With regard to Skinner's post in GD, Karma and self-moderating

[SOteric]

I'm pained to admit that I fear this will be tantamount to telling Christians, even liberal Christians, that we're unwelcome on DU.

If the population at large is allowed to determine what is civil, it seems probable that larger body of those who are Atheist or Anti-Theist on DU will likely exorcise what is currently a barely restrained civility.

Is this a concern to anyone else? Do you have a different perspective to offer? I'd very much like to hear about this from other Catholics.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

1. It's not just Catholics...

I fear for any smaller minority group. The nature of DU is that people get very very heated about their topics very very quickly. Sometimes it is just too tempting to confuse not liking a person with not liking their ideas.

[SOteric]

2. Yes, I feel there's some validity in that, but just now,

I'm more concerned over the tyranny of the majority with regard to Christianity.

[DemBones DemBones]

3. I agree with you that it would be used against us,

and other Christians, and those of other faiths.

Recently, I have been accused of being a freeper, been accused of saying outrageous things I have never said, and told I was in the wrong party. That's what happens if you hold views that are allied with belief. It's quite ironic since my beliefs about abortion (and euthanasia, too, by extension) are derived from my training as a biologist and what it taught me about distinguishing living from nonliving, not from Church teaching, and I came by my views on those issues before I became Catholic.

[arwalden]

9. Your concerns were unfounded...

... and imaginary because obviously there are more Christians on DU than non-Christians. If any group had reason for genuine concerns about tyranny of the true majority, it would have been the non-Christians and homos.

Thankfully we don't have to worry about that any more. It was an ill-conceived remedy and even though you had no legitimate reason to fear it... I'm glad you did and that you joined with those who opposed it.

That speaks well for you.

[leyton]

4. Is it possible that the *group* could issue a statement or something?

I don't know how tight a group this is since I pay little attention to who says what at DU, but since Skinner probably isn't going to wander into this thread, we could kind of speak up as a group?

I am dead against this Karma thing, for your reasons and also because I tend to disagree on things like election theft and am relatively conservative here.

[DemBones DemBones]

5. Here's what I posted in reply to Skinner:

(Skip down to the bold-faced last paragraph for a quick summary.)


 Members already have plenty of control over other members in that they

can state their disagreements with others, which is part of what discussion is about.
But they do it so vehemently that posts in the Lounge and in various Groups often express fear of posting in GD/LBN or disgust with same, or state that they are going to take a break from DU because the incivility is getting to them. I think this shows that members do get feedback from other members about how their actions are perceived, and people are tired of all the negative feedback, whether it's aimed at them personally or at others. More feedback seems unnecessary to me. What is needed, IMO, is more dialogue and more civility.

I agree with others' statements that 1) the mods in general do a fine job, and
2) your proposal sounds like something that could easily devolve into mob rule.

IMO, the biggest problem at DU is that people do not listen to others, much less show any respect for them. More and more, GD and LBN threads remind me of nothing so much as the slam books some people loved in junior high: contests to determine who can say the meanest things about whoever/ whatever is out of favor and who can heap the best praise on whoever/ whatever is in favor. The emphasis is on the negative. A little of that really goes a long way, but lately we're seeing more and more of it. We all do it -- I'm not claiming to be "above" the crowd here -- but it's gotten out of hand.

A way to limit that sort of thread would be valuable and I think a return to one of the strict rules you tried before would help. The strict requirements for beginning a GD thread could be put in place again. For a brief (and wonderful) time here, opening posts of threads had to actually say something that could lead to discussion, not just say "I'm so pissed! Who else is pissed?" Maybe we also need a forum specifically for venting, with no vents allowed in the GD forums or LBN? Certainly, we all want to vent at times. But such threads take up space in the most heavily used forums that could be put to better use.

I would also suggest that, just as threads having anything to do with guns and threads having anything to do with the Israel/ Palestine conflict are confined to certain forums, it's time that all threads having anything to do with religion be confined to certain forums. We now have several much-appreciated forums and groups for believers and non-believers but maybe you need to add a forum for the anti-Catholic posters to abuse the pope and Catholicism, another for those who hate Christianity on general principles, and still another for those who hate all religions. Despite DU rules against religious bigotry and appeals from those of us who are religious, mostly Christian, and many of us Catholic, the ugliness continues and it takes up a lot of space in LBN and the GD forums. As long as people are allowed to post diatribes against religion in the big three forums, they will do it.

To sum up: I suggest that you 1) reinstate the rule about opening posts of threads in the GD forum, requiring each to have a clearly stated title and a paragraph (not one line) posing a topic for discussion, 2) confine all threads dealing with topics related to religion to forums other than LBN, GD, or GD-P, 3) consider adding a forum just for venting on political topics, for times when people don't want to have a discussion, but just feel like venting.


Comments???

I am very concerned about the constant religious bashing and hope they'll follow up on my suggestion about confining threads that pertain to religion.

I DO think everyone needs to speak up now if they're concerned about the anti-religious posters and how they could gang up on us with a karma system.

[FarLeftRage]

6. I share your concerns on this issue

I believe it can be abused and taken to extremes by those who already have "issues" with others here.

However, EarlG just informed us that this is a bad idea and will not be implemented...


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3058553

[Midlodemocrat]

7. Skinner has decided not to move forward with this.

[SOteric]

8. Yes, thank you. We know.

If nothing else, it's what the post previous to yours says.

[Midlodemocrat]

10. Sorry, didn't mean to repost

I hadn't read that previous post.