Hey, it's just me, Tau, poking around in here. I was thinking that we ought to figure out how to make better use of this place in case venganza goes down and we wanna keep up the chanting. Not that I think venganza will go down, but every once in a while it might.
What's it need in here? Curtains? Mini fridge? Cappucino machine? Pasta extruder?
Sounds like fun.
Should I block search engines from getting in the Monastery?
Hmmm... I'm not sure. I think we should get more opinions on that.
I've been trying to test the chat, but I can't seem to post. How come we're all listed as guests? ???
Do you have macromedia flash installed?
Quote from: Opsanus tau on March 16, 2006, 10:07:54 PM
What's it need in here? Curtains? Mini fridge? Cappucino machine? Pasta extruder?
All of those plus loads of comfy sofas.
and coke. don't forget the coke.
coca-cola that is. not cocaine. ;D
Caffiene is all the stimulant we need.
Let's get back to MB's question about blocking search engines from getting in here. What do you think? I wrote up directions on how to become a Sibling on the Home Page with links to the Venganza site. Is that enough? Could people join from here?
Currently there is no restriction on membership. Anybody can join from here. I believe I can change it to invitation only. I think these are the only two options currently available.
What option do you think is best for us here?
Depends on what you want to do. Just anybody or invitation only?
We could make this place just anybody then make secret societies inside? Just thinking out loud. ;D
Maybe we could make it so that people could join only by agreeing to comply with our mutual respect and humbleness policy. Is that possible?
Should I put the HOT Monastery Agreement in the online registration agreement?
That would be cool! ;D
Done. I made small changes to it. Please review them at your convience. You may have to logout temporarily in order to view it.
Darren
It's interesting how many people who have joined the monastery seem to also have an interest in Earth religions. Maybe it's the contemplative nature that appeals to us.
The combination of self-direction and humility before the greatness of the universe at large seems to be the common thread between the Toadfish mentalities and these beliefs.
Don't know if I count myself as one of the "Earth religion" types, although most of the 'secular' aspects of such religion appeal strongly to me. I'd rather be out wandering through a forest than pretty much any other place (except maybe swimming through the corals), getting to know the plants and animals.
Autotheism + HSMism pretty much are the two components of the first sentence of these posts.
I also think Sibling Grumpy's use of 'mental models' is pretty much in line with how I use my beliefs to understand and manipulate the world, although he doesn't have my need to bluster, label and trumpet my beliefs all over Creation... ;)
Perhaps you're right, it's more the do-it-yourself attitude toward religion that attracts people who would be part of a monastery. The earth religions seem to be more hands-on than, say, some of the religions that only require attending sermons.
Well, I guess that's not quite right, is it? I'm sure they require more than attending sermons, but some human beings tend to be as lazy as they can get away with, and it's all they can do to drag themselves in on Sunday for a nod in the chapel. That might not be the most contemplative kind of person. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Sometimes I'd like to shut my mind off and just go the heck to sleep.
Me too.... I miss school. ;D
The discrepancy in the Monastery isn't so much a case of an imbalance between Earth/Abrahamic religions, but compared to the upper forums there's relatively few straight-up contrarian atheists. You're probably bang on about the contemplative part.
Ha! Never thought about how an atheist would feel about becoming a monk. Hope it's not putting them off.
I guess I don't think of monks as being exclusively devoted to a deity. I think of them as a community of solitary thinkers. That's how I think of us, all quietly typing away at our computers, yet comtemplating things together. We are not necessarily religious, but connected through the FSM.
Quote from: Opsanus tau on May 14, 2006, 04:59:37 PM
Ha! Never thought about how an atheist would feel about becoming a monk. Hope it's not putting them off.
I guess I don't think of monks as being exclusively devoted to a deity. I think of them as a community of solitary thinkers. That's how I think of us, all quietly typing away at our computers, yet contemplating things together. We are not necessarily religious, but connected through the FSM.
Well, not me, anyway.
and...
Nailed it, as usual :D
:toadfish:
I just gave you another karmic point Quas, just because you're you.
May it serve you well.
...and never ask for a tip.
Don't some monasteries open their doors to non-monks as well?
(I still feel special because I got nominated in. I think I'm going to make myself some kind of special robe to wear around the house when I eat pasta for dinner! I am thinking it should be red in case I spill any sauce on myself, but I need a fishy emblem to put on it!)
Quote from: NeferKa the Bodhipasta on September 26, 2006, 05:48:04 AM
Don't some monasteries open their doors to non-monks as well?
Indeed they do, though there can be a downside to it:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/602641.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/602641.stm)
(Am I the only one who thinks an overnight vow of silence is cheating
just a little?)
Golly Gosh, what an idea. Overnight is when I talk to myself. A vow of silence at night would probably destabalize me entirely.
Arrrrr...
there be plenty o' chantin' goin on on my ship. Every mornin', me crew gathers on the deck an shout "ARRRGHHH - ARRRGHHH - ARRRGHHH..." over an over while banging their heads on the deck.
They not be particularly religious, they just be stark ravin' mad.
I wonder... is there a patron god of pirates?
if not, there should be.
Well, Robert Newton be the patron saint o' Talk Like A Pirate Day.
'Ee be great inspiration to us all.
This chap might be a candidate:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saintS/saintg6t.htm (http://www.catholic-forum.com/saintS/saintg6t.htm)
Rather gives the impression he gave up the drinkin', women, cheatin' 'n' piratin' when he took up saintin' though.
I vote for Vern Troyer (alias Mini-me) for Midget Sainthood. That 'little booger' just rocks...'dont bite the kitty'
Well, we're not a religious monastery, more like a Zen monastery. It's a meditative place. But if Black Spot's crew likes to meditate by shouting "ARRRGGGHHH" while hitting their heads on the deck, so be it. Whatever works for you, as long as it doesn't harm others.
So, whereas other mediation focuses on the "Om," we focus on the "AARRRGGGG"? This could provide some great catharsis!
Quote from: NeferKa the Bodhipasta on September 27, 2006, 06:08:30 PM
So, whereas other mediation focuses on the "Om," we focus on the "AARRRGGGG"? This could provide some great catharsis!
Mediation with an OM or an AAAARRGG is a new one on me.
I can see it working in the marriage guidance agencies but maybe not ACAS or ABTA (respectively, organisation devoted to preventing and resolving employment disputes and Association of British Travel Agents who offer an independent arbitration service)
Quote from: NoName on September 28, 2006, 01:09:00 AM
Quote from: NeferKa the Bodhipasta on September 27, 2006, 06:08:30 PM
So, whereas other mediation focuses on the "Om," we focus on the "AARRRGGGG"? This could provide some great catharsis!
Mediation with an OM or an AAAARRGG is a new one on me.
Alternative Angry Argument Abatement, Resolution and Restitution Group... Guy?
Oh where oh where has our chantbox gone?
I don't see it today. Have the dairy goats eaten it?
we eat ANYTHING!
... it is giving me wind because it was full of hot air :D
Quote from: Opsanus tau on January 21, 2007, 08:08:12 PM
Oh where oh where has our chantbox gone?
I don't see it today. Have the dairy goats eaten it?
MB had to remove it because of bandwidth issues. Hopefully, it's temporary. See the topic over in Announcements.
Thanks Bob, and a 50th hug to you for re-directing me.
I searched yesterday for chat box, chant box, chatbox... possibly everything but shoutbox! Duh... :-[
You're welcome.
I'm often caught by that, too: a slight misspelling, or the term just slightly different that what is in general use.
;D
One learns a great many synonyms, if one is diligent enough. :D
Sibling 'mat0 worked up a beta split screen version of the Monastery, for those who want to chat and forum and the same time. You can try it at http://myacc.net/~nicorojas/TChatV.htm
I'm there, now. I notice I can't see my "replies to recent posts" sidebar, which is a slight disadvantage.
Now what I want is a browser which I can adjust for an individual browser window to be extra wide, but any new browser window I open to still be the usual size I have my browser window. Or alternatively, people to only shout short sentences ;)
anon - I like both the vertical and the horizontal splits, not sure which works best. Nice idea.
BTW, there is an horizontal version too:
http://myacc.net/~nicorojas/TChat.htm (http://myacc.net/~nicorojas/TChat.htm)
If you see a red button then the "dinger" is off for the chant box. Click the red button and you should hear a strumming sound when another person sends a message from the chant box. Once you click the red button it should turn green.
MB
That's a nice way to hear someone trying to communicate.
A group of us were playing with the split screen format last night. It was fun to scan the forum while simultaneously punning away with the sibs.
We noticed some things: One is that you can move the center bar over for more shoutbox space. The shoutbox side gets cut off, but the forum side squishes the information, so you can still read whatever is there, up to a point.
MB says that the revised version of the monastery he hopes to get going in the future will have a seperate shoutbox that can float wherever you like. That sounds great!
I'm testing the horizontal version of the split screen right now. The problem I'm seeing with it is that you can see the chantbox and the posting box without diminishing the forum to only a few lines of text.
Check this out! Outsourcing.... ;D
Wrapped:
http://gabbly.com/toadfishmonastery.com/forum/index.php
Unwrapped:
http://gabbly.com/toadfishmonastery.com/index.php
It doesn't like to play with Wrapped.
It looks really cool. I am sure it's just an AJAX app. We could use that one and maybe make a custom one later.
I was going to chant some more but I tried to run it wrapped and got knocked right out and never saw you again Aggie.
Quote from: Agujjim on March 29, 2007, 11:05:04 PM
Check this out!
http://gabbly.com/toadfishmonastery.com/forum/index.php
Yah, wrapped seems to run the main site and the floater, but not the forum.
I usually go unwrapped, so this is ideal for a temporary solution.
BTW, if we make a custom one later, can we have a 'floater' sync'd with a 'main page' fixed one? The floater's great for multi-taskers, but I'm sure some people would prefer a designated chat page (this one does do split screens similar to the betas that Zono put together).
Yes, looks like it sort of docks. I think I can make it work right after browsing the Developer FAQ page.
For $9.95 a month you get no ads. That might be worth it.
It's interesting that windows were invented and are now being uninvented ;)
http://gabbly.com/toadfishmonastery.com seems to work okay.
I added a link to the "Other Menu," for chanting. If you go to the home page http://toadfishmonastery.com there will be a "Chant" link below the "Other Menu." This link allows you to surf the site but still have a Chant window open. You can dock the Chant window with the controls in the upper left corner of the Chant window itself.
MB
I typed something in there the other day, but it isn't there now. I didn't register because I didn't want to put in another password, lazy thing that I am. Does it only save the registered user's remarks?
I think it expires when there's nobody around... so it's better for 'live' chat. The shoutbox is better for popping in and out and leaving messages.
It may expire but the words must be out there somewhere in the Universe ;)
That Gabbly chat is cool, but it doesn't seem very popular here. Should I stop pursuing it?
Rumble, here.
I guess we're more used to the chantbox, at least until we get the new system up.