We are making some changes at the Lace on Race Cafe!

Nothing big; minor refreshes. Kinda like changing out the drapes, or getting new napkin rings and forks for the kitchen. 

As most of you know these last months have been an exhilarating and productive time. Over the last year, we have reached more people than ever before, both on and offline.

But, or rather, And.

It has also been something of a challenging time. Since opening up the Lace on Race Cafe, with plans for the Bistro being our main gathering place, we also chose to keep open the legacy commenting feature on the more formal website.

We are changing that. People are more engaged in the Bistro, and the rare comment submitted on a post  may be just as easily made at the Bistro, or on any one of the other discussion forums, which I look so forward to relaunching. 

There are many benefits; not least of which is cohesion. For a while, we were crossposting on the website to both the Bistro, as well as on the more formal website. We have also been cross-posting to my personal page, and to the Facebook Page, which we call the Takeout Window.

For the most part, I have stopped cross-posting on my personal page. In the Takeout Window, we are moving more and more to providing a teaser and a link to the Bistro. For now, we are keeping the comment section active in the Takeout Window, but we are seriously considering disabling that feature in favor of supporting the robust conversation in the Bistro at the Lace on Race Cafe. 

Another reason is the transparency and courage which are hallmarks of the LoR ethos and method. In streamlining all comments into Bistro discussions, commenters will need to register, using real names and photos; no fake avatars or pictures of pets or landscapes. This is the best way, in an online forum, to ensure that our shared commitment to eye-to-eye Full Respect Living is honored. 

There will be other benefits as well! Comments will be better organized, and so much easier to find and to navigate. Even though legacy comments are moderated, there is no way to ensure  users give real names, email addresses and pictures. Keeping the discussions in strong alignment with our shared ethos will go a long way in keeping our orchard safe and strong. 

Don’t worry: we are lowering no veils; we are not going more opaque. Again, faithful commitment to our values.  Those who first find us on the formal website will find the link to our Cafe on our home page. The Cafe is and will remain publicly visible. Our commitment to openness and transparency and community will never waver. 

Again, But, or rather, And. 

As much as we value and will always live out transparency and openness and flat and round, we also are big fans of the accountable and the visible and of mutual knowing. 

So–here’s to change! Here’s to meeting new companions in the Cafe!! 

I look so forward to continued robust and spirited conversation in our shared Cafe!

See you there!