Is it my imagination or is this group quieter on DU3 than it was on DU2?

[GardeningGal]

It seems that way to me and was wondering what others thought.

[OneGrassRoot]

1. I think so, too.

There are quite a few unfamiliar names. New faces/names are great, but given the often confrontational vibe at DU, it has made me wary.

Perhaps it has others as well until we develop more familiarity with this new space.

I'm not sure how I feel about the overall vibe here yet, either, so I'm simply not on DU as much as I used to be.

[findrskeep]

3. ditto to ogr's post..

that's how I feel too. I miss DU2. I keep hoping that this new place begins to seem familiar soon. And didn't someone say that all of our posts show up on facebook and google etc? I don't know if I like that idea either. And true, it is the holidays, and people are very busy. Maybe it will pick up after they are over.

[Mist]

11. How would our posts here show up on facebook? I'm behind the curve on the technology of how that

would even work. And I can't see how inadvertent sharing with facebook is "improving" DU...

[OneGrassRoot]

15. I believe it simply makes it easier to share...

Unless you turned it off in your profile, you'll see four boxes at the bottom of an OP, one of which allows you to share to Facebook with just a click, the same for Google+ and Twitter.

Before you had to copy the link and paste. This just makes it easier and thus perhaps encourages people to share things to other sites now.

[Why Syzygy]

28. If something

DID get posted to facebook, I'm thinking we would have the opportunity to either delete it there, or at the very least report it as personal intellectual property.

[OneGrassRoot]

30. I don't think so, but that's something to look into...

in the TOS of DU.

If it's posted to this public forum, it's public use, not like a magazine or something.

I've seen people post things to FB from here -- like McCamy Taylor's and H20 Man's OPs and stuff -- and I'm sure they didn't get her permission.

[Celebration]

2. It's a bit different

The positive side is that you no longer need a star to post in a group. That leads to more people. Others, though, may be around less because they don't like the format.

But with the holidays comes a lot of travel, being busy, etc., so I truly don't think you can judge until we are well into January. People always come and go here, but the trend seems to have accelerated.

All is good, though, I feel.

[FirstLight]

4. still no word on our choice to be excluded from the front page

and that has me still wary...

[lildreamer316]

8. I thought we were?

I don't see our posts there when I log on anymore, and I just tried it listed as "Latest" to check for my new posts here and they did not show up. I think you can still choose to see our posts listed from the drop down menu, but it isn't automatic anymore; and that seems to have helped quite a bit.

[Howler]

5. I'm hopeing its just because

Everyone is busy with the holidays.

[Flying Dream Blues]

6. As others have said, I'm a bit wary.

I don't yet understand how widely our posts are transmitted (this is the wary part), and am also a bit hesitant to "speak up" in front of people I don't know very well (not wary as much as shy). This is just me IRL and nothing against any newcomers, who all seem very nice so far!

[lildreamer316]

7. I've just been busy as hell.

Run run run.
This is the first day I've taken to really chill out in about two weeks. I'll be around more, January and February are always the hardest parts of the year for me...cold, dark, quiet, and husband is not here very much at all.

[Howler]

9. I LOVE! the heart thingy in Feb.

That always cracks me up.
Mr Howler always gets me a big bag of the candy hearts to eat while I stalk across D.U. looking for 'Victims" to give hearts too unexpectedly! Big BIG fun is that!

[kimmerspixelated]

10. Heh! You're the best!

What a lively, lovely lady you are!

[Howler]

18. Well if that isnt a case .....

Of the pot callin the Kettle black I don't know what is! ((((Hugs))))

[kimmerspixelated]

33. SNorttttt-

tastic!

And...sweet!

[southerncrone]

12. Many of us don't care for DU3.

Change is never easy, but as others have stated, we are not sure exactly what or where our stuff is going.
Personally, I simply dislike the new format.
Perhaps it's my moving into 4/5D, but I feel the need to leave all the political crap behind. Sense that all is rigged & I'm wasting my time.
I do miss y'all, tho. I connect on FB now.

[Kookaburra]

17. I wish we had a Like Button

You've just described exactly how I'm feeling as well. I do not like the icky feeling of politics in general, and I'm really not interested anymore.
We've had people scoff at our posts. Yes, I know it's just settling in stuff, but I don't care. If I wanted to be scoffed at, I'd post in General Discussion.
This place is no longer the cozy little safe-haven we had before.
FB will do for now.

[murielm99]

13. I am a bit worried about speaking up now.

I hope that changes as things become more familiar.

I have participated in juries, but I am not sold on the system. Other well-run websites rely on moderators to keep things under control. Why not DU?

I am not against change. But any of the religion groups are quite vulnerable to mockery and confrontation. I worry about Christian liberals, and the ancient wisdom and pagan spirituality, too. Are they still safe havens?

I am more concerned about the power the hosts hold in Groups. The first host can theoretically become a dictator, for example, in one of the state groups. Maybe all hosts should be retired every few months.

Let's hope we find our footing soon.

[OneGrassRoot]

14. After a few times, I opted out of serving on a jury...

I feel bad about doing that, but I realized something very important: Whether or not it's "right" or "wrong," it seems that in the cases I was asked to judge, the incident in question wasn't the only factor contributing to other jurors' decisions. They took a poster's history into account, often with the post in question being the final straw for them.

I am not aware of other posters' history. Perhaps I would have voted differently if I was more aware of their tendencies and history, but I'm simply not, so I was often at odds with other jurors as I was solely focused on the post in question.

I think this is one reason a moderator system works best; they do tend to be aware of someone's history, previous warnings, etc. to discuss amongst themselves. Random, myriad jurors make this difficult.

It just felt like pure ick to me. I greatly admire moderators.

[NuttyFluffers]

16. subdued is a good word...

no, i am not happy with the change. and i am afraid it played far too well into the hands that will lead to really bad fissures to this place as a community. sort of obvious result too, but it hasn't fully played out, tragically. i recommend bemused disinterest as the primary season warms up, by the way.

oh well, everything has its time. it was fun while it lasted. at least we can find each other outside of here, too.

[murielm99]

19. Primary season could have been a bloodbath with this system.

I don't imagine this time around will be bad for Democrats. Some of us are disappointed in Obama, but I really, really doubt that he will be primaried. It would be suicidal and stupid. He should be the nominee, with no challengers. He is the President, warts and all.

But I can't imagine what this system would have been like during the last primary. Surely I, and many other Hillary supporters, would have been banned. We were treated badly by DU as it was. I think there are too many novices here who do not understand how politics works. That is why some of them are so viscerally disillusioned with Obama right now.

I wonder how things will go in some of the state groups, as politics, recalls and primaries heat up. So far, things have been okay. But those groups could be ripe pickings for trolls and authoritarian hosts in the near future. I haven't been to the Iowa group lately. I should go see how they are doing. I like that group of people. Also, since I am only forty miles or so from Iowa, I get their TV stations for ads and news. It is getting interesting. My daughter was a caucus leader when she went to Iowa State. I learned so much from her! Wisconsin has been hot for a long time, but the recalls are approaching. We need open discussion and mutual respect there, too. I get the Wisconsin TV stations, too, since I am even closer to that state border. I can check in on two key states during the next crucial political period.

I may have to join facebook, so I can find you guys. I know how to contact Ric, but not the rest of you.

Stay sane, friends.

[Howler]

20. LOL! Please let me assure you murielm99.....

That quite a few of us that are viscerally dissappointed with Obama are NOT Novices and understand politics and the system quite well !


Please tell me that you aren't leaveing ASAH!!!!! That would truely suck!!!!

I really think if everyone would give D.U.3 a chance and allow yourself to get used to the new format it will be great1!!

Please tell me that your post isnt a good-bye!

[murielm99]

21. I am not leaving!

I love this place. Like other DUers, I want to see it thrive. Maybe there are some bugs to work out. I will be here, and try to help, not undermine, the new system.

ASAH will bounce back. Is all this going out over facebook, and other places? I know that anything we say on the Internet is public and permanent, but it sounds like it has become a lot more public. I am not sure I like that.

[Howler]

22. I don't know if the posts can be seen on face book.

But I'm very glad to hear that you are not leaveing murielm99!!! YAY!!!!

I really like the new system! Its got lots of bells and whistles! I'm not very technically inclined but this D.U.3 ROCKS!!!
I also love the Idea Of group hostesses! And I think Lucinda and Magical Chick are perfect for those positions. I really can't see either of them getting "Mad with power" LOL! So I'm happy to see them be Hostess'es till they don't want be hostesses any more which I hope is many many years from now!

I also LOVE the idea and current implementation of D.U.'s Jury system. I just love the fact that the jury's are much less likely to censure posts then the moderater system was. I also feel that its much more democratic. It offers the D.U. members a real investment in this cummunity.
As far as the moderaters knowing more about a posters history I feel there is a reason that a persons history is rarely admissable in a court of law!!! LOL!
I think there is something to be said for each post or set of posts standing on its own merits instead of the poster's past history or personallity. I also think that, like the Democratic party, this place is going through an evolution/revolution that is much needed. Change is good. Don't ever be afraid of number 5! some folks in Numerology just give it a bad rap.

[kimmerspixelated]

23. Well, it seems to me that some folks are quieter

And others that used to be really quiet have perked up!
A topsy-toiv-y woi-ld we live in!

Maybe we would be louder if
we
had
Smilies
to play with!!

I have tried and failed! Argh! Argh!

[cosmic _mind]

24. !!!

[kentauros]

25. I keep links to my smilies in the "Notes" part of Opera.

That way, I just right click in here, find the right one(s) and post:

[Howler]

26. That and

SPELL CHECK!!!!!!! for the love of everything that is holy!!!!!

[Tsiyu]

35. You want some smilies?

Here's the link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/emoticons/index.html

I have it saved to my faves so I can access when needed.

[dynasaw]

27. This Thread

unfortunately, has often wandered off the topic it was meant to serve. I personally have found it to have become less interesting and visited it less and less. Too bad.

[Howler]

29. :)

[OneGrassRoot]

31. That IS funny!

[Howler]

32. HHHHOOOOWWWWLLLLL!

My bad! (((Hug)))

[kimmerspixelated]

34. Here's the deal, folks. If I may be so bold.

Take the bull by the G--damned horns and MAKE

M
A
K
E

M A K E !!!!!!

DU3 ASAH exactly what you want it to be!!!!!


YOU ARE MASTERFUL CREATORS!

OF ALL THE GROUPS ON ASAH, WE"RE THE ONES THAT GET IT.

Create what you want in life, DU3 is what we have now, so we must continue to use ASAH and lift our spirits where they are meant to be!

I see you shining.