Let's Talk About the AI Forum

[WCUgirl]

Alright, this thread is being started as a place where we can politely generate ideas to better streamline the AI forum until John can resolve the major issues. We're all smart people -- perhaps we can put our heads together and come up with an idea that will resolve most of the issues.

In another thread, kddani said this:

Originally posted by kddani
...Obviously, as a moderator of a forum, users will look to him or her for advice about the subject area of the forum. For instance, going to me for questions about KD b/c I mod the KD forum.

When the AI subforum was created, no one realized what it would become. At the time I don't think we thought it would be a big deal or very controversial.

Well, things change and evolve. Just like our founders don't do things the way we do now, organizations need to grow and evolve, and so does GC.

The fact that people would see Mr. Earp as someone who would be knowledgeable about the AI process because he is a moderator of the forum is a somewhat dangerous thing. He has, on numerous occasion, dispursed misleading and blatantly INcorrect information.

The majority of PNAI's are females pursuing NPC membership. Mr. Earp, as a male member of an IFC fraternity, is in absolutely no place to give information or advice on the membership selection processes of NPC groups.

It scares me to think what information he has told GC'ers via PM, because he's publicly posted things that were blatantly wrong. He has refused to disclose what he has told PNAMs who have PMed him.

I think it's a valid concern of all NPC members to know and keep abreast of what information is being given out about their membership selection processes. Membership selection is a private, ritualistic part of our groups. None of us want false information being given out about it, and I think that's why so many of us feel so strongly on the topic...

I said this in response:

Originally posted by AXiD670
The problem with assigning an NPC member as a mod to this forum is she's not going to know about every GLO's AI process. I think someone touched on this briefly in another thread -- we'd have to have 26 separate mods just to cover the NPC groups.

What if we had a post stickied to the top of the AI forum saying something to the effect of, "The following GC members are willing to answer questions you have regarding the AI process for their particular GLO." or "If you have questions about a particular GLO's AI process, PM a member of that GLO here on GC, or contact the appropriate HQ." or something simply saying that Tom and LXAAlum do not have the knowledge to answer GLO-specific questions. Does that make sense?

kddani responded with this:

Originally posted by kddani
See, this is sort of the problem with the AI forum, lol, there's no real best solution.

You're absolutely right about an NPC member only knowing about their org. I think that may be why some of us have campaigned that it should be someone who's been through AI, so they at least understand the general process. But you're right, every group does it differently.

Another problem of having a list of people willing to help with AI questions is that many of our HQ's aren't too keen on us "representing" our org in that sort of capacity. It's different than the help with recs thread, b/c it's a different sort of subject matter. So saying XYZalum is willing to help people interested in XYZ AI may get XYZAlum in trouble.

And to make it all even more complicated, different alumnae associations may do things different way within the same org!

I received the following suggestion via PM (emphasis mine):

"In addition of having "go to's" for AI, the forum needs to take a page from the NPHC sororities regarding pursuit. Any questions for sponsorship need to be taken directly first to the said sorority of the PNAI's pursuit. Period. If a woman wants to know how to AI into ABC then they should get off of their butts and email the national website. It's an email -- not the Bataan death march. How about them using the search button on GC? I'm sure it gets lonely sometimes.

Although I appreciate the amount of online handholding that goes on in threads, that's where the buck should stop. There should be a list similiar to Kelly's that let's PNAIs know it's not easy and to have their ducks in a row.

PNAIs have to remember that mutual selection occurs at the local level first. Octavia Online may be a sister to the group of her dreams but Octavia may not live in PNAI's area.

The majority of NPCs I believe have taken any AI information out of public arena. That's cool -- it's their business. If ABC doesn't give you the answer you wanted to hear, tough toejam. Either join ABC or move on.

If after the experience the new PNAI wants to out the organizations she's contacted, that's fine."

(I wish I could take credit for it being put so eloquently, but I can't.)

Are there any comments about the above suggestions? Other than calling for a new moderator or deleting the entire forum, what additional suggestions do you have?