Does DU need more structure?

[gully]

Poll question: Does DU need more structure?

Thanks...

I voted for # 1.

Edited to add;

By structure I mean sorting out topics from the GD area.

Enforcing the user rules that are in place. Perhaps more mods?

Demanding people are at least 'respectful' in their debates.

For example it's against user rules to trash anothers religion, but it happens here openly? Don't have rules if there not going to be enforced, KWIM?

I also agree that at the very least thread titles should be de-void of 'cursing'.

I dunno, just tossing stuff around. I really like the ideas I see so far from you all.

Also wanted to clarify;

Many use DU as a place to point out how ignorant liberals are. I guess I don't really give a rip about what conservatives think, but I do think DU could accomplish more with a bit of tweeking. We should attempt to bring in as many people to the cause as we can, and I fear we are alienating many.

[gully]

1. I voted for 1 because

I feel DU could be much more. I feel DU represents 'the liberal' cause to many outsiders who lurk here.

I don't think WE have been represented well here as of late. And, I'm a new poster, compared to many so???

Feel free to expound on your beliefs.

[starroute]

6. I think you need to clarify what you're saying

I am truly confused by your statements:

What "more" do you feel DU should be?

What do you mean by "the liberal cause"?

Are you saying that DU should be about presenting a good face to outsiders, or representing one particular point of view, rather than being a meeting place for all shades of democrats to work out their beliefs and explore their commonalities and differences? If you are, then why? If not, then why do you care about the lurkers?

Who are the "WE" who aren't well represented? Do you consider yourself a representative of them? Isn't any group that isn't well represented at DU probably not representative of DU?

And what does your being a new poster have to do with any of it?

You seem to feel very strongly about something, but I have no idea what it is.

[gully]

18. Sorry, made an attempt to clarify above

[freeforall]

2. Voted for "No More Rules"

Hell, we don't need any more rules! Remember freedom of speech? Democracy?

Just be decent.

[roughsatori]

9. "just be decent" is a rule

Just wanted to point that out :P

[1opinion]

14. Could not agree more

Sometimes, some of the foul language some of our members use tends to make us all look bad. It's pretty sad when someone has to rely on foul language to make their point.

But, as they say, to each their own.

[roughsatori]

19. You agree with me

I dislike the guttersnipe language too. I was pointing out that to say "just be decent" is a rule. It was preceded by the "free speech" cheer. I was pointing out the posters inconsistency in a fond manner.

[Walt Starr]

3. I live for the spirited debates

If it gets out of hand, click Alert.

[sujan]

4. I voted for 1

we do need quality control especially on GD. LBN is ok. If you want to troll, DU lounge is always there.

[quinnox]

5. I liked the experiment

that took place. No profanity in the first post or headline. If it was up to me, I would have a rule of no evolution or religion topics allowed in GD. I would have a forum for philosophy, science, and religion topics.

I would also not tolerate gender wars/flamebaits, or south/north bashing in GD, but move them to the Lounge. Also, no adult pornographic topics allowed. There are plenty of sites that are available for that subject.

[ibegurpard]

8. I'm glad you're not in charge

:hi:

[quinnox]

10. I admit I would be a tough SOB

If I ran a message board. I have little patience for some things.

[gully]

16. My thoughts exactly.

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. structure?

I've always prefered the Gap and maybe Today's Man, but I think a lot of DUers could use better clothing.

:)

[Monte Carlo]

11. Yes. I think DU needs to refine itself.

DU should be more than just a discussion board. It also needs to be a starting point for action and coordinating people.

To be brutally honest, the structure of DU is amateurish. I admire certain aspects of Free Republic's format - spartan, but also thorough and clean.

If I had a web discussion board, I would *ahem* _borrow_ some aspects from each, as well as others. I'd keep DU's tree-structured threads as opposed to FR's flat style. Slashdot.org's boards use recommendation points and filter systems to bring the generally better posts to the top - I might add those because a busy man like myself doesn't have time to sort through 50+ posts to find a good point. I want someone else to have already done that for me.

Threads should be easier to keep track of. In the past when I have joined a discussion at Free Republic, I have been able to find my old posts and new replies to them in a click, and maintain discussion for days after the thread was created. I've gotten some pretty substantive debate there a few times, believe it or not. At DU, discussion threads die out in hours, usually.

I have more complaints to make, just give the word.

[starroute]

12. I don't want more rules -- but it might help to clarify the forums

For example, I always have a problem with where to post news stories that are too old for LBN, blog items, and various lists or analyses. Most of them don't seem to belong in Articles and Editorials -- and I also have the feeling that forum doesn't get a lot of views -- so I generally end up putting them in General Discussion. But I'm not completely comfortable about it.

I would like to see GD reserved for people stating their own personal opinions (or inquiring about the opinions of others) and inviting discussion. If that was its express purpose, it would seem natural for it to get somewhat raucous at times.

To make that possible might require creating a new forum dedicated to posting references to outside sources (links to online material, mentions of tv shows, etc.), whether for discussion or just to draw them to people's attention. Or perhaps Articles and Editorials could be reconceived to become such a forum. However it was arrived at, I would expect it to have a far more sedate and serious tone than GD.

Any thoughts?

[Gman]

13. What? No "ask me anything" piece to this thread?

??

[MuseRider]

15. I did not mind the

trial rule change but I think we need to be able to work this out. If you get uncomfortable don't click. Look, we are all so angry every damn day with what is happening to our country. Sometimes ya just have to get stuff off your chest. This seems to be one great big democracy and it gets messy sometimes. Comes and goes. We work it out.

[Clete]

17. Some of the really informative posts I think should

be archived in a separate place by subject matter, so one can go back and find them if needed. Sometimes you don't think of bookmarking them at the time, but wish you had at a later date.

[KoKo]

20. Many use DU as a place to point out how ignorant liberals are! WTF!

Gully.....this is a quote from you...what are you talking about?



"Many use DU as a place to point out how ignorant liberals are. I guess I don't really give a rip about
what conservatives think, but I do think DU could accomplish more with a bit of tweeking. We should
attempt to bring in as many people to the cause as we can, and I fear we are alienating many.

Could you give examples and links for who the "many" are? I found that insulting.......

[gully]

21. Sorry man!

Clarification;

I've seen links here to examples of people poking fun at 'DU-ers'. I can't recall the threads specifically...

But, I was not implying that liberals are ignorant by any means or ... I'd be calling myself 'ignorant'?

Poorly framed sentence on my part sorry bout that. :freak:

*I think some people come here and post non-sense in order to 'disrupt' DU and in the mean time they are thought to 'represent' DU.*

Hope that's clearer?

[KoKo]

23. Thanks for the clarification.........things are tense enought around here,

lately. I saw that post and thought "Oh No......not another one."

I wish they would bring back the rules. Maybe change it to a four line post or something.......It's getting bad here. Kick your post so that your poll gets tomorrows crowd. The crowd tonight is pretty rowdy! LOL's Seriously though...keep it kicked. Maybe the numbers will change by tomorrow night.

koko

[maggrwaggr]

22. lately a lot of GD threads belong in the Lounge

I wish people would think before they start a thread.

It's really annoying to see stupid-ass threads in the GD. If you have a stupid-ass idea for a thread or something like "what would you do if suddenly aliens came down and made republicans nice people", put it in the LOUNGE.

Or find something else to do because you're obviously really BORED.

[newyawker99]

24. I am locking this thread.

Questions about Democratic Underground policies belong in the "Ask the Administrators" forum. All discussion topics relating to Democratic Underground policies, procedures, enforcement, etc., which are posted outside of the "Ask the Administrators" forum will be locked or deleted.


NYer99
DU Moderator