Thanks to DU for Maintaining an Open Website

[MineralMan]

One of the great things about Democratic Underground is that all parts of the form are open to members. While some areas, like the groups, require a small contribution for full participation, the vast bulk of the site is open completely to all who come here. I've been using discussion forums since before the internet actually existed, starting on BBS systems, Compuserve, and GEnie.

I've been a member of dozens of discussion forums. Many of those always maintained hidden forums, only accessible to the chosen few. I've been in some of those caves or caverns or hideaways. Generally, they are full of people sniping about other forums or members who don't have access to those areas. Almost always, they're poisonous places, full of toxic attitudes and people who have secrets they want to hide.

We are very lucky here on DU. We discuss political issues out in the open. There are rules that help keep discussions under control and the tone at least suitable for public viewing. It is for that reason and others, that the threads that appear here are ranked at the top of Google searches, instead of being ignored by the search engines.

When you create a new thread on DU, you can search for that thread title just minutes after posting it, and it will be at the top of a Google search. For forums that hide their discussions away, Google has contempt, and won't even list those discussions at all. At DU, we reach a larger audience than you would believe. Carefully written thread titles bring hundreds in to see our discussions.

As a DUer, you should be proud of our discussions. We don't have the need to hide them behind locked doors. Even though we often dispute with each other, those disputes are still in the public eye.

Thanks to Skinner and the other admins, and to our staff of moderators, who help prevent the need for us to hide what we have to discuss!

[JonLP24]

1. K&R

Only board I ever visit online, you're so right. It seems almost every board out there is a toxic place to hang out.

[MineralMan]

3. Thanks. That's what I've found too many times.

Even in places where you'd never suspect it if you didn't know.

[usregimechange]

2. That's why I've been here so long

[MineralMan]

4. I was so glad to find DU.

I can't imagine ever leaving it.

[azmouse]

5. DU on its worst day

is still by far the best place to be for Democrats! :)

[MineralMan]

8. You'll get no argument from me.

We get to see all sides of the Democratic debate here. And everyone's opinion can be heard, as long as it doesn't involve personal attacks or support for non-Democrats instead of Democratic candidates.

[Spazito]

6. Well said!

We do, as you say, have our disputes, our sometimes disparate perspectives on various issues but, because it is in the open, we also learn from each other. I echo your Thanks to Skinner, EarlG and Elad and to the moderators who do the heavy lifting to keep DU the open site that it is!

Recommended.

[Born_A_Truman]

7. Yeah, well, except ....

the hot tub!

.
.
.
.
.
.
:hi:

[MineralMan]

9. Yes, well, moderators have to have a private forum. That's a given

on every site. I've never heard of a discussion group that didn't offer a place for moderators to discuss their necessary decisions. It would be impossible, otherwise.

[BeFree]

10. hmmmm

How cool would that be to see the mods' discussions? We'd have the onliest board in the whole world then, and what could be more democratic? Oh, boy, MM, you've opened another can of worms.

[MineralMan]

11. It's just not practical to do that. You'd never be able to get

moderators to volunteer, and the give and take that goes on in moderator forums shouldn't be public anyhow. They have to deal with the problems of a forum, with the disgruntled, offensive, and sometimes certifiable folks who sometimes show up. I can't imagine how moderators could function in a public area. It just wouldn't work.

Anyhow, that's not what I'm talking about here at all.

[BeFree]

16. well

Now that you mention it, their names wouldn't have to be revealed.

What a great idea you've mustered up. It would be fascinating to have NO secrets on DU.

Otherwise, like you say: Good job, Skinner, admin and mods. I sure couldn't do it, but being a mod, as long as it was secretive, would be fun for awhile, eh? Lock this, stone that. I'd be a damn terror. Don't even ask, K?

[TygrBright]

133. uhh... Having spent several terms as a mod, I hate to burst yer bubble, but...

...the mod forum was actually fairly dull most of the time. Oh, we had some mods with wicked sense of humor who commented on this, that, or the other in a most amusing way, but no more so than the comments you'll see in most DU forums.

Most of the discussions are along the lines of:

"So, this seems kind of borderline in the "group attack" category. Anyone else feel otherwise?"

"No, I agree with you."

"Yeah, me too."

"Well, I think it's kind of nasty but I'm not willing to make a big deal about it if everyone else thinks it's not a big deal."

"I agree, it's no big deal."

"Okay, leave it for now."

OR:

"Geez. That's NASTY! Shall I delete it?"

"Heck, yes."

"Damn' skippy."

"Oh, yeah."

"Okay, it's gone."

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Well, and there was the time Skinner and EarlG posted all those nekkid pictures of everyone in the hot tub...

helpfully,
Bright

[RKP5637]

12. DU is incredible. Only one I use, so many other forums are filled with such jerks and nothing

but bashing snarky comments. Some very thoughtful people post/comment on DU. And there are always entertaining posts and comments.

[MineralMan]

14. In addition, we have carefully developed tools to let each

DUer customize their view of the site. Some choose to ignore posters they find difficult to deal with. Others hide threads that they don't wish to see. DU has a great system that members can use to alert the moderators when a troll creeps in or someone slips and engages in personal attacks or other activity that would disrupt the forum.

There are even multiple methods people can use to view the forum, showing threads in a way that suits each user. Very few discussion forums offer all of those options and that much variety. We have the admins to thank for their constant efforts to improve the site and help us to engage in the discussions the site is designed for.

[RKP5637]

25. I even read your posts! LOL - I always read what you have to

say when I happen to see your posts/comments as they are consistently insightful and interesting!:)

I think DU is consistently the best designed and managed site I have ever seen/used or heard of... I have nothing but praise for Skinner, the mods and the entire site and DU. I also donate what I can when I can.

[grantcart]

13. There is only on reason to hide forums - to hide the shame for the farfetched

and bizzare bat shit crazy that the members don't want to be associated with.


Several sites have tried to do it but in the end their private secret bizzaro world is always exposed.


The community at DU would never stand for it.

[MineralMan]

15. Yes, that often happens.

Normally, though, such sites stagnate and never grow much. Often, new people are treated badly and leave quickly. DU has over 150,000 registered members. There's a reason for that. And that doesn't even count all the many people who just read here without joining. I have no idea how many people that might be. It's always worth remembering though. People who you don't even know are here are reading the threads with interest.

[Beetwasher]

26. That's One Of The Reasons Why I Find I Might Be A Bit, Shall We Say, Tenacious In Debate

Others might say I'm an asshole. You never know who else is reading and you want to make sure that even though you KNOW you're speaking to an ignoramus who will never accept what you're saying, there may be many others reading along who might be persuaded. I find it difficult to just let bullshit lie un-refuted for that reason. Not that I'll necessarily convince my opponent, but that I'll make the case all that much more solid for the lurker.

[MrScorpio]

17. Damn Skippy. nt

[rhett o rick]

57. You're mad at a peanut butter??? jk nm

[SunsetDreams]

18. Absolutely K&R! Thank you Mods and Admin! You are the Best by Far!

[Swamp Rat]

19. k&r

[Scurrilous]

20. K & R

:thumbsup:

[POAS]

21. "I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat."

Famously said by Will Rogers. If he was alive today he might apply that to DU as well and there ain't nothin' wrong with that.

We should all remember that we Democrats may disagree and fight like hell with each other but we all want the same results, a better America for all its citizens.

[RKP5637]

27. There's a whole bunch of truth in that and it's frustrating as hell sometimes, but

you are quite correct, "we all want the same results, a better America for all its citizens."

[Scurrilous]

144. ...

[NJmaverick]

22. K & R

[Beetwasher]

23. It's All Good!

:toast:

[Hekate]

24. Kick and Rec

[canetoad]

28. Big K & R

DU's longevity, compared to other political and general boards is to be envied. Seen a few crash and burn in my time.

Kudos too, to Elad (or is it Earl G) who keeps on top of the tech stuff and makes this possible.

[TheKentuckian]

29. I'll take a flowbee, a shamwow, and the knives.

SOLD AMERICAN!!!

[MineralMan]

54. You seem to be in the wrong thread. Maybe you're looking

for the DU Marketplace.

[leftstreet]

74. LOL +1

:rofl:

[Number23]

30. Indeed!

Kick and a rec too! ;)

[firedupdem]

31. K&R

[ZombieHorde]

32. Recommended. I love DU. nt

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[canetoad]

34. Just 'somewhat' corrupt?

You need to back up those accusations with some facts kiddo.

[austin78704]

36. I can't

They've been deleted.

[LoZoccolo]

35. K&R!

:kick:

[OregonBlue]

37. Well said MM. K & R

[bvar22]

38. I didn't know the Moderators Forum was open to the public?

How do I log in?

[TBF]

46. lol

I would like that log-in myself.

There are always invisible forums, sometimes to discuss moderation, and often just to keep track of all the administrative (technical) details.

[MineralMan]

49. I believe that volunteering to be a moderator would be

the first step in that process, the next time there's a call for volunteers.

Moderator forums have to be private. That's not what I'm talking about at all. No forum I've ever heard of had an open moderator section.

[bvar22]

50. So, you're admitting that your OP is BOGUS.

Thanks for clearing that up.
:hi:

[MineralMan]

51. Nope. Every discussion forum has a private area for

moderation. That's not what this OP is about. It would be impossible to operate a forum with moderation in public. I'm talking about discussion areas, not moderation areas. Think about it.

[DevonRex]

117. That's the silliest post I've read today, hands down.

:rofl: and :eyes:

[bvar22]

132. I felt the same way about this OP.

:hi:

[dionysus]

149. oh FFS

:rofl:

[Tarheel_Dem]

39. I wish I could break up with DU. But, alas.....You're right.

:toast:

[Political Tiger]

40. Kick !

[Violet_Crumble]

41. I find these OTT posts that ignore real problems just as silly as the other extreme...

Anyone who's been at DU for a while and hasn't noticed some issues when it comes to how rules are enforced or that some discussion topics are hidden away in quieter forums must be on a real high when they visit. It's a large site, and no site with such a large membership is going to be the wonderland you described in yr OP. I find attempts to portray DU as a marvellous place with no problems to be just as silly and unrealistic as those that do nothing but complain about how evil DU is.


I'm a member of a few discussion forums, and not one of those has any forums that aren't open to all members. In fact, most forums I've seen don't make use of such things, so I'm not sure why yr making out that DU is so wonderful because it doesn't. Maybe you could list the ones yr talking about?

[TBF]

47. You only see the back forums if you are a mod or admin -

all forums have them I would think. They simply don't show up if you don't have the privileges to view them. There would have to be a mod forum on this site (I haven't modded here but I'm quite sure with a site this big they'd need one). Just so they are all on the same page with their comments & also spots where they would discuss technical issues. It's not a big deal.

[quiet.american]

42. Alright - K&R nt.

[lamp_shade]

43. Amen, MM. Kick and Rec.

[Hekate]

44. It has kept me coming back; despite occasional despair, there's a lot of quality here still

Thank you MinMan. Lots to think about in your OP.

Hekate

[SidDithers]

45. DU has the best forum layout and usability of any discussion board I've ever used...

We posters may not always agree on the content in our discussions, but Skinner, EarlG and Elad deserve all the credit in the world for creating something this good.

K&R

Sid

[Peacetrain]

48. DU is an awesome sight! I was part of another politcal site

for over 13 years.. and it did devolve into just a few people who sniped constantly, and drove people away just because they could. Why I hung in there as long as I did, I will never know.. but finally just gave up the ghost. But it was a totally un-moderated site and literally taken over by a three or four people whose elevators did not go all the way to the top.

DU for me is the perfect mix.. Moderation and free wheeling..

I really do appreciate everyone here.. especially the posters themselves. There is not a day that goes by in here, that I do not learn something new.. that expands my horizon.

Thanks for putting this up MM.. :hi:

[NYC_SKP]

52. There are 105 sub-forums in 10 DU Groups, 56 Place Forums and 35 Topic Forums at DU!!!

Many don't even know about all of these.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/NYC_SKP/16

Indeed, the most useful single Internet resource I have ever seen, and with the best layout and user interface.

Evah!

:toast:

[MineralMan]

53. That's true. I was surprised at the number of specialty forums

on DU. There's truly something for just about every interest. I sometimes post in the Minnesota forum, but haven't really explored many others. I think I'll take a look around. DU's not just a political place, even though that's its main purpose.

[lonestarnot]

55. K & R!

[hulka38]

56. Yep.

[Desertrose]

58. So..there are no private or secret forums here?

Really?

No forums that for some magic reason don't show on Google?

Or forums that all DUers don't have access to?

Or forums that ask tough questions that just get removed?

Hmmmmmmm......

[Raster]

60. Move along... nothing to see here.

Don't question authority... we don't want the terrorists to win.

[Desertrose]

61. LOL

:)

[MineralMan]

62. Could you be more specific? I'm not sure

what you mean. I can access all the forums here, although I focus mainly on GD. What forums are you talking about?

[grantcart]

66. there are people that believe in secret forums

there are people that believe in vicsims


there are people that believe in Santa Clause


if they are over 9 years old we try and get them professional help.


if they are over 21 years old we try to get natural light brought into their mom's basement so that they get some sunlight.

[MineralMan]

68. What on Earth are "vicsims?" I've never seen that word.

[POAS]

73. Going to take a stab at it....

A character in Sim City named Vic?

As for "secret forums" on DU :shrug: . Maybe too much time in the desert sun accounts for that? I think some shade would provide relief for the vicsim!

:toast: (secret beer drinker society terrorist glass bump) to ya!

[grantcart]

78. too early for that. Its still September. Ask again on October 1st and I will reveal all.

[rhett o rick]

93. Simulated Victims. Dont ask for any more information...............

[MineralMan]

114. I won't. Sounds boring.

[Techn0Girl]

105. I've maintained and moderated several forums ....

and if you don't think there is an "inner circle" forum here than I've got some primo land that I'd like to sell you.

Every site and I mean EVERY site has inner circle forums that only select people get asked to attend and I'm not talking about moderator forums. Trust me , the principals of this site as well as their closest confidants almost surely have such a hidden forum that even the casual mods don't get to see. It's in those hidden forums where the real business and direction of discussion boards get set.

[rhett o rick]

80. Insinuation by question? Are you worried that if you expressed your concerns you'd be TS'd?

If not, why the mystery?

[Desertrose]

108. Thought it was obvious.....secret forum = MOD forum

No mystery to me.

"What takes place in the Mod forum, stays in the Mod forum."

IIRC mods actually have to sign something to that effect.

I'd call that secret and private, wouldn't you?

And yeah, if you think DU doesn't have its secrets....how long have you been here??

[DevonRex]

118. This is the second silliest post I've read today.

:rofl: and :eyes:

[Desertrose]

130. Silly... how do you get that?

What I posted is true....after being here since day one there isn't a whole lot I haven't seen here.

The Mod forum isn't open to the public...things discussed there are forbidden to be shared....that makes it private and secret to me.

[dionysus]

147. damn, they're onto our secret forums.. launch the CRUISE MISSELS!!11!

:rofl:

[DevonRex]

150. OMG. We're in crisis mode now! Defcon Eleventythousand!!!!1!11

Quick! Hide teh forums!!111!11

[Cha]

126. Are you talking about the group forums that have Mission Statements

instead of a Rec function?..say for instance the Astrology Forum where posters who disagree can't go in and harass those who want to talk about such things?

[rhett o rick]

59. K & R 77 nm

[Bragi]

63. Me too! I'm grateful for this space

[msanthrope]

64. k&r Great OP

[OnyxCollie]

65. Ever try recommending a thread in the Dungeon?

You can't.

Yes, all forums are open, but not all forums are permitted to go the Greatest page.

[MineralMan]

67. The same is true in The Lounge. And yet, both areas

can be read by anyone. The Greatest page is what it is, but it's not what DU is. The people who own this forum have decided which parts of the forum will appear on the Greatest page. That's their business. You can read posts in all forums, if I understand correctly. I think the groups aren't available for posting except to contributors, but I could be wrong about that. I've always donated, so I have no way to test that.

My point is that all the forums are open, not private and hidden. That's my only point. It's not my forum, so I leave the details of administration to the people who do own it. I can read. I can post.

[OnyxCollie]

69. So, the forums are open and can be searched,

but no one is permitted to call attention to a particular thread in the Dungeon or Lounge. (And should threads relating to the worst terrorist attack in our nation's history be equated with "What's your favorite TV show?" threads in the Lounge?)

"The Greatest page is what it is, but it's not what DU is. The people who own this forum have decided which parts of the forum will appear on the Greatest page. That's their business."

The people who own this forum have taken specific action to prevent threads relating to the worst terrorist attack in our nation's history from receiving the highest visibility this forum has to offer. That doesn't seem to be very open in my estimation, but YMMV.

[MineralMan]

70. I'm sorry, but you're asking me questions that I can't answer.

You could ask the admins, though, using the Contact link at the bottom of every page. I have no official connection to the forum. I'm just a member. I just don't know the answer to your question.

[OnyxCollie]

71. DU maintains an open website*

*Except for topics related to the finale of Lost and the worst terrorist attack in our nation's history, which the administrators of the website have determined shall not be permitted to receive recommendation, thereby disqualifying them from receiving the highest visibility this website has to offer.

There goes your thesis.

[Desertrose]

75. Once upon a time there actually was an "Ask the Admins" forum....

but it went away.

Guess they didn't like too many of the questions.

[MineralMan]

81. I have no idea. That forum wasn't here when I joined.

You can still contact the admins, as I said above. I can't answer your question.

[Desertrose]

83. Well...being here for 9+ years, one sees many things.

.....and I wasn't really asking you a question.

[MineralMan]

92. OK. Sorry. You've certainly been here a lot longer than I have.

[awoke_in_2003]

115. if they held an "Ask the Admins" now...

it would be full of people bitching about the "unrec" feature.

[Techn0Girl]

122. The Solution to the REC / UnRec problem is Simple...

and could be easily implemented if the powers that be wanted to do so.

#1. Restrict everyone's rec and unrec ability to a limited number per day, say between 5 an 10 a day or so.

#2 Randomly give and/or take away rec/unrec abilities 3 or 4 days a week. SO you get rec/urec abilities for 3 or 4 random days a week, When you log in there could be some indicator on the page (gold star, whatever) saying if today you have the mod ability or not.

Implementing #1 and/or 2 (and most especially #1) would make it next to impossible for agenda oriented rec/unrec gangs to effectively organize behind the scenes and control content on forums .

[awoke_in_2003]

123. the only problem we have...

with rec/unrec are the one who, on the first response to a new OP, have to say "ooh, the unrec brigade is here. It gets tiring- chill the fuck out and wait. If the OP is worth a damn it will float to the top.

on edit: the "ooh the unrec brigade is here" is the new "first post" (which is equally annoying)

[Techn0Girl]

124. Maybe...maybe not....

All it takes is about 20 people with too much time on their hands on a daily basis to get together and mod a post into or out of the greatest page in a matter of minutes. 20 people working together with an Instant Messaging client - that's about all.

How many people are on DU on a daily basis? 5,000 ? 10,000? More?
Do you really think that groups of 20 or so haven't already organized behind the scenes to promote or demote posts?
Because I can tell you this is an issue for EVERY other discussion forum that allows mods (recs/unrecs) so it would be surprising if that weren't a factor here as well.

It's not the daily casual reader of DU who really control recs/unrecs because most casual users don't really bother with moderation. It's the "stay-at-homes" who literally do nothing else all day save for banging away on the internets who have a disproportionate ability to influence discussion by whatever means.

[Usrename]

77. Conjugating into the Orwellian dialect:

Censorship is Tolerance

[JNelson6563]

72. Well said as usual MM.

We have some difficulties but not the secrecy some forums have.

Julie

[leftstreet]

76. Isn't this kinda calling out another website?

I thought several sites were persona non grata here and not to be referred to

:shrug:

Disingenuous at best

unrec

[MineralMan]

79. I'm not referring to any specific website other than DU.

I've been on dozens or even scores of discussion forums since the mid-80s. I'm talking about my overall experience and what I've observed in that time. I've seen many forums that were destroyed by the sort of thing I'm describing. I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Desertrose]

82. No of course you don't.

and you're not referring to any other website than DU.

And DU maintains an open website.

Got it.

[MineralMan]

85. Thanks. Now you have it just right.

I was referring to many websites I've seen in almost 30 years (since 1984) online. None in specific. Had I wanted to refer to a specific website, I would have done just that. As an example, there was a boating forum that ran that way. It's gone now, but it lasted a couple of years. Most of its members were former members of another boating site that is very successful and has many thousands of members. This new forum had all sorts of secret areas where people spent their time writing about how bad the larger forum was. Other than that, they really had nothing much to say. The forum that's still around is iboats.com, a very useful forum for boat owners who need a place to get expert answers.

I could provide a number of other examples from my years in discussion forums. It's a common phenomenon.

[Desertrose]

88. 30+ years online?

Really?

I....um.....nevermind.

[MineralMan]

90. Almost. I went online for the first time in 1984, on a local

BBS system. Shortly thereafter, I began posting in forums on GEnie and Compuserve. So, I guess that's just 26 years. I'm really old, so you'll have to forgive my bad arithmetic, if you don't mind. I'll go fix that right now.

On Edit: Fixed. Thanks for correcting my math. I used the handy Edit button and made the change.

[Desertrose]

94. Thought you were older than the internets there for a minute.

[MineralMan]

97. Nope. But I was definitely online in 1984. It was an exciting

time. Lots of stuff going on.

[POAS]

100. I was also on GEnie and Compuserve

and local BBS boards as soon as the first 300 baud modems hit the stores.

Universities also had text based message boards which I used. All well before the WEB. These newbies think the WEB is all there ever was. Hell, I had computers before many here were even born.

[MineralMan]

101. Yeah. Sometimes I forget that some folks have never been

sentient when there was no internet. Actually, it was there, but it was not easy to access. As an alum at the University where I lived, I maintained an account on their network, and could actually access much of the Arpanet, but there wasn't that much of interest to me. When the Internet finally was available and there was an Internet provider I could use, I jumped on it. I could use parts of it via Compuserve, even before then with their primitive browser, and actually put my first website up on their OurWorld hosting service, but soon found a real host and built a real site.

But, the old days of BBSes linked through FidoNet was a hoot. The BBS I ran had three phone lines coming into it, running Mustang BBS software, so we could actually have a chat going. But, the Internet put an end to that nonsense, thank goodness, and real discussion forums began to appear.

I guess the kiddies think it was always as it is today. 'Taint so, McGee...

[MineralMan]

102. When I first went to college, in 1963, I was an Electronics

Engineering major. In my freshman year, I took my first programming classes, using FORTRAN, and punching IBM cards, which were compiled into huge decks of those cards and run on an IBM 1620 in the University's bit computer center in the middle of the night. What a hoot! I hated it, to be frank, and didn't do anymore programming until the 80s.

[Techn0Girl]

106. I was also on CI$ (Compuserve) abd Fidonet back in 1983 ...about 27 years ago....

... so guess what Junior ( lol) BBS discussion boards HAVE been around longer than you might think. They preceded the general public's use of the Internet by about 10 years.

[MineralMan]

109. They did. I started an OP about old timey telecommunications

with some of my old magazine articles from Compute! Magazine linked. They're a hoot to read all those years later.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9115914

[Techn0Girl]

112. I remember Compute! :)

and Byte and lots of others. My first PC was a Comodore PET with the chicklet keyboard that I bought back in 1977 or 78 . I learned to code back in junior high on a PDP-8/S back around 1971 or so. I learned BASIC, PAL3, FOCAL and MACRO8 on it.

Back then it was all paper tape and ASR33 teletype machines - and core memory LOL that was a bunch of tiny washers with wires running through them.

[MineralMan]

113. Cool. You are truly a Techn0Girl!

[OnyxCollie]

91. Were you listening to your 70's boombox

while you surfed the Web in 1984?:rofl:

The details will get you every time.

[MineralMan]

96. There was no web in 1984. There were lots of BBS systems, though,

and most offered a way to discuss things. In 1985, I joined GEnie and Compuserve, using a 300 baud modem and a PC clone, and began participating in discussion groups on those services. During those early days, I also ran a FIDONET BBS. As soon as the internet became available, I started using it, too.

I said I was online. I was. I was a very early adopter, and wrote many magazine articles in the computer magazines of those days about online activities.

Thanks for asking. And no, I didn't have a boombox in the 1970s. That was an error in my post in that long forgotten thread. It's interesting that you remember that mistake. I think you may have brought it up before.

[OnyxCollie]

98. "Thanks for asking

And no, I didn't have a boombox in the 1970s. That was an error in my post in that long forgotten thread. It's interesting that you remember that mistake. I think you may have brought it up before."

No, that wasn't me, but considering how faulty your memory is, that is to be expected.

[MineralMan]

99. OK. It's a wonder that you remember such a detail. I guess

youth is a good thing. I believe I corrected myself in that thread, but I can't remember the subject of the thread. I'm better at long-term memory. In fact, I can still remember my old Compuserve ID from the dial-up days. It was 71571,222. That was before they even allowed names as addresses. What a hoot. But Compuserve had a great Politics forum. Very active. It was great fun to participate in a way that had never been possible before. I still remember how excited I was to switch to a 2400 baud modem. It was miraculous.

Anyway, I'm really flattered that you remember something so insignificant about me. I can't imagine why you would, though.

On Edit: I just Googled that old Compuserve ID, and there are still references to it. How cool! BTW, you can click the link to my personal website in my profile. All kinds of interesting stuff there to poke around in, since you seem so interested in minor details about me. Or click the link in my signature line to find out what I'm up to during the 2010 election season. I'm an open book...some say it's interesting reading.

[Techn0Girl]

107. In 1986 there WAS a thing called gophers ....

That maintained lists of interesting sites on the internet. I worked at a University and used it all the time.
Learn your history my young friend so you don't come off sounding foolish.

There was no web per se but there were a LOT of sites with a lot of information that you could access via other protocols (usually FTP)through the Internet. Gophers indexed such sites for you. Everything was text based and 40 or 80 chars a line

[OnyxCollie]

141. Thank you.

[Desertrose]

86. Forgot this.

:sarcasm:

[MineralMan]

89. One of the cool features in DU is the Edit button, which

lets you add or alter a previous post. I use it a lot to correct omissions and typos.

[Desertrose]

95. No. Really??

:wow:

[DevonRex]

119. I believe you've let your imagination run away with you. Praising DU isn't a dig at any other site.

It's just praising DU, period.

[leftstreet]

120. THANK YOU DU FOR NOT CRASHING MY BROWSER

Many sites I visit always crash my browser and lock up my deal here

But not DU!

*WOOT*

[whatchamacallit]

84. Lol

:eyes:

[flamingdem]

87. 3 chrs 4 DU!!!! nt

[treestar]

103. It's a great site, on its worst day even

So much to pick from, too.

[customerserviceguy]

104. Good to see you write that

It's also important that people don't get censored to the point where this place is an echo chamber.

I know that some of my views are not in the majority here, and as long as I've been respectful (have done a bit of beer posting) my posts have stayed up. It's the diversity of experiences of people here that gives us a special strength that a certain unnamed right wing board can never have.

[MineralMan]

110. Thanks. You're right. All sorts of opinions are welcome here.

All you have to do is keep it polite and you can post pretty much anything. From what I've seen, it's very hard to get banned from DU. It's a great forum.

[bertman]

129. Not true about "All you have to do is keep it polite and you can post

pretty much anything." I had a post locked this week by a mod who informed me that I was equating "D's with R's". When I asked why he locked the thread he said because there were posts that were 'attacks' on the thread. The only attack on the thread was by someone who alerted because I said the President was doing the work of the Corporatists and not the People.

Apparently that opinion is NOT WELCOME here. Even when spoken by a person who has been a strong liberal Democrat for forty-plus years.

Other than stuff like that, I agree with you MM that DU has some great forums, it works really smoothly, and there are some fantastic contributors here. But, it ain't all perfect despite your starry-eyed infatuation with it.

[Techn0Girl]

131. Agreed....

Last week I had a thread locked because I expressed the opinion that maybe I should have voted for Hillary and maybe I would like to see her run in '12. Thread was locked as "divisive" in less than 45 minutes.

Some opinions are more equal than others.

[Tarheel_Dem]

134. The fact that you don't see how it's "divisive" is the problem, not the fact...

that the thread got locked. How about "hillaryis44.com", wouldn't that be a more appropriate forum for that type of speculation/advocacy?

[Techn0Girl]

135. Lat I checked this was a Democratic forum... not obama.com .....

So if suggesting a Democratic option is "divisive" to you.... well I see that as being the problem.

[Tarheel_Dem]

136. It ain't hillary.com either. Your agenda is quite clear. The fact that Skinner

has given cover, under the "constructive criticism" provision, sometimes allows divisive tactics to go unchallenged. That your divisive thread was locked, makes me ecstatic and sends a clear signal that this board is generally supportive of the current administration, and you'll just have to deal with it.

Sour grapes, rehashing the primaries, & PUMA tactics do nothing to promote solidarity on this board. :hi:

[Techn0Girl]

137. Your reply is just chock full of likely very sincere smugness ....

and it's that kind of "my team right or wrong" attitude that not only keeps certain kinds of people paying 40 bucks a ticket to go support a billionaires sports club but also allows the the very same kinds of people to continually elect leaders that create policies against the very people who elected them.

Of course I am only talking about teabaggers here , right? So you can rest assured in your smugness that you are on the correct and winning team all the while 100,000 young men and women are set to risk their lives in a hopeless and useless war and while Goldman Sachs gets a trillion dollar bailout and you and I got our unemployment checks cut by between $100 to $500 (with cobra matching) a month this year.

go team.

[Tarheel_Dem]

138. Well, it's quite obvious you want to hijack this thread to continue a previous debate...

that was locked. I don't want the intent of the o.p. to get lost in a squabble, and I certainly don't want this to devolve into a flamefest, and wind up suffering the same fate as your thread. I suggest that perhaps we end it here, and agree to disagree? :hi:

[bertman]

139. I made a statement of fact to rebut what MM said, Tarheel_Dem. It had

nothing to do with continuing a previous debate, as you wrongly assume.

[Tarheel_Dem]

140. Perhaps you responded in the wrong place? Unless you're Techn0girl's sock?

:shrug:

[Techn0Girl]

142. You just went into my ignore list.

[Tarheel_Dem]

143. I don't blame you. But I don't think it was this post that did it. If you're

an honest person, you need to respond to this, or retract it. You must have a lot of people on your ignore list, since you've chosen not to respond to any of them. It's up to you, but I think you should know that your credibility is on the line. A lot of people are waiting for a response from you. It's the responsible thing to do.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9115879&mesg_id=9117375

[Cha]

145. She can't hear you...

La La La La La La!:P B-) :kick: :party: :popcorn: :toast: :fistbump:

[dionysus]

148. oooh, them's fightin' woids! put up yer dukes!

:hi:

[DevonRex]

152. I'm waiting for the response.

:hi:

[grantcart]

146. Please add me to your ignore list I would consider it a high honor.

[DevonRex]

151. I'm really, really curious about why you'd answer that post as if it were to bertman and not to

technowhateverhernameis.

[BrklynLiberal]

111. Glad to be the 100th Rec..

[MineralMan]

121. Glad to have you as the 100th rec.

[indimuse]

116. knr! n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

125. Sounds like a K&R to me, MineralMan

:hi: :thumbsup:

[earcandle]

127. I said as much on the well not long ago. I am very grateful for this forum and have become a

monthly contributor... only $5 but once you DU'ers catch on and start buying our wonderful itunes,at .99 cents a song, or buy our CD's at Hostbaby or Amoeba, that is all we can pay right now. We also contribute to Calpirg and Amnesty International. We are currently participating on a Mekons compilation that will be a fund raiser for Amnesty International. Our contribution is "Hard to Be Human"... I will upload as soon as it is released.

On the Ear Candle Radio right now is one of our best on our soon to be released CD Crashing Into the Future
by The Granite Countertops (one of our Ear Candle Productions releases made in our kitchen! It features local
San Francisco talent!

Atlas Wept

or if love is want you want to hear...

here is a nice one to send to your lover..

Haystack

only in America do we have this kind of freedom of expression.
and thank you DUers for actually coming to have a listen!

thanks much!
earcandle

[jtuck004]

128. K&R absolutely n/t