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I am still interested in making something out of the StayLDS idea. These are the three main things i’m personally interested in: 1. Opening up the forums to the public, but requiring people to register to post and reply. This will create an initial place for people to come and talk.
2. Slowly work on a library of essay and interviews to be posted/linked in a static area of the the site. People can come and use these resources at their leisure and at their own pace.
3. Build a network of volunteer mentors to help people personally via email or phone (whatever people are comfortable with).
In order to out there in the public, i’m going to be using my internet name to protect privacy. I suggest others do the same. John’s experience with his BP and wanting to possibly renew his TR was a good reminder.
Anyone else have thoughts or more input about moving forward?
So how can I change to a user name? Valoel, I was reading the discussion over at Mormon Matters on your post regarding John and Mormon Stories. Some of those interviews are really helpful (the Bushman interviews, the temple and masonry, David O. McKay) but I can understand John not wanting to have his voice or name anywhere on them. I can transcribe them so that there is no part of John. I could just have generic questions and then the answers from the interviews. They could be the beginning of our library of resource material. That would give us some time to get some interviews together. What do you think?
That is a really nice offer. It sounds like a ton of work. An element is lost not hearing their voices though. It’s hard to say. Would people read the interviews? Would they get the same benefit? I for one would have read the interviews, I remember on my first visit to mormonstories looking for transcripts. It does sound like a lot of work though, I may be able to help (do one segment of Bushman or something).
Valoel wrote:I am still interested in making something out of the StayLDS idea.
Anyone else have thoughts or more input about moving forward?
I agree with all the points you listed above, I’m kind of excited about the possibilities. I think in time we can become a valuable resource for those who are struggling and want to stay in the church. Somehow just talking to someone who shares your perspective can open you up to new possibilities.
“In order to out there in the public, i’m going to be using my internet name to protect privacy. I suggest others do the same. John’s experience with his BP and wanting to possibly renew his TR was a good reminder.” I respect the choices of others to use pseudonyms. I hope keeping my name as jrnilsson doesn’t make me stick out like a sore thumb. I have been open with my views on Mormon Matters and would do the same here. I don’t think there’s much more I could say here than I’ve said there that would get me in trouble with my bishop and stake president.
For me, it works against the message I would be giving those coming to StayLDS to say you can believe what you want and continue participating in the Church if I am using a pseudonym to send this message.
John Dehlin’s path is his own. It is not mine. I mean, we are not planning on interviewing the Toscanos, right?
If we want to be free, we need to start acting freely.
My two cents.
An important thing to keep in mind, this doesn’t have to explode into something huge overnight. The vital thing is to keep at it — whatever we do. We can’t fix the entire world in a month. We can help who we help with the resources of time that we have available. Our families and day-to-day survival (jobs, homemaking, etc.) must take priority. I want to work on the idea here. So i’m staying. I want to help people.
Jrnilsson, I get what you’re saying about being honest about who we are. I guess before I’m willing to do that, I’d kinda like to know what we’re going to be putting up here. Much of what is said on OM is a bit too “out there” for me to want my name to be attached publicly to it. There is a tone to some of the posts that I think is definitely
notconducive to helping people stay in the church. Anyone agree/disagree?
I personally don’t want to push people one way or the other on pseudonyms. There is a very real difference when we put our real identities out there, I acknowledge that. It is much more personal and real, which counters the impersonal nature of the internet. I might go that route at some point, but for now I am keeping my anonymous options open. IMO use a pseudonym or not. Whatever people are comfortable with. The important thing is to help people stay in the Church.
Let’s not establish a standard one way or the other. I’m happy with the openness of OpenMormon. I love it! It’s also a private community though.
I agree with hkobeal, there can be a perception regarding the tone of a community that you don’t necessarily personally agree with. I for one have become accustomed to the anonymous nature of the internet. I also want to make newcomers comfortable with whatever methods they choose, and my guess is many of them will prefer a pseudonym. In short, there is no correct answer for everyone. For me public = anonymous.
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