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A Brewery That Works Knees, Not Just Elbows - thedailygreen.com
Human-powered and carbon-free, the bicycle is the simple, accessible solution to reducing one's carbon footprint ... with sexy legs as an added benefit!
Team Wonderbike is a social movement created by the folks at New Belgium Brewing to inspire and increase the use of one of mankind's greatest inventions: the bicycle. Human-powered and carbon-free, the bicycle is the simple, accessible solution to reducing one's carbon footprint ... with sexy le... more -
What is “good citizenship” on Current.com?
So you’ve become part of the Current online community (welcome!), and you may be asking yourself, “What now?” Well, as with any community (virtual or otherwise) there are some responsibilities that come with being an active member. However, in an online community it’s not always clear what makes someone a good citizen. We took a cue from some of the most active members of the Current community, and came up with a short list of good places to start:
// Make comments meaningful //
Not every comment is going to be deep and insightful, but that doesn’t mean touting “First!” on every thread is the way to go. Some of our best comments are made by those members of our community who take the time to raise a question, answer another community members’ inquiry, make a point with a supporting link, or point out an issue that deepens the debate.
Stay on topic. Remember, you can always start a new topic or thread if you would like to discuss something else. Ask yourself whether or not your comment belongs on this thread, or deserves a thread of its own.
Debating differences of opinion should not be personal, so don’t be the one to go there. Remember, it’s OK to agree to disagree, but please do it in a respectful manner that promotes discussion and debate.
// Weigh in with a vote //
Voting is a simple way to give your opinion on a story and help shape what gets reported in Current:News. Make sure you know what voting is, how it works, and it’s effect on a story. We’ve posted about this before, you can read it here: http://current.com/items/89017951_vote_up_vote_down_and....
It’s OK to redlight something, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad story or that you hate it, and it definitely doesn’t make you a troll. Try to vote based on whether or not you’d like to see it highlighted in an upcoming Current:News segment. Our community is full of all different types of people, so it’s only natural that we’re going to get a variety of stories – that’s the beauty of it!
// Flag //
If something looks spammy, strange, or seems like it could be a violation of our community standards, flag that puppy. It’s best to let us take care of a situation rather than calling another user out or trying to handle the situation yourself. Also, when describing the issue, please be clear and concise. Descriptions like “that’s wrong!” or “they can’t say that, take it down!” don’t really help us out. Something like “excessive profanity” or “spam” or “personal attack” give us a much better idea of the issue at hand.
// Contribute //
Posting items is a great way to contribute to the site and inform others about the issues, topics and events that you find important. While not every contribution will skyrocket to a featured slot in Current:News, here are a few tips to help get your post noticed, your opinion heard, and then perhaps even on TV.
Have a catchy title, but make sure it’s accurate and relevant. If your post is about ice cream, don’t title it, “Cure for Cancer Found!”
Add a picture. Take minute to find a relevant and interesting picture to go along with your post. If necessary, make sure to give credit for the picture you use.
Tell us what you think! Adding a short excerpt from an article is a great, but take a minute to add a short blurb letting people know why you think it’s revolutionary…or ridiculous.
Be Nice! That’s what a lot of this boils down to. Respect your fellow Current community members. Differences in opinion are always going to pop up, especially on Current. By taking the time to be nice and have a meaningful conversation with others, you’re on your way to be a great Current citizen and creating an even better Currrent.com
We’ve tried to cover the big things here, but since all of us have a hand in contributing, we want your help defining the Current.com community. Help us out by telling us what you think our community should value when it comes to “good citizenship” on Current.com. So you’ve become part of the Current online community (welcome!), and you may be asking yourself, “What now?” Well, as with any commun... more -
The Current.com Guide to Troll Spotting
// How to Identify a Troll //
Trolls are tricky. They like to cause trouble. That’s it. They like chaos and disorder and they love nothing more than coming into a discussion, leaving a comment that they know is inflammatory and then sitting back and watching the fur fly. Some trolls are obvious, some are sneaky, but they all want the same thing—to wreak havoc.
There are many ways to define a troll—try Googling “troll” and you’ll see what I mean. But when identifying a troll, there are some things you should keep in mind.
Disagreeing with someone is not always troll-like behavior. Also, expressing a minority opinion does not make someone a troll. Not taking the time to upload an avatar, or fill out profile, is not damning evidence of trollhood, either.
On a site like Current, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that everyone on the site shares a particular ideological viewpoint. But Current isn’t a site just for liberals, or a site just for conservatives. All viewpoints and opinions are welcome here (as long as everyone plays by our community standards, as always) even if they aren’t always the most popular.
// Defeating Trolls in One Easy Step //
Don’t feed the trolls.
Really, that’s it. The best thing to do when you run across is to take a deep breath and back away from the keyboard. Trolls love drama, and the easiest way to make them go away is not to give them any. Go for a walk, read a book, pick up your knitting, practice meditation, hit a punching bag—whatever you do to calm down, now is a great time for it.
If someone is violating our community standards, please use the flag button to report them to staff, and we’ll deal with it. Troll-wrangling is part of what we do, so let us deal with them.
It may be tempting to call out a troll in the comments, but please don’t. Troll is a slippery definition, and chances are that’s going to cause a lot of heated discussion—exactly what a troll wants.
So remember. Don’t feed the trolls.
Steph
Online Community Team
Flickr Photo: Troll in Eden shop, Hveragerði by chillihead http://www.flickr.com/photos/chillihead/729241192/ // How to Identify a Troll // ... more -
Top Considerations for Making Your Home Accessible
Whether you currently live with a disability or are planning for when you or someone close to you may, building accessibility into your home can prove vital for aging in place, caring for a family member or increasing the visitability of your home. Listed below are the top issues one should consider before undertaking any improvements, according to Disaboom (www.disaboom.com), the largest online community for people living with or touched by disability. Whether you currently live with a disability or are planning for when you or someone close to you may, building accessibility into you... more
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Power in Numbers
When living with a disability, joining a support community can be an invaluable addition to professional treatment. Being part of a community can help you feel less alone, find new coping skills and motivate you to stick to or try new treatment plans. Community can also be a source of hope for recovery and a brighter future. Community members can share their personal journeys of living with different health conditions while offering emotional comfort, moral support and sound advice to others dealing with similar conditions based on their own experiences. When living with a disability, joining a support community can be an invaluable addition to professional treatment. Being part of a ... more
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AIDS prevention web soap and forum launched for gay men in L.A.
In an effort to generate discussion about AIDS prevention and reach gay men online, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center is producing 12 "webisodes" focusing on the sex lives of a group of gay men in West Hollywood. Each is five minutes in length and is intended to stimulate discussion, via an online forum where viewers can comment on various issues raised by each episode of the online mini-soap opera. In an effort to generate discussion about AIDS prevention and reach gay men online, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center is producing 12 ... more
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