Current Community 2010: What are your ideas?

I remember Current was way different at this time. Still had a bright future

LETS GET THE BUD GROUP MORE MAINSTREAM ATTENTION!

I think it would be awesome if Current got an interview with the President...and people got to ask him questions from Current. Written or video form. It would be an even handed question and answer.

I'd really like to see a west coat meet up. Maybe there's been one, but Im unaware of it. Im from southern CA, where Current Corp is located in L.A ( i think? ) so I'd imagine them doing it out of L.A? But, I'd like to meet fellow current users and people that work at Current. A pity though, some real awesome people on here are East Costers.

I would like to see a group that supports nerds. Like dorky cult films, indie films, comic books and video games. but, maybe that's a bit lame, Im not sure.

Not to just copy the : "popular sites" but current could use personalized profile pages to better get connected with other people. all so an instant chat. or a current chat room were fun arguing and debating could happen on different subjects faster then the old back and forth that accumulates a hundred comments on a story between 2 people.
these 2 things would be relatively easy to add and would be efficient and fun.

Collabs yes! More video responses yes though I don't know if I want my likeness out there I'd probably do it anyways. And though it's the generally tolerant and inclusive nature of Current that's got me addicted to this site, I hope it'll get better.

I'd really like to be a part of dreams and visions. And I think a current meet up would also be cool.

I forgot to say that if you have a group going or have created a new one, please post a link so we can join!

TRUE OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA NEEDS THIS:

1.) Free Education for all! K-12 and Higher.

2.) Nonintervention Foreign Policy: We need to bring back ALL of our troops and bases from all over the world home. Focus on our borders instead.

3.) Immigration Reform: If all immigrants were to be eligible for citizenship by 1. Joining the Military or 2. Pursuing at least a 2-year degree education in America our economy would sky rocket up.

4.) The War on Drugs: Decriminalize all drugs and treat drug abusers as a health issue rather than punishment! Drug war is a failure.

5.) Grow hemp! Hemp can revolutionize our dependence on oil. Hemp can produce a much cleaner fuel Australia uses today...ethanol.

Merchandies store would be cool. The stuff could be completely different from the Swag that you send us if we level up.

Obviously Current has a way of gauging a User's level of contribution which is pretty cool. I myself am not a huge contributor. But here's a contribution...

It seems to me that those who do contribute the most to Current should have more influence on the direction Current goes. Of course, by contributing, user are influencing Current. But I was thinking more along the lines of the voting system.

My idea is that any user who contributes the most to Current would be able accrue some sort of seniority. With that seniority, that user would be able to have more and more influence on which stories move to the top, and which stories move down.

Any old person can sign up on Current and within moments start voting away. And that's cool! However, there's a lot of crap that somehow makes it to the top and I often hear other user's saying "this is news?".

With a seniority system, through regular contribution, a user would be able to gauge their level of seniority just like they would their level contribution, and be able to use that seniority.

Imagine a story about Salma Hayek's dress moving quickly up to the top. Yea, it's a sexy dress, but the reason that it's moving to the top quickly is because low level seniority user's are making so. But then a high level seniority user, or users come along and gives his/her stamp of disapproval. That story gets squashed back to the bottom where it comes from.

It would also be nice to see a count of how many votes a story has had, and by who.

Maybe this type of system is already in place and I'm making a goofball out of me self. Or maybe this type of system would be too difficult to implement... I don't know.

Let me know what any of yous folks thinks:)

I thought it would be cool if Current had it's own movie awards in word more than in actually giving. People on Current who were regulars (not just those who sign up) would be able to nominated and then vote on who won for different categories. They wouldn't have to be the same kind like the Oscars....or be like the Oscars and MTV mashed together.

Since people think that they tend to be wrong (for the most part) that it would be cool to be part of some award giving....even if it really is just a word giving.

We are making plans with my local community organization to create an HIV Channel with locally produced videos about prevention for different age groups.

I'm interested in video comments and responses as being more of a common thing, rather then continue using up multiple 3000 character-comment slots. I intend on making some of my own, but its something I would like to see many more members do. The Rotten Tomatoes show, and sometimes Infomania, gets viewers that do it for various reasons, like reviewing movies and such. I would like to see it done on all matters, serious or not. Watching a video of someone expressing themselves can be so much more personal and entertaining then text comments. As many of you know, the important information and links can still be given in text along with the videos. Hopefully, sharing this idea will inspire others to consider doing it themselves.

Now I realize the irony of discussing an idea to create video comments by typing it out, when I could have done a video; but I am on my parent's couch, visiting for the holidays, its 2 am and my dad is working on his snoring skills in the next room. I would have waited to do the video at a better time, but I really wanted to get my idea out there ASAP, plus I'll be able to make a proper first video when i am ready. That's my bit. Toot taloo.

I think it is the current state of human nature to be ready and quick to jump in and say what is wrong with something. Follow it up with how the site owners can change it to make it better. What I prefer to offer instead of a punch list of negatives that then should have to go straight to the project manager or webmaster (or Al Gore) to begin to make those changes immediately! is suggestions that the community itself can help bring to light. If you don't like stories about celebrities, perhaps help post stories about other things. If a topic isn't being covered enough, then follow what seems to be the intended dynamic of the site and cover it and create interest around it. I don’t see why Al Gore needs to come post a video on the site of himself wearing hemp pajamas. I think he is probably really busy. Sites do change, and I am very new to this one. People talk about how a site just isn’t what it used to be or isn’t what it should be and then that’s all they have to say about it and all that they are willing to do about it. I recommend for everyone reading this to do the following: reread a post before you post, and if you find you are just laying out the issues and challenges without offering solutions, rewrite it until you offer something valuable. I think if people can overcome our current negative conditioning to respond to things in this way, all of humanity will see huge returns in morale and evolution in more ways than we know.

Collaboration: absolutely. I'm kind of new to this site, but have been a fan of current television for almost a year. I have uploaded 1 video, a 3.5 minute documentary. Right now I am DEEPLY fascinated by the fact that I can speak out and be heard by a community whose spheres of interest certainly overlap my own. I have web development and social network platform building experience, and I must say this site DOES IT DELICIOUSLY. I love it.

Regarding the monthly challenges - that is interesting. I just joined both the Art Gallery and Creative Writing groups, but was not sure where to find the information on those challenges. I bet when there is a challenge, it is obvious and there just doesn’t happen to be one right now?

I was just about to ask you “What’s the difference between Science and Technology” and wouldn’t you know it’s a question popular enough to be the google dynamic suggestion number one at just “what's the difference between sci”. Science is knowing, technology is doing. Since I tend to do a lot of things without knowing it exactly, and don’t always know what I am doing, I guess I will stick with the technology group. Maybe one day I’ll start thinking things through a little more. ;)

Ah what the frack, I’ll join it anyways, you got me. :D

I would be interested in helping with group moderation, Dreams & Visions in particular. Are there any requirements as far as levels and feedback that I will need to hit before I should put myself out there for that?

New ideas for a group? I’ve got a few. Should I create them or discuss them? Hmm.... Creative Collaboration Online. Creative Reviews. I have spent the last year in a very active, dynamic community that fosters creative development and growth through useful feedback that always has an encouraging flavor to it. Have you ever seen some of the awful, thoughtless remarks posted to Youtube? It’s kind of like that, where sometimes the remarks didn’t take any thought at all, it might seem, but even so are still in that sweet encourage”mint” flavor. ;)

Amazing site, and community. And you asked for it!!! So there it was. Hopefully I’ve said something of value here. I look forward to hearing more about how to get involved with the groups. I think I’ll create those groups now.

Cheers -
Kenneth

Please keep in mind that this is an idea post about things that the community members can do and not what we wish the staff would change.

It would be nice to see a more simple, integrated approach to group subscription. Perhaps on a registered user's homepage or 'my current page', in which content from all of your groups was displayed together, maybe more twitter integration in this respect as well. Also maybe some easier way of browsing groups, rather than having to search for groups which may be entirely fictitious or simply devoid of participants.

I agree with " *two fingerz* ", I think Current should really step up support of HEMP, I know they have a lot of patience for us cannabis/hemp enthusiasts, but patience, and tolerance only does so much.

I mean seriously wasn't Current founded by Al Gore? doesn't he still have a pretty fair amount of clout? All that talking I've never heard him mention HEMP!. Is he aware of it? Does he or the rest of Current not realize that most of our ancestors wouldn't have made it here without HEMP!? Canvas (word derived from cannabis and originally made from) was the sails on the ships including the Mayflower, and what held those big canvas/cannabis sails up? that's right HEMP rope.... Hemp and it's uses do go on for miles, the benefits of cannabis/hemp far outweigh unfounded insanity that brought about prohibition.

I'm just saying Mr. Gore is all "green" and gung-ho save the planet, but he seems to have neglected a beautiful thing. Not only that, him and people like him could be the push we need to bring about realistic, planet saving hemp reform.

Oh and where is this phantom Mr. Gore, I've yet to see him be an active part of these here inter-nets he created....

One idea I can think of is I'd like to see better moderated placement of stories. I see lots of stories in sectinos/groups they have no business in just for either lack of a proper group or people just trying to up their stories view. There needs to be a catch all category for some of the stuff that doesn't belong in the main groups. For example: Two seconds of an AC/DC song is in played in the background of a video about dogs laughing while a shot of Phantom Menace can be seen briefly on a TV as the camera pans around the room. The main video is about a laughing dog. So put it in viral videos or comedy not music , movies, or news.

I agree partially at least....current.tv has definitely gone down hill. They need to bring back the old format with more VCC. Aside from Vanguard, which is truly excellent, the rest is pretty stupid. I mean SuperNews, Rotten Tomatoes, Max & Jason, etc....? What a crock. And the preposterously misrepresentative anti-drug campaigns- jesus, don't get me started on that. It's insulting.

Current.com seems alright, though my sense after lurking for a few months is that perhaps it had better days. And I'm guessing fixing current.tv would help there as well.

Why did that ever even happen? Certainly viewers that loved the old format were VERY dissapointed by the new.

I'm growing more and more disappointed with current.com and current tv. I plan on devoting less time to both of them in the decade to come.

i feel that Cannabis/Hemp is an extremely important subject to concentrate on. even if current doesn't want to advocate smoking an illegal substance, Hemp cannot be smoked. We all know the numerous uses for hemp and the effects it would have environmentally.

i believe hemp should be pushed in order to stop the killing of millions of century old trees, and producing billions of tons of carbon gas into the air from various other products. hemp would almost put a stop to all of that.

its just a suggestion, but i do believe that it is an extremely important thing to focus on to also help stimulate our economy and create millions of jobs....

peace n much love.

*two fingerz*

Awesome! I can moderate any of those cuz I'm obsessive like that.

I'm still hoping and planning on a meetup in DC. Been there once and would love to visit again.

I'll be doing the Weekly Otaku videos again soon, but less frequently. Thinking of calling the Whenever-the-hell-I-get-time Otaku.

Very excited!