Poll: we'd like to get your feedback on the Atheists & Agnostics group's hosting situation

[EvolveOrConvolve]

A&A members:

With recent events, we wanted to poll the group members to see what everyone thinks about the hosting situation. If none of the options fit your opinion, go ahead and post your ideas in this thread. Also feel free to submit any ideas you have surrounding the Statement of Purpose of the A&A group, or suggestions regarding the rules pinned to the top of the forum. We're really using this poll as a gauge of the satisfaction of regular group members; there has been the suggestion that the hosts and group rules exclude a large numbers of atheists.

NOTE: any DUer may participate in the poll, but keep in mind that if a large number of believers chime in with ideas that are not consistent with the aims of the A&A group, we're not likely to heed those suggestions as much as those coming from non-believers.

15 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	I'm happy with the current hosting situation and group rules and don't think change is warranted at this time
	15 (100%)
	I'm happy with the current hosting situation, but would like to see some of the group rules changed (explain below)
	0 (0%)
	I like the current rules but would like to remove the current hosts and elect all new hosts
	0 (0%)
	I'm happy with the current rules but would like additional hosts added to the group above and beyond the current hosts
	0 (0%)
	I would like to see completely new rules created and all new hosts elected (explain below)
	0 (0%)
	Other (explain below)
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[Mr.Bill]

1. I'm fairly new here,

I haven't had any problems with how things are run.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

2. Thanks Mr. Bill!

Always good to see new members - stick around and enjoy a little blasphemy, we don't bite, I swear! Okay, we DO bite, but only a little, and only on Tuesdays.

[F4lconF16]

8. Same here.

I've liked what I've seen from the hosts. Every time I've ventured into the other forum I've left rather quickly, and kudos to the hosts for staying calm despite the things being said. You've been open and honest, and the transparency is excellent. Thanks

[Curmudgeoness]

3. I would have to hear more about why

"large numbers of atheists" are being excluded. I have a feeling that many atheists just do not want to be bothered with thinking about god or religion, meaning that they are not really interested in this group.

So what are the problems that have been brought up about this?

[EvolveOrConvolve]

4. It's mostly related to

this post by Starboard Tack in the Religion group. http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=140029

He made a number of accusations in his post, so we wanted to get feedback from the atheists and agnostics that post here. If we're excluding anyone, we want to know.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. Sigh.

Yes, I did see that.

And my only comment about that is: Are we seriously going to take advise on how this group operates from the Religion group?

[EvolveOrConvolve]

6. Definitely not

Our purpose is to refute the accusations with a dose of reality (ie, the ACTUAL views of A&A members).

[awoke_in_2003]

19. Some people pretend to be atheist/agnostic...

so they can come over here and troll. When people catch on, they get a case of butthurt. Oh well- the hosts made the right decision.

[awoke_in_2003]

20. Just a quick skim...

I saw we were compare to Al Quaida and the Taliban. Must read more later.

[intaglio]

7. Oh, yeah Starboard Tack

Who really cannot understand why people might want to criticise his opinions and who wants to say that atheists are not a group sharing common interests.

[Iggo]

10. We're gonna change the A&A group just because Starboard Tack doesn't like it?

Fuck that noise.

[Soylent Brice]

16. this^

[Warren Stupidity]

27. He can start his own group:

theist posing as atheists and agnostics.

There are at least two people who would join.

[kdmorris]

11. Don't go down that rabbit hole with him

Seriously... just don't.

If he feels excluded from here (and he is the ONLY one that I've EVER heard say anything like that), DU rules allow him to go start himself up his own group, where they can be as tolerant and mature as he wants to (LMAO). He just needs 10 people to agree with him.

As for his suggestion that we rename our group to Intolerant Atheists (which will never happen because Admins don't rename groups and we don't have the power to do so)... well, in an effort to not get this hidden, I'll just go with LMAO, again.

[trotsky]

12. And I bet 10 of us would support him. Just like we supported the creation of Interfaith.

But the thing is, they don't WANT "respectful" discussion. They only want to silence people, and reduce every "discussion" to this:

Person 1: "I believe X!"
Person 2: "I'm so happy for you, Person 1!"
Person 3: "That is so cool, Person 1! Your beliefs are awesome!"

That's what Interfaith ended up as, and it withered on the vine within days. Two posters in particular propped it up the best they could, posting all the content they could find, but when you stifle disagreement, what a surprise - no one wants to participate.

Within weeks, the champion who led the charge to get the wonderful Interfaith group created abandoned it herself. I haven't even bothered to click over there since. It's just laughable.

So in their frustration of their perfect group failing miserably, and not being able to rid Religion of its "demons" (that's awesome), they alert troll in here, abusing the jury system to try and silence some of us with the 5 hides rule.

They just can't quit us - and it's AWESOME!

[mr blur]

14. OK, which of you atheists alerted on EvolveOrConvolve? Speak up!

Oh, you can't...

[deucemagnet]

15. I'm very satisfied with the hosting situation.

Don't change a thing, and thank you for your efforts in hosting this group.

[rexcat]

17. I like things the way they are...

and keep those who have been banned from here banned. You would only be inviting trouble otherwise. I also think that if any non-atheists vote their vote should be discounted. This is a safe-haven for us, not them (probably a bad attitude but I do claim it).

I have been a part of DU since early 2001 an a part of AA for some time but don't post much. I go in little spurts now and again. This is a great group and that goes for our hosts!

[awoke_in_2003]

18. I voted for the first option...

but if I could change just one little thing it would be this- when a person is blocked from posting here, they can still read posts here. I would revoke that privilege.

[Heddi]

21. Unfortunately, that's how admin programmed it

I think if someone is blocked from a group, they shouldn't be allowed to read or alert any posts, but alas, I'm not admin so I don't make those decisions.

[awoke_in_2003]

23. maybe if enough of us asked for it. nt

[Heddi]

24. Not gonna happen. Admin has said as much dozens of times

Their reasoning is something about community standards and even blocked members are members of the community etc etc. You can ask in ATA, but it really has been asked dozens upon dozens of times since DU 3 came to be and the answer isn't just 'no,' but 'no, and we have no plans to change it ever.'

[trotsky]

25. And truthfully, it's like what they say about locks on your house.

They only keep out your friends. (I.e., those not willing to smash a window to get in.)

A disruptor who was blocked from the group could just log out of DU to read all the posts. Or set up a dummy account to get in and alert.

About the only solution would be to implement "private" groups on DU that are invite-only, and I'm sure that's more programming than the admins are willing to do.

[awoke_in_2003]

26. Ah, I wasn't aware that it has already been asked. nt

[JNelson6563]

22. Reading this thread is most encouraging!

And the poll results so far are quite gratifying. This is my favorite part of DU. Love youse guys!

Julie

[onager]

28. Voted to leave things alone.

But thanks for getting our opinions.

Our hosts do a great job, IMO. I know the job must sometimes...like every 10 nanoseconds...be a frustrating and tiresome experience. If I could buy you all a drink or 5, I cheerfully would. But in lieu of that, know that you all are greatly appreciated.

And we're supposed to take advice about running our group from the failed trolls in that other place? We'd be better off taking relationship advice from Jodi Arias.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

30. Thanks Cooperstown, and welcome to DU!

It's always good to get validation from the A&A members.

[Curmudgeoness]

32. Sure, there is a need to welcome you.

Your post was thought-provoking and it is good to have you join us.