Organizational Suggestions

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OK, so if you think the organization of this project is running A-OK and absolutely no problems will arise go read another topic, you won't appreciate this one. I've taken a look at this idea for the last while and written up some (rather bluntly worded) suggestions. Please comment.

Probably the section you should read if you didn't read any other section:

Spoiler

After imagining the headlines mentioned in the next section, one thing that struck me was the chaos taking place in the forum; planning needs to be much more organized, centralized and cohesive. My suggestion for this would be a wiki for storage of essential information currently buried under pages and pages of discussion and/or scattered multiple stickies in multiple forums. On a related note, this may be because I haven't read through enough, but assigning someone who's clear, articulate, effective, and most importantly, present as a leader would help speed up development and keep this project on the rails. Ok, if you've had enough you can stop now, thanks for reading.

Legalities:

Spoiler

My first thought when seeing this forum was "this'll be leading the news in 6 months." Probably the worst thing that could happen would be someone dies, TV news gets the story and it's downhill from there (there are plenty of examples of this happening). What I think should be considered here would be contacting a lawyer and working out the legalities of this. The minimum would be a waiver participants can sign (that states that they're taking responsibility for whatever happens to them, and organizers can't be held liable etc etc) and store in a safe location, so no one gets sued (OK that could still happen, but the waiver helps) and PR can be better managed (that's a whole other topic, see below). Now of course this means that all participants would need to be above the age of minority in their native country or have parental consent. The other route is to, of course, keep this under wraps and cross your fingers that nothing bad happens, a perfectly viable strategy (no sarcasm intended there, doing it on the QT would have a high chance of succeeding, but consider the consequences above anyways).

What? No More Sections!?

Above is an excerpt from a multipage report I wrote up a while (months) ago, I just extracted the most currently relevant stuff.

[Txontaw]

I see what you're talking about, but I don't think you realize the timeline we have. Right now we're just fantasizing, what we think should happen. As it gets closer to the start time, we'll be focusing more on what is actually going to happen.

And I doubt that we need a lawyer. We're non-existent at this point, as far as anyone who matters is concerned.

A wiki would be pretty cool, tho.

[_]

Yeah, I realize that you're not booking flights right now, but if I forgot about it I'd never post it, so I thought I should do it sooner then later.

[Levrrtepa Menari]

I see what you're talking about, but I don't think you realize the timeline we have. Right now we're just fantasizing, what we think should happen. As it gets closer to the start time, we'll be focusing more on what is actually going to happen.

And I doubt that we need a lawyer. We're non-existent at this point, as far as anyone who matters is concerned.

A wiki would be pretty cool, tho.

And when we are existent, we'll just be a group of people taking an extended camping trip in the woods/jungle. People go on long camping trips (well, the experienced people, at least) all the time. It's not going to get that much attention.
Now, if you're under the impression that we'll be these crazy Na'vi freaks that paint themselves blue and run away or attack anyone from the city that comes onto our land, than yeah, that would get a lot of media attention. But we're not like that. I imagine we'll actually be quite boring to the media.

Eywa ngahu.

[_]

And when we are existent, we'll just be a group of people taking an extended camping trip in the woods/jungle. People go on long camping trips (well, the experienced people, at least) all the time. It's not going to get that much attention.
Now, if you're under the impression that we'll be these crazy Na'vi freaks that paint themselves blue and run away or attack anyone from the city that comes onto our land, than yeah, that would get a lot of media attention. But we're not like that. I imagine we'll actually be quite boring to the media.

Eywa ngahu.

From a sensible person's perspective you're entirely right, but the world is not full of sensible people 

[sezawte]

We'll see what happens as regards the media, I think they will probably be some interest but not a lot

[Ikranä mokri]

we have a wiki somwhere buried in the posts all for location stuff, but im sure it could be editied for another purpose

The minimum would be a waiver participants can sign (that states that they're taking responsibility for whatever happens to them, and organizers can't be held liable

This isnt some camping trip, everyone on here (should) know the risks by now. even if we seem over optimistic, its better to be like that than all doom and gloom otherwise very little would be done.

And when we are existent, we'll just be a group of people taking an extended camping trip in the woods/jungle. People go on long camping trips (well, the experienced people, at least) all the time. It's not going to get that much attention.
Now, if you're under the impression that we'll be these crazy Na'vi freaks that paint themselves blue and run away or attack anyone from the city that comes onto our land, than yeah, that would get a lot of media attention. But we're not like that. I imagine we'll actually be quite boring to the media.

Eywa ngahu.

From a sensible person's perspective you're entirely right, but the world is not full of sensible people 

and on here we are all very sensible.

[Fnua Atxkxe]

With regards to media, I think that if they found out that the idea had spawned from this website (which is possible as, in a recent interview with a national paper, we were referenced (although not as being from the site and in a manner that makes it seem as though we are just fans) by one of our members:

There are also people I know who want to start a proper tribe living in the Amazon or something.

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/2947538/The-worlds-No1-Avatar-fan.html#ixzz0mZ7mG4yZ

We'll just have to wait and see what happens on that front.

[Esmond]

Yeah, the response from the media is in no way predictable. I mean if they think reporting about celebrity's lives are as important as world news, who knows what they might think of us. Still, its a 50/50 thing.

[Nanaki]

I think the medias are bad, and if something bad happens in the tribe, it could be bad for us with the media.
And like you said, we are very sensible person, not the media.

I'm not against the idea about the lawyer, maybe we will reconsider the idea in few months/years. But for now, it's sure, we don't need one

[tirea kaya'evengä]

I don't have anything to add to about the media part, but I do say that I have to agree with the OP about the organisational stuff. I'm new (like yesterday ) and I've had a hard time trying to shift through the pages of random talk, long threads repeating the same points and stuff. This is good if you are there at the time for the discussing and stuff, but not so fun when you actually want to find out any proper information!

[Fnua Atxkxe]

We are currently trying to make the board more organized with sub forums, you are right though, there are some on here who do post a lot of comments that do not actually help the topic they post them under. Seems a bit harsh but someone needs to say it, this is not the general discussion board, there are plenty of places you can go and make irrelevant posts if you want, now that we also have the Tribe Skype set up, there is ample opportunity for you to go on there for chatting to other tribe people, there really is no need for some of these comments, they are not helpful, not singling anyone out in particular, just that in general we need to stay on topic more

[_]

My view of the skype bit: Great for discussing stuff (like, powers of magnitude better) but horrible for storing stuff, there needs to be a place where decisions made in voice chat can be summarized and publicized (wiki  )

[Dani]

I posted the following quote here: Ok, I know I left but look, but there it's gone because I myself deleted it more or less.

however, what comes after this quote is new.

Hi, I'm not part of your tribe, but I just want to see what you have...

http://forum.learnnavi.org/real-life-navi-tribe/tribe-location-brainstorm-3-in-depth/

The following might sound harsh, although I don't want to offend anyone.


I feel you need stronger moderative acts. Or say, a better structure for your project.

make a thread that does ONLY contain postings with information on different locations, no "it might be this and that", "we should think of.." and especially no "sounds good/bad"

it would be even better to have a subforum. The subforum contains several threads that are titled "continent - name of the region - [perhaps] name of the land" and IN these threads you post what you KNOW about this place. Whoever has some sort of information may post it there, but as yet, no discussion, no good/bad statements, no "it might be" etc. - facts only, otherwhise you get sidetracked

'judgement' comes when you think you cannot find anymore information on any location

you might even have a thread that is posted as "important" where you place questions that you would want to have answered in your research, again no "good question/bad question", place questions and formulate your thoughts into questions if they might be helpful
but no argument about questions, no just throwing in of thoughts, focus your thoughts until you have questions and then use the questions as a guide for research on your location and presenting your results



maybe a help to choose your location, or rather giving you ideas of what you are looking for in your researches:
http://forum.learnnavi.org/real-life-navi-tribe/learning-from-other-tribes/
http://forum.learnnavi.org/real-life-navi-tribe/small-bites-from-the-sas-guide/
http://forum.learnnavi.org/real-life-navi-tribe/hadza/
http://forum.learnnavi.org/real-life-navi-tribe/how-to-resources/
http://forum.learnnavi.org/real-life-navi-tribe/devils-advocate-and-all-the-bad-stuff/
http://forum.learnnavi.org/real-life-navi-tribe/the-effects-of-this-socialist-bill-passed-and-more-to-come/
http://forum.learnnavi.org/real-life-navi-tribe/tribe-location-brainstorm-2/
http://forum.learnnavi.org/real-life-navi-tribe/what-do-we-want-from-our-tribe-location/


Maybe you focus on those threads and the problem of finding information on different areas/locations.
Only when you cannot find any more information on any place and/or have answered all questions you had and cannot come up with any more questions concerning any location, only then start crossing out places. Only then you have knowledge based judgement, nothing that's just about a good or bad feeling.

And I know thats hell of a lot of work to do. But you want the best place possible don't you?


And while you research, train your body (e.g. short distances can be walked, a bit longer ones done by bike, still longer ones if possible with a bus or train or whatever and only if necessery with ones own car), have a look at how much water you use each day, could you reduce it if necessary? (you don't know how much water supply you'll have out there and it may even be good for the environment) could you reduce the amount of electricity you need? (perhaps this will make it easier to leave electric things behind and again it might help in environmental matters) try to highten your awareness/alertness, open yourself to all things that happen around you in the here and now and act accordingly, or at least try to (it is way easier said than done, I fear). Being more alert might help you in your life in society as well as in your life within the tribe. And try to reduce your thinking, we think pritty much useless stuff and are too much in the future or past. Well, I don't say "Don't plan anymore" or "Don't think anymore" or "Forget everything that happened." because sometimes you simply have to plan and in certain moments you simply have to think and the past can sometimes be a helpful teacher. You have to think and concentrate when cooking (e.g.), but to think that it is stupid that you have to clean the dishes, that it is so dirty you don't want to touch it but have to anyway (e.g.) is what is unnecessary thinking. Also, it seems right to me to think on cleaning the dishes while cleaning them, or rather not thinking while doing so (and just do clean dishes) and not dreaming of future things etc. In these points I agree with Zen, as far as I understand it at the moment. You are always caught up in thoughts and being caught up in thoughts makes it impossible to react quickly to things unforseen. That might be deadly when hunting in or exploring the wilderness.

I just want to say, if I were to do moderation, I'd certainly put much much stuff into a category like "not yet needed" and some stuff under "personal problems" (like threads were people don't know what to do join the tribe/work on what is real life for now) and still other stuff under a category such as "thinking about the impact of your choice" (threads like, we will have to leave everything behind, family, friends, PC/xBox/other game consoles, electric equipment, comfortable beds, central heated homes etc.)

I would put postings were I think they belong best. And I might get rid of topics such as "tribal items" or whatever. Not that I would delete them completely, I'd just hide them away, for the simple reason that you have to focus on finding a location. Location might even influence the items you can use etc. So you need to know where you are going to stay first of all things. To make you put your efforts into searching information on various locations and not something else, as interesting as other ideas may be, I'd get "rid" of everything that does not concern location.

I think, this would be something Ikranä mokri meant with "uriuujin-you are a mod and you say you post when appropriate, but your posts arent appropriate at all, they say nothing" (I cannot tell how far this statement about uriuujin is true or not, to be honest, I don't really care either, at least it's true in Ikranä mokri's point of view.)

I know, some or many would find my actions mean and/or too restrictive.
I know you decided on a time span of four years right now, or even longer.
It seems to me some people get desinterested and frustrated, however, because they feel nothing is going on, there is no progress and all of this might just stay a dream.
So I'd suggest a moderator who'd make you fixed on a topic you have to work on, so you'll have results.
Also... I said nothing about how fast you collect your information on different locations. If you want to, do that over the next 20 years or so, I wouldn't care. But still, I think, you'd have to focus on location right now.



edit: I just edited some spelling mistakes even I could see and I tried to make some things more explicit, however, there is not much change and nothing new in any of the two texts.
e.g.: I changed: "Also, it seems right to me to think on cleaning the dishes while cleaning them, or rather not thinking while doing so (and just do clean dishes) and not dreaming of future things etc." (What has been added is: "... while cleaning them, ... (and just do clean dishes) ...")

[Fnua Atxkxe]

We have 3 mods (okay I know one might be going), I never read anything about getting a new mod 0.o why are people writing "résumé's"....? Are we getting a new mod?

[Dani]

No worries, there is no need for me to be a mod here. I don't ask to become a mod here.
I just said what I'd do if I were a mod here, because I thought it might help to get some actual work done.

[MrGoodbytes]

While I am not in the Real LIfe Na'vi tribe, I am glad to hear that you are safe.  IN the words of Jedi Master Yoda, "seeing you alive brings warm feelings to my heart."

[The old Uriuujìn]

We have 3 mods (okay I know one might be going), I never read anything about getting a new mod 0.o why are people writing "résumé's"....? Are we getting a new mod?

Thank you, numeyu ^_^

Here's the skinny- if you have a suggestion about the Forum, then for the love of the Goddess PLEASE send me a pm, and I would be ecstatic to look at it and tell you what I think. What insults me is when people start implying that me and my fellow Mods are not doing a good job and saying that they could do better. Now, I know that I haven't been here in a while, but that is because I am graduating in just over 2 weeks, and my last days of school end tomorrow. After that, I will have unimaginably large amounts of time to clean up the mess we are in ^_^ From now on, however, please bring ideas or complaints about the forum directly to me, so that I can read them myself. Irayo!

Gaia ayngahu

-Uriuujìn

[guest2859]

I see it as kind of rude that we all at once got hit with a lot of people saying at this rate we're not going to make it. In my view, we have a lot of research that can be done in 3 months expanded over a period of 4 years, hint 2014. So, I don't really see how we're in a rush here or exactly why we're going to have to do so much in a small amount of time, in the end it's most likely going to make it.

[The old Uriuujìn]

I see it as kind of rude that we all at once got hit with a lot of people saying at this rate we're not going to make it. In my view, we have a lot of research that can be done in 3 months expanded over a period of 4 years, hint 2014. So, I don't really see how we're in a rush here or exactly why we're going to have to do so much in a small amount of time, in the end it's most likely going to make it.

Irayo for the positive attitude! +1 Karma!

Gaia ayngahu

-Uriuujìn