Can I just say that this place rocks?!

[babylonsister]

For so many reasons, but imo the jury system is working as it should. The people who shouldn't be here are gone. Admins, you have my thanks. My harbour at times. but it works.

[calimary]

1. Yes, you can!

And I will join you in saying so! This place has been my oasis since the first year of the bush2 hostage hold!

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. Obviously, I agree with you in a lot of ways

But the jury system is shit. It lets "popular kids" act with impunity. It's a bully system. It's shitty.

[JaneyVee]

3. I always wondered about the jury system here, can't it give way to a sort of jury mafia?

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. It mostly works

But if you are one of the "kool kids" who is always getting in fights with others, you can basically do what you want, since you'll likely get at leats three of your "team" on your jury, and people act like babies. It's particularly embarrassing to see the usual suspects just outright attack a weaker person because they know they won't be held accountable. I wish I could name names here, but this would end up getting banned! The "team" mentality and factionalism on this board is part and parcel of the jury system. Shit that would have been immediately killed three years ago is allowe to stand because there's nobody who cares about civility on the board anymore. It's sad, really.

[babylonsister]

8. I care, and I don't fight much (anymore).

I just do my thing and move on, love it or leave it. Hey, works for me!

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. System sucks

It certainly favors paying longtimers.

More power to 'em.

Literally.

[mountain grammy]

18. How so?

[babylonsister]

29. WHAT does that mean? Seriously, I'm in the dark. nt

[elleng]

52. Means NOTHING, m'dear.

[elleng]

12. Ditto.

[SixString]

14. +1

[elleng]

7. 'Popular kids?'

Random jury members.

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. That's the nature of popularity

Random works in your favor...

[awoke_in_2003]

45. I wonder how truly random it is...

when it first started, it seems I served at least once a week. I haven't been on a jury for four months now, and have, according to my profile, a 100% chance of serving on one. I must have torqued someone off.

[defacto7]

53. Yeah, I've seen higher jury duty counts than mine

from newbies with less the 150 posts. Most of my jury duty was done between 100 and 1000 posts. Since then I hardly get 1 jury duty in 2 weeks or more.

[ellie]

16. I serve on juries and I am so not a popular kid

In fact, I have been here since 2001 and no one knows who I am. I judge each post independently.

[kag]

25. Me too.

And besides, the jurors don't know who posted what until after they vote. I don't see how the "cool kids" could get away with anything. Of course, I also don't know who the "cool kids" are.

[babylonsister]

30. I do now!

Keep in touch!

[bluedigger]

35. I don't think I've ever noticed you before.

You must hang out in "Cooking & Baking".

[sibelian]

54. I also.

[RGinNJ]

4. I agree...

as a newbie I think this place works because of people like you. I've noticed your posts and replies and find that your bright mind and thoughtful posts really make this a place of great help for me.

[freshwest]

6. +1. Yes, she's one of our greatest reporters here. Good stuff.

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. "bright mind and thoughtful posts" Yup, that's babylonsister. Oh, and welcome

to DU.

May you find many more bright minds to engage, sir.

[RGinNJ]

19. Thank You

I'm sure that I will. The conversations here remind my of my long ago past, I had beatnik parents. The types of diverse discussions and well reasoned ideas seem to make this site feel like home.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

38. that's why I love it too...welcome

You can really express your inner geek *or* your inner wonk and be appreciated for it!
Even your inner child can come out!

And so many people who really impress me with their smarts.

babylonsister is one of them!

[RKP5637]

11. K&R !!! K&R !!! K&R !!! K&R !!! K&R !!!

IMO, this is the best group I've ever found on the net! I also like the way the jury systems works. It's not always perfect, but IMO certainly distributes the decision making process across DU on appropriate or inappropriate. I've served on a lot of DU juries, and I like to think I use sound judgment ... well, at least to me.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

39. best web design for a discussion board/community too, imho....

Imho...which isn't very humbe at all.

[SoCalDem]

50. I sure like it better than that god-awful "unrec" thing we had going on for a while

[Nevernose]

15. 12 years for me!

Holy shit...when did I get all is grey hair? Still, as maddening as DU can be at times, it's my refuge in an otherwise insane world.

(FWIW, I think the jury system is good but not great, and does occasionally allows some absolute crap -- egregiously offensive and hypocritical posts -- to otherwise stand. Still, it's ten steps beyond any other discussion site)

[babylonsister]

17. Yes. It's not great, but it's good enough.

It's my refuge also!!

[mountain grammy]

20. Good enough for me too.

I check in almost every day. Some threads make me laugh, some cry and some make me furious, but there's always something to learn. It's my group therapy!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

40. lol. me too...

[DemocratsForProgress]

21. Yeah.

You can say it.

[Fumesucker]

22. K&R

[tularetom]

23. +a truckload

I might as well make it my home page, it's the first place I go to in the morning and I get virtually all my news off this site.

And the juries, IMO, have a definite bias in favor of freedom of speech. You have to go waaaay over the line for your post to get hidden, even more so to get banned. To me this is how it should be. Anybody who gets kicked off here really desrves to go.

[bluedigger]

36. It's been my homepage for a long time now.

If anything important in the world and of interest to me is happening, I know I'll see it here first, with the spin deconstructed.

[Tree-Hugger]

24. For sure!

I have lurked here now and then for years, but joined last year. This place kept me sane, grounded and reasonably hopeful during the election season.

[winter is coming]

26. Can I just say that you rock? Love your OPs. n/t

[babylonsister]

27. Thank you. nt

[Bjorn Against]

28. Yes it does...

Yesterday I nearly left DU for good, today the admins restored my faith in the site.

[babylonsister]

31. I saw your thread...

keep the faith, please.

WE are more powerful together than apart.

[Bjorn Against]

33. Thanks, you are right.

Last night I felt most people were indifferent to what was happening, the gungeoneers were very hostile and while a few people stepped in to show they were with me they were slow to arrive so I had nearly given up hope.

I can handle disagreement, hell you and I have disagreed plenty of times but whether we agree or disagree I think we both know that each of us mean well. There are even a few in the gungeon like krispos who I often strongly disagree with but I know that he is a decent guy and is very respectful even when he passionately disagrees. When people start promoting armed revolt however, that goes far beyond mere disagreement, it goes over a line that I refuse to associate with anyone who goes over. I am glad the admins have showed me they won't associate with them either.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

41. oh gee--I missed this whole thing

But I'm so glad to know you didn't decide to throw in the towel. Would have been our loss, definitely!

[No Vested Interest]

42. Glad you will stay.

We need people with your sensibilities.

[babylonsister]

34. Hugs to you, Bjorn Against...

I'm so glad you're still here. We all have fights we're tackling in one way or the other.
'

[Electric Monk]

49. Thanks, I just noticed. Thank you admins for finally cleaning out some of the RW gun nuts.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=171399
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=242037

It's progress, at least

[NBachers]

32. My first click, every time I turn on my computer

[ReRe]

37. Yes you can!

I'll go you one better...I'm addicted.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

43. you're one of the reasons it rocks, babylonsister

You have such an air of good sense, good ethics, ...... I've always seen you as a wise woman, because of your *name*! Always pictured the Oracle, that woman who is the mystical Wise Woman in The Matrixwhen i would read you!!!!! LoL!!!!!!!!

!

[babylonsister]

44. Hahaha! You have no idea how funny that is.

No way, but thanks!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

47. I know!

So funny--but thats what you seemed like to me!!!!!!

The pictures we get in our heads..... haaa I wonder how people would picture for me if not for my sig.

[applegrove]

46. I'm certainly noticing fewer calls to be

on a jury. Could it be the people organising the trolls to come here and disrupt have given up? Either way the system is working.

[babylonsister]

48. The admins and 'mods' are doing a stellar job! Props to all of them for

getting rid of the riff-raff!

[hopemountain]

51. totally agree

it rocks here - although i don't get to visit as often as i like - but i do have my favorites and you are one of them, babylonsister. thanks!

[KauaiK]

55. Absolutely

Its my primary source for news; a community of like-minded progressives. It's the first place I go when I turn on my computer.
Aloha to all here....