts out of the air and connecting them together in some way that gives me an “aha!” moment.

On the other hand, my husband, who is a truly delightful and philosophical man, will just stare at me and say, “What is it like to be in your mind?”

Actually, I do it so frequently that whenever I say, “You know what I was just thinking about?” his response is, “Hard to tell.” - which, for some reason, cracks me up every time.

I don't know - I just love pondering the ways of the universe and finding new connections on thoughts or words or concepts.

That's why I love hanging out around here - I have found so many of you that are just like that - and that is a real delight.

Hope you are all having a wonderful day -

:o) Tara

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

You sound like a real delight, Tara! thanks for being here,

love,

nicole

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Christopher, I suppose if one thread has 2 people giving thumbs-up posts, and another has 10, that might be construed as rank-ordering, but I think that would be stretching the concept. I don't want these entries to be just one-person's opinion. I am going to add to the pod description however that the number of affirmations or thumbs-up a thread has is of no relevance to its value. The number merely indicates how many have chosen to read it and to come back and say Yay !  The number is not an indication of worthwhileness. (Thus it is NOT a rank ordering of the kind I think you would find objectionable….)

Saloma, I have not read any posts of substance from you before, and I am peering at you with this amazed boggled look on my face, buzzing with awe and elation, saying amusedly and emphatically WHO THE HECK ARE YOU, LADY???? I hope you get the whole amusing portrait there.

You have blown me A-WAY with your insights. You picked me up, flipped me around in the air a few times, and set me down in a new place !!!! WHEW !!!!!

Now some specific responses:

I hadn't heard of high and low context communication, but that was the concept I described in my words.

You said

I guess it all comes down to criteria-why something should be nominated, why a vote should be cast and, important to this thread and JeepDog's reservations, why a vote should matter. 

 Why something should be nominated;

This is an individual choice, based on the little bit described in the pod description about collective wisdom, and especially the definition of wisdom toward the end. THERE ARE NO OTHER CRITERIA at least that I am conscious of at this time !. I will eventually get around to reading all the nominated threads, (argh) and if there is one I think from my own perspective doesn't belong there, I would initiate a PM dialogue with the nominator to discuss views and reach a final decision after that, whether to keep the nomination or not. I bet I get talked into keeping nearly all of them after such a dialogue….

You did say
Perhaps there needs to be someone to look over the thread for approval according to a set of criteria?

Could you see a need not met by what I said? It's not even in my criteria that there be no posts in the thread which violate the Terms of Use or Community Guidelines; my criterion is that these be a minor portion, or that the way they are dealt with shows collective wisdom ! Well, threads that are too esoteric, too specialized I might want to ask that they be withdrawn. But as you so brilliantly point out, the examples themselves serve as criteria, and so far, so good

Why a vote should be cast, and why it should matter

A vote should be cast so that people coming into the library can see how many folks checked out this book previously. Remember the slips in the back of the books, and looking to see how many dates were stamped there? Votes are EXACTLY like comments on a blog, plus seeds given to it. “I liked this, too, and here's why…..” It conveys some useful info to the potential readers of the thread, I feel.

It doesn't matter, in terms of numbers of votes, as I described above. I am going to delete the Elected Threads Board as part of my makeover.

 I feel I have received incredibly valuable feedback from all of this thread, and a chance to think things through WITH all of you and make the pod even more aligned with and expressive of my values. I am enriched, and I think the pod will be even more useful, thereby. I am infinitely grateful to you all for thinking about these things. I know the issues go far beyond the CW pod, and the value of this thread goes far beyond me or the pod. I am awed by all of you here……

If I responded to each point you made we'd all be here much longer, so I think those are the ones most salient for me. If I left out anything you really want a response to, DOOOO let me know. And yeah, ain't it an uplifting icon !!!!!

And now, back to Nicole's orginal question: If you would like lots of God Pod threads represented in the CW pod, start naming names here and discussing possibilities, as she suggested in her delightful and wise original post in this thread !!!!

Carry on,

Blessings, OM Bastet  —-ooooops. I have spotted several other posts in this thread I haven't read. I think I didn't follow up in a timely way. So, will peruse those.

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

OK, up to speed. So much wisdom here about winning, losing, competition, popularity, etc. and I agree with ALL the sensible perspectives mentioned !!!!! LOL !!!!! Frans's and Will's “drive-by” wisdom drops didn't get much discussion, but enriched this thread.  So many perspectives. Absolutely delightful. I think I am a perspectives junkie, always seeking more to be aware of and check my resonance with and expand my awareness with….

And Nicole, I spotted the sentence in which you invited us all to continue in the direction the thread was beginning to go, and I am now more comfortable about that !!! Smiles !!!!!

And Soloma, (sorry for misspelling your name earlier) I spotted this which needs addressing:

An extraordinary insight. And it never crossed my mind that the CW pod would ever be an arena for controversy or pet causes or well-liked topics crowding out others. (Re the last point, there is simply no mechanism for crowding out others.The pod is not at all like Hottest/Community Picks where only a few get featured. Each nominated thread is equal to all others, and anyone can nominate any thread, pretty much.)  And the other possibilities just never crossed my mind. Maybe I have been banking on the extraordinary high quality of the current members of the pod….. LOL !!!   I think I would not have much patience with anyone trying to stir up controversy or pet causes…… What controversies are possible? “No, this thread stinks.” I cannot imagine such a post…..

Christopher, if you ever decide you are feeling an elephant and not a hippo, I would be pleased to hear of it…..

Peace and love and gratitude and respect,
OM Bastet

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

The concept of “wisdom” is highly relative to the perceiver. One person's wisdom is for another complete ignorance.

I would certainly be interested in what the pod moderators determine is “wisdom,” but for the most part this would be a reflection of the moderators. Unless there was some type participation allowed from all Gaia participants (everybody) and then I would really be interested in what the Gaia collective mind thinks in terms of defining wisdom.

Just saying…

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

I am disappointed that you were seeming to imply such a thing. It just isn't there. Where did you get that idea?

I am just kind of sitting here amazed and puzzled at what you said, it seems so irrelevant to the facts of the CW pod.


I tried to reply to all of this dissapointment three times, but now have to go to work.  Busy weekend coming, so I am not sure I will get out a clear response any time soon.

Attempt at a summary for a rather lengthy post:

1)  I see this place as an art gallery, not a library.  I walk right by the “featured books,” so perhaps that is an insight to my perspective.  Perhaps like an antique store - where the real gems are found buried in a corner by a gloriously refinished and polished piece.

2)  A lot has been updated on CW since I posted last weekend.  Last weekend, there were such things as “voting,” yada yada yada.  When I get a chance, I will take a look again.   Words mean something.  It is now “collective wisdom,” that you defend, yet when I posted it was a “hall of fame.”  Huge difference, to me at least.

3)  The very title of this thread caused hairs to raise.  Think about it.  The perception it could embody, “running for the hall of fame.” 

4)  What are we Collectively telling those whose work or contributions do not get nominated for that place?  I still feel there is a huge potential unintended second order of effect of CW.   Their contributions may have their heart an soul poured into them, but didn't get noticed in the first place to be nominated, then because the tread exists, makes it even less likely that heart and soul will get nominated, and so on.   Worse, we could take a fledgling artist/writer in a vulnerable state and drive them from that calling.  When I started writing poetry here at zaadz, I got some feebback of “I really related to this.”  “this was beautiful.”  Now, I rarely feed off the energy of others, have enough of my own and feel an embrace of the Kosmos to keep me moving forward, so I would have kept writing - I just would not have done it here.  THAT is about which I am concerned!

5)  I never meant to refer to rank-ordering within the pod.  I am referring to the potential “haves” and “have nots” of that content nominated, and that content not nominated.

I applaud your efforts, and know you have the best of intents.  You have already incorporated a lot of the feedback. 

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

This is a reply only to Christopher's post just above.

Doncha just hate it when your posts get eaten? I am well into the habit of copying before hitting Send, but sometimes i forget and sometimes of those times, my great words all get poofed into the Nothingness.

Since this gets pretty emotional at the end of the post, I want to say clearly here that I totally agree there were some inconsistencies in the languaging of the original pod description and its structure, and I had been planning to change those EVEN BEFORE THIS THREAD CAME ALONG, and I appreciate the increased clarity about what is needed.

However, the current issue here is that people are simply misunderstanding and not “getting” the unique nature of this pod's process. They are jumping on the connotations of the inconsistencies, and not really granting the reality of the way the pod is actually set up.

So, read on:  If you dare, LOL

Hey, give me a break Christopher. I did not name this thread, and that's obvious. Why attribute it to me? “Running” is Nicole's term. I have already disowned it explicitly in a previous post of mine, currently listed as 3 days ago: I said So in a sense the title of this thread is misleading. Threads don't “run for” the Hall of Fame. They get nominated when I get the time, or when someone else nominates them. Nicole just didn't read my original post carefully which I think said i am about to nominate this thread…. There was no competition except for my time to do it, LOL !!!!!
.
I HASTEN TO ADD that as of this moment I have NOT yet made the changes I talked about here; you made the assumption they were “done.”  I said WHEN I do…..It is an hours-long revision job and I have not yet had time…..  I WILL PROBABLY DO IT IN STAGES . And I would have changed the name eliminating or revising Hall of Fame long ago if I weren't unsure what that will do to all the hyperlinks to the pod, and I have not received the info I had asked for about that matter….  But my current reasoning is as long as the URL stays the same, the posted name is irrelevant….. And the URL is only /collective_wisdom. Wish me luck.

I think you have missed a point I thought was obvious. People are free to nominate their own work, but by (CW pod) definition a thread is not just one person's work. Your paragraph didn't seem relevant to the structure of the pod.

And I'm sorry I can't track this at all wrt the pod:  …..then because the tread exists, makes it even less likely that heart and soul will get nominated, and so on.   Could you clarify?

I don't understand what you said about ……..now it's collective wisdom… The name of the pod has ALWAYS been Collective Wisdom; Hall of Fame for Zaadz Threads. Both, not either or, and it never was either-or and it hasn't changed.

You said: I am referring to the potential “haves” and “have nots” of that content nominated, and that content not nominated. This was your concern elsewhere in your post. Are you and maybe others here not “getting it?” THIS IS A TOTAL NON-ISSUE WRT COLLECTIVE WISDOM POD. It is totally irrelevant. ANYONE CAN NOMINATE ANY CONTENT.

Can I say it any more plainly than I said it twice on the pod content and several times here???  I think you are not the only one who has not yet differentiated this from “Community Picks” and other site content SELECTED BY A FEW or by software programs. In re-reading some of the earlier posts I see those were talked about a lot, and a Newbie reading this thread 6 years from now would not find it difficult to conclude you were talking about the CW pod.

I think you are looking at an elephant but you are so used to seeing hippos you are blinded to the fact that THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT. PLEASE TAKE THE TROUBLE TO READ CAREFULLY.

PLEASE HEAR ME.

PLEASE.

Namaste, OM Bastet

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Understand.  I got it mostly wrong.  My apologies.

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Now responding to Mike S: who said

The concept of “wisdom” is highly relative to the perceiver. One person's wisdom is for another complete ignorance.

I would certainly be interested in what the pod moderators determine is “wisdom,” but for the most part this would be a reflection of the moderators. Unless there was some type participation allowed from all Gaia participants (everybody) and then I would really be interested in what the Gaia collective mind thinks in terms of defining wisdom.

Just saying…

Of course, related to the perceiver. That poses no problem whatsoever in relationship to this pod's process or structure. No perceiver's perception is imposed, not even several perceivers' perceptions. Read what I said I would do if I disagreed with a nomination. Yes, I have ultimate decision power, but I expect to say No to almost no nomination, especially not after discussion with the nominator.

If you would like to know what the “pod moderators” think is wisdom, read all the way down the pod description. It is, I do believe, not presented as a determination of what IS wisdom once and for all for everyone, but as my perspective and suggestions for what people might use as their guideline for thinking about what is wisdom, to guide their nominations. Please be careful about the connotations and attributions of the word “determine.” That is not relevant in this situation.

I too would be interested in what the “Gaia collective mind” thinks in terms of defining wisdom. There is some beginning in the 50-stars pod, two threads there about wisdom. Though individual, not collective.

And there are no moderators plural for CW pod because no one has stepped forth to volunteer, as invited in the pod description.

Unless there was some type participation allowed from all Gaia participants (everybody)

Do you see any disallowance of such participation anywhere in the pod's description, processes, structure, or language? If so, I sure would love to know about it. And if not, how is this relevant to the present discussion? I am open to it being a remark about sitewide collective wisdom as a phenomenon, but I don't see it as relevant to the pod, do you?

Blessings, OM Bastet

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

So, too, does the possibility of a Hall of Fame become a love fest and popularity contest.  We have to be careful with such an instrument.

Please note my original sentiment, in the original posting on the subject.  Please note that I said “possibility,” and have not accused CW of being this, and I'm sure in the capabile hands of OM, it will not.

thanks.

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Thank you Christopher, I really appreciate your flexibility and kindness !!!!! The ache in my heart is relaxing. (BTW I don't think in terms of wrong. I think in terms of overgeneralizing, uncareful reading, etc. That's just my approach. Mistakes, inaccurate thinking, not a moral issue.)

Let me blather on for a bit because people in this pod might appreciate this case of Lemonade from Lemons:

I took my heartache and frustration to my energy healer/counselor dreictly after my last post, a scheduled session, and first of all she said I was the fourth woman she saw today in the same emotional state from needing to stand in one's own truth in a challenging situation. Vewwwwwy intewesting, eh?

I'm not into astrology, but I love spotting patterns like that among folks, patterns which I attribute to waves of uplifting energy going through the planet which we can take advantage of —or not —for specific issues the energy is keyed to. Jus' my story/metaphor about it. 

Second of all, in seeking insight, she said she saw me as a 3-4-year-old sitting among a small group of others, trying to convey something that would be beneficial to them to understand, but they weren't “getting,” and me feeling the same feelings as today. This might be a metaphor, or past life on another planet, but the point was that I have spent my whole life trying to benefit others, and this pain at their not “getting” the benefit is based on some illusions that I am letting go of. One of the last of my “attachments to the outcome” of my actions. And this is not an uncommon attachment; I wish for others they would release that source of suffering.

Pretty yummy lemonade !!! Thanks to all who assisted in this healing !!!!

Then I ran home to doublecheck what I had said about nominating the other thread, thinking I might have said I am considering, or I am thinking about, which could plausibly be translated into “in the running” if someone didn't know the CW pod procedures well, and didn't realize I would have meant “in my own head,” but in fact I said

I am close (time-wise) to nominating this thread to the Collective Wisdom pod/Group. 

Whew. My memory is not perfect, but it was OK this time !!!!! I hope you are not distressed, Nicole, I meant to cast no stone just state what appears to me to be the case. If there is anyone who has never read uncarefully, or translated imprecisely, let THEM cast the first stone. LOL !!!!! It wunnt be me.
 
NOW back to Nicole's original great questions for this thread, eh?

Blessings, OM Bastet

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

The ache in my heart is relaxing. –Vector/OM

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Good point, Soloma! A heart that is too relaxed… is no longer beating.

Love to you,

Nicole

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

WELL !!!  YIPPPEEEE !!!!!  The “makeover” or “redecoration” of Collective Wisdom Group is done, 95%—some of the individual posts have terminology that needs rewording, but I think everything else is done.

Would adore any feedback. You all contributed to this makeover. I still need to read through here and make sure all the suggested and mentioned changes are actually done, but I think they are.

Now all the wonderful threads from this pod have a nicely refurbished place to enter, so I hope you will take them there, and enter/contribute/post/add them. If you don't I will, when I recover from my labors.

Blessings and gratitude to all, OM Bastet

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Thanks for all your hard work OM,

Love,

Nicole

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Rev.OM

I'm curious, what does this mean:

some of the individual posts have terminology that needs rewording, but I think everything else is done.

Just wondering?

Thanks,
mike S

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Thank you Nicole. It did take hours, but I felt “light” and effortless effort, and it was fun. I adore editing.

Hi Mike, that means that people have posted sentences like I nominate this thread, or I vote for this thread, using the terminology that was operative at the time they posted, and as Moderator I can go in and change their words to the new terminology such as I contribute this thread, and I affirm this thread. I am not changing the actual content otherwise, that would be unethical, but I think these changes are trivial. And I shall then email everyone and let them know, and if anyone for some unforeseeable quirky reason wants their old word back, even after I explain my reasoning, I shall do that for them.

I changed the words so as not to confuse future readers with inconsistent terminology throughout the pod.

Technicalities. But also, as a perfectionist I have learned that small details like inconsistent terms can cause people big headaches or hassles, so I work, in my life, to forestall and prevent all such suffering, where I can.

Clear?

Blessings, OM Bastet

Re: Thread running for Hall of Fame!

Thanks for clarifying, OM!

Love,

Nicole