Populist Reform of the Democratic Party

demwing

(16,916 posts)

87. AS the founding host, my intention was simple

Fri Jan 2, 2015, 02:02 PM

Jan 2015

to provide a forum where DUers could freely discuss populist, progressive reform of the party, including pointed criticisms of our party leadership, without worry about disruptive posters. If criticisms of corporate bought and paid for candidates offends you, post elsewhere. If my opinion that Obama too often sides with corporate interests offends you, post elsewhere. If you disrupt, you will be banned.

That being said, I have neither the time nor patience to police this group 24/7, so I rely on your feedback. In the last month I have had only two complaints about posters, one which resulted in a chat, the other a banning.

The hosts cannot do this alone, and if you are harassed but don't report it, we cannot make it right.

Have any of our hosts been lax about enforcing these rules? Are we getting complaints that are not being acted on?

I'm very glad you asked this question, because we need to refocus for the new year, and I'd like the group to become more constructively critical of our party leadership. I'd also like to see us generate at least one action that breaks ground for building a foundation of reform. Your post is an opportunity to open the door to such discussions.

The real strengths and benefits of this group have yet to be realized. As the next election nears, I expect that to have changed considerably, if not radically.

Feedback?

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How is this group a "safe haven?" [View all] merrily Jan 2015 OP

Your powers of observation are working just fine. Corpo-Dem members of DU attack here a lot. Scuba Jan 2015 #1

Thank you, Scuba. I wasn't questioning my own observations on the issue. merrily Jan 2015 #2

the point was DonCoquixote Jan 2015 #5

Not in OUR group demwing Jan 2015 #78

as people as diverse as 1strongblackman and Behind the Aegis can tell you DonCoquixote Jan 2015 #3

His Presidency may have ended but he didn't give up his plan to keep "reforming" "entitlements." merrily Jan 2015 #4

Oh, I expect some left ward talk from her.... daleanime Jan 2015 #62

As do I. I've already seen posts here saying, "Of course, she'll run differently than she did in merrily Jan 2015 #65

Exactly! daleanime Jan 2015 #74

+ 1000 onecaliberal Jan 2015 #54

So what would be the populist purity test? Android3.14 Jan 2015 #6

Case in point. Did you read the OP? It speaks to posting behaviors, not purity tests. merrily Jan 2015 #7

It should be, but you're right it isn't. I was told this group isn't "an echo chamber" RiverLover Jan 2015 #8

Then I have to go back to the subject line of my OP. merrily Jan 2015 #9

Maybe a host can answer that. RiverLover Jan 2015 #11

The BOG and HRC are frail groups Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #22

Then why have groups at all? And, again, what is the advantage to merrily Jan 2015 #24

See post #26 Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #27

I did. See Reply 34. merrily Jan 2015 #51

Thank you CK, this is exactly the kind of advise demwing Jan 2015 #108

"posters seem to feel a lot freer to contradict and challenge statements in this group than I would" Android3.14 Jan 2015 #39

Participation in a discussion demwing Jan 2015 #109

You post contains a Third Way talking point which was designed to specifically attack sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #29

I'm unsure what your point is Android3.14 Jan 2015 #36

I think the point in the OP is clear. The OP doesn't want this group to turn into GD sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #40

My concern is that people who are fond of the left may own that this group was not created for them, merrily Jan 2015 #46

You are right, the left here understands perfectly what you are saying: sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #57

Amen.... daleanime Jan 2015 #66

Clearly, they are not all avoiding this group, or even avoiding the specific posting merrily Jan 2015 #77

Yes, for some it's difficult to avoid any opportunity to sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #81

I hope so, but I am not sure. merrily Jan 2015 #85

Not only does "the left of the left" understand what I am saying, they've been saying it before I merrily Jan 2015 #116

So what SHOULD be done demwing Jan 2015 #110

My "honest" advice? As opposed to what? merrily Jan 2015 #118

You've made several comments that deserve a response demwing Jan 2015 #119

My post did not say that the safety of this group is totally dependent on the hosts. merrily Jan 2015 #120

You wrote "You took little time to consider to what I spent a fair amount of time thinking about" demwing Jan 2015 #125

My "Proper response"... demwing Jan 2015 #133

You have my greatest admiration. Enthusiast Jan 2015 #64

The OP has already told you twice that it is not about different positions but posting behaviors. merrily Jan 2015 #44

Whenever someone makes a post personal, there is no point in trying to talk to them about sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #70

"is why this group became necessary" But, merrily Jan 2015 #72

So lets correct that! demwing Jan 2015 #111

"I chose not to start this group with a draconian mentality" merrily Jan 2015 #117

No matter what she says, HRC is as establishment/status quo as can be. Enthusiast Jan 2015 #61

merrily, please be patient. Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #10

If the hosts believe that this group should be "inclusive," what will being patient do for me? merrily Jan 2015 #15

And Rhett o Rick nxylas Jan 2015 #17

Yes, so did I. They number of hosts increased, which is fine. merrily Jan 2015 #19

What sort of "advantage" are you suggesting? Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #26

I am not suggesting any advantage. I am not referring to any advantage, other than the merrily Jan 2015 #34

When someone ANYONE with a progressive bent formally announces ... PassingFair Jan 2015 #12

Rec KG Jan 2015 #13

I give up. What "safe haven" group are you posting about? Hoppy Jan 2015 #14

This one. http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1277 merrily Jan 2015 #16

As a host of the Elizabeth Warren group, I can tell you its a safe haven to a large degree. RiverLover Jan 2015 #18

Hillary/Obama groups, banning, censoring, controlling with authoritarian zeal - that's everything whereisjustice Jan 2015 #105

What? You don't like free speech? vlyons Jan 2015 #20

You are not making a distinction between posting in a group vs. posting elsewhere on the board. merrily Jan 2015 #21

Actually this is NOT a "free speach" zone. Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #23

It is if the SOP doesn't say otherwise, but the hosts can do what they want. MADem Jan 2015 #33

This group is for Democrats who oppose Third Way/Right Wing policies. Anyone who agrees with sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #69

The group is pretty well described in its title and the SOP. MADem Jan 2015 #71

If you mean should the hosts start banning people, I believe it was decided to wait sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #76

I meant what I said and nothing more. MADem Jan 2015 #79

I asked a question as your post wasn't clear in terms of what you think sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #84

My post was entirely clear. The hosts can do whatever THEY want. MADem Jan 2015 #86

I don't think you understand this group. The hosts are not 'policing' the group, we don't need sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #90

Well, thank you for speaking so authoritatively for the hosts. I guess. (????) nt MADem Jan 2015 #91

Do you have some disagreement with anything I said, do they? They are free sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #98

Have a nice day, now! nt MADem Jan 2015 #99

I think your post falls into the category the OP is calling out MannyGoldstein Jan 2015 #114

You're right, it's up to the hosts to keep the rules demwing Jan 2015 #107

P.S. The welcome thread does say: merrily Jan 2015 #92

Good for them! They have the right attitude!!! nt MADem Jan 2015 #93

I understand your point of view vlyons Jan 2015 #53

It is not cosmic kitten's point of view. It is the rule for posting in every group on this board. merrily Jan 2015 #58

Where does it say anything about refusing to hear what others want to say? sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #100

You have my compassion. n/t eggplant Jan 2015 #25

It's always interesting to me to see what it takes to get very infrequent posters to post. merrily Jan 2015 #28

I'm not an infrequent poster. vlyons Jan 2015 #55

Your profile says otherwise. merrily Jan 2015 #56

That is a fairly low rate...... daleanime Jan 2015 #68

Not worried at all. Or miffed. Or poutraged. I just do, as I said, find it interesting to note merrily Jan 2015 #80

I'm not that quiet... daleanime Jan 2015 #82

To the best of my recollection, none of your posts has merrily Jan 2015 #83

I thought my reply was obvious, but apparently not. eggplant Jan 2015 #89

I have no objection to infrequent posters per se. I wish I were an infrequent poster and may merrily Jan 2015 #95

Group confusion thesquanderer Jan 2015 #30

By every group's name, including the name of this group, you will see this: merrily Jan 2015 #32

I've never seen that disclaimer. thesquanderer Jan 2015 #47

Well, now you know. merrily Jan 2015 #49

There does not seem to be quite as much confusion about other groups as there is about this one. merrily Jan 2015 #38

I had an identical experience. I accidentally stumbled into a group when I saw something corkhead Jan 2015 #75

Not sure what you're referring to, specifically, but that's the job of the group hosts. MADem Jan 2015 #31

I am not confused about whose job it is. Please see Reply 2. merrily Jan 2015 #35

I didn't think you were confused, but the bottom line is that the hosts decide who can/cannot post MADem Jan 2015 #37

Is your point that my posting an OP was the wrong thing to do? If not, I am not sure merrily Jan 2015 #42

No. No where did I say such a thing. MADem Jan 2015 #43

I am still not clear what you are saying. merrily Jan 2015 #45

Yep, that's it. Whatever. Hopefully they will give you your answer. nt MADem Jan 2015 #50

Trying to get consensus among five hosts by pm'ing them, one by one, is "it," in your opinion? merrily Jan 2015 #52

No--you could PM the lead host and let them figure it out, if you'd like. But do what you want. MADem Jan 2015 #73

Thanks, but starting this thread is what I wanted to do and I have already done that. merrily Jan 2015 #88

The hosts will probably have to start booting the Turd Way and the Fan Club at some point Doctor_J Jan 2015 #41

I had recommended this group to a couple of leftists who had left DU in disgust about how the left merrily Jan 2015 #48

I am in that group. onecaliberal Jan 2015 #59

AFAIK, you are not in the group that I contacted. Other than that, I know what you mean. merrily Jan 2015 #60

I guess I will disregard the DU mail confirming I'm in the group. onecaliberal Jan 2015 #63

? I am referring to people I pm'd and emailed. I have nothing to do with DU mail. merrily Jan 2015 #67

AS the founding host, my intention was simple demwing Jan 2015 #87

I have complained right on a thread where this was occurring and discussed it on that thread merrily Jan 2015 #94

Just to clarify, if needed: I have zero doubt that your intentions and those of all the hosts are merrily Jan 2015 #103

This message was self-deleted by its author Corruption Inc Jan 2015 #96

I disagree. People who wish to avoid criticism of Obama or debating about their praise of him are merrily Jan 2015 #97

I refer you to 1strongblakman DonCoquixote Jan 2015 #113

The hosts allowed it? If so, why? But, my OP is not about outsiders, just DUers who come to this merrily Jan 2015 #115

Mods can ban the worst offenders from posting in the group Warpy Jan 2015 #101

How confined are the hosts really, to only the so-called "worst" offenders? merrily Jan 2015 #102

I agree BrotherIvan Jan 2015 #104

I don't think this group is open to the same shit as GD. I think we'll see some of the sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #106

I've already seen the ones who insist the most on their safe havens BrotherIvan Jan 2015 #112

Well at least one benefit was pointed out to me, namely having a lot of threads on the same topic merrily Jan 2015 #121

This thread has run it's course Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #122

As a host, Cosmic Kitten, I can support locking this thread as having "run its course". NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #123

This message was self-deleted by its author aspirant Jan 2015 #126

Please drop this now demwing Jan 2015 #128

Do Not Lock this thread till I have a chance to respond to Post #118 demwing Jan 2015 #127

Sounds good! NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #130

As a host, I have a question aspirant Jan 2015 #124

Good question! If I might.... NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #129

I had a slightly different take on this subject demwing Jan 2015 #131

I agree, and don't think it's too sensitive. NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #132

Locking demwing Jan 2015 #134