Comments on: Use controversy with caution http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/ Community Building Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:23:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Do you want real friends to join your online community? | Online Communities | Build an Online Community http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/comment-page-1/#comment-16664 Do you want real friends to join your online community? | Online Communities | Build an Online Community Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:51:01 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/#comment-16664 [...] as your friend has just posted all about it - complete with pictures. Well, you certainly have some controversy now - and depending on how you look at it, some great [...] [...] as your friend has just posted all about it – complete with pictures. Well, you certainly have some controversy now – and depending on how you look at it, some great [...]

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/comment-page-1/#comment-15414 Martin Reed - Blog Author Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:42:16 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/#comment-15414 <strong>Eva</strong> - Yup, the occasional controversy can work wonders for an online community. You do need to keep a close eye on such threads though, to ensure they don't descend into slanging matches which can actually damage your community. Eva – Yup, the occasional controversy can work wonders for an online community. You do need to keep a close eye on such threads though, to ensure they don’t descend into slanging matches which can actually damage your community.

]]> By: Eva White http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/comment-page-1/#comment-15267 Eva White Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:55:00 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/#comment-15267 Controversies sure help making you popular. Everyone has an opion and most people get divided over the core issues. It makes for interesting reading. Controversies sure help making you popular. Everyone has an opion and most people get divided over the core issues. It makes for interesting reading.

]]> By: Should communities ban the discussion of certain topics? | Online Communities | Build an Online Community http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/comment-page-1/#comment-15249 Should communities ban the discussion of certain topics? | Online Communities | Build an Online Community Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:42:57 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/#comment-15249 [...] a fact that some subjects are more controversial than others. At times, courting controversy can be a good way to encourage debate and interaction in your online community. Sometimes though, [...] [...] a fact that some subjects are more controversial than others. At times, courting controversy can be a good way to encourage debate and interaction in your online community. Sometimes though, [...]

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/comment-page-1/#comment-12892 Martin Reed - Blog Author Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:58:38 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/#comment-12892 <strong>Sportsthought</strong> - Creating controversy without even having that intention, eh?!? Well done! Your experience just goes to show that honesty can be the best policy - particularly if you have 'unique' or 'minority' opinions! Sportsthought – Creating controversy without even having that intention, eh?!? Well done! Your experience just goes to show that honesty can be the best policy – particularly if you have ‘unique’ or ‘minority’ opinions!

]]> By: sportsthought http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/comment-page-1/#comment-12884 sportsthought Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:34:05 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/#comment-12884 I've had great sucess with controversy, without trying to be contoversal - I was just giving my honest opinion. That led to one of my posts being picked up by the telegragh http://sportsthought.com/rugby/why-the-all-blacks-will-lose-the-rugby-world-cup I had another post that got a lot of reaction - again I believe it pays to just be honest with your opinions - if they are good enough you will get a reaction. In this case the Potuguese came after me :) http://sportsthought.com/rugby/all-blacks-v-portugal-review I’ve had great sucess with controversy, without trying to be contoversal – I was just giving my honest opinion. That led to one of my posts being picked up by the telegragh
http://sportsthought.com/rugby/why-the-all-blacks-will-lose-the-rugby-world-cup

I had another post that got a lot of reaction – again I believe it pays to just be honest with your opinions – if they are good enough you will get a reaction. In this case the Potuguese came after me :)
http://sportsthought.com/rugby/all-blacks-v-portugal-review

]]> By: Always avoid repressing your members » Online Community Building http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/comment-page-1/#comment-6445 Always avoid repressing your members » Online Community Building Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:45:35 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/#comment-6445 [...] your community is not in good shape. You should encourage differences of opinion. You should court controversy (within reason!) and you should encourage free and open discussion between your [...] [...] your community is not in good shape. You should encourage differences of opinion. You should court controversy (within reason!) and you should encourage free and open discussion between your [...]

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/comment-page-1/#comment-5526 Martin Reed - Blog Author Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:39:29 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/#comment-5526 <strong>Smiley</strong> - I am amazed you managed to hold back during such an outrageous attack <strong>Anthony</strong> - Being pro-active is extremely important and will aid your community’s development no end. Do you have any examples to share with us? <strong>Biddy</strong> - I couldn’t agree more; making your opinion on things a little uncertain can open up discussion but prevent other members from being offended. Smiley – I am amazed you managed to hold back during such an outrageous attack

Anthony – Being pro-active is extremely important and will aid your community’s development no end. Do you have any examples to share with us?

Biddy – I couldn’t agree more; making your opinion on things a little uncertain can open up discussion but prevent other members from being offended.

]]> By: Biddy http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/comment-page-1/#comment-5292 Biddy Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:40:59 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/#comment-5292 "Sometimes I think that..." can be a useful phrase for distancing yourself personally from an extreme viewpoint you're trying out. It signals that it's not quite your *actual* opinion, but an extreme stance sometimes born out of frustration. It can open up discussion of the extreme viewpoint itself, without leaving you having to argue for a position you don't actually support. e.g. I said somewhere a while back something like "eBay buyers who send cheques are so slow to post them, sometimes I think they should make Paypal compulsory" - which didn't half spur a debate... and left me free to be part of the debate, not having to defend an indefensible position. “Sometimes I think that…” can be a useful phrase for distancing yourself personally from an extreme viewpoint you’re trying out. It signals that it’s not quite your *actual* opinion, but an extreme stance sometimes born out of frustration. It can open up discussion of the extreme viewpoint itself, without leaving you having to argue for a position you don’t actually support.

e.g. I said somewhere a while back something like “eBay buyers who send cheques are so slow to post them, sometimes I think they should make Paypal compulsory” – which didn’t half spur a debate… and left me free to be part of the debate, not having to defend an indefensible position.

]]> By: Anthony http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/comment-page-1/#comment-5275 Anthony Tue, 31 Jul 2007 03:20:14 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/use-controversy-with-caution/#comment-5275 Instead of being controversial i try and be provocative. Its only a slight difference but makes a world of difference Instead of being controversial i try and be provocative. Its only a slight difference but makes a world of difference

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