Welcome. Before we get rocking and rolling, pehaps we should address some things.

[Behind the Aegis]

I think this group will have the potential to expose people to various important topics that otherwise get buried in the main forums, or clutter the I/P forum, where some people are "afraid" to post. ( ) I propose we (those interested in this group) start off with guidelines about what is and itsn't acceptable, as well as discussing hosts. It may take a few days for people to get the word and join the group (don't forget to subscribe) and settle in. Since we don't have polling features yet, we are going to have to be creative. I am willing to take lead, for now, but would love a small core group so we can get this group up and running and not have it start off in chaos. Therefore, I propose...

• Does the group need a host(s)? If so, are you willing to host? Are you willing to be lead host?
  
• The forum purpose is light, does it need to be expanded?
  
• Other than discussions of I/P (the Israeli-Palestinian conflict), are their other things that should be limited or exluded by an expanded SOP?
  
• Is it necessary to say that bigotry is not allowed in this forum and use appropriate examples?

If you feel other questions need to be posed, post them or PM me and i will add them. I will highlight them, if I can remember how, that way they will stand out and people can address any new items without having to have 913 threads just about SOP and such.

Thanks!

Additional questions: (to be added, if needed)

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Awesome! WOW! Thanks for the welcome!

I do feel the group needs hosts. I would be willing to serve. I wouldn't be all that willing to serve as lead.

I do propose expanding the SOP.

I can't think of any "taboo" topics, but I think a list of "discussable" countries might be in order.

As for bigotry, it is a TOS violation, but I still feel this forum would do well to have something similar to the I/P group's statement (http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134287), including examples.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. Howdy!

Does the group need a host(s)? If so, are you willing to host? Are you willing to be lead host?

Yes to hosts, yes willing to help, no, I vote for you as lead host. You are the one who took the time to write it all up and propose it.

The forum purpose is light, does it need to be expanded?

Yes. Perhaps using the wording from your proposal, diluted to the core elements.

Other than discussions of I/P (the Israeli-Palestinian conflict), are their other things that should be limited or exluded by an expanded SOP?

Not that I can think of at this point. Open to objections that others have.

Is it necessary to say that bigotry is not allowed in this forum and use appropriate examples?

Unfortunately, yes, it is necessary. Perhaps not a list of examples, but at least a statement reinforcing that bigotry is not welcome.

[joshcryer]

3. Is this forum going to cover the Greater Middle East or what?

Shall we also forbid the islamaphobic and antisemitic language?

[Behind the Aegis]

4. That's what this thread is to discuss.

As I proposed, and what many seemed to like, is this group would reflect what is sometimes called "The Greater Middle East."

[joshcryer]

5. Thanks.

And yes I should say I understand antisemitism and islamaphobia would fall under bigotry.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. NP. I knew what you meant. LOL!

[JCMach1]

10. At the same time there is a fine line...

I hate the current Israeli government (and their right-wing backers) and the Salafists and Radical Islamists just as much.

I hate hate hate hate hate them.

Would that mean I couldn't/shouldn't post?

[Behind the Aegis]

11. You provide a perfect example of a situation needing to be addressed.

Hatred of the Israeli government isn't necessairly anti-Semitism, anymore than hate of radical Islamists is Islamophobia. Can u see the difference?

[JCMach1]

15. Probably you and I can, but I wonder having seen how thread have devolved on DU in the past

just posing the question.

[Behind the Aegis]

17. I think you made a great point of something that should be addressed in SOP.

Would you see that as being something that needs to be an example? Personally, I think it would be a good one and could be a guiding principle of the group, in order to keep this group from getting mired in hate. Would you be interested in hosting? You do live in the area.

[joshcryer]

12. So do I.

But I'm not going to write bigoted, racist screeds against the Israeli people!

Meanwhile I refuse to broad brush Islamists as all radical terrorists, and so on.

[JCMach1]

16. Maybe everyone should just give any seemingly errant opiner the opportunity

to re-state what they mean.

We should all just 'try' to remember to do that in a positive way... I suppose.

[ellisonz]

7. My thoughts

Does the group need a host(s)? If so, are you willing to host? Are you willing to be lead host?

Yes. But not too many. I am host in enough groups already and think having hosts with fewer obligations is better.

The forum purpose is light, does it need to be expanded?

Yes. I think the topics of discussion could be better defined. For example, the Asian Group SOP includes discussion of "culture, music, language, food, fashion, entertainment, art, history, traditions" and to that I might add politics.

Other than discussions of I/P (the Israeli-Palestinian conflict), are their other things that should be limited or exluded by an expanded SOP?

I think a list of countries might be useful just so there is no dispute over whether or not I can post about Somalia and what-not.

Is it necessary to say that bigotry is not allowed in this forum and use appropriate examples?

Yes. I would think someone could re-write the I/P guidelines to better fit this forum and present it as a draft for debate. I would volunteer but I think other more veteran I/Pers can do a better job of loosening the restrictions while still structuring discussion somewhat. Plus I'm pretty DUswamped right now.

[dipsydoodle]

23. list of countries would be useful

as a broad guide or better still a map not cast in stone. It will be inevitable that adjacent counties will come in from time to time : bit like the Caribbean getting tacked onto the Latin Forum occasionally.

[Violet_Crumble]

8. Answers...

Does the group need a host(s)? If so, are you willing to host? Are you willing to be lead host?

I think it only needs one or two hosts. You've got my nomination because I post in another group yr a host of, and yr fair and have the best interests of the group at heart, and when it comes to bigotry (a topic that rears it's head at times) I've found you to be sensitive to all forms of bigotry...

If there's a need for a second host, I'd want it to be someone who lives in the Middle East. I'd ring in Eyl, but I think he's been busy lately as I haven't seen him round DU...

The forum purpose is light, does it need to be expanded?

That sounds like a SOP discussion brewing! I'll have to think about it for a bit...

Other than discussions of I/P (the Israeli-Palestinian conflict), are their other things that should be limited or exluded by an expanded SOP?

I don't know if they can or should be included in a SOP, but I'd like to see this group be a warm and welcoming place for DUers from the Middle East, and I'd not like them to visit and see a string of threads hating on whatever ME country and raging away...

Is it necessary to say that bigotry is not allowed in this forum and use appropriate examples?

It probably is. While bigotry is a TOS violation, the host should be able to block anyone from the group who engages in bigotry, and so it doesn't come as any surprise to anyone who does it, it'll be right there in the SOP...

[ellisonz]

19. I nominate Violet_Crumble as lead host. n/t

[Leopolds Ghost]

9. I really wish I could participate, but I think this other group will be taking up my time. :-)

I will be sure to check in on an irregular basis. PEACE!

[hlthe2b]

13. I'm very glad to see you get this much needed group established...

Some thoughts... I think you will need hosts because inevitably you will have intersection with controversy. In fact I can certainly think of more tangential aspects of I/P that probably should be addressed in this forum. I think that line needs to be clarified to the extent possible. Ditto the intersections with religion (i.e., that the geopolitical aspects are the focus).

I think the opportunity to have involvement from DUers in the region--both Ex-Pats and non-Americans-- should be fostered. So, the expectation of respectful discussion as a core principle is paramount.

I have worked and lived in the region in the past, so I am anxious for this group to be established. I regret that I don't have more time right now to devote to it, but am certainly more than supportive. I know that there are others already posting here that would be great as co-hosts. Thanks to you and all who have helped in getting this going.

[tabatha]

14. Thanks for this forum. I was hoping someone would suggest it.

I post in too much of a varied manner to even consider being host. I don't know what hosts do, but simply using alert for unwelcome posts would be the equivalent of everyone being a host?

I tend to post news reports for the most part, and often do not want to stick around for the discussion that follows, because it would take way too much of my time to refute with other reports that I have to find, some of the nonsense that follows. I really do not worry about the number of likes - all I really do is communicate to those who shared the Libya threads and to others who seem to have genuine concern for what is going on - i.e. not simply jumping on the anti-imperialist bandwagon.

[ellisonz]

18. Okay so are we going to pick a host?

I think let's make it rather simple. Let's simply have the host enforce the Statement of Purpose and ignore their power to ban. If a member wants to be disruptive, they can take their chances with the jury. Volunteers?

[maddezmom]

20. I'm fine with what ever the consesus is for the SOP and I nominate

BtA, JMach and Violet Crumble to be hosts

[Violet_Crumble]

22. Thanks, maddezmom...

My nomination is very close to yrs in that for me it's a no-brainer that bta is the host. He did the hard slog in getting this group created, and being a participant in a group he hosts, I like how he hosts. JMach is someone else who I'd like to see as a co-host, and I'd add Douglas Carpenter as my nomination for the third host. Douglas has lived and worked in the ME for many years, and is a fair and level headed person...

Having said that, I'm not sure this group needs more than one host, and would probably just be happier to see BtA as host for this group

[ellisonz]

21. Is there anybody out there?

Just yell if you can hear me! Who is going to host?

[LeftishBrit]

24. Glad to be on board!

On the questions asked:

•Does the group need a host(s)? If so, are you willing to host? Are you willing to be lead host?

I think the hosts suggested - Douglas Carpenter, BTA, JMAch1, Violet - are excellent suggestions.

•The forum purpose is light, does it need to be expanded?

•Other than discussions of I/P (the Israeli-Palestinian conflict), are their other things that should be limited or exluded by an expanded SOP?

Like others, I think that there should be a clarification as to what countries come under the remit of the forum. For example, does Turkey count? Does Cyprus?

•Is it necessary to say that bigotry is not allowed in this forum and use appropriate examples?

Yes, I think it should be prohibited. For example, while it is fine to criticize and condemn governments, political systems, or the influence on religion on politics, it is not fine to engage in wholesale attacks on all Muslims, Jews, Christians, the citizens of any particular country, or to recommend bombing a country.

I was also wondering if there could be some limits to posting material from right-wing American or Europaean pundits, or far-right conspiracy sites. This has been a problem IMO from time to time, both in the I/P forum (on both sides), and even more at times, strange as this sounds, in the Health Forum!