In the two weeks since the Pilot stopped comments, this blog has had 30 to 45 visitors per day, each clicking on 10 or so topics per day.
At this level of use, it is an interesting discussion for those of us here, but we aren’t having much impact on public opinion.
Tidewater News and Opinion Forum 
I guess it will take time to grow, Don. I have noticed 2 new followers since I joined. Has anyone tried having one of the LTE’s proposed published? I know it may not get published, but it is not clear if anyone has even attempted.
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“we aren’t having much impact on public opinion.”
Probably a mixed blessing…
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Thanks for keeping it going.
I click through very few letters on pilotonline these days. That’s not a good thing.
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Ditto.
I have a WHOLE lot more time on my hands in the morning to do other things.
And, my morning coffee consumption has gone down.
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RE: “we aren’t having much impact on public opinion.”
It’s hard to have an impact on public opinion. Here are five related and interrelated questions we might explore:
What does Tidewater Forum give them?
How does Tidewater Forum do it?
What benefit does the audience receive?
What proves the benefit is real?
There are no wrong answers. I’ll share some of mine in a separate comment.
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One other question that you might want to include, as I do think your opinion on this is valid:
How do we grown the audience and get them involved in TF.
The troll issue is controlled By Don and whomever he has assigned as moderators. But other commenters could help bring other perspectives aside from those of us who are already here. This is definitely a case of “the more the merrier”. -IMHO
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Truthfully, I don’t think the Pilot commentaries had much impact on public opinion. Yes, there were more participants, but take out the trolls, and we know more or less who they were, and we probably have a decent chunk already here.
It would be nice to add more regulars, however.
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I am a regular reader, although I do not comment very often. However, I truly enjoy reading the thought of others, and hope that this forum continues.
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What does the Tidewater Forum audience want?
I have no factual information about the Pilot’s comments feature audience but I’d guess it is a fair proxy for the audience here. With that as a starting speculation, here are a few more:
Lurkers’ motives are difficult to infer. Posters’ motives are probably variations on the theme of wanting to change the world, in one way or another.
Seeking entertainment is probably a motive lurkers and posters at the Pilot had in common.
I’d guess the Tidewater Forum audience primarily seeks entertainment, with posters hoping to have an impact on public disourse.
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Hi John, a question or two.
I have been posting a couple thoughts in the last couple weeks – the usual from moi – L. ‘jane’.
Anyway, is there any reason to be leery of ‘WordPress’? I was thinking I’d just fill in name & e-address for each comment I make but that’s cumbersome.
So, what’s the advantage of registering for a WordPress account?
Anyone else reading this please chime on with your thoughts on this. The Pilot was always super easy and it’s “Community Bloggers” was always easy to maintain and monitor – I miss that more than anything. I remember the month I was ‘blogger of the month’ due to over 27,000 hits from one of my blogs. Thanks to all for thoughts. ‘jane’. (The LJM ‘jane’)
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Jane, I wouldn’t be leery of WordPress. I joined when Don set this blog up. It is easy as the best part is you can start topics that interest you.
John wrote a piece a while back that outlined the “how to’s” I don’t think I did all that, but then I fumbled a lot so I’m sure his method is the way to go.
As for my reasons for commenting.
First and foremost it is entertaining. Not in the sense of a circus (though, at times…), but more like doing crossword puzzles.
Next, it is fun to verify, refute or even admit “I didn’t know that…gee wilikers I might have erred…again”.
(Well, being wrong is not THAT much fun.) Admitting fault is not losing. It is more like your glad you didn’t do the puzzle in ink. Plus I have been to some websites that have rather interesting viewpoints whether I agree or not.
Finally, it is a release valve for the convoluted piping and machinery of today’s political climate.
In my social groups we informally agree to not discuss politics much. This way I can enjoy my conservative friends, some I’ve known for decades. And vice versa. So this outlet lets me speak my piece.
So dive into WordPress, start topics and most of all “welcome”.
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RE: “but more like doing crossword puzzles”
Them’s my feelings, exactly.
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RE: “is there any reason to be leery of ‘WordPress’?”
I can’t think of any:
It’s databases are no more or less hackable than any other, but WordPress doesn’t know much about you, anyway. You don’t have to tell it your street address, phone number or social security number, for example.
The only bad thing I’ve noticed is that sometimes, having been logged into WordPress all day, my browser freezes. That’s pretty rare.
If you create a WordPress account, then you’ll only have to enter your email and username once a session to post comments. Also, you can then request “Author” status from Dr. Tabor that will allow you to create new top-level posts for others to comment on.
There’s a procedure here that tells how to set up a WordPress account:
https://tidewaterforum.blog/2019/08/17/how-to-create-a-free-wordpress-account-for-creating-comments-and-posts-at-tidewater-forum/
Once you have the account, you should email Dr. Tabor to request Author status:
wdtabordds@aol.com
Hope this helps!
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