SPAR revolt?

[downtownparks]

The thing is, there are other SPAR members who feel it represents the neighborhood in a negative way. Are their voices not as important as those who felt it should stay up?

As I said, I am glad its staying up.

[thelakelander]

The SPAR forum is too important of a resource to let go because there are those who aren't familiar with and fear the power modern technology.  I've heard some of the same anti-forum talk at a few SAMBA meetings and I disagree with the idea of shutting them down also.  If it did go down, I'm sure some at Metro Jacksonville would have been interested in bringing the discussions held there to this site in some type of format.

From an outsider, looking in, it seems like the compromise should be to streamline it to the point where it is used for certain topics and not for others.  When things go personal, there has to be moderators in place to cut the head off from the snake before it gets completely out of hand.  Its easier said than done, knowing that we've had our issues here and at MetJax, but strong moderation is the key.

[02roadking]

So, when will the forum be back online? I need a recomendation on a concrete/brick mason to restore/rebuild my front steps that seem to be caving in slowly...

[jrtmom]

I was at the board meeting last night and it was certainly enlightening.  It's not necessarily just the old guard vs the new blood, it was a mix.  It is narrow-minded to look at the forum in such a negative way, it provides so much good to the community, for the most part. 

Also, one of the board members is resigning so there will be another opening soon on the board. 

[Downtown Dweller]

Spar could be using the forum board to proactively promote itself and the neighborhood.  There is some animosity towards SPAR in the neighborhood, but in my opinion most of this stems from a lack of communication which implies a lack of interest. Case in point: The Great Chicken Round Up. When the city came out to round up the Springfield chickens, most (at least voiced) neighbors were shocked. There is a whole thread dedicated to the chicken round up, one neighbor was even on the news complaining….yet nothing was communicated by SPAR on this topic. Why not? Now there are rumors running around the neighborhood as to who is responsible, who participated, who gave the OK from SPAR, and I mean really this does no one any good, why not just post something?

Another case in point: JEA’s new poles. JEA is putting in new poles throughout the neighborhood. Unfortunately they are also butchering and cutting down the tree canopy. Another big thread on the forum about this, nothing really from SPAR. A neighborhood resident actually got the ball rolling, got a compromise, and posted it on the forum. There is a huge opportunity for SPAR to reach out and communicate with its constituents, keep them informed, gain feedback, and learn about the hot topics/hot spots around the neighborhood. Instead, constituents are being labebled “Bad Eggs” if they post anything that could be perceived as negative about the neighborhood at all.

[gatorback]

so why is your email addy hidden here then? 

[gatorback]

so why is your email addy hidden here then? 

Because I think I can refrain from personal attacks even while keeping my identity somewhat hidden.

(Edit: Note I am not supporting the "id requirement" in my earlier post. I was merely quoting a SPAR board member suggesting this as a solution. I do use my real name on the SPAR forum, but would not require anybody else to do so).

Thanks for that clarification.  I don't put much weight on people that hide behind the vail of anonymity but I do listen to their concerns.

[Downtown Dweller]

Whether you use your real name or not, everyone knows who everyone else is….I mean it doesn’t take a rocket scientist in this neighborhood…we are a rather small group no?

That being said I could use my real name, as everyone knows who I am on the SPAR forum anyway 

[jbm32206]

The thing is, there are other SPAR members who feel it represents the neighborhood in a negative way. Are their voices not as important as those who felt it should stay up?

As I said, I am glad its staying up.

I never said that their voices aren't important....I just don't feel the same way. I just feel that there's a great deal of more good to the forum, than negative.

[Downtown Dweller]

btw, DD, thanks for your frank and delightfully funny posts.

I have laughed most of this morning over the specter of the Great Chicken "Roundup" and bad eggs.

ahhhhh becarefule I am SURE I am one of those "Bad Eggs", although I don't have the bandit mask...I need to get one of those

[jrtmom]

Actually there were two birthday parties last night at Three Layers - one for April at 7 pm and then the other one....which Erin was having a birthday?  Must have been Erin of Erin and Andrew. 

What a great place in the neighborhood....though I wasn't sure if I should be insulted by your comments or not.....   

[NewIt]

After the Metrojacksonville meet, greet and hang out last night a few of us went over to Three Layers and found it swarmed with the beautiful young new homeowner set.

Springfields little homeowner parties are looking more like casting calls for well made porn than neighborhood association wonkfests.

Well this is just tasteful.  I have been watching the posts here for some time.  Today is my first post.  This is the biggest reason that I do not post here.  The crudeness and rudeness is really not called for.  It drives people like me away.  It may be easy to just write me off as someone who really would have nothing to contribute anyway and that might be true.  Or, it might be false.  You may never know.  Worse yet, I would guess that there are many others like me out there.

Best wishes on any reform efforts.
NewIt

[RiversideGator]

Making some more friends, Stephen?   

[Downtown Dweller]

Alive, well, and growing...

[sparhater]

lol.....i suspect its the same old one with a different yet strangely similar gmail address, but I could be wrong.   It is after all, just lightly possible that a very delicate pollyanna just relocated to springfield and decided to make a stand against vulgarity.

if so, then sweet madame, my deepest and sincerest apologies for this crass and utterly unrefined world into which you have been so reluctantly dragged.

As Oscar would have said it.  All of us are in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

The important thing is that its very encouraging to see such a huge group of young people hanging out and being neighbors.   Maybe there is a generational switch about to occur over in the neighborhood in general.

We can only hope Stephen, we can only hope...

If beating up Stephen Dare (who i believe is also a resident) on their forum (with not one moderator doing anything but attack Stephen too) was not enough...they are now the Gestapo attacking all neighbors that don’t meet the LOLA guidelines. It is a shame that they are being allowed to ruin the neighborhood with their personal preferences and narrowmindedness, I think Stephen was right when he posted about the "SPAR Revolt". When an organization that is supposed to represent the neighborhoods interest starts a war with neighbors who question their actions,tatics,and motivations, ignores the neighborhoods needs and follows a path for the few, then turns around begs money at every opportunity with out supplying any services in return...well it has outlived it's time. The complete board needs to be replaced, or it just needs to go silently into the night.