Active Reformed Discord Server

[reformedsojourner]

Discord-style conversation can have its use but like old AIM chatrooms you often end up with multiple conversations going on at once and if you're not there as it's happening then you have little hope of catching up the next time you open it and see there are 200+ new messages.

The history is almost entirely useless as well because there are no topics so trying to find something you remember from two years ago is next to impossible.

It's good for near-real-time chatting, but terrible for long-term value. It's more instant gratification than forums I suppose.

I disagree with this as a general summary of Discord. Not all servers are the same. We actually just created a second general chat to prevent one chat getting too active with multiple conversations at the same time. Also, the discussion forum is specifically made for different topics to be talked about and titled as such. I've easily found multiple old conversations with the search function and frequently use it to copy and paste my old responses to others and to find past conversations from specific users even. If you are on Discord and need help with this, I'd be happy to try to teach how the search function works.

 

[Logan]

I disagree with this as a general summary of Discord. Not all servers are the same.... If you are on Discord and need help with this, I'd be happy to try to teach how the search function works.

That's fair, and thanks but I'm pretty tech savvy so I do know how to use the search function

I'm a member of 8 servers and what I described is the experience I have with 7 of those 8 (the eighth consist of three members!). I'm sure it depends greatly on the number of people participating and how regimented people are with segregating topics, but it's a fundamentally different way to communicate than a forum. Not that that's bad but it won't generally facilitate long-form thoughts, it will instead be quicker back and forth.

Two of the servers I'm a part of abandoned their forum because it was just quicker to communicate on Discord, but the members frequently make comments bemoaning the loss of historic conversation they were able to reference regularly on the forums, with many hoping the Discord server is just a fad. Think of how many times you look at an old topic on the Puritanboard---you really aren't able to do that on Discord unless you were there and have a good memory. There's just not as much lasting value. It's much more ephemeral.

On a forum I can look at a topic and decide whether I want to read any new content there or just skip it. I'm more in control of my time. On Discord (particularly General) there is no way to know what people have been talking and if I missed anything interesting so I end up wading through 120 posts since yesterday regarding football and some irrelevant news article before I find anything worthwhile. Again, this is only in general, it certainly varies based on particular user groups. It's great for near real-time back and forth though.

I'm not trying to bash your Discord server in any way, it may very well be the most organized and useful of them all

 

[Logan]

P.S., I do like your conversation grouping by topic that you had in your second screenshot. That's new to me.

 

[reformedsojourner]

That's fair, and thanks but I'm pretty tech savvy so I do know how to use the search function

I'm a member of 8 servers and what I described is the experience I have with 7 of those 8 (the eighth consist of three members!). I'm sure it depends greatly on the number of people participating and how regimented people are with segregating topics, but it's a fundamentally different way to communicate than a forum. Not that that's bad but it won't generally facilitate long-form thoughts, it will instead be quicker back and forth.

Two of the servers I'm a part of abandoned their forum because it was just quicker to communicate on Discord, but the members frequently make comments bemoaning the loss of historic conversation they were able to reference regularly on the forums, with many hoping the Discord server is just a fad. Think of how many times you look at an old topic on the Puritanboard---you really aren't able to do that on Discord unless you were there and have a good memory. There's just not as much lasting value. It's much more ephemeral.

On a forum I can look at a topic and decide whether I want to read any new content there or just skip it. I'm more in control of my time. On Discord (particularly General) there is no way to know what people have been talking and if I missed anything interesting so I end up wading through 120 posts since yesterday regarding football and some irrelevant news article before I find anything worthwhile. Again, this is only in general, it certainly varies based on particular user groups. It's great for near real-time back and forth though.

I'm not trying to bash your Discord server in any way, it may very well be the most organized and useful of them all

Sorry to hear that has been your experience! I wasn't taking personal offense to the server, so no worries! Just wanted to share that I've had a different experience with Discord is all. In Solas, moderators direct thoughtful conversations to the discussion channel and discussion forum, which prevents losing them in the general chats where daily, "general" banter takes place between members. As a new member of the Puritan board (been on for 4 days lol!), I personally am learning how it all works. When I'm desiring to see if specific conversations have taken place already in other servers, I just look up key words such as "Sabbath" for example to read the conversations on it, which has seemed to be sufficient for me. However, I do understand some channels drowning out interesting conversations of value in other servers for sure in addition to not being able to tell when they've taken place or not. That's actually one of the primary reasons why moderators direct actual discussions of value to the appropriate channels in Solas to prevent that from happening.

ETA: And thanks for the P.S!

 

[WillB]

I was banned from there probably two years ago. The Monergism server is far better in my opinion.

Hey! I am the current steward of this community. I was not aware we were advertising on discord. I'm sorry you had a dissatisfactory experience in Solas. I'd be happy to look into revoking your ban. Feel free to contact me there, my tag is @todayimwill.