dKos "bombshell" "scrolled away into the aether" (it happens at DU, too)

[paineinthearse]

Today's home page contains a post that struck a chord, not for the nature of the post but a phenomenon whereby information of great significance is allowed to sink away from the collective conscience. A post in dKos relating the planning for the war on Iraq received little attention. Read ""Iraq bombshell this morning" re: Bush's prewar planning." - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3580316&mesg_id=3580316&page=

I'd like to make a comment on this phenomenon. I have seen many "bombshell" posts that "just scrolled away into the aether" at DU as well. What could cause this?

1. These are "too far ahead" of current thinking, so readers do not assimilate.
2. They are ignored because the subject line in not "sensational".
3. They are lost in the forest due to being crowded out by too many trite posts.

I offer no specific solutions other then to expand your horizons, read forums other than your "home turf", write subject lines that will catch the readers' eyes, stay off a forum's first page (rather go to the second, third and beyond paged, seeking posts with few responses), and refrain from starting new threads, especially "topic du jour" type, when many others alread exist and could be easily apended to.

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

1. I too see the important ideas

scroll away into the internet aether. But which Dkos post are you talking about? have a link to revive it?

[paineinthearse]

2. link added

I had intended to, you caught my before my editing was complete.

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

4. Thanks!

I also post before editing, lol

[Pirate Smile]

3. It is on the Recommended Diaries list with 304 comments.

It was there all day yesterday too.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/1/115530/0288

[Lex]

18. 304 comments doesn't sound like the topic is being ignored. n/t

[Beam Me Up]

5. Some important content posts get too few nominations for Greatest, too.

I agree with everything you're saying, especially point 3. It is one of the ironies of our situation that we can't get rid of distractions by paying attention to them--they have to be intentionally ignored. I've spent a few minutes this morning hiding all threads with the word "bride" in them, for example.

But one point I've noticed is that sometimes, not always, but sometimes important content or commentary threads, even one's that have received a lot of replies, do not get nominated for greatest. There's one from yesterday that only got three nominations--and now it is too late to nominate it. It did get on the Greatest page, but barely.

I've also noticed that if I nominate a thread and call in the subject of my post for others to nominate it as well, that seems to help. I still don't get it, though. If you read a thread (and I assume most threads are read even more than they are responded to) AND you find the information useful or significant in some way, why not NOMINATE it?

[G_j]

14. I nominated this one because

I think it's important for many reasons.

Also, I think that it does matter what lurkers see here. There is crucial information being offered here all the time. I try to help with that and sometimes will put an hour into putting a post together with appropriate links, background etc. I want lurkers etc. to come here and learn something that may open their eyes. Obviously it is not the main reason for posting here, but it is something to consider.

[LittleClarkie]

6. Like other Americans, we go for the sensational

over something that's less "sexy" but might have more meat on it.

I also see more positive posts drop down for the flame wars.

But then again, that's the down side of the blog. We are operating on the internet in a message board setting. There are certain behaviors unique to the internet that probably isn't conducive to meaty stories and anything where you might have to think.

As a friend once said, in some ways posting here is like driving in traffic. You don't give alot of thought to it sometimes, you just react for good or ill.

[caligirl]

7. Maybe it has something to do with feeling powerless or neutered by the

GOP pressured media, Their neutering makes us feel powerless to do anything or say anything to bring attention to yet one more in a series of outrages the *Administration exacts on this country. Why aren't people filling the Washington Mall to protest the war, and the torture of prisoners? The media is neutered by Rove, and too many Americans are unwilling to get out and protest this administration.

Just MHO.

[donsu]

8. I think it's because of disruptors who post many so-so threads so that

the important posting flies off the 1st page with the speed of light.

[paineinthearse]

10. Given that reality, would you support a change in the moderation of the

...GD and POLITICS forum, where by "so-so" threads are managed as well as dupes and non-LBN are in that forum?

[donsu]

17. maybe, yes - some posts seem to belong in the chat forum

and some posts are just repeats and repeats of the same info/conversation with nothing new said

but I wouldn't want any posts cut if they were for real. the decider would have to be astute

[donsu]

19. instead of cutting threads we could start a kicking option

kicking the informative/discussive threads even if you don't have a comment to contribute, to keep them on the first page longer. contribute the kick.

[caligirl]

12. Your right.

[hector459]

9. There is a fourth possibility but I dare not speak it.

I think many are mature enough to figure it out.

[Robert Oak]

11. kick, ty paine n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. Perhaps because there have been so many "bombshell"

breaking stories. You know, the kind that has Karl Rove scared. The kind that claim to be the straw that will break the camel's back fo the administration. This is the one that is going to bring down Bush! The house of cards is tumbling down. Iron-clad proof that the election was stolen....

[paineinthearse]

16. Unfortunately, you are right

Bombshell du jour certainly keeps us distracted!

[Donailin]

15. I don't think it's 1,2, or3. It's 4:

tell us something we don't know. Anyone who ever perused the PNAC "Building America's Defenses" knows that this was planned before Bush was elected. There were many indications (just look at the folks in his administration)that told the story more than any document could.

I think folks are jaded: if all of the gazillion separate incidents and accidents and documents and whistleblowers who said the war is a fraud didn't change anything, why on earth should we expect this too?

No matter how outraged the majority of the population of planet earth gets, we will still be labeled "focus groups" by the monkey and the MSM will never ask the follow up.