Is the Massachusetts forum going "lite"?

[paineinthearse]

I am at a loss to understand why the Massachusetts forum is extremely active in areas pertaining to tourism and social activities, yet is relatively silent on issues relating to activism and political events.

Here are a few examples from the first page with the number of replies to each.

THE "SOCIAL" POSTS:

Cape Cod or Nantucket? 14

What advice would you give to someone moving to the Boston area? 65

THE "POLITICAL" POSTS:

Kerry criticizes Mass. Democrats for gay marriage support 6

MA Democrat Party Platform to include pro-same-sex marriage 3

Gay marrigage in MA - will there be a Constitutional amendment 6

Neo-Nazi Hub protest angers Holocaust survivors 3

Yom HaShoah Holocaust Commemoration 0

"Religious-Left" Reverend Jim Wallis, Harvard Monday, May 9 @ 6:30 0

Task Force:Senator Kerry's Remarks on Marriage Equality Wrong & Mistake 2

WTF: Foreign policy plank omitted from this year's MA platform ???!!! 2

Anyone else involved in a prop 2.5 override campaign this year? 2

Lobbying and Ethics Reform Act of 2005 0

Fundie assholes "celebrating" May 10th in Boston (other upcoming events) 0

Opportunity to infiltrate The Anti-gay fundies at Article 8 Alliance 2

EXCEPTION - There is one post I would consider to be "quasi-political", but I belive the reason it is active is that it appeals to emotions. It is not an organizational or activist post at all.

Why is Kerry so disliked here at DU ? 60

I am sure we are active in our own ways. My question to the group is what it will take to inspire more of us reply to the posts related to political events, town and ward committees, attend forums with the likes of resident scholars such as Chomsky & Edwards and the ongoing events (Iraq war veterans, holocost memorial, election fraud, etc.) at Faneuil Hall.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. Many of us are active in local politics

and don't need to be prodded into participation. Many do not post about it on public message boards. That is their prerogative.

Not to be snotty, but who are you to judge what people decide to post about? All those topics relate to Massachusetts. If they don't live up to your standards, 'hide thread' is a good option.

One of the worst things you can do on this board is preach. People will shut you right down.

[paineinthearse]

2. Not to be snotty at all...

No inference made to our active lives, it's the lack of responses that I am trying to understand.

[woosh]

3. Actually, what's going on in the "social" thread, like the moving one,

is an actual discussion. The poster has several conversations going on with several people. Most of the other "discussion" threads are a series of statements with very little interaction.

That's the difference. The "lite" is because there isn't enough interest in the specific forum to keep people coming back regualrly. For instance, I visit once a day.

[curse10]

4. who the hell cares?

I don't post to those posts because I don't find them postworthy. If they are just announcing an event I'll just go if I'm interested. No need to comment on it.

Other scenario: Perhaps it's not the post itself, but the poster. Food for thought.

[jmm]

5. Many of those "political posts"

are duplicates which appeared in numerous busier forums only days before an event happened. So if someone doesn't check this forums daily what incentive would they have to post in a thread they probably saw somewhere else usually after an event happened?

[dddem]

6. Speaking strictly for myself,

And in no way implying that I'm correct in my assumptions, but living in Massachusetts makes me feel "safe", if you know what I mean. I live in the same state as Ted Kennedy and gay marriage - life is good. I guess I don't feel the same rage as I do with our federal government. I mean, I realize Romney is a boob, but basically, I don't feel as though my rights or my lifestyle is in any real jeopardy. I guess I don't feel angry when I'm in this forum, as much as elsewhere. This is home, you know? I can speak up when I think somethings unfair, and I don't have to worry about losing my job or my friends the way I wold somewhere else. Truth be told, my husband and I were thinking of moving our family south for economic reasons (the only thing about Mass. that pisses me off), but got cold feet when we thought about the difference in attitudes in other parts of the country. For instance, I'd have to remove my "straight but not narrow" bumper sticker off the station wagon. Here, I post it proudly, with no fear of negative repercussion.
I guess that attitude translates to this forum as well. Things are not perfect, sure, but when you look at the big picture, it's better than a lot of other places, you know?
If it's any consolation, I do read most of the posts, and I've learned a lot. I have begun doing more locally, thanks to this forum, AND I signed up to volunteer at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention this weekend - thanks to information I got here. I'm so excited!
End of ramble!
Peace.