Welcome to the Idea Exchange of Phoenix

[The Idea Exchange of Phoenix]

Welcome to the on-line version of the Idea Exchange of Phoenix !

This is an on-line discussion group intended to continue, extend, and anticipate the kinds of discussions that take place at the local meetings of the “Idea Exchange,” a monthly discussion group in the Phoenix area that is open to all interested persons.  Dates, times, and locations of the meetings are posted on this site up to a week in advance.

All topics are open to discussion in the meetings and on-line -- politics, society, economics, science, philosophy, etc. -- but are always conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance.

You can participate in the on-line discussion in two ways :  (1) by replying to or adding additional materials to an existing topic, or (2) by proposing a new topic.  This can be an opinion of your own, or a copy of or link to an existing site that you consider to be of special interest to the group. 

(1)  ADD TO AN EXISTING DISCUSSION

In order to add to an existing topic or continue an existing discussion, either click on the large red “POST REPLY” button that appears at the top of the page or the black swoosh arrow in the grey box at the top right of the message.  Either will automatically open an input window at the bottom of the page that contains a blinking cursor at the top left, followed by a full copy of the message you are replying to. 

PLEASE NOTE:  Since the previous message already appears in the thread of messages for this topic, it will considerably reduce the clutter in the site and make it much easier for others to read if you first highlight and delete all of this previous message and write your own message on a blank page.

When you have completed your message, simply click on the green box that says “POST”
which appears both above and below the input box.  Your message will be automatically added to the discussion thread and e-mailed to all members of the group.

(2)  BEGIN A NEW TOPIC

In order to propose a new topic of discussion simply go to the main “Groups” page that contains the complete list of all existing topics and click on the large red “NEW TOPIC” button that appears at the top of the page.  This will bring up a full-size input page with a “Subject” line at the top.  A blinking cursor will appear at the front of this line. 

Please enter a succinct summary or indication of your topic in this line.  Try not to make it too long or potentially confusing, as it is the first indication to other members whether they want to take the time to read your contribution.

After you have entered a subject, click anywhere in the large white input box and type or paste your contribution.  When you have finished, click on the red “POST” box at the top of the page.  Your message will automatically appear at the top of the full list of topics on the main page and be e-mailed to all members of the group.  Check back later to see if anyone has replied or added more to your topic.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A MODERATED SITE.  Inappropriate language or personal attacks on members of the group will be edited.  Offensive or inappropriate messages will be deleted.  Abusive members can be barred from the site.  Always present reasonable, rational ideas and arguments backed up by evidence.  Do not engage in personal abuse or invective.

NOTE ALSO that in order to keep the site to a manageable size this site will be periodically pruned.  That is, discussions that deal only with current news events may be deleted after a week or more, unless it generates a sizable discussion of permanent merit.  Also, topics that generate only a small number of responses and views, indicating minimal group interest, will eventually be discarded. 


HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER

The Idea Exchange of Phoenix is a public site, that is, anyone can read all of the messages merely by going to the general “Google Groups” site and searching for “The Idea Exchange of Phoenix.”  However, in order to participate in the discussions by replying to existing topics or posting new topics you must become a member.  In order to do so, merely click on the blue “Apply to join group” box that will appear at the top of the page when you try to post a reply, answer the three questions that are listed above the input box at the bottom of the pop-up page that appears, then click on the blue “Apply to join this group” box that appears under this.  After a few days you will receive a message from the moderator stating that you are now free to join the discussion.  Welcome !

[Warren]

The original announcement of the group, posted on February 14 --

Over the years the meetings of the Idea Exchange of Phoenix have become a
great source of intellectual pleasure and enjoyment for me.  I regularly look forward
to the stimulating discussion of ideas and issues that are raised by the diverse
members of the group, along with the way they are always pursued in a mutually
respectful and tolerant manner.

I have often wished that we could continue the discussions after the meetings are over
in order to explore the topics and issues raised in greater depth. 

This Group site is an attempt to make this possible, by allowing members to continue the discussion
afterward,  carry it to a greater depth and accuracy, add supporting evidence, raise follow-up issues,
and maybe even come to some final agreement. 

Please note that this is a first attempt at making this possible.
Please use this topic heading or order to post your observations, note problems,
offer suggestions, and generally try and make it a workable, useful forum for everyone.

[The Idea Exchange of Phoenix]

Some instructions on how to use Google Groups

posted by John Pribula on June 8 --

For Internet neophytes click below, it is a link:

how to use google group - simple introduction video

Use Google Groups with a Google account

Note, I believe you only need a Google account to start a Google group or to administer one
and that Google accounts are free to set up.

[The Idea Exchange of Phoenix]

Some earlier advice on how to post a reply, posted March 18 --

As stated in my first message announcing the formation of this discussion group,
the purpose of this group is to facilitate discussion among members of the
Idea Exchange and other interested persons.  In order to prevent the site from
becoming over-cluttered and confusing, I would recommend to all our members
that, if they are replying to a previous post or making a response that is related
to a previous post, they open that post (by clicking on it) and then hit the button
that says "Post Reply" in the red box at the top of the page.  This will insure that
their reply is posted below the original, so that people do not have to keep
searching through the whole list in order to find the original post that stimulated
the reply.  Occasionally I will transfer a post to the original post myself, by copying
it and reposting it as a response, then delete the original reply.

Also, if someone merely posts a news item or a link to a news item and it does not
generate any responses after one week or more, I will delete it from the list.

I hope this will prevent the site from becoming too long, too cluttered, and too
confusing -- which might detract from its fundamental purpose.

[The Idea Exchange of Phoenix]

How to receive group messages --

Members can receive messages from other members of the group in one of three ways:

1) Every new message is forwarded automatically to your personal e-mail account as soon as it arrives.  This is the default setting.

2) Up to 25 messages are collected and sent as a single batch.

3) A daily summary of all of the day's new postings is sent.  Members can then go to the group site and read the full message if they are interested.

Members may select their preferred method on their own, but if they experience difficulties, they can request that the group manager reset the preference for them.