Disappearing People

[princehal]

I am sad to see some folks around here, longtime posters, have been Tombstoned. These are people I often did not agree with at all, and finding out any information on why they were removed is very hard, if not impossible. I would ask the admins here to create a thread somewhere to give an explination as to why they disapear people.

I am not suggesting that the decisions were in error, I am suggesting that perhaps if there is an expected Political Correctness here, be upfront about it. Show us the examples of what got folks banned.

I am a true blue Democrat. I dont have a lot of respect for folks who want to work outside the party to change it. I visit DU quite often to see what is going on, but I do not post often. Of all the forums I belong to, DU is the one I find hardest to read. It moves too fast, there is not often any deep discussion, so everything here seems disjointed. But hey, I know other folks like this kind of threading. It is a good gathering place.

I know this place was not made to engage folks who do not agree, it is designed to be an echo chamber. That is not a bad thing, and I have learned a lot, and been directed to a lot of sites because of posts here.

I hope not too many are pissed off at me. I have seen how folks can be treated here. 'Tis the same at freeperville. But then, have at it. Give me a reason to stop contributing cash and go away.

[NMDemDist2]

1. it's been my experience that when a long time poster gets TS'd

it's usually after several warnings from the Mods to chill out. repeated bad behavior has it's consequences

edit to add, check out some of the smaller issue forums on DU. wonderful discussions there on almost any topic you can think of. Choose a topic and go looking for that forum.

A couple of my favorites are Evironment/Energy, Economy and Precinct Level Politics

:hi:

[princehal]

2. But what is "Bad"

Seriously, how can I know? I cannot follow every thread here.

I hope it's better than Bush's justice department here. Is there any accountability? Or is DU not transparent? I know my "contribution" is not tax deductable...

[NMDemDist2]

5. usually it's a matter of rudeness

or some other infraction that is habitual. Fundraising or pushing a 3rd party also come to mind

as far as accountablity, if it's a high profile poster often the admins will put up a thread. but it's not "transparent"

remember, we are guests in Skinner's house

[princehal]

8. Guests in Skinners House

And that is what may sink me here. To engage a bit in hubris, it's really a dictatorship.

I may be sunk already, from the rules..."Discussion topics pertaining to specific enforcement actions by the moderators are categorically forbidden. Discussion topics relating to Democratic Underground policies, procedures, enforcement, etc., are sometimes permitted if they are respectful and not disruptive to the administration of the website. We reserve the right to lock or delete any such topics for any reason."

But that's fine. I read too many forums, one less will not really harm me in any way.

edited
used wrong word, changed it

[lostnfound]

19. Accounts are never deactivated without moderator consensus; it is NEVER

a "dictatorship".

The administrators don't even recommend deactivation. It's the job of the moderators is to enforce the rules and Admins generally stay out of such judgment calls.

Usually moderators are also sad when long-time members are banned; it is only done after repeated rule violations.

In the future, it would be better to direct such questions to the Moderators or Admins.

[LibraLiz1973]

10. Actually we are paying guests at Skinners Hotel...

lol

[NMDemDist2]

12. well some of us toss in some beer $$$ anyway

:rofl:

[JuniperLea]

9. You answered your own question

DU is not a democracy. Nor should it be, imho. Too much time, effort and bandwidth would be used to sort that out.

You follow the rules and you won't get tombstoned. It's that simple.

I've had posts deleted and most of the time I felt the mods were right in doing so. And most of the time if I PM'd them about it, I got a response that made sense to me.

I don't think any public airing of tombstoning issues would help anything. Though I often thought a quote of the rules they broke inserted under the actual tombstone on their profiles would be a learning experience we could all use to avoid the same fate.

All that said, don't question the actions of a mod. That in itself is against the rules.

[princehal]

11. Good God

"All that said, don't question the actions of a mod. That in itself is against the rules."

Are you serious?

We are democrats?

[NMDemDist2]

13. publically is the key. you can PM mods with questions and they

are usually happy to respond.

[JuniperLea]

15. We are democrats

DU is not a democratic society. The Admins run this, own this, and allow us to be here. This is NOT a public place, protected by any civic rights. It is not a sidewalk or a park. It's a place in cyberspace where we've been allowed to use a soapbox.

The mods do a great job, so do the admins. I've seen them bend over backward and frankly, sometimes I've felt they've allowed some posters to get away with more than they should have before tombstoning them. I'd want the same consideration if I ever got into a snit and verbal tirade.

[princehal]

20. I agree

The mods and admin seem to be fair here.

However, if I, for example, had the feeling that I had to kiss up to the mods or admin to stay here, I would respect this place a lot less.

So, this is a free speach zone, when the speech is sanctioned? Are we building fences with-in fences?

I have problems with Democratic stratigy sometimes, and you know what -- sometimes even do not agree with all of the goals. In our framework, as a party, we should be free to hold an opionion. If not, how are we any different than the freepers?

That is a serious question.

[Lost-in-FL]

16. That's a good idea

To quote the rule which were broken under the tombstone.

[princehal]

4. I did not mean

to be disrespectful about the discussion, and "deep" was a bad choice of words. I have been to the science and other forum. I have been a member of a community called The Well for a very long time.

Threads last for years there, so what I like is a little bit differemt.

[ulysses]

6. exactly so.

it's usually after several warnings from the Mods to chill out.

Several people I value have been banned after just such circumstances. Sucks, but I've seen Skinner bend over backwards for long time posters. They're very fair.

I've had the opinion for a long time that more people should be mods. It provides a lot of insight into how the admins work.

[City Lights]

3. Just in case you haven't read them, here's a link to DU's rules:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

Some of the things you ask in your post can be answered using the above link.

[princehal]

17. Heh, I like this one too

"Your Freedom to Leave

All visitors to the Democratic Underground website are here voluntarily. Nobody is forcing you to post on this message board. The administrators try their best to be fair, and to make Democratic Underground a welcoming place for progressives who like Democratic Underground and who want to be here. If you do not like Democratic Underground, or the members of Democratic Underground, or the way we run Democratic Underground, then we strongly suggest that you exercise your right to leave. If we decide that you do not like this place very much, then we reserve the right to show you the door ourselves.
"


Hey, DU works. For a lot of folks. Don't mean to piss in the oatmeal. I stand by my origional request though. A benovilent dictatorship is probebly the best way to run as fast moving as these. There are smaller backwaters for folks like me, so I don't have much invested in the success of this place.

It was nice meeting everyone here. We all do have the same goal.

I think.

[Frances]

7. I expect I am one of the earliest DUers

I come here every day because of all the links to important news stories. I like the fact that the links take me to many different sources on the same topic. I often read what DUers have to say about the topic, but the stories themeselves are the focus for me. However, I do get impatient with posters who consistently bad mouth Democrats because this forum is Democratic Underground.

[LibraLiz1973]

14. There are Democrats who deserve to be bad mouthed

IMHO


One of the things I like the least about Repubs is that they never really discuss the faults within their own party.
I really think thats one of the reasons they are so WRONG. They gulp that kool aid and never question anything.

Yes, it's Democratic Underground. But I think what sets the Democratic Party apart is our ability to be REAL.

Take Lieberman for example.............

[princehal]

18. Word

I agree.

[acmejack]

21. I agree with you Hal

A lot of good people have been lost. Constructive criticism is definitely not well received here. All I have to say on the subject.

[Frances]

22. Lieberman is no longer a Democrat.

He is an Independent. I hope the Democrat Lamont is the next senator from Connecticut.

I do support rational discussion on particular Democrats--I just don't like the posts that say there are no differences between Repubs and Dems and we should support a third party. I think that there is a huge difference between Repub and Dem philosophy. And I think supporters of a third party should go to ThirdPartyUnderground.com.

[seabeyond]

23. i dont tow the line, i disagree often, i freely express and i have never

been reprimanded. it is not hard to follow du rules. i dont even KNOW the d*mn rules and it is not hard for me to follow and not get tombstoned. every person that has been tombstoned knew what they were doing and chose to continue on, knowing the possibilities. i jsut do not understand posts like this

[lostnfound]

24. Locking

DU is moderated by volunteers. All moderation is done by consensus in accordance with the DU Rules. It is normal to wonder why various members are banned, but if you have questions about DU policy or procedures, please contact the Admins by PM or email with your concerns about DU moderation and policies: http://www.democraticunderground.com/contact.html