What's the point?
We believe that there are too few people engaged in active, lively discourse about the state of arts and culture, the uses and abuses of public policy and planning, the importance and impact of architecture and design and the evolution and value of community. Lectures and public meetings which discuss these ideas, don't offer input to enough people and fail to allow for ideas which may percolate over a period of time rather than "in the moment." Many people are more comfortable contributing their thoughts on such important topics when they've had a chance to compose and review them in comfort. At the same time, the public lacks a good venue for distilling ideas and responses and consequently arrives at public meetings ready to be angry or complain, rather than contribute productive advice.

OK, so what is it?
disCOARSE is a venue for frank discussion of the broad range of issues which impact the quality of life, the economy, and the culture of Santa Fe, Northern New Mexico, and the surrounding region. The "letters to the editor" section of your favorite newspaper isn't able to catalog and maintain the entire thread of an ongoing conversation in the same way that an online resource such as disCOARSE is able to. Anybody, at any time, is welcome to jump into the conversation and have equal input into goings on in the community.

Why the funny, punny name?
It's an attempt to challenge the overly cautious, extra-polite, politically correct manner in which we tend to speak to each other. We believe that straight-talking, honest, opinionated, coarse discussion is more productive than walking on eggshells in an effort to keep from insulting anyone. "Rough talk = smooth world" is the motto around here. With that being said, there's a big difference between bluntness and disrespect. Do speak your mind, but any articles, forum postings or wiki entries which demonstrate a lack of respect or derogative phrasing toward individuals or groups, will be met with deletion and warning. Too many warnings will result in the removal of posting privileges.

Why is it so focused on Santa Fe, New Mexico?
The short answer is because Santa Fe needs some focus. The longer answer is that we hope discussion on this site isn't about abstract ideals; whether the topic is a painting, a planning commission or a new paleta vendor, we want to get into the meat of how ideas and issues affect the unique makeup of this community. Too broad a dialogue tends to avoid the engagement and ownership that can lead to real solutions and evolutions.

If that's true, why are some articles about other places and other things?
Because no community is a closed system. Obviously, it's important to learn from others and to be an active node, rather than a black hole, for information and ideas.

Why do I have to register?
Not only is registration required in order to be able to participate in the discussions (although you may lurk and read), but we strongly encourage registration using your real name rather than a generic username. The downside to internet-based discussion is the tendency to become snippy, belligerent and sloppy with facts and assertions in an anonymous environment. There certainly is a time and a place where information from unknown sources is helpful, but we're all also trying to be part of a community that has continuing value and progress. By being unique individuals who are willing to stand up for our personal ideals and statements, we can create an atmosphere of leadership and accountability.

How can I participate?
Register for the site and jump right into discussing posted articles or bringing up your own ideas in the forum. Whether you want to start an informal conversation or post a more formal essay or commentary, we welcome your input. Another important way to participate is to use the wiki features of the site to help build articles and white papers through common consensus.

Wiki what now?
Each week, one of the critical reviews posted—food, music, visual art, performance, what have you—will be selected to do double duty and the article's text will be opened up to wiki editing by any registered user of disCOARSE.com. If you disagreed with the author's point of view, this is an opportunity not just to debate it, but to literally alter the text. At the end of the week, both the original article and the final product of wiki editing will be archived for side by side viewing. Additionally, disCOARSE features "wiki white papers," wherein a proposed solution to some dilemma or issue facing the community, the region, etc, will be posted. Through wiki editing, users will be able to add their own ideas and alter existing ones, with the goal of building the best solutions to the most vexing problems through community and consensus. Each year, disCOARSE will publish the finished versions of the collected white papers.

What if I want to submit an "official" article that will appear on the homepage?
Go ahead and email your text to the submissions@discoarse.com department. Please type "submission" in the subject field and limit your text to less than 1,000 words. If we feel it's right for disCOARSE, we'll post it. Who knows? You may eventually become a regular contributor.

How do I download and print the an article I'd like to keep and display?
When viewing articles on the homepage or in any of the specific categories (Look, Listen, Eat, etc), you'll see a link which reads "Printer Friendly Version" or "Download PDF." Clicking that link will cause a new window to open in your browser, where'll you have the option to print or to save it for your own archives or future use. An arrow a the bottom of each page allows you to scroll through the last several posted articles. If you need to find a file from several weeks or months ago, you'll find that any category which has developed an archive, will have a small "archive" link at the top right of the page, just above the article and below the banner image. Using that link will allow you to search previous content.

Why are there advertisements?
We're not going to get too noble about this: running a full time website with dynamic content and regular users takes a lot of energy. It's very similar to publishing a 'zine or (gasp) even a whole magazine. The advertising helps to support the web hosting, and the time and energy that goes into keeping disCOARSE on track. That said, we also don't want our users to be bombarded with useless and evil imagery that sucks bandwidth from the web and money from communities. The only advertising dollars we accept are from local businesses and organizations who are just as committed to the quality of life and the future of Santa Fe, and New Mexico, and the surrounding area as anyone else. The internet is a powerful and fascinating tool and it often is good for tracking down cheap prices and rare products. But when you buy locally, your money stays in town and your town retains the character that made you love it to begin with. A significant percentage of money earned through advertising also goes to support the annual disCOARSE Awards.

What are these "disCOARSE Awards?"
Right now, they're a dream. But by sometime in 2008, the disCOARSE Awards (or the "disCOs") we'll pull every red cent we can from contributions, schwag purchases and advertising and put that money toward grants to individuals. The grants will honor the best and most innovative artists, policy makers, musicians, chefs, performers, etc of the past year. A dynamic community which attracts creative artists and entrepreneurs needs to have a mechanism for recognizing the boldest and most exciting innovations and these awards are meant to initiate that process. Each award will be money in the bank for the recipient, with no caveats as to how it must be spent or used. Of course the recipients, the categories, the amounts, etc, will all be determined by a disCO award panel, which has yet to be convened and, in the interest of doing things through community and consensus, some of these details may change. The spirit of the awards will come through intact however. Rest assured, we'll be polling the online community here at disCOARSE.com for its input.

I still have questions…

Contact
Drop us a line, and we'll try to respond to your queries and concerns as soon as possible.