Part 2: Dear Chowk Editors: A modest proposal for a re-envisioned CHOWK

[I'm also including the discussion that takes place on this topic, at the end of the iLog]

Dear Chowk Editors,

I have been interacting on chowk since the late 90's. It's been over a decade. Heck, I've moved countries, it's been that long.

When I started on chowk, I was excited. There was hope, there was promise. It seemed that this could be a place where artists and thinkers could get together and form a new virtual community...from which ideas could forment into artistic and social movements. Where artists could grow and go out into the world with songs, books, movies....and have those ideals resonate in a much larger sphere...I felt that chowk would be the incubator...the place that germinates that seed which will eventually grow into a tree.

Unfortunately, I have seen this dream slowly disintegrate into the fish market that chowk has become of late.

Allow me to elaborate what I mean by "fish market".

First, I don't really blame the chowk staff. This is an experiment, and there is a lot going on, from an infrastructure point of view, to general management etc. Plus, this is *almost* a user content driven site. So the users *almost* decide where the community goes. There is however a degree of responsibility that your editorial board must take, as the users are not completely free to publish, there is an editorial board that decides what gets published on Front Page, and what doesn't.

Second, I don't really blame the users either. There are some rotten apples that are rotting the cart, but they do not represent the overwhelming majority.

The overwhelming majority does not really come to chowk to be negative. Some of them are simply dragged into the negativity vortex, just because of what the current environment is. A brief look at chowk will show you the following:

- The articles that do well on FP are the ones that open up India Pakistan arguments or the ones that open up religious arguments. Yes, these types of controversial articles attract more attention in any environment, but if you look at the interacts on any chowk article, you'll find that there is no reasonable discussion. In fact, they are all pretty much shouting matches. An unsafe environment causes people to always be on the defensive. To never change their positions. To not be vulnerable. To tear into any weakness of the opponent. In such an environment, it is difficult to hear someone else over one's own din. Most interactions on FP are basically arguments where no side ever wins. These are not intellectual interactions. There is a way to change this...

- Unplugged has been a cesspool of negativity for the longest time. Again, most of the interactors there are not really looking to participate in negativity, but alas, that's the only medium available in that environment. I have taken a conscious decision of moving out of that environment to avoid that negativity.

Having said that, I do believe that there is a solution. It will take careful cultivation. Chowk is like a garden. Although the garden depends on the plants that grow here, and the plants really must do the growing on their own, it is the responsibility of the gardener to ensure that the right environment exists for the garden to flourish.

This does not really mean banning people etc...although that may sometimes be necessary. It means that one should actively promote a diverse range of opinions, and encourage editorial conduct based on merit and in the interest of diversification, rather than letting personal biases creep in. You do need to instill some sense of purpose...foster the artistic community, foster the intellectual community, etc.

In the past you have ran "focused topics", but they've been on "elections" or "earth quakes"...I propose that you continue with the idea of a theme...but towards a purpose.

Chowk can't just be a place where people come to waste time or to take out their frustrations on others by duking it out right or wrong.

Instead there should be a common goal towards which the site is going. I propose that that goal should be an artistic and intellectual one. You can focus, for example, on the various indian pakistani artists that are contributing to various societies around the world. You can solicit articles on such topics. You can feature thinkers amongst us that are participating on a larger scale debate about the human condition.

A sense of purpose and vision are necessary to move chowk forward. The slogans of "all are welcome to read, write, and think" are neither focused enough, nor adhered to by you guys. You need a laser sharp purpose and focus, and you need to keep asking yourself...are we getting closer to that purpose? And if not, what should we do to make it happen?

Other articles can continue to be published, but a non-biased yet focused editorial vision and purpose are necessary. I see that vision as chowk becoming a place where the next generation of artists and thinkers of pakistani and indian origin can collaborate and thrive.

What do you say?

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Posted by ZK on Friday July 18, 2008 09:09 am
Sr Uragano

Brilliant! What a ‘visionary’ strategy...

Chowk Editors – the ball is in your court.

[hurricane's note: so sue me, I wanted to include the comments that describe me as brilliant and a visionary]

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Posted by Salim_Chauhan on Friday July 18, 2008 09:40 am
Harry Pi,
What a sincerely-written and beautifully-expressed article. It contains passion, objectivity, and a call to reason. In my opinion, this ilog belongs as an article on FP.

Chowk Staff,
Please pay attention to the message expressed by Hurricane and don't get merely lost in the admiring trance of his wonderful writing style. The man is a genius and deserves a worthy stage. Publish him NOW, please!

[hurricane's note: ahem. We're confusing the issue: publish Masadi, and listen to Hurricane for shaping the future chowk. I support both]

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Posted by quin on Saturday July 19, 2008 03:47 pm
Hurricane, you are talking to a ‘matrix’. Have you seen the movie? What you are saying is sincere and brilliant – but naïve. (I thought I was the only one around here – j k) Have you considered what might be the real purpose of Chowk? In my profession, no matter how good an idea of energy conservation I take to the upper management, they ask how it will impact the bottom line. And then of course, there are other innumerable factors, which will determine an outcome. For whatsoever reasons Chowk decided not to moderate the discussions, but they seem to have some criteria in mind for FP - hard to guess though. Also, they do block some interacts, probably the one extremely offensive. Having an editorial indicating some sense of purpose and then following it through with laser sharp vision is all good, but do they have resources to do that; do they have in their so called ‘editorial board’ people who can or willing to take all that trouble – and why? And most of all why I would be bothered? If I want my publication in a different quality e-zine or where I feel more valued or more fit-in, I will just pursue that course. Having said that, I sincerely hope your suggestions are listened to but remember Matrix works on a programming whose codes are not open to all.

[hurricane's note: my comments to follow below]

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Posted by quin on Saturday July 19, 2008 04:09 pm
Following is copied from an earlier interact - if you have not seen that before:
"Think about Chowk. As its name implies it is place of crossing roads and to do some tit-e-tete. And chair chaar. And gup shup. And yes, on one corner someone may be doing some serious stuff, or not so serious, and folks may gather around to listen to his or her wonderful creations and give daad and all that. But it is a chowk true to its name. There are many serious sites, which control the quality of articles and quality of interacts – but they are not called Chowk. (Unfortunately very few from South East Asian background. Though one I have heard is ‘Khabar’ – anyone tried that?) Now back to Chowk. So when you come to Chowk you may be very moazzaz Lukhnavi hazrat or something but don’t expect that you are in divan khana. You are at chowk. Now please I am not condoning bad language. I have never used such – even in my abrasiveness – as I have said elsewhere, there is not even enough time in this short life to love, how we can afford to fight – but at the same time we cannot afford to be dishonest."
My interact: June 24 on Article: Freud and Jung ...

[hurricane's note: my comments to follow below]

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Posted by hurricane on Monday July 21, 2008 08:31 am
Quin,

thanks for responding to the original iLog, and I agree with your analysis that often times at chowk, the important topics are the ones that go uncommented.

That has to do more with the environment, not the individual aspirations of readers. If people fell "yeah that's nice, but that ain't gonna happen", they will be apathetic at best to such proposals of change.

I can't blame the readers. The environment is cultivated by the editors, if there are any. IF there aren't, then it's a user governed environment.

I feel that the chowk editors mean well, but they have way too much to do...and contrary to popular belief, I don't think chowk is a cash cow.

However, no matter how hard the work is, I'm simply challenging chowk editors to look at the environment, and what they may do to improve it:

1. Disclose the names (or nicks) of the editors and moderators...this is not something that should be hidden. They need to become transparent.

2. Determine what direction they want to take chowk towards, and work actively to move towards that direction...currently there doesn't seem to be a direction.

Your comments re: the Matrix, are sort of stating that apathy. I do agree with a lot of what you say...however, I think chowk editors are open to change...they just don't know HOW to change.

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Posted by hurricane on Monday July 21, 2008 12:10 pm
Post by CheGuevara on Jul 19, 2008 9:13:48 pm

so what exactly do you propose? Chowk should start by targetting a young more artsy audience

Post by hurricane on Jul 21, 2008 12:09:48 pm

Hey Che,

Well I think the audience is already there...what I'm suggesting is that Chowk Editors figure out a clear and rzor sharp focus and purpose.

If there is an editorial choice, I can't really see it. The only thing that dominates chowk is india-pakistan or hindu-muslim arguments.

Either chowk is a place that is not intended for much more than shouting and arguing - a laudable purpose - or it is a place that cultivates growth of some sort.

I'm not suggesting *not* publishing the india pakistan fight inducing articles (well, ANYTHING induces the same arguments now), what I am suggesting is a clear eye towards introducing the talent of these peoples. The best place to start is at the artistic level...it promotes positivity.

I'm suggesting that there needs to be a place where positive interactions can start happening as well.

The editors could actually run this more like a magazine (this month our focus will be such and such, next month our focus will be such and such)...you know...

It is all do-able. I would like to see the many (and there are numerous) talented vocal and silent participants of chowk have a place where positive growth can happen.