I hate to be a killjoy, but I am wondering if MetroJacksonville is straying from its original appeal and apparent mission - which I thought was to focus on important and substantive Jax metro area (I'll equate that to the entire First Coast) issues, information, and concerns related to planning, governance/politics, infrastructure, activities, news and events significantly impacting the community, history, culture, Jax quality of life subjects, and so on.
It seems there are more and more less relevant posts and discussions not directly bearing on such a mission. If I want to discuss these other items, there are far better places on the internet to pursue them.
When I visit MJ, I am looking for information, constructive ideas and visions, best practices, perspectives, and a healthy discussion unique to our metro Jax area that don't take place elsewhere in the mass media, in our community, or on the internet. I feel that what is or has been here is getting diluted.
There are as many posts about a menu item in a restaurant or the attributes of the legal profession (I plead guilty to posting here myself 8) ) as there are about very significant issues our community is, or needs to be, facing. If MJ doesn't stay focused, you can count on someone else eventually usurping this site. It's only a matter of time before mainstream media starts focusing on a niche like this. MJ will have a big advantage if it can use Google's strategy and be the defacto forum for the Jax community before others with more resources attempt to enter the arena.
I want MJ to succeed at what I think is unique about it. But the discourse here seems to be increasingly distracted, trivial or being trivialized. This will lead to irrelevancy or being "just another posting site" in the internet sea and the end of the substantive discussion unique and necessary to the advancement of our metro area.
I hope this is taken as constructive criticism developed from a passion for our community and making it a better place through vigorous, thoughtful, and constructive dialogue.
P.S. I noticed when posting this doesn't appear on the recent posting list on the Home page? Is that intentional because only MJ staff are expected to read these comments or is there a desire for the MJ community at large to add their two cents? Just curious. Thanks.
I sometimes wish we would stick more to localissues but the ecconomy is relevant to most disscussions her.
I agree I wish topics could stay focused on the Metro Jacksonville area. I come here to escape the gossip of the world and media. This same thing happen to Metjax with personal rants and raves and unrelated topics. There are plenty of sites you can visit for things like that. The most important issue in Jacksonville to me that should be focused on is its lack of leadership, vision, and direction of its future. The sand in the hour glass has nearly ran out on us. It's the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs.
Quote from: stjr on January 20, 2009, 09:53:03 PMP.S. I noticed when posting this doesn't appear on the recent posting list on the Home page? Is that intentional because only MJ staff are expected to read these comments or is there a desire for the MJ community at large to add their two cents? Just curious. Thanks.
This showed up when I clicked on recent posts, don't know why it didn't for you.
I also agree that the forum needs to be more focused on local issues and can very easily do without much of the other rantings....
This was an election year and it is bound to move the discussions a little. I think we will see the posters on the site become more focused as we move forward. I sometimes have to remind myself not to be bothered if there is too many national posts as long as there is plenty of content on the issues I like to see covered here. The MJ leadership certainly gives us plenty of local news and insight to discuss.
Clearly the focus of MJ are local issues, information, and concerns related to planning, governance/politics, infrastructure, activities, community news and events, history, culture, Jax quality of life etc... Local issues are not in a vacuum however. As we have often seen national politics and issues bleed over into the local scene.
IMO restaurant reviews, rumors of openings and closings of restaurants and bars and nightclubs are very helpful to patrons and owners alike. I have been introduced to people, places, and things in Jacksonville that I was unaware of previously.
Discussions DO stray and sometime become bogged down in trivia. I have been guilty of this as have most regular posters. The Moderators are here to help keep things on topic and civil. We are not always online or aware of issues so please PM anyone of them if there is an issue that is not being addressed.
I'd say the actual MetroJacksonville staff has been pretty good about making sure the articles they post are specific to Jacksonville and cover issues that the media isn't covering or doesn't cover thoroughly enough. However, the discussions and information shared by the members may not be as directed though. I'm pretty sure that almost all of the members of this site are here for the original goal of learning more about a specific topic with regards to Jacksonville but were suprised to find a plethora of information to go along with it.
Quote from: BridgeTroll on January 21, 2009, 09:44:07 AM
IMO restaurant reviews, rumors of openings and closings of restaurants and bars and nightclubs are very helpful to patrons and owners alike. I have been introduced to people, places, and things in Jacksonville that I was unaware of previously.
Wholeheartedly agree with this. Not everyone is as informed or involved with the political side of Jacksonville. As long as discussions regarding menu items, restaurants, clubs, and other local places of retail are kept within their own threads I don't see what the problem is.
I think there are some defensive responses here that totally or mostly missed my point.
If the operators of MJ want a free-for-all so be it, it's their prerogative. But, there are numerous travel and "location based" bulletin boards for reviews of eateries, entertainment, tourists sites, etc. that can be found in seconds on Google. There is no limit to sites that discuss global and national topics. These things are not what makes this site special. I would hope the creators would appreciate what they have here and take it on as a fiduciary responsibility to elevate that which is truly unique, a vigorous discussion of significant Jax issues (of which there is no shortage, only of forums to hash them out!).
I have taken it that this board has the ability to give voice to the unheard and unconnected. One can't expect people in this City that might be able to make a real difference in what goes on in Jax and who are trying to take a pulse of the stream of consciousness of the community or who are looking for an intellectual exercise in visioning this community to wade through a sea of extraneous threads and posts. It would be a loss to all that they might miss what could be a novel, convincing or persuasive point of view that might actually get them to stand up and take notice, to possibly be a bit more creative, considerate, understanding, or open to an alternative viewpoint to their pre-existiing thoughts or the "good ol' boy way", or to be stirred and excited to take proactive strategies to forward the agendas advocated here.
Maybe the board could be better segregated between the "heavy" issue discussions and the "lighter" or more "far-out" fare so readers could more readily cut to the chase of one or the other camp. As previously stated, an unrestricted mix of the two merely dilutes the effectiveness of both.
P.S. You might look into how Google News could begin indexing your articles. You would likely find an exponential growth in visitors and participants.
You want a regional story?
Do an article on the commuters from St Johns and Clay counties and why those counties have failed to attract businesses that actually pay a decent salary and keep their residents in county.
Thanks for the suggestion, Stjr. I also believe its very important to keep the signt in line with its original goals. As the site continues to grow, it will attract a large base of users that are interested in various topics. As long as we can do a good job of keeping them in their proper place online, there should be room for all. Feel free to suggest some story ideas or even start a few threads focusing on local issues on your own.
Quote from: jandar on January 21, 2009, 11:14:12 PM
You want a regional story?
Do an article on the commuters from St Johns and Clay counties and why those counties have failed to attract businesses that actually pay a decent salary and keep their residents in county.
Great topic. I'll put this one in the research pipeline for preparation on a future article.
I think its time to look at making some adjustments to the MetroJacksonville site. I am reposting the following excerpt from a discussion I had with Stephen Dare on another thread as (1) this thread is where it belongs and (2) I think MJ needs to seriously consider the suggestion below to subdivide the home page thread listings. Using the relentless discussion and disproportionate 93 postings as of this date about a BP gas station, 488 posts about the Antarctic shelf, or 628 about global depression should be proof positive of why the site needs more distinction between areas of interest or be at risk of being perceived as the public domain of private agendas and non-relevant to-this-site discussions.
My recent observations indicate that over half of the discussion now taking place on MJ is not related to substantive city or First Coast issues but rather very personal, specific, and narrow interests of those posting. Further, there seems to be more and more randomness as to what is posted under various subject boards rendering them close to meaningless. And, recently, I noticed posters opening new threads right along side current and active threads on the very same subject thus creating multiple locations to discuss the same topic! I am not asking for wholesale abandonment of any subjects, just a change in presentation and policing by MJ that brings more balance and structure to what I originally suggested the MJ site should strive to be.
Quote from: stjr on February 22, 2009, 02:46:24 PM
I would like to suggest MJ consider subdividing the home page into FIRST COAST COMMUNITY ISSUES (i.e. meaty issues that can be influenced or controlled by the First Coast community), FIRST COAST CULTURE (local events, happenings, restaurants, nightlife, area artists, offbeat subjects, etc, that have a root or two in the First Coast), and NON-LOCAL SUBJECTS (national and international topics, pet peeves, culture, special interests, travel, etc. that really are not directly or clearly related to the influence of people living on the First Coast). Perhaps the left-right debates could be dumped into a PURELY POLITICS forum where those entering realize its more or less a no holds barred, not for the feint of heart, match of ideologies! Maybe us moderates could get a few chuckles out of it :D