Why is GD turning into DU Lounge 2.0 ???

[CK_John]

Too much cutesy, should be more political discussion, planning and learning process.

[geek tragedy]

1. better than having it turn into Meta 2.0? nt

[txwhitedove]

6. The HORROR!!!!

[Jesus Malverde]

51. First Post..thread win..nt

[defacto7]

53. Ooops,

I thought it was.

[Dash87]

2. Resistance is futile! Puny human!

Submit!

[PowerToThePeople]

3. WTF is up with posters in GD posting META? This place has gone to pot.

META

[In_The_Wind]

4. hehehehe

you said pot [img][/img] [img][/img]

[PowerToThePeople]

10. I live in Washington State...

We have all gone to pot here...

[In_The_Wind]

12. Sigh

I'm in NY. We'll get there someday (soon, I hope).

[Eleanors38]

19. I reefer you to Colorado for now.

[Inkfreak]

69. Same here. I'm so jealous...

Uh, I mean happy for Colorado. Meanwhile in Upstate NY, I'm sneaking around trying to get my smoke on...

[dixiegrrrrl]

44. Droooooool

ok, that is great I am stealing it.

[joeybee12]

5. General is general..covers a lot...nt

[AngryAmish]

7. It's going somewhere!

[B Calm]

8. With all the posts being alerted on in GD, you really believe it's like the lounge?

[blogslut]

9. General Discussion

[cherokeeprogressive]

58. I have to laugh at that... Yeah it's called General Discussion... BUT...

If you look at the SoP, the ONLY acceptable topics are "politics, issues, and current events".

Remember the first days of DU3? Stray off topic by a word or two and zap... thread lock.

I think Meta was AWESOME though. I can't believe it's gone actually. Don't like a forum? Don't go there. The only thing I DIDN'T like about Meta was how DUers were allowed to call out other DUers there... like one thread where some DUer whose name rhymes with laser openly called for another DUer's tombstone.

[Shankapotomus]

11. Start posting serious political threads in the Lounge

That will show them.

Incidentally, ever notice how some regulars post almost exclusively in the Lounge that you have no idea what their ideas are on politics? Not a jab at them (maybe they are just politically all talked out as most of them have tens of thousands of posts) but it does seem funny for a political forum that some members seem to avoid discussing politics.

[siligut]

14. It isn't a matter of avoiding politics

It is more a matter of avoiding GD, at least posting in GD, most if not all still read GD.

Like you say, most have been around for a long time and they are just tired of arguing.

[Shankapotomus]

15. I remember being told GD was "contaminated"

but I can't say I've encountered many disagreeable members other than just disagreeing. I've seen others attacked but it's usually an encounter that appears to often have been needlessly escalated through poor conflict control. Some people just step in it, I guess. And then, I'm sure the phantom trolls refrain I keep hearing certainly contains some truth in it.

[siligut]

70. The phantom trolls spread discontent and quietly support RW agendas

Their goal is disillusionment and division. Subtlety is key. Some are well established and respected. The best way to spot them is through identifying trends in posting, which is difficult as we don't have mods any longer. The better ones do use psyops/manipulation.

Most posters on DU are very likable people, we are here to learn and discuss, some have agendas but are still liberals and ultimately, like the TOS says, we are here to get Democrats elected.

[Armstead]

13. Good to lighten things up sometimes -- alleviates the monotony of doom and gloom

[defacto7]

54. Good point. n/t

[Fearless]

16. Then post political content and not Lounge material.

[WillyT]

17. Go Here... It's Where All The Food Fights Live:

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=latest_threads&mode=latest&sort1=replies

[vanbean]

18. Kicks? Like Route 66 kicks?

[OmahaBlueDog]

20. Because it's "silly season" politically speaking

Midterm primaries haven't heated up; no major legislation is being debated; the economy is improving, yet it's not; no end in sight anytime soon on issues like KXL. So it's post silly stuff and go after other posters, and talk about Elizabeth Warren running for President, despite the fact she's said "no way".

[rug]

21. I say cats should be allowed to post in GD.

[icymist]

40. I tried that with my cats but all they said was 'Feed me'!

[steve2470]

68. love that ! nt

[madinmaryland]

22. CALL YOUR MODERATOR RIGHT FUCKING NOW!! THIS IS HUGH!!!!!!!!

[SoCalDem]

24. and don't forget to notify the spocksman

[madinmaryland]

34. Seriesly...

[Logical]

23. We need a CATS ONLY forum. The GD has 2 or 3 cats posts a day. nt

[SoCalDem]

25. I'll gladly accept 2 or 3 kitties

They mix well with the 999,999 "TURN ON "....." RIGHT NOW", and the 14th different posing on identical events

[Logical]

26. Cats are not GD material. I miss the old admin DU. That crap got moved. n-t

[SoCalDem]

27. I routinely use the "hide thread" feature..

[Logical]

28. I have no one on ignore and no hidden threads.....

I expect members here to follow the rules.

[SoCalDem]

29. I never use ignore either

but I do use the hide thread.. It's a blessing.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

30. GD would be improved by incursions from the Lounge.

Unfortunately, however...

[jazzimov]

31. Maybe because the 3rd Party anti-Democrats have taken over

so those loyal LIBERAL Democrats are afraid to post anything controversial?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

49. Who are these timid liberals of which you speak?

I don't know any.

[democratisphere]

32. 100% Politics ALL THE TIME can get really boring and stale.

"GENERAL" helps to keep things much more interesting.

[hrmjustin]

33. What exactly is your complaint?

[flying rabbit]

35. DU should have a politics forum

[cyberswede]

41. What?

I'm a GD host, and I've banded together with nobody.

Skinner said the following (bold added):

Skinner (58,879 posts)

Some hosts have expressed concern to me that there might be a little too much locking going on.

And I have to agree that there have been a number of locks recently that left me scratching my head. They seemed unnecessary to me.

You should err on the side of leaving things open. Rather than looking for a reason to lock something, instead look for a reason to NOT lock something. Even if there is a specific "rule" listed in a Forum's statement of purpose, you still have a responsibility to use your judgement -- and the authority to let posts stay. Listen to other hosts -- if they think something can stay, then let it stay.

Keep in mind that you are trying to SERVE THE MEMBERS and MAKE DU BETTER. I don't think the members of DU are served by shutting down topics that are timely and that a lot of people want to discuss.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/124330902

and

Skinner (58,879 posts)

The job of a Forum Host is this: Don't lock anything.

That's kind of a joke. But not really.

There is a pinned thread posted in here which briefly outlines your job. Read this entire section:

{snipped Host description}

If a thread is not causing any harm, if people are posting in it and recommending it and having a good time, then DON'T SPOIL THE FUN.

You are not being paid by the thread lock. Your bias should be toward letting things stay. If a thread isn't causing any harm, then it's probably fine.

If you really do think it is necessary to lock a thread, then you should discuss it with your fellow Hosts, here in this group, before you do anything.

(The admins are going to make some changes to the software to change the way the Forum Hosts do your job. But unfortunately we have a million other things on our plate right now. So until then, we need you guys to be cool and use your powers sparingly.)

Does everyone understand?

To be clear: This post is for FORUM Hosts, not Group Hosts. But if you are a host of a Group, you would also be wise to use your powers sparingly. Just sayin'.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/124311642

[hrmjustin]

45. Excuse me? I take offense to this.

We leave these things because the rule of the hosts is to lock as little as possible. Our job is a thankless job you know. We don't do it for glory or the joy of controling things. We do it so that Du will run smoothly.

Thanks a lot!

[hrmjustin]

55. Ok. here is what you do. Go to ATA and ask skinner to tell us to lock all cat threads and/or trash

the word cat.

You should also realize almost none of the other hosts will vote to lock them because the cause no harm to du.

I think the hosts are fair for the most part.

We have to go by the guidelines we are given.

[hrmjustin]

59. A cfair opinion but your comment about us hosts were not fair.

We go by skinner guidelines.

[Sissyk]

38. Wow, I'm sure this post and the one above

will make your welcome to GD Hosting very interesting. I won't be there then but I'll be sure to look in and see how you are received.

[cyberswede]

42. Hosts need to reach consensus to lock anything...

I'm not sure that a single host can really shake anything up. I hope you enjoy being a host, though.

[Agschmid]

43. Usually when I alert on a thread... I don't keep kicking it, but hey why not?

[hrmjustin]

47. .

[icymist]

39. You could always try posting in the Politics 2014 forum.

A lot of politics covered in there.

[texanwitch]

46. Damn the secret Lounge plot has been discovered.

We had a secret meeting and we are going let the cats take over GD.

The cats have long since taken over the Lounge.

[dixiegrrrrl]

48. So I am going to kick and to rec

and this will end up on the Greatest page ( with more recs, with any luck)
and you will get LOTS and LOTS of answers !

May they bring enlightment and wisdom.....

[The Straight Story]

50. You can trash or hide threads by keyword I am sure there is a 'how to' on here

if you are not sure how it works.

Basically the idea is that you can control what content you see and don't see in 'general' discussion.

So if you want it to look like Politics 2014, you can!

My suggestion a long time ago was simply this - one forum, called Everything, where you can post whatever you want - from 9/11 to guns to I/P to cats. Sort of like a general general forum. The we could change the name of general to 'More Politics than our politics Forum' and some folks would dance the happy dance.

[itsrobert]

56. About the GD Forum

Statement of Purpose

Discuss politics, issues, and current events. No posts about Israel/Palestine, religion, guns, showbiz, or sports unless there is really big news. No conspiracy theories. No whining about DU.


Cat threads don't belong.

[pacalo]

64. Read the excerpts in cyberswede's post #41...

Skinner (58,879 posts)

Some hosts have expressed concern to me that there might be a little too much locking going on.

And I have to agree that there have been a number of locks recently that left me scratching my head. They seemed unnecessary to me.

You should err on the side of leaving things open. Rather than looking for a reason to lock something, instead look for a reason to NOT lock something. Even if there is a specific "rule" listed in a Forum's statement of purpose, you still have a responsibility to use your judgement -- and the authority to let posts stay. Listen to other hosts -- if they think something can stay, then let it stay.

Keep in mind that you are trying to SERVE THE MEMBERS and MAKE DU BETTER. I don't think the members of DU are served by shutting down topics that are timely and that a lot of people want to discuss.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/124330902

[itsrobert]

66. quote

I don't think the members of DU are served by shutting down topics that are timely and that a lot of people want to discuss.



Cat threads are not timely.

[TheKentuckian]

60. Mellow out, it's cool.

[cherokeeprogressive]

61. Just fucking bring Meta back already...!

Meta was awesome. Since General Discussion's SoP only allows "politics, issues, and current events", and there isn't a "Potpourri" place that's a step above The Lounge in seriousness...

Fucking Bring Meta Back Already.

The only thing I ever saw in Meta that I thought was wrong was when someone whose name rhymes with laser called for the tombstoning of another DUer. Other than that? Meta was The Bomb!

[hrmjustin]

62. It was the most entertaining but divisive forum.

[cherokeeprogressive]

63. Yeah I'm not sure how I feel about that statement...

Most entertaining forum BY FAR. Divisive? It wasn't a required place to visit.

As I said though... the ONLY thing I saw there I found offensive was one DUer openly calling for the tombstoning of another.

I miss Meta. It was to some DUers as a scratching post is to most cats... a place to sharpen the claws.

[hrmjustin]

65. well the problems were the call outs or jury reviews. While it wasn't required to visit

the forum the need to defend yourself was certainly present.

The last few weeks were just plain ugly in Meta and while I miss it I understand why they are not in a hurry to bring it back.

One idea might be that after a post is answered in ATA then the thread is open to everyone else.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

67. Humor,

could be construed as a current event!

It takes your mind off all the bad news for awhile.

[LiberalEsto]

71. The Lounge is Displeased with this Analogy

The Lounge is a Happy Place