Hello All. Don't usually participate in these discussions but I felt I should add my two cents as well. This is Laetitia the webmaster from the HIPS site, where   I believe we are also having the same problems of lack of participation  with our HIPS forum.

It used to be a busier place, and a great way to network with like minds. Because the Forum was down for months, I believed that had something to do with current lack of participation. Then we went into the holiday/winter/dormant iris season so I thought, perhaps there is less interest, because people have other more pressing things to attend to. I never thought it was Facebook robbing us of our audience, but now that you mention, it,  its possible. I also go on Facebook for iris discussions, but to me they are two entirely different venues. However Facebook to me is like WalMart, while an Iris Discussion board is a  boutique. Do I hate Walmart? No, I go there all the time,  as well as to my favorite boutiques. I want them both. In other words, there should be room for more than one Iris discussion board. I also know some irisarians who would never use Facebook, because it such a public 'commercial' and spam laden place.

As for now the Historic Iris Forum will continue, and  with the Spring coming, and one's thoughts turn more to gardening, 'boutique' Forum discussion boards  will become more active. We'll see. We need both WalMart and the boutique; snuffing out one would rob the world of a valuable communication tool. I guess we'll see.

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Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2016 09:17:46 -0500
To: i*@hort.net
Subject: Re: OT-CHAT: [iris] Active?
From: 1*@rewrite.hort.net

I do agree with Shaub that diversity allows for people to have what they want. It would be crazy to fight Facebook. But each of us finds what best suits our needs. As I said ,I have considered the Forum model and would be willing to advocate to adding that to our AIS selections so long as I would not be embarrassed by its lack of use. I would not consider eliminating Iris Talk but sadly it seems to have little support anymore and I have no control ober that decision. Iris Talk is provided by Chris Lindsey who runs Hort Net. At some point Chris may decide to give up on it if it does not get the audience. Currently I do not know how he finances it. Unfortunately the world changes and what some of us perceive as good things disappear if the rest of the world does not care. I am not trying to sound an alarm who knows how long something will last, including the iris society. But if too few value something it is hard to sustain it.

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From: "Shaub Dunkley" 4*@rewrite.hort.net
To: i*@hort.net
Sent: Thursday, January 7, 2016 11:02:15 PM
Subject: Re: OT-CHAT: [iris] Active?

I was being rather polemical to see if I could stir up a little conversation. Beating up that AIS dare use it and that AIS does not have a forum. But it's true I have close to no experience engaging with Facebook and don't care for the model. But it has a place and a function. Not just THE place and THE function. Neither would a forum be THE place as well. World of Irises brought in the same.

So Facebook and World of Irises are what they are, I'll not criticize one's right to enjoy them. But  I keep hearing people say "everybody that used to be here (and with whom we talked) have gone to Facebook". So I go to Facebook and I haven't figured out where that conversational equivalent is. Is it there and I don't know how to find it? Does one have to Sign Up to get to it? This is all part of the bigger shift in culture as to how we talk and engage. Iris folks will on large follow the same behaviors as similar demographics. More flash, less words. Or if there are words we make it in snippets and platitudes.

You can lead a horse to water but ....  I'm just concerned people who used to care for discussion are either too busy or too jaded about the whole thing to talk even if we gave them the perfect vehicle. It will not be long before some of our best dialogues will be had with artificial intelligence that are more excited about the human narrative than the humans are. Reap as you sow.

Shaub
On 1/7/2016 8:46 PM, Robert Pries wrote:

I totally agree with everyone so far. I much prefer Iris Talk to Facebook. But look at where the AIS members are, mostly on Facebook. A few years ago I asked John how many people are on Iris Talk. If I remember correctly that was about 80. Presently we have 4 in this discussion. I can tell you as a Facebook Administrator a post on Facebook gets at minimum 80 people viewing it and often it is passed on to 1500 more people. I would not give up on Iris Talk since I find it easier to communicate ideas. But it seems that is not what the majority of people wish today. It also seems most do not wish to be confronted with ideas, pictures yes, but thoughtful discussion No! It is sort of a new brand of illiteracy! It is good to hear from Colleen again!----Bob

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From: 0*@rewrite.hort.net
To: i*@hort.net
Sent: Thursday, January 7, 2016 6:10:08 PM
Subject: Re: OT-CHAT: [iris] Active?

Well, I guess I'm in good company, then. My thoughts re: Facebook mirror yours, Shaub. Plus I think the whole "like" business is ridiculous. In no way do I become a better person if 100 rather than 10 people "like" me.

 

Just my 2 cents worth,

Dorothy Stiefel

Spencer, NY 

 

P.S. Hi, Linda. You are right. Very long time, no talk!

 

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In a message dated 1/6/2016 9:35:08 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 4*@rewrite.hort.net writes:

sigh. I am one of those people who refuses to use Facebook. I read the
'terms and conditions' of that dubiously intentioned place and cannot
understand why people would want their organization's core discourse to
get sucked into that for-profit black hole. The central idea is to have
people create content at no cost to Facebook. Content to promote profit
making. Drifting to the lowest common denominator - fast-food
'McDonald's' discourse.

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Bob Pries
Zone 7a
Roxboro, NC
(336)597-8805

This email has been sent from a virus-free computer protected by Avast. www.avast.com

--

Bob Pries
Zone 7a
Roxboro, NC
(336)597-8805

This email has been sent from a virus-free computer protected by Avast. www.avast.com

This email has been sent from a virus-free computer protected by Avast. www.avast.com