What has happened to Catholic Answers Forum?

  • Thread starter Thread starter bmaz
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

bmaz

Guest
I haven’t been here since they changed the format of the site, don’t know how long it has been, maybe a year. I’m having trouble adjusting to the site. I’ve also noticed a difference in the tone people take with each other. People used to be nicer, wow, I’m a bit shocked. Also, there seems to be more people posting who are very liberal in their thinking in regards to the Church. I’m a bit shocked at some of the responses people give. Is it just me, or have I just been away too long?
 
I agree with you. when i joined this forum, it was to find answers to questions about scrupulosity, and understanding the “spirit of the law”. Other people too have scruples on this forum. it helps to share ideas, etc. and give support. Even though I’ve got no training. a spiritual director though.
But there are other people who will argue, and i don’t care for it either. If people are looking for advice, great. i can only suggest beliefs. But conversations could be a lot more civil and courteous like you said.
Is this what you mean?
 
I personally think this forum is fantastic in the old format as well as the new. You don’t have to read threads you don’t like, and if you make that a goal you can find threads you enjoy, learn from and can also post on.

I have made a lot of friends on this forum, even though we don’t always agree on every issue.

God bless.
 
Politically and doctrinally, the spirit of the old forum format seemed very conservative to me. There seems to be more of a variety of points of view now; a better balance, I think (but that’s just me). But there is less official moderation now, and more “self moderation”, and so there is maybe less civility sometimes. It is still much better here than it is on most of the rest of the internet, I think. But I miss the old CAF format too.
 
Last edited:
bmaz said:
Is it just me, or have I just been away too long?
Click to expand...
It’s not just you, bmaz. The site really has changed a lot. I only returned a few weeks ago myself, and like you I feel that the atmosphere is quite different from the way it was a few years ago. The number of new threads/posts per day also seems to have gone up a lot, which to me makes the site feel “noisy”.

I was told by some others that when the site changed over to the new format, many old members left, including some of the clergy that used to be involved, and that many new members joined. I don’t know for sure if this is true, but it does make sense.

Anyway, the site is still usable despite the changed “atmosphere”. It just takes some getting used to. For focused discussions, PM’ing is a better option now, in my opinion.
 
MaryT777 said:
I personally think this forum is fantastic in the old format as well as the new. You don’t have to read threads you don’t like
Click to expand...
I agree. It has taken some time to get used to which topics and posters are more argumentative or disrespectful, bit over time I have. I have noticed more newly joined members posting some of the more outrageous (IMHO) questions, but also others with genuine questions. The former I will either ‘ignore’ or report if it is serious.
 
Roguish said:
The number of new threads/posts per day also seems to have gone up a lot, which to me makes the site feel “noisy”.
Click to expand...
This.

Also, I am not a fan of glass-tty/infinite-scrolling. Give me the old paged format any day.
(And turn down your jungle music and get off my lawn, ya’ dang kids!)
 
There have been changes and yes members have left. I try to be open and accepting because nothing in our little domain remains static or unchanging. In the old forum, I did find that I was becoming a bit snarky at times. Before the new forum came to be I made myself a promise that my replies would be kinder, more gentle and more compassionate. For the most part, I have kept to ‘the script’ but it is hard at times esp. when there are occasional trolls and those that ‘bait’ you. While I am still getting used to this forum it seems to serve most of us well. I count my blessings that it is here for my usage. Peace.
 
Well the old forum had a tendency to lean left but certainly liberal dissent from the teachings of Jesus has become more prevelant on the current forum. Also both forums old and current share the anti Traditional characteristic so that’s nothing new lol. But that shouldn’t deter one from engaging as it is part of the spiritual warfare that we are called to.

It really just mirrors the divide in the whole Church.
 
Last edited:
bmaz said:
Is it just me, or have I just been away too long?
Click to expand...
No, it isn’t you, and it has nothing to do with how long you have been away. The new forum does not have the same set of rules and expectations as the old, and most of the old timers have not stayed here.

The new “badge” system is focused on social media type “rewards” so adherence the the doctrines of the faith is now irrelevant.

We have lost the ability to mute people.

It has been a very sad shift for a lot of us.
Roguish said:
The number of new threads/posts per day also seems to have gone up a lot, which to me makes the site feel “noisy”.
Click to expand...
I am constantly disappointed that people don’t search for related threads before opening a new one on the same topic.

It is also not easy to link to articles from CAF that address specific issues. Maybe that is why people keep asking the same questions over and over?
 
With the new format we lost the moderators who had been a force for civility on the old forum.

We also lost a lot of long-time members and their wisdom.

This format seems to bring out the worst in a lot of people.
 
Obviously the Forum has changed. It is more free and less moderated. There are plenty of trolling. In the old format they would be reprimanded / suspended / banned. Of course we know who they are but there is nothing much we can do except to flag their posts. People can go around that so, yes, the tone of the Forum is not the same.
 
So here is a question some of you might be able to answer. How do I use a quote from someone I want to answer. I see people doing it, but I can’t figure out how to do it. If you want to just reply to the original post, which “reply” do you click? The last person who replied or the original post?
 
bmaz said:
So here is a question some of you might be able to answer. How do I use a quote from someone I want to answer.
Click to expand...
Highlight the post or portion you wish to show. Th term "quote should show. Click on that and it begins a reply with that persons works. I think instructions are in the basic tutorial.
 
or hit reply under the post you want to reply to and a box will pop up. hit the bubble on the far upper left next to the B
and the entire post will show in the box and you can write your reply under that and then hit Reply.
 
The principle is still the same like in the old format. Just click on the post that you want to reply, be it the OP - then click the OP or if you are replying to another post, just click a reply to that post. Not much of a computer user myself though.
 
You are so right. For some reason I am drawn to World News. But, when I go there it gets ugly fast and I find myself getting snippy… Now if I stay in Spirituality or Sacred Scripture… the tone is MUCH nicer and I still learn things…
 
I think the problem with many forums nowadays, including this one, is that people feel free to join threads even if (or especially when) they disagree with the OP to the point of being irritated by his (her) opening post. In many, many threads on this forum, the OP is met with strongly worded criticism (even condemnation) within a few posts. Of course, some OP’s invite this, either unwittingly or intentionally, but there are many threads where the OP isn’t looking to have an argument; rather he (she) is looking to discuss things with people who are of similar opinion, but what he (she) gets instead is a ferocious debate – and there is no way of avoiding this. Only a spirit of courtesy (“to each his own”) would be able to prevent this, but that spirit is absent on this forum, as it is on many forums nowadays.

Another problem is that site feedback doesn’t seem to get any attention from the moderators. (Btw, this thread should really be in “Site Feedback”. Can you change it, @bmaz?)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top