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Edited on Sun Jul-19-09 08:52 AM by kentuck
I know there are many, perhaps most, that will say DU is nothing but a discussion board and we should not over-estimate our importance? We should entertain ourselves with our different interests and let others do the heavy lifting.
However, it is my observation that there are some brilliant thinkers and writers on DU. They are original and thought-provoking. They have something to offer to resolve the problems that our country now faces. It is a disservice, in my opinion, to trivialize the potential and the actual impact that DU has had on our political discussion.
Although many newer DUers may not be aware, there are many important and influential people that read and are familiar with the opinions and writings of democraticunderground. Some have actually posted under their real names. They have been reading DU as a source since 2001. We should not want to lose that.
The recent discussion about "recommend" and "unrecommend" was important for that reason. No one is trying to censor anyone. There is a place on DU for anyone that wishes to talk about any subject. There is the Lounge for fun and conversation. However, the Latest News, the GDP, and the GD have mostly been reserved for political discussions, some more serious than others, with certain rules and guidelines to follow. There is a reason.
Will DU continue to play a role in the future in political discussions or will it be just another "discussion board", open to the whims of individual posters? Will there still be a place for serious discussion and activism or just a carnival where everyone goes to have fun and get attention?
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