DU's Pole Star

[omega minimo]

Main Entry
po·lar·ize
Pronunciation:
\ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz\
Function:
verb
Inflected Form(s):
po·lar·ized; po·lar·iz·ing
Etymology:
French polariser, from New Latin polaris polar
Date:
1811
transitive verb

1 : to cause (as light waves) to vibrate in a definite pattern

2 : to give physical polarity to

3 : to break up into opposing factions or groupings <a campaign that polarized the electorate>


Polarize. Polarization. To polarize. Polarizing.

Highly polarizing.

What are those topics on DU that are "highly polarizing," that have led to a new system of negative recommendations, that has polarized the board since its announcement?

If there have been "highly polarizing" OPs on the Greatest Page, is that of more concern than the highly polarizing and serially disruptive behavior of some of our regular posters?

"We believe that giving members the option to unrecommend topics will help insure that the threads at the top of the Greatest Page are those threads that have the broadest appeal to our members."


Didn't a system of positive recommendations achieve that?

"Of course, you are still free to post discussion threads on highly polarizing topics. You just won't get the positive reinforcement of seeing them at the top of the Greatest Page."

Promise?

For those who were unaware of a Greatest Page positive Recommendations crisis or the perameters of this "polarization," the change in policy is baffling. It has brought out factions of what appear to be entrenched polarization. No pushbutton solution can correct those attitudes. The tech response appears to make them more comfortable.

Dedicated DUers who OP and walk that fine line of "thought provoking" would like to be part of the solution. So it would help to know what the problem really is.

[Bicoastal]

1. Too late to concentrate on any of this...

...the new system has been in place for less than a day. Give it a chance, will ya?

[notesdev]

2. Look at the bright side

You too can now play amateur censor... dredge up all those ugly feelings buried deep inside and take them out on other peoples' discussion topics.

[omega minimo]

4. No. That is not an option

The timing is odd. IMHO negativity is something to be avoided, not embraced.

[notesdev]

8. Negativity (tm)

now built into the system!

[omega minimo]

9. Hey I've climbed from 0 to

:bounce: < 0 already

[leftstreet]

3. hehe you said 'vibrate' hehe Off to the Greatest!

[omega minimo]

6. in a definitive pattern, baby.

If that's all right with you :yoiks:

Maybe you prefer and INdefinitive pattern :shrug:

[optimal-tomato]

5. Humans can see polarization of light unaided.

It's called Haidinger's Brush.



I just find it interesting.

[omega minimo]

7. Cool, OT. What is that?

[optimal-tomato]

16. Check out the Wikipedia entry on it. It's interesting stuff.

Many people are able to perceive polarization of light. It may be seen as a yellowish horizontal bar or bow-tie shape (with "fuzzy" ends, hence the name "brush") visible in the center of the visual field against the blue sky viewed while facing away from the sun, or on any bright background when looking through polarized sunglasses. It typically occupies roughly 3–5 degrees of vision, about the same size as the tip of one's thumb held at arm's length. The direction of light polarization is perpendicular to the yellow bar (i.e. vertical if the bar is horizontal). Fainter bluish or purplish areas may be visible between the yellow brushes (see illustration). Haidinger's brush may also be seen by looking at a white area on many LCD flat panel computer screens (due to the polarization effect of the display), in which case it is often diagonal.

It goes on to tell you more about what it is and how to see it.

[omega minimo]

18. I'm Wikiphobic

:scared:

[bliss_eternal]

10. LOL!

:rofl:

[omega minimo]

12. Which Pole Star is your center?

:hi:

[Dragonfli]

11. Interesting - 8 votes and 0 recs.

They found a way to sink criticism of anything forever, how "helpful"

[omega minimo]

13. Instant Non-Polarization!

:think:

[omega minimo]

14. I can't see the vote count

:wow:

[Dragonfli]

17. I can, in Skinners edit he mentioned he was going to do away with the vote count so we don't notice

The activity of the blockade brigade - wouldn't want to keep any transparency now would we?

odd I can see the count but not you.

[omega minimo]

21. The viewer can but OP can't

:scared:

[Dragonfli]

15. <0 @ 11 votes (that means you are negative one or more (they decided you must sink))

The only way to combat this is constant kicking.

Let me explain.
It is set up so that 10 posters can get together post negative votes and make sure 15 interested people would have to vote "Recommend" before you get the exposure of the wider posting audience.

This is enough for a handful of goose-steppers to prevent exposure before it sinks.
This would shut up all but Frenchie Threads unless we kick every 15 minutes, enabling the sane majority enough time to get to see it and rec beyond the new "cheerleader blockade" they have set up.

Kick early KICK OFTEN from now on. (that should bypass the shut up strategy)

[omega minimo]

22. It's too sad

your advice appreciated but --

[Dragonfli]

19. kick - <0 12 votes

[Dragonfli]

20. I have to sleep but one last kick (keep kicking to get past the new filibuster!) n/t

[omega minimo]

23. OK

So what we're saying is
there's an apparatus arrayed against us
which we resist
and arrive at someplace like DU to participate in
and withstand those forces
of negativity
which somehow infiltrate
to the point that
we are kicking and kicking
and kicking
to withstand internalized
forces of negativity?

I just don't get it.

I have learned so much here. I just don't see the lip smacking satisfaction that some are displaying on this occasion.

[Dragonfli]

25. It is a way for the negative posters to be "gatekeepers"

It means that even with 10 Recs from people that would like to see an important issue discussed by the larger board it can fall to obscurity if a dozen Cheer-leaders want it to.

I "get it" and even why they want it this way - I just don't like it.
We are being played with and the result will be that homogenized posts that few disagree with will be discussed on the greatest page.

They should rename it to the "approved" page as "Greatest" will no longer really apply.

I wonder if the Diebold software fucks with our votes in a similar way.

[Dragonfli]

24. Kick - <0 17 Votes n/t

[Dragonfli]

26. Kick - <0 20 Votes - I am off to work now. n/t