There is a new DU coming - one suggestion from an old timer here

[The Straight Story]

Let part of whatever funds people use to post here to go to giving away memberships.

Something like a Donor+ status so that those that can will be able to help those who can't.

I don't have all the details (other then what I have read so far tonight) but one thing I see is people worrying about being able to post/have a star/etc.

If I could get a monthly and add a $1 extra a month and use that to help someone else, I would be happy (cause I have been there more than a few times myself).

DU has been built up by so many that cross all socio-economic boundaries I would hate to see someone feel left out here because they can't afford to help out (and I don't know all the new rules or what Skinner/crew have in mind fully other than what I read to tonight).

Not saying I don't understand the new model (I do) but am hoping there is an easier way to help out people other than buying two full memberships.

[csziggy]

1. That is a great idea!

If membership is $5 per month, give the option of donating a specific increment over that to be used to fund members who need assistance.

Or would it still be possible to donate arbitrary amounts whenever that could go to that fund?

[hlthe2b]

2. I appreciate the new plan, but I share some of the concern expressed...

Those who have cut back to the barest of bones in their budget--no cable, no satellite, no movies, no netflix, no eating out, brown-bagging all meals, conscious use of gasoline via limited car trips, hand-me downs for the kids, maybe even consignment stores for their own clothes--and on and on and on-- will simply not be able to justify spending $42/year.

I'm not negative on the whole idea at all, but do hope we can come up with some kind of solution or subsidy we can provide to those struggling. It could be any one of us--I think most of us know that.

[leftstreet]

4. Frankly, people in those circumstances shouldn't be looking to the Democrats for help n/t

[hlthe2b]

7. Huh? We are talking about helping them continue as equal members...

on DU--where they can inform themselves, engage in advocacy, debate. It isn't about skipping the ads. Truthfully, it is about not setting up a widened dichotomy between dues paying starred members and others.

The Democratic Party and what it is and is not doing-- is NOT the issue at hand, though FORCING them to stand up for the 99% IS. DU can be a part of that.

[leftstreet]

8. You missed the point

Why on earth would people in dire circumstances be looking to a corporate political party forum to organize?

[hlthe2b]

9. No, You missed the point of DU

:shrug: Completely, IMO

Not that I don't share your cynicism for the Democratic Party, mind you. But, DU should transcend that. We certainly have not been Democratic sycophants-- as a community--the past several years.

[boston bean]

11. I agree, but the ads is really the crux of the issue here. DU makes a lot of $$ on ads.

Not a bad thing I guess, but forcing people into participating in it, is another whole ball of wax.

Especially after everything we have witnessed over the past 10 years.

But yes you are correct that the separation of those who have the bucks and those who do not, it very demoralizing for this community.

[robinlynne]

16. who are you?

[Odin2005]

3. K&R!

[Booster]

5. Maybe there could be a place where people can tell us they need

a little help and then if we someone there who we've admired, etc., we could donate to help them get a star. I'm not agreeable to just having a slush fund made up; we've seen what happens to funds. lol

[libodem]

6. ahhh

That is a thoughtful thought. I'm a personal pauper right now.

[Newest Reality]

10. I am lucky to be able to

still get online and don't know how long that will last.

I sure hope that some arrangements will be made so that generous users can give stars to others if they care to. That's always been one of the nice things I like about this place.

Some of us are living on the edge and either making ends meet or meeting our ends.

[NBachers]

12. I wouldn't mind kicking down a little extra into a "Membership Pool"

Instead of donating a full membership, I'd rather kick some extra bucks into a Membership Pool. When 42 bucks accumulates in the Membership Pool, another membership gets donated.

How's that sound?

[scarletwoman]

13. I'd happily contribute to a "scholarship" fund to support membership for those who can't afford it.

I spent my early years here not being able to afford more than $5-$10 a year to keep my star.

The last few years I've been able to donate more than the new upcoming subscription rate of $42 a year, so I'd gladly throw in extra to help out other DUers.

No idea how such a fund could be distributed, but surely something could be worked out.

sw

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. Where's the new model information? nt

[The Straight Story]

15. here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2300356

[Sarah Ibarruri]

20. Thanks! It's not a bad idea at all. nt

[Auntie Bush]

17. Skinner is going to have a lot of decisions to make to please us.. What else would you

expect? We're Democrats!

[DevonRex]

18. That's a grand idea! You're a nice guy. Nt

[Downwinder]

19. DU is my total entertainment budget and at $50.00 it is a bargain.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

21. EarlG says in Skinner's thread they want to do something like this

They haven't worked out the details yet, but they are considering something along these lines.

The discussion begins here with a question similar to yours by TygrBright: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2300356&mesg_id=2300721

Read down until you get to the post by EarlG.

[napoleon_in_rags]

22. This old timer has some tech advice too, a few lines of code.

Okay, I assume there is a database table called "posts" (or something), which has columns recs_up, recs_down, recs_total, the latter is displayed. Add a new DECIMAL column called 'percent_positive'. Now, so you don't have to mess with PHP code, if you are using MySQL or whatever DBMS that supports triggers, add triggers for INSERT (percent_postive = NULL) and for UPDATE. In pseudocode:
IF recs_up OR recs_down
percent_positive = recs_up/(recs_up+recs_down) * 100
ELSE
percent_postive = NULL

Now 1 line of PHP completes it. Put a span around the place that shows the recs, with the title attribute so when a person hovers over it , they can see how many of the votes are positive, i.e. how contraversial the post is. It will look something like
<span title="<?php print $db_results("percent_positive") . " percent of votes were positive."; ?>"> ...blah blah

This is a few lines of SQL and one of PHP that would give a whole lot of info on what other DUs think about things.

[rhett o rick]

24. I am not sure what you are saying here, but I object. Just sounds nasty. nm

[napoleon_in_rags]

25. What I am saying is simple. Track controversy.

If a post has 20 recs, it should also show what percent of them were positive (and thus what percent were negative) So this way, DUers can see if a post has 20 people who care, and all of them supportive, or 200 people who care, but only 60% supportive. This allows DU to track which issues are controversial. DU could even have a "most controversial" page if it wanted, and this would be good for DU - controversy drives views. And also good for Dems in general.

All my post was about was how little code it would actually take, I was trying to sell it to whoever writes the code around here.

[rhett o rick]

26. I think it's a good idea. Was just trying to pull your leg, so to speak. nm

[napoleon_in_rags]

27. Thanks! :) nt

[hlthe2b]

23. Yes... But, I think first there must be a decision: Is DU going to continue to foster

participation in the same egalitarian manner that made it succeed and thrive? Or is it content to allow its less affluent members be left behind in the establishment of a two tiered (or multi-tiered) class system.

All I know is that I hurt for those hurting now. I certainly am less well off then when I first joined more than 10 years ago, but it feels as though those truly hurting are being sacrificed in the name of "expediency" at every turn. I surely thought the nation's largest progressive online forum would remember the contributions to its success from the $5 or $10 or $20 donating members over the years and not cast them aside as appears to be the plan.