Any thoughts on navigating DU3 on Latin American issues?

[Peace Patriot]

I've been very busy and just now got onto the new DU3. I can't find a Latin American Forum there, just a "Group."

Here it is: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1108
And here it what DU3 says about it; http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=about&forum=1108

There are only 3 posts currently in this "Group" (by dipsydoodle, roody and Commie Pinko Dirtbag) and you have to "subscribe" to the "Group" in order to post something. The "about" for this "Group" says that it's for "Latin American DU members" (--does this exclude non-Latin Americans? is this merely imprecise language?) And it has no assigned or self-chosen "Host" or "Hosts."

Although it has "forum" in the url, it says that it is a "group." "Groups" can have member "Hosts" who can be dictators (ban posters, etc.). The idea, I guess, is that like-minded people don't want other viewpoints disturbing them so they form a "Group" which can have its own purpose/viewpoint and can exclude other opinion. "Groups" have a hierarchy of "Hosts" based on who was the latest to sign up as a "Host." "Forums," on the other hand, are run by the DU Admins and allow wide-ranging and contrary opinions. (A "Group" COULD allow wide-ranging opinion but it can also exclude it.)

I don't really understand the new DU3 system. Haven't had time. But it bothers me that there doesn't seem to be a LatAm FORUM where we can get down and dirty, right vs left, and battle it out with info, analysis and opinion. Will the rightwing DU LatAm posters form their own "Group" and exclude enlightened opinion about LatAm? Will we (of the left) form our own "Group" and exclude the rightwing posters' 'hit and run' posts, and their propagation of Corporate Press articles and CIA "talking points," that prod us to post better info?

Has anybody found a LatAm FORUM at DU3?

If there isn't one, I find that disturbing. Jeez, LatAm is half the western hemisphere and it is undergoing a leftist revolution. Is this not important enough to the people of the U.S and to our Democratic Party to merit a DU Admin-run FORUM? We have to huddle in "Groups" of like-minded people where controversy can be banned?

One of my FAVORITE features of the old DU was its WIDE-OPEN nature. I have never put anyone on "Ignore." I have never alerted the Admins about some statement or poster I didn't like. I never used the "Unrec" function (well, maybe once--some racist thing, as I recall). EVEN at the risk of paid rightwing operatives, I preferred an OPEN forum because, a) truth to tell, paid operatives are generally not very skilled and are easy to spot, and b) to be truly democratic, discussion must be wide-open. (I may not like a contrary opinion, but I DO learn things--and I think others do, too--from opposing views and Corporate postings.)

Do we need to petition DU3 Admins to create a Latin American FORUM?

Just some questions. I'm still exploring.

One other question: Do we of the old DU LatAm Forum need to create a "Group" with wide-open discussion of LatAm issues/events as its rule, in order to have something like what we have here?

Or, can we use the "Group" that has already been created (see above) for this purpose? Can we agree that left, right and "in between" opinion on LatAm is okay and proceed accordingly? We don't really need a "Host" for that, but the thing is, ANYONE who joins your "Group" can claim the position of "Host" and start excluding people. What do we do then?

[Peace Patriot]

1. Here is my thread at the new DU3 LatAm "Group" page...

...with questions about "Forum" vs "Group" and navigating DU3 on LatAm issues:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/110810#post2

From what I can see so far, it looks like we of the old LatAm FORUM have been downgraded to a "GROUP" (which has lesser importance and is more manipulable by people with "agendas"). I don't know who started this "Group" and it currently has no self-appointed or designated "Hosts" (members who can strongly manipulate the "Group").

[Judi Lynn]

2. Do you think someone not acquainted with the forum wrote the description?

I think it's entirely possible. I was here when this section was suddenly dropped into place.

The threads in LBN were becoming heated, and long, and well-attended by people who got handed tombstones, and people who came to fight, one located in his natural environment at Free Republic by a great DU poster who sniffed him out. Another came to battle us, and held on for a long time, fighting like a wild-man, not a gentle "sea breeze," before vanishing.

Suddenly the Cuba and Venezuela LBN threads started getting locked and sent back to a new forum, the Latin America forum, which was the first any of us had ever heard of it. It seemed to be created to handle the Latin American threads, just as the Israel/Palestine thread was created to deal with IP matters, and all LBN postings were diverted to that forum thereafter.

I seriously doubt only people Israeli or Palestinian by birth are allowed there, don't you?

It's our tax dollars which have been used to overthrow democratically elected Presidents in Latin America for a long time, without our knowledge until long after the coups were completed, or key assassinations accomplished, etc. We are intimately connected, regardless of our ignorance.

It's important the U.S. public becomes aware of what has been happening. Once that happens, we are able to contact politicians, to pass on our information, to urge others to start asking questions. It was wonderful seeing the number of D.U. members who started participating in the long threads in LBN. Clearly it is important to them, too. There are very many posters here who became much more informed about the FACTS about the Honduran coup as time went by, as well as the Venezuelan coup, and the new, outstanding progressive Latin American presidents.

Only someone who didn't know how the former Latin American forum was presented to us would believe the original intention was for only Latin American posters, when the threads which were drawing the huge participation in LBN were placed there by U.S. born citizens years ago.

It would seem logical that the people who particpated in the Latin America forum before, some from its inauspicious beginning would continue, regardless of nationality. We need to have this clarified, or reinstate our old forum, as you mentioned.

Thanks for discussing this situation. We need a place to discuss Latin American progressive events, as before. That will never change. A proper forum for U.S. posters interested in Latin American progress seems really murky right now, but the need and interest persist.