Deviation from the 'Core Purpose' of the Elsmar Cove forum

[Marc]

A concern has been expressed with respect to the 'Core Purpose' of the forum.

I wrote the following. Please give me your thoughts:

I believe this site and forum has, and continues to be, 'true' to its core purpose. I don't believe that just because there are, for example, personal blogs, that we are deviating from the core purpose of the forum. Can we not have some diversity of content, or is any diversity of content a deviation from the core purpose of this forum? And if it is, is that really what we want? This started as a QS9000 and ISO 9001 forum and look at it now. It has diversified into FDA, aerospace, medical devices and much more. Those topics were never part of the 'core purpose' of this forum. The Coffee Break forum has always been very popular. Yet, we have had discussions here where some have opined that the Coffee Break forum diverts attention from the 'core purpose' of the forum and should be shut down (closed). My bet is if I shut the Coffee Break forum down many regular visitors would stop coming by regularly. I believe that is part of the attraction here. It's a place where now and again we can get AWAY from every day business for a while, and discuss personal things, or joke around a bit now and again.

[Randy]

Wow, it's in the "Coffee" forum that I've been able to meet so many of my "friends".

I'm a firm believer in personal censorship....If you don't like it, turn the channel or don't look.

[Ted Schmitt]

Originally Posted by Randy

I'm a firm believer in personal censorship....If you don't like it, turn the channel or don't look.

I´ll second that !

If the Cove has supposedly diverted from it´s purpose, I would look at it another way... it´s using the Continual Improvement principle... ISO 9000:2000 0.2 f) and ISO 9001:2000 8.5.1

[Colpart]

The Cove to me represents a virtual workplace. There are different rooms and I can choose to go into them or not, just like a physical workplace. If I don't want to 'chat' or discuss the sport with someone then I don't go there.

The Cove should be diverse, it represents reality.

[Helmut Jilling]

Originally Posted by Marc

A concern has been expressed with respect to the 'Core Purpose' of the forum.

I wrote the following. Please give me your thoughts:

I believe this site and forum has, and continues to be, 'true' to its core purpose. I don't believe that just because there are, for example, personal blogs, that we are deviating from the core purpose of the forum. Can we not have some diversity of content, or is any diversity of content a deviation from the core purpose of this forum? And if it is, is that really what we want? This started as a QS9000 and ISO 9001 forum and look at it now. It has diversified into FDA, aerospace, medical devices and much more. Those topics were never part of the 'core purpose' of this forum. The Coffee Break forum has always been very popular. Yet, we have had discussions here where some have opined that the Coffee Break forum diverts attention from the 'core purpose' of the forum and should be shut down (closed). My bet is if I shut the Coffee Break forum down many regular visitors would stop coming by regularly. I believe that is part of the attraction here. It's a place where now and again we can get AWAY from every day business for a while, and discuss personal things, or joke around a bit now and again.

Marc, I agree with you. Leave it as it is. This forum provides an incredible opportunity to discuss all things ISO. The official ISO members and TAG groups would do well to visit regularly, they would learn much about the changes they should implement.

I have learned much, gotten much insight in how others think,got a broader picture of interpretations and issues, calibrated viewpoints, broadened what is deemed acceptable implementation....

I have had an opportunity to introduce my thoughts into the marketplace of ideas, helped people understand better, shaped interpretation and implementation...

There is so much good here,you truly are to be commended! If the particpants don't want certain forums, that will become obvious due to lack of participation. I don't spend much time in the coffee forum, but obviously many others do.

Leave it as it is and enjoy what you have created.

[wmarhel]

With the constantly changing environments and requirements, there will likely always be some "controlled expansion" of the original scope. If there isn't, then the forum will likely fade away due to lack of current topics.

As far as some of the forums that might be outside of the original framework, if you don't like it, don't click the link.

I think the traffic to the forum is much greater than the number of active people who post on there, and I don't believe it is because of the "Coffee Break" area.

Wayne

[BradM]

I think the core purpose here is quality and business related discussions. I think as long as that is not lost, everything will be fine.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by tedschmitt

If the Cove has supposedly diverted from it´s purpose...

I want to make sure everyone understands I do NOT plan a diversion from its 'core' purpose, nor are significant changes in the wind.

I think of it as improving the candy stand/snack bar at the bowling alley. You're there to bowl, but now and again you want something to snack on and/or to drink.