Chowk is 9 Today

I had earlier posted this on the ``Invisible Editor`` board. I urge chowk to carefully consider the suggestions again.

#205 by bjkumar on February 24, 2006 9:06am PT

Madam editor,

I am posting it here on this dormant board because I can not think of any other permanently relevant board and (unlike others) I do not like to burden my i-log area with all kinds of trivialities – and certainly not do so on a permanent basis.

Please be assured that this interactor is already familiar with the “faq” stuff on the interact index (II). There is nothing in there which counters the very legitimate concerns that this interactor has earlier raised regarding the built-in bias and potential for abuse of this whole system and how – because of the way such things get institutionalized in this “world” – its close resemblance to a chowk “caste” system – with the ultimate II of 4.0 attaining that chowk “Brahmin” status (and perhaps a 5.0 (which I have yet to see) the ultimate stage of Nirvana which is rarely achieved in THIS life!)

Here are the following recommendations you may seriously wish to consider (REALLY seriously):

1) Whoever is/are chowk “staff” and scoring interacts must never be an interactor – otherwise the credibility will always remain clouded. (This may call for a certain degree of sacrifice from those of “chowk staff” who may be addicted to interaction – they need to make up their minds which of the two functions is important to them – and pick one (and one only)!)

2) Either an interact meets the guidelines – or it does not. Accordingly, the score should be either 1.0 or 0.0 – none of this subjective grading from -1 to +5. For most interacts, it is easy to see if it is a 1.0 or 0.0. (The use of abusive terms could be 0.0, for example) If there is legitimate doubt – then the default needs to be 1.0 – following that old logic of “innocent unless proved guilty”.

3) The score of each interact must be displayed right on its header line (where the time stamp appears). There is no other way to ensure absolute transparency.

Oops, I forgot to mention the interact index!

You see ma’m, the above approach simplifies things in such a way that there won’t be a need for an interact index. Individuals can hang on to their precious II with pride – like certificates on a wall!

Sincerely,
BJK.

forAug. 13 06
Happy Birthday!
I find ``sustained growth and organic evolution``, a fascinating expression. Speaking as ``Chowk``, has both direction and force. Cannot resist the change? Just flow along, and I am sure you will be speaking out regularly on sub continental issues. Call editorialization by any other nom. it will read the same. Wish you all the best!

On this piece:

(1) It is always a mistake to put too much into the “number of hits” in a forum of this kind. (Most of those hits come from a small subset.)

(2) I agree that the site takes a lot of time on everybody’s part. The staff and editors need to be commended – as well as those interactors who stay on the topic with substantive comments.

(3) In my personal view, the day chowk starts taking itself too seriously – it will start walking that downhill path! (In other words, starting to “editorialize” will be a big mistake! Chowk’s time will instead be better spent in making sure that all the coding bugs are removed – it should not take nine years and longer for it to work bug-free.)

Side Note: I personally wish the Versey would return – my views on the Versey are well known to the world. But clearly no site can be centered on one individual or even a small group alone. That would degrade its “idealism” and make it flinch!

All the best to chowk on its ninth birthday.

life is better with chowk without chowk

i prefer india-pakistan duels here rather on the battlefield

Re: # 303

Wah Babu Wah!

Congrats Chowk and all Chowkies!

As I said in my UP thread, my purpose was to demonstrate what I had said about any cute girls, was not directed at any interactor`s family. It was directed at the ilk of these girls and the parents who teach them to do this.

I hope this will be understood and the unfortunate episode forgotten being not worthy of research efforts of our knowledgable interactors. Not the lesons learnt, however.

I share and second Salim Chauhan`s views regarding Farzana Versey. She can life to Chowk. Farzana just wrote something in her iLog, and liveliness of the debate from everyone is a testimonial. Chowk needs her back, and if there are any differences, hopefully Chowk staff can resolve them and invite her back.

Anil

#297 Qumquat {``the earliest killing took place at #66...;)``}

No, that was just a routine application of pesticide by Chowk Staff.

reg: #278
...while chowk regulators allow the message to embellish FP they are known to kill mesengers...the earliest killing took place at #66...;)

#295, {``Mind blowing hypocricy``}

Must you always be so stingy and must you always put your expressions in such San Francisan terms?

``Subroto #278,
I think that your regurgitation of old posts to score questionable points is reprehensible. For those of us who may have missed these gems, you made sure that we benefited from your dubious research. For those who had already read them, you ensured that they suffer yet once more. Your action is as bad as if you were the originator of this profanity. Shame on you.
[Reply to interact #291]


#292 by Salim_Chauhan on August 17, 2006 9:41am PT
Subroto #278,
I am still not done with expressing my anger at your lewd, crude, shrewd, and behood behavior in researching, highlighting, and recycling archived profanity. You, sir, are a blight on the landscape of Chowk. You deserve to be castrated, tarred and feathered, and hung upside down in the parking lot of the Civic Center for your blatant depravity and total lack of common sense. I find your action to be both despicable and mischievous. Please go and blacken your face and drown yourself in a little cup of water - as they say in desi parlance. ``


Mind blowing hypocricy.

#293, Yes, those who repeat this profanity will be subjected to exemplary punishment.

Subroto #278,
I am still not done with expressing my anger at your lewd, crude, shrewd, and behood behavior in researching, highlighting, and recycling archived profanity. You, sir, are a blight on the landscape of Chowk. You deserve to be castrated, tarred and feathered, and hung upside down in the parking lot of the Civic Center for your blatant depravity and total lack of common sense. I find your action to be both despicable and mischievous. Please go and blacken your face and drown yourself in a little cup of water - as they say in desi parlance.

Subroto #278,
I think that your regurgitation of old posts to score questionable points is reprehensible. For those of us who may have missed these gems, you made sure that we benefited from your dubious research. For those who had already read them, you ensured that they suffer yet once more. Your action is as bad as if you were the originator of this profanity. Shame on you.