Ah Ludwig, I might have presented slightly more posts than you but that in no way diminishes the merit of your effort.

Of all the posters here you are one for whom I have a permanent respect and certainly one who I would like to chew over worldly affairs (and its a couple of beers) with someday.

We have disagreed on many things (although the one big thing.. people numbers, we are in full agreement on) but you have never been initiated an ad hominine attack, for which I am grateful and respectful.

It pleased me to know you will be endeavouring to add to the number of future posts… maybe revisit this particular topic when you reflect on 6,000 posts

Cheers

CR

"Some peoples opinions are just that. Without a constructive word to be seen.
All of these off site references, are someone Else's opinion, which does not mean a thing, some scientific reference is good.
Have a good day.
Posted by Desmond, Thursday, 26 November 2009 7:07:20 AM"

My reference posts are not opinion but backed by solid verifiable evidence so I recon they count for something
especially since the evidence is written in Legislation of the Government, verifiable by the universe.

"It might occasionally make individual people such as me aware of issues that might otherwise have passed them by. But influence policy? Don't think so."

It's a proven fact that one person can make a difference. even being made aware of an issue has a domino effect.
'The fluttering of one butterfly in a rainforest' to coin a phrase

"the few politicians/public servants..i have met here..are fixed in stone...mainly intent in bolstering their point"

Everyone has an alternative agenda - mine is to light a fuse of logical evaluation, then hope someone will' blow the whistle and yell fire in the hold before the situation implodes'
No matter what the issue, because people are basically logical in their own minds, someone in a corrupt system will eventually reveal all [ just like the ETS and it's complete scam ].

Things to think about in Brisbane
'http://thadeus-sez.blogspot.com/'

Wonderful stuff Col. It is posts like this that really do make me feel as though old OLO has got a lot going for it.

I’ll remember your kind words the next time I feel a bit depressed about not getting anywhere with my great concerns – population growth and sustainability, or the next time our mutual pain in the backside, CJ Morgan, levels his trade-mark insults at me just out of the blue!

….
Pepper, I see that have been a very occasional poster on this forum for a long time. Do you post elsehwere? Can you give us a comparison between OLO and any other sites?

Aaaargh. The confounded missing word syndrome strikes again.

This is one of the bad things about OLO: you can’t easily deal with errors that despite religious proof-reading and spell and grammar checking before posting, just keep damn well ‘appenin’! Grrrr.

That should have read;

Pepper, I see that YOU have been a very occasional poster…..

Wow good effort Ludwig.

As you know I share your concerns about population and sustainability and I think there is growing support so don't be disheartened. However, at worst, the way of things is sometimes chaos happens before people react - we are not always pro-active beings.

As for the impact of OLO - I couldn't say. I know as a public servant articles on OLO do get distributed around if they are relevant to a particular policy area so that is something. The Government is pretty big on monitoring the media so maybe OLO makes a small blip towards gauging public perceptions and opinions.

Whether the comments from the users rate anything with our fearless leaders who knows.

Glad to hear you are staying around. You have always been a polite, friendly and thoughtful poster.

What effect does OLO have?
Presumably we all want reform of some kind--those who don't must like things just the way they are, and I doubt there are many so contented.
In my view OLO is not only useless when it comes to the genuine reforms we need, it actually helps to entrench the status quo.
Our system is such that it will accommodate a great deal, gradually, thereby creating an illusion that we're progressive. Society's mores and norms are sacred, after all, and cannot be "seen" to be too flexible. How magnanimous of society, then, to be gradually bestowing equality status on women, gays, ethnic groups and children.
How sacred were those mores of yore? Who or what is this feckless lawgiver we esteem so highly, who vacillates so freely on our petite bourgeois "values"; who outrages and patronises at once, and accommodates both; whose grinning winning ways are perennially resented and reconciled?
OLO is this process in the lab, which allows the policy-makers to pre-empt the next push, and so maintain the illusion.
OLO is the exercise yard, where we work-out and puff ourselves up with discourse; where we conspire and collude and kid ourselves.
It's the ultimate panopticon that patronises us and informs policy all at once.
OLO provides quality data.
I'm trying to see a positive; can anyone help me?
Will be away for a few days now but the question as to OLO's effectiveness is an important issue ... ?
P.S. The Marxist terminology is there as an irritant for those who deserve it, and not my pigeon-hole :-)