ATTENTION!!!!

[TF Admin]

Hello All

This is going to be a rather long post, and I do appreciate your attention. I need your input, and appreciate all responses, but first, allow me to ramble a bit.

Our forum is coming up on it's second birthday in January. I started this forum to allow for open, free discussion of news, events, issues, concerns, and just general talk about our community. I hope you agree that we have been successful in that endeavor. My overall goal has always been to find a way to make the opinions of the people of North Mississippi heard loud and strong both locally and by the rest of the world. I believe we are ready to enter the next phase of this process.

Myspace, facebook, and other community oriented sites are taking off by leaps and bounds. I believe the time is right for us to do the same. I am in the idea stage now on determining the best course to create a community oriented website.

Here's the jist of what I am looking to do:

1.) Create a website with opinion/editorial articles written by people in our community and allowing members to comment on said articles.

2.) Create a General forum (much like ours) to allow free discussion about any topic.

3.) Provide a space for local leaders to editorialize/comment on issues that affect our community and allow members to question them directly on the website.

4.) The scope of this project will include paid advertising by local businesses to offset the costs of maintaining and promoting the website to the people of North Mississippi.

Ultimately, what I envision is a place where we can have much more interaction with each other in a more community-driven format. In other words, the website will depend a great deal on the community for involvement by writing stories, editorials, etc.

It's similar to an alternative free press, but will focus more on opinion rather than hard-edge fact finding news stories. That's not to say that those kinds of stories, or that kind of format, could not come out of it. The design is very open ended and the community will ultimately decide what direction the website will evolve into.

Currently, I am limited in what I can accomplish with the technology I am using. This kind of community-driven project is not feasible within the current design. It will take several months to make this happen, and the more input I get as I am planning and developing the project, the better it will be in the long run.

So, what say you? Does this pique your interest or am I wasting my time? What would you like to see in this evolution? What should I stay away from? What is a must have? Any and all input, positive or negative, would be appreciated.

Thank you

TF

[rutrow]

TF, I think that this could develop into something more and as you say, it will take several months to evolve. I would like to have discussions that the media does not want to discuss such as the path our great country is taking in globalization. Do you think we could possibly get politicians on here to discuss this? Probably not any willing to admit it is happening and only if you are ready to be called conspiracy "theorist". But if they are not willing to discuss things like this, perhaps they would like to explain other issues like the real reason for smoking bans, pit bull bans etc. to hear an answer coming right from their mouths rather than from the only daily newspaper (somebodys elses opinion on what they say).

I would also like to have a column or something from health care providers. Something we could ask concerning our ailments and preventive care. Maybe a nutritionist, a vet, a chiropractor, a nurse practioner, doubt we could get a physician on here, but it is still worth a try. This could also be applied to other professionals, like home decorators, pet groomers, an automechanic to educate us about auto upkeeping and such.

I wonder if we could also do home improvements and landscaping tips, gardening tips. etc.

I will think of more later.

[granny2young]

I like those ideas rutrow, but I especially like the idea of paid advertisments on the site. This could really generate a lot of traffic flow through here.

[King Rat]

I gotta say, TF, my pulse quickened as I read your aggressive ideas. I was thinking that you covered all the bases - then I read rutrow's ideas. Rutrow obviously isn't just another pretty face.

Bottom line: I love each and every one of the ideas you and rutrow mentioned. Maybe a creative section where we could write short stories or snippets of fiction (such as character creations) and have others comment on them.

Keep up the good work! This place has come a long way.

[TF Admin]

Rutrow, you're right in line with what will be possible. I like the idea of inviting local folks to come offer their expertise, and opinions, and let the community ask them questions and give direct feedback to them.

Granny, I have been struggling with the paid advertising model. I have not made one dime off TupeloForums. I have put some change into it, but to go the next step is going to require some form of revenue generation to keep the site up as there will be expenses in web hosting. I'm not looking to make money, I am sure anything I charge advertisers will be extremely fair and reasonable. This is not a business to me, I have a job. I am looking into giving something back to our community. Any funds leftover after paying the bills will go back into the forum in some fashion. I suspect most of it will be to market the site, via radio spots, T-Shirts, Bumper Stickers, newspaper ads, perhaps even a billboard, and whatever else can be afforded. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Keep these great ideas comin'!

TF

[TF Admin]

Thanks KR. Creative writing is something I'm fond of as well. Way back in high school, I wrote several short stories and one novella. I haven't written anything since I left Tupelo High.

Recently, I've been working on something in my head, a strange science fiction/horror type story. I've given it a couple of treatments, but it's just not ready for me to put to paper.

Anyway, creative writing is a splendid idea, thanks.

TF

[DarkenedSoul]

Hey T/F, glad to hear your future plans, great Idea's so far. Don't forget the Funnie's........ Another Idea would be to Remember "the Posey" thread's...... Your member's List grew quite Rapidly when all that was going on. Just a Thought.

[missfairy]

I think they are all good ideas. Just take it one step at a time.

I'm a writer myself, so I'd love to see some creative writing goin' on. ( I also run a yahoo group for Mississippi writers to share their work.) I write a LOT of poetry and currently am working on several short stories/novels. I do mostly fantasy/scifi/horror and a little bit of erotica so a lot of my stuff may be a bit too adult for the general public.

[jedismurf]

Yeah this Would Rock. Id Love To See The City Of Tupelo Adm To Speak Out There Ideas On There Restrictions For TheRe Citizens .

[peasNcarrots]

TF WROTE: Recently, I've been working on something in my head, a strange science fiction/horror type story

This wouldn't be your autobiography, would it?...teehee

[rutrow]

peasncarrots said:

TF WROTE: Recently, I've been working on something in my head, a strange science fiction/horror type story

This wouldn't be your autobiography, would it?...teehee

I am betting that perhaps your avatar inspired TF. ;D

[peasNcarrots]

That's me last Xmas morning...woke up at Lee County Jail

[rutrow]

peasncarrots said:

That's me last Xmas morning...woke up at Lee County Jail

So... where did you move your van when you got out of jail? To east tupelo?

[peasNcarrots]

Uhhhh......the van is now at the BOTTOM of the river

[zipzam]

TF... i like the sound of the setup. i REALLY like plan #3:

3.) Provide a space for local leaders to editorialize/comment on issues that affect our community and allow members to question them directly on the website.


i'd love to see the "leaders" give opinions and answer questions for the public. leaders that had the gnads to do so would certainly come closer to earning a vote from me.
it's a tough thing to do though... i've seen some sites attempt to have an area dedicated to local politicians and posters get carried away with name calling and the elected officials quit coming around.
it's a thin line.... keeping it on topic and censored enough not to totally offend the elected official is important... but overly censoring would lose the poster's interest b/c they can't ask tough questions.
again, i'd love to see it worked out for leaders to have a section for Q and A... good luck arranging it!