I remember back in my early days as a technician, a senior engineer said to me – knowledge is power. Thus he was all about learning, but keeping it to himself – to make himself look better.

I on the other hand, found that the real power was in SHARED knowledge. A group of like minded people who share their knowledge are far more powerful than a few individuals that keep all the gold to themselves.

Great article dude.

If only more people felt this way.

I couldn’t agree more. This sort of elitist attitude, so often found in Forum’s and social networking site’s is consistent across the board. I even named my first domain name ‘notafanatic’ because of it. I think the worst offender’s are probably those who command little or no respect in real life, so anonymity can often lead to inflated ego’s. You could for instance meet someone you hated on a forum; and find in real life you get on famously.

Perhaps if this was a more universal p.o.v. it would be a more pleasant forum.

exactly. Good write. As you say, there is space for everyone and no one need suffer just because someone else shares a secret. In fact if we all did this on Triond, like your little experiment, then we would still all get views, no one would suffer, just the stronger writers would come out tops as they would hold a wider audience than triond alone. I have my own ways of doing things, just like everyone else, and for once i was happy to be part of something, where we were all helping each other.
Thanks Mnof & the rest of you. x

Outstanding Article:) Piece Of Art, deserves to be on Hot Content I reckon.

Nice one, a hot content certainty

I enjoyed the reference to 1984, though I do not enjoy how true it may be.

Mn, for a moment, you parted the clouds and brought great, colourful rainbows for those who followed.

I wanted to click the ‘I like it’ button a hundred times. I agree wholeheartedly with your views here Mn.

Try #2…I agree with you wholeheartedly. I enjoy the friends I have made on writing sites, yet I do not enjoy the petty squabbles that people involve themselves in, in the forums. I believe I mentioned to you that I usually don’t frequent forums because of it. Some writers think they are the cat’s meow. Let’s face it, we all write for the internet, we are not the elite (yet). We can only succeed by helping each other and learning from each other.

Have not been active much on Triond, as I feel am getting more recognition on other sites. Have not participated in any forum too, but I feel the same. Thanks.

I always enjoy the sound of calm reason. It’s so refreshing. Great article.

I would point out it only takes a few bad apples to create the impression that our entire society has gone off the ethical rails. As you might notice from the comments, most people are supportive of your POV.

“Accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.” – Franky Manning

Good write. I enjoyed it, though now I want to find some of your articles with the tips on how to get more views!

Beautifully written and so true. One need only read the comments on a local news story to see the shadow side of human nature–greed, hatred, attack–running rampant. Thanks for helping us here on Triond try to be better–even though it seems we are failing.

Awesome! I wish you could hear me clap. It was high time that someone said these words. I especially liked one statement the best, ” Forums have become little microcosms of society. Consumed and fueled by greed.” I used to help manage a poetry site called “Emozion” on MSN. It was very hard to keep our members socializing. It was even harder to even get someone to return a “hello”, by a new member. Yet, when it came time for someone’s poem to be critiqued, and they craved commentary on it… they wanted it NOW. Where was the small “hello” at when someone was trying to make friends w/ other poets? I have run into the same problem here on Triond and a couple of other sites(thank you to the ones who did welcome me, (mn included in that). People need to stop being greedy and realize yes we all love to make money, we all love to get our work noticed, a HUGE part of that is networking and giving to others as well. lol I’ll step down from my soapbox now.

great piece mn. good work

I’m not sure I agree with you Mnofdichotomy. You are a splendid writer who has an influential presence in the Triond forum..there’s no question about that. Why should it bother you what other people think or say? Some of the topics and ideas in the forum are contentious and you will always get “microcosms of society consumed and fuelled by greed”. Commanding the respect of everyone who visits the forum, or a forum, is one thing..but if you don’t have the benefit of body language and eye contact..respect and positive discussions will be few and far between..excluding those handful of people who understand your definition of a forum.

I agree with you. I like to share and make new friends: this is why I write here. We all need to learn something. The internet, as you said, is great for this, and to make the world better. Please let us keep it positive!

Your idealism is commendable. Your cheerleading enthusiastic. And you’re right, writing is an art.
It is also a skill that can be learned.
It is also a business.
And that I think this is where many of us feel the loss, where art meets business, art will meet scams and suspected scams. And for those who want both, not some orgiastic ego stroke to one up others, but the sincere desire to succeed as an artist and a worker.

But that’s the world.

I agree that your view is how it should be. But, this is the real world and sadly there will be those who will not allow everyone to get along peacefully. It is a product of our very competitive society. I know that my writing is not the best and that most people won’t even want to read my work (History isn’t everyone’s favorite subject, after all). Mainly I just write so I can say hey I have something of mine published, even if it’s just on the internet, and that’s a step towards maybe getting to see my name on the spine of a History textbook or a Historical Novel someday.

Perhaps the non-argumentative folks on Triond should try to stay away from the folks who do nothing but stir up trouble.

Good article, I actually enjoyed reading it.
I studied 1984 and the orwellian lifestyle in my Media Class, so I was really keen on the reference. I can’t stress how much you remind me of my teacher. He always said that writing was an art.

I certainly hope I don’t offend anyone but I have always written in privacy and share my articles with anyone who cares to read it. I write because I enjoy doing it and I like to see my work published. If anyone cares to ask me for help on anything I have knowledge of I am very glad to give a hand.I hope I have been a friend to all. That is my intention.I have met many friendly folks here and I appreciate every one of them. I do my very best to return all comments that are made on my work, and I comment on as many other articles as I possibly can. Everyone here has my best wishes.

Good write.

Inna

This got me thinking. Good post!

Your passion for writing is a gift that is contagious – but fragile. Negativity, unfortunately, is even more contagious – just watch a classroom full of 7th graders when one person complains!

I am sure that the philosophers in the ancient forums had people who spoiled it for everyone else as well.