Choice of Words to Replace 'Open Dhamma' Forum

[mikenz66]

Hi Samseva,

As I and Ben said, the idea is to lessen confusion by making "General Theravada" more inclusive ("A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism"), merging it with "Modern Theravada" and encouraging members to post there, rather than in the former "Open Dhamma" forum.

We've moved quite a few topics from there to "General Theravada", and may move more as they pop up when someone replies to them. If there is something on the first page that you think is "General Theravada", or should be in a more specialised forum, let a moderator know.

We wanted the "Dhamma" name removed from that forum, so that it would be obvious that topic about Theravada Buddhism, such as "Is this a good Theravada teacher?" or "Observing Uposotha" goes into General Theravada Discussion (or a more specialised forum).

Perhaps a name like Open Discussion, with the current description, would work:

General Theravāda discussion
A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism.
Open Discussion
Where members are free to take ideas from the Theravāda Canon out of the Theravāda framework. Here you can question rebirth, kamma (and other contentious issues) as well as examine Theravāda's connection to other paths.

Mike

[samseva]

Hi Samseva,

As I and Ben said, the idea is to lessen confusion by making "General Theravada" more inclusive ("A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism"), merging it with "Modern Theravada" and encouraging members to post there, rather than in the former "Open Dhamma" forum.

We've moved quite a few topics from there to "General Theravada", and may move more as they pop up when someone replies to them. If there is something on the first page that you think is "General Theravada", or should be in a more specialised forum, let a moderator know.

We wanted the "Dhamma" name removed from that forum, so that it would be obvious that topic about Theravada Buddhism, such as "Is this a good Theravada teacher?" or "Observing Uposotha" goes into General Theravada Discussion (or a more specialised forum).

Perhaps a name like Open Discussion, with the current description, would work:

General Theravāda discussion
A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism.
Open Discussion
Where members are free to take ideas from the Theravāda Canon out of the Theravāda framework. Here you can question rebirth, kamma (and other contentious issues) as well as examine Theravāda's connection to other paths.

Mike

That's pretty good.

I think the name would clearly distinguish the 'Open Discussion' forum from the 'General Theravāda Discussion' forum. Since 'Open Discussion' would still be a sub-forum of 'Theravāda Discussion', the teachings of Theravāda would still be the main topic of discussion. However, with 'General Theravāda Discussion' actually having 'Theravāda Discussion" in its name, it gives the impression of it being the main and more important forum about Theravāda. "Open Discussion" kind of sounds like a secondary off-topic forum of the 'Theravāda Discussion' category.

You have my vote!

[mikenz66]

However, with 'General Theravāda Discussion' actually having 'Theravāda Discussion" in its name, it gives the impression of it being the main and more important forum about Theravāda. "Open Discussion" kind of sounds like a secondary off-topic forum of the 'Theravāda Discussion' category.

Yes, that's the idea.

"General Theravāda Discussion" is the general forum about Theravada, if your topic doesn't fit into one of the specialised areas and is primarily about Theravada, that's where it belongs.

The "Fringe/open" section is for discussion that is somewhat "off-topic" from Theravada. However, there should be some connection with Theravada (e.g. how a Bodhisattva is defined in Theravada and Mahayana, or the relationship between Theravada and psychology ), otherwise the Lounge is the place for it (e.g. it's just about Mahayana or just about psychology...). And some topics would be better for some other board, such as DharmaWheel.net.


Mike

[samseva]

However, with 'General Theravāda Discussion' actually having 'Theravāda Discussion" in its name, it gives the impression of it being the main and more important forum about Theravāda. "Open Discussion" kind of sounds like a secondary off-topic forum of the 'Theravāda Discussion' category.

Yes, that's the idea.

"General Theravāda Discussion" is the general forum about Theravada, if your topic doesn't fit into one of the specialised areas and is primarily about Theravada, that's where it belongs.

The "Fringe/open" section is for discussion that is somewhat "off-topic" from Theravada. However, there should be some connection with Theravada (e.g. how a Bodhisattva is defined in Theravada and Mahayana, or the relationship between Theravada and psychology ), otherwise the Lounge is the place for it (e.g. it's just about Mahayana or just about psychology...). And some topics would be better for some other board, such as DharmaWheel.net.


Mike

Yes, I was agreeing that it is a good and desired thing. The whole paragraph was descriptive and approving of the positive parts of the choice of forum title. It was a bit unclear, sorry about that.

[Mr Man]

Why not just have one forum "General Theravāda discussion" - no need for "Fringe Theravāda Discussion" and then have something similar to open dhamma down in "General discussion" - Perhaps a "Dhamma Lounge", where mindfulness in schools, news related items and more general social (with dhamma connection) and divergent dhamma discussion can take place