Skinner...is there any chance of a 'civility' forum...

[YvonneCa]

...in which one can discuss politics (primaries included) without bashing candidates or each other?

I'm thinking a more issues oriented discussion...civility REQUIRED. Please, please??? :7

[XemaSab]

1. Skinner, while you're at it can we have a Nader forum too?

x(

[JohnnyLib2]

2. Amen!

--to civility.

[YvonneCa]

61. Thanks . What would be...

...your definition?

[MADem]

3. Who is going to enforce the rules there? You'd have to have a moderator

check each post.

It's not feasible. There would be "incivility" in the forum, like it or not.

[patrice]

4. It would be interesting to analyze civility: what it is; what it is not; how it works . . . nt

[Cal Carpenter]

6. Indeed

I was involved in a discussion board for awhile (non-political) and civility was a big issue - they tried to require 'civility' and it became clear that few agree on what is civil, and more importantly, that some of the most productive arguments (as far as problem-solving) often included some 'incivility'. It's a gray area for sure. Generally I think civility is overrated (although I'm usually pretty civil and always defer to the rules of the administration). Again, my experience isn't in political boards though so maybe it would help here, I don't know.

[patrice]

9. My experience is that civility can make all of the difference in the world when

something painful, difficult, or adversarial Needs! to be said. There actually may be no limits on what CAN be said civilly, while that which can be said un-civilly is limited in ALL cases to how little, or in a very few cases how much, individuals will endure for _____________.

[YvonneCa]

45. That is a very thoughtful...

...insight, patrice. I agree that civility opens the door to discussion of difficult issues. And there are many such issues that need discussing (climate change, fixing public education, immigration, the US as a leader in the world, poverty, etc.).

[YvonneCa]

17. That, in itself, would be...

...interesting to discuss. It could be a start.

[Flabbergasted]

5. I wonder if there is a happy medium to strictness and leniency.

I understand during the 04 election moderating was very strict and thereby not as profitable. But I don't think the leniency this time around is doing DU's credibility, as a democratic support mechanism, any favors.

There must be a few ways to keep these silly attack threads out of DU and still maintain a good bottom line. What about a strict "ethics in posting" statement sticky at the top.

I guess it can be discussed over the next four years.

[YvonneCa]

11. I think further discussion...

...is a great idea. :)

[sfam]

7. Agreed. Love the idea!

[YvonneCa]

12. Thank you. n/t

[still_one]

8. that would be nice

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

10. Where's the money in that? n/t

[Cha]

13. Skinner loves our GD-P..

:)

[YvonneCa]

20. I love it...

...too. I'd just hate to see it go the way of talk radio. Sometimes it would be nice to turn down the noise (which distracts, like on TV) and discuss issues.

[Cha]

22. Put everything on Ignore

that smacks of hate radio and you might like it.

[YvonneCa]

40. What I meant was that if DU devolves...

...into nothing but a distraction (like some TV and some radio) that replaces discussion and understanding of the important issues for Democrats, then something here is lost. GD-P is fine as it is...so are the other forums. I'm not complaining about DU at all.

I'd just like to enhance it! :)

[rug]

14. I nominate zidzi as moderator.

[MediaBabe]

29. Is that a joke?

That is one of the two names on my permanent ignore list - for filth.

[KoKo]

31. Well...welcome to DU...you've not been here long enought to know our Zidzi...

she's a treasure..

Good Luck to ya...

[MediaBabe]

36. True, I haven't been here very long.

DU is about par as far as loosely moderated forums go. I like to read what others think. As for zidzi... not yet... maybe next month I'll reconsider. I do not want to see again anything like the post that got her there. Just pushed the wrong button, I guess.

[rug]

44. No, your instincts are absolutely accurate.

[Cha]

50. Thanks, rug :-)

that's so sweet! :)

[polichick]

15. Skinner - will you sing me a lullaby and tell me everything is gonna be okay?? :) nt

[Orangepeel]

16. Every forum except GDP is a civility forum

Well, maybe not the lounge. :D

I wish that people here weren't so personal and childish. But, we'll have a nominee soon and it will pass.

[Jamastiene]

24. Hey, don't go knocking the DU Lounge.

Proud friendly Lounge Lizard here. :hi:

[Lisa0825]

18. I'd rather there were a GDP Dungeon

and move all the nasty threads there. What's left stays in GD P for the sane people to disuss.

[YvonneCa]

19. Not a bad...

...idea. :7

[2rth2pwr]

21. No one would show up.

bottom line.

[Jamastiene]

23. We should just rename this forum DU Fight Club

and use a Primaries forum (without the GD reputation) for civil discussions on the issues. That would do the trick. I don't run the joint though. I would like to hint at my little suggestion though.

[WilliamPitt]

27. That was it's name in '03 when first devised.

Swear to God. For a few days, it was 'DU Fight Club.'

:)

[DinahMoeHum]

39. "DU. . . Like Fight Club. . .Only Not As Sweaty. . ." We once had a T-shirt

for sale in the DU Store saying that.

:evilgrin:

[Control-Z]

25. Well, it would be nice to point out a difference

in the candidates, to stand up for a candidate, without being attacked for doing so. Really.

[YvonneCa]

35. I think so, too. n/t

[WilliamPitt]

26. This *is* the civility forum

that keeps the rest of DU more civil.

[YvonneCa]

63. You may be right...

...that this keeps the rest of DU more civil. I just tire of the excess. :)

By the way, I just read your most recent rant. :7 I am a fan, Will. I agree with you about those who are allowing this primary fight to convince them to go elsewhere. We Democrats MUST stay united and fight together for what we believe in. Anyone here who lets his/her frustration 'push' them to vote GOP doesn't know what Democrats stand for in the first place...and probably doesn't belong here.

That's why I think a civility forum is a good idea. Many here will get your point (on which I agree) by reading a rant. That works for them and it's okay. But some here won't read to the end to understand the point...they require a different (more civil :) ) approach.

That's why I think a civility forum is a good idea...tow paths toward the same goal: Informing each other on issues important to we Democrats. And the others can just go away! :)

Peace.

[MediaBabe]

28. In the anonymous world of online forums

There will never be civil discourse.

When the lowest part of society can say whatever they want with no real paybacks they will neither be decent nor polite. And the people who care the most about decency will always be the first to leave. They are already gone. Just being around some of this filth is more than a lot of people can handle.

So the bottom line is that to clean up the forum would kill it. The jerks have nothing to say if they have to clean it up and those who would add intelligent voice are not going to come back just in case it's changed.

[polichick]

30. Why not just stop "feeding the trolls??" Ignore whatever offends you...

This board is actually much more civil than some I've seen ~ lots of threads get locked here and posts deleted.

[sniffa]

32. No. He's responded to this question at least a few times.

And his answer is very well stated.

[ErnestoG]

33. You gotta love this.

The Hillary crowd dredges up the nastiest crap against Obama they can find, goes on personal insult rampages against his supporters, post a litany of defamatory threads, and then when their candidate is being overtaken, they plead for civility!

Wow, the recently striking WRITERS GUILD couldn't come up with shit like this!

[YvonneCa]

37. Could you clarify what ...

...you mean, please. I don't understand your post. Sorry.

[ErnestoG]

38. You must be new here.

Welcome to DU.

[YvonneCa]

41. November...

...2004. You?

[cbayer]

34. Perhps just some stricter enforcement of the clearly stated rules concerning civility.

Civility: Treat other members with respect. Do not post personal attacks against other members of this discussion forum.

Do not post personal attacks or engage in name-calling against other individual members of this discussion board. Even very mild personal attacks are forbidden.

Do not hurl insults at other individual members of this message board. Do not tell someone, "shut up," "screw you," "fuck off," "in your face," or some other insult.

Do not call another member of this message board a liar, and do not call another member's post a lie. You are, of course, permitted to point out when a post is untrue or factually incorrect.

Do not publicly accuse another member of this message board of being a disruptor, conservative, Republican, FReeper, or troll, or do not otherwise imply they are not welcome on Democratic Underground. If you think someone is a disruptor, click the "Alert" link below their post to let the moderators know.

Do not draw negative attention to the fact that someone is new, has a low post count, or recently became a member of Democratic Underground. Do not insinuate that because someone is new, they are a troll or disruptor.

There are no exceptions to these civility rules. You cannot attack someone because they attacked you first, or because that person "deserved it," or because you think someone is a disruptor. We consider it a personal attack to call a liar a liar, to call a moron a moron, or to call a jerk a jerk.

People who repeatedly and willfully break the rules, or who generally engage in rude, anti-social behavior, will be banned. It doesn't matter if you are a fellow progressive, a long-term member of this community, or a donor.

Is there anyone here that would think that these are the rules of this place at this time? I know the mods are swamped and I do not hold them responsible, but I think some house cleaning is in order.

[Flabbergasted]

42. Bringing back the max locked threads/Tombstone rule?

[cbayer]

51. Explain? nt.

[Flabbergasted]

53. I wasn't around at the time, but as I understand it back around 2004 there was a policy in which

a member was allowed only a certain amount of locked posts/threads per (time period) before they were tombstoned. It was a fairly reasonable number if I remember right, but I don't remember exactly what it was.

You've been around since 2003 so I would have thought you were aware of it. Maybe I'm wrong about it. Another member may be able to confirm.

[cbayer]

54. I have been around for awhile

but I did not actively participate until recently.

I would like to see us really be democratic and fix this problem internally.

A lot of people have taken a stand against the flamers and haters today, even if they share passion for a particular candidate. And I would really like to see that continue.

Thanks so much for responding.

[YvonneCa]

55. Well said...

...cbayer. Your words: "A lot of people have taken a stand against the flamers and haters today, even if they share passion for a particular candidate. And I would really like to see that continue."

I'd like to see it continue, too.

[cbayer]

58. Thank you Yvonne.

Let's get out there and be the voice of reason.

[LibraLiz1973]

43. Right on Yvonne

[YvonneCa]

46. Thank you...

...so much. Wow, I love that picture! I miss them.

[LiveLiberally]

47. K&R -- Thanks so much for this post

a ray of rational thought amidst all the muck.

[YvonneCa]

49. Glad I'm not ...

...alone. You are most welcome! :hi:

[dailykoff]

48. Already exists, right here: " Politics/Campaigns"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=108

[JimGinPA]

57. I Browsed That Board For 2 Minutes...

And I saw at least 3 trash posts from liberalnurse.


:eyes:

[YvonneCa]

62. And it's not...

...very 'populated'. :7

[RichardRay]

52. To everyone who is worried about identifying 'civility'...

...it's pretty easy: If I look at a post after I've typed it and wonder if what I've written might be uncivil, it probably is.

[YvonneCa]

56. I think yours is a standard...

...many of us use. I can't tell you how many times I've re-written a post to be sure I'm not being disrespectful...or, in some cases, not posted something after thinking it through. It's that "think" step that is important. :)

[BigBearJohn]

59. Count me in. I would like such a forum. I was thinking of looking for a different website

but would prefer to stay at DU.

[YvonneCa]

60. I love DU...

...and all the current forums...strange as they get, sometimes. I'd just like to discuss issues in depth, sometimes, free of attack. Difference of opinion = good. Namecalling, etc.= Not good. :)