Interesed in an ecology, gardening, environment forum?

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I have a deep interest in the natural world, our interactions with it, it's other occupants and the ethics and science of it all.

I often get the urge to make posts along these lines but find that I don't as there is no appropriate place to put it, Computers, Science, Maths and Technology isn't the place even though some science is related. PPR isn't appropriate and the 'regulars' there would probably tend toward hostility rather than discussion of much of the subject matter... where does one discuss lifestyle changes, deep ecology, advice on animal husbandry or gardening? Is there enough interest for our own forum and therefore our own sub-group or community here?

If you are interested please 'register' by voting and making a post, peace j

i would be very interested.

I'd be in favour of a forum like that.

Count me in.

Cool, positive responses so far, let's hope there is enough support to take the case to the moderators or whoever...

peace j

Biology and ecology being my favorite scientific subjects, I'd love to have a forum like that.

Yes, please.

Where is the 'no' option? I am for it, though, btw, but that's a pretty biased poll, lol (literally)
Why do you think PPR regulars would be hostile to this? Who's to say that Mr ruveyn doesn't tend to his flower garden in between shooting down dirty socialist hippies, or Inuyasha has a tulip collection near his Glenn Beck shrine?

I likely wouldn't post much in it, because my knowledge on those subjects is rather limited, but such a forum would arouse my interest to where I'd lurk around in it and see what everybody is talking about.

That would be so great.

I absolutely love nature and gardening.

Firstly the 'poll' is bogus, it is intended to be a 'register of interest' some way of keeping track without counting postings.

As for my anticipated hostility, well lets say it is a gut thing. Both the grouping of harder sciences that is 'Science, Math etc' and the PPR forums are environments [pardon the pun] that have failings for the kind of discussion I would anticipate. It would be fine as long as you wanted simple threads like 'post a picture of your horse', 'what is delateraling my tomatoes exactly?' etc. However as soon as you ventured into the incredibly complex areas of deep ecology or biosphere balance I could see two things happening.

In the harder science the aspie tendency to pedantic absolutist reductionist thinking would constantly deny the more lateral multidisciplinary studies. The inevitable conflict between the arrogance of the reductionist method and the lateral would ultimately distract any discussion from the origional intentions of the poster. I aren't explaining this particularly well but I think if you read Edward Goldsmiths arguments in 'The Way' in regard this you may see my point.

With regard PPR I don't find it a particularly 'open' discussion that goes on there, I see lots of fundamentalist stances and alpha male chest beating and only a little inteligent discussion [for the most part]. The debate between the two oposing stances of fundamentalist christianity and 'strident atheism' is endless and ultimately pointless - surely? and North American domestic politics and cultural ground pounding dominates[perhaps this is inevitable in a world where they dominate the english speaking www?]. While this could under other circumstances be an appropriate place for discussions in regard environmental ethics/philosophy, social ecology, global justice the like - I am sure you could anticipate the response and I certainly am not inclined to open a discussion there, I seldom post there or even lurk anymore as it worsens my depression issues.

I am anticipating a forum where people can exchange information rather than compare genatalia size and denounce each other on ideological grounds. I would like to learn things here, I would like to be able to engage in discussions about things that aren't dualistic but broad and seeking to be even broader.

Ultimately however it will be what the users make it if it even happens.

Thanks to everyone for showing interest I was going to thank you all individually by PM but decided not to, I hope that doesn't offend

peace j

double posting, my bad, peace j

I'm a fan of the Science of ecology, less so in the folk movement.

I wouldn't say the reductionist method is arrogant, rather it points out inconsistencies in an idea, which can throw some people into a hissy. If you're contradicting yourself, or observations people have made under controlled circumstances, then you're likely wrong, and pointing it out could only be a good thing.

Still, PPR wouldn't be a good place for such discussions, and the Science forum is unfortunatly a bit dead (sigh), so I wouldn't object to you having your own subforum.

I apologise, I should have said occaisional arrogance, thanks for your pointing this out, I must have come accross as, well, arrogant - which is ironic as If you were to meet me, by aspie standards I am remarkably reasonable which is why I would like to see a space created for creative discussions,

peace j

I'd love to point out that a methodology can't be arrogant, only it's users, but that would be too much pedantic reductionism even for me! Damn my nit-picking mind...