Nystrom: Off Topic on the Daily Paul

Hi Friends!

Recently there has been some, ahem, shall we say discord? on the Daily Paul over the mysterious introduction of the "Off Topic" Forum. Some have gone so far as to say that "Free Speech has died on the Daily Paul." (I happen to disagree.) Jefferson has a very nice piece addressing the discord, noting correctly that we must all hang together or we will assuredly all hang separately. And Jersey RP has also noted that It is serious now. I fully agree.

But before we let this go, I should explain the Off Topic section fully. It was my idea, and was created at my direction. As people have noticed, 'Off Topic' threads do not appear on the front page "Active Forum Topics."

The point of the Off Topic section is solely to keep the threads that are not in line with Ron Paul's message off the front page, not to limit or inhibit their discussion.

Dr. Paul's two messages of primary importance, as I see them (after 4+ years of careful observation), are 1) The Federal Reserve and 2) Foreign Policy. He has other messages, of course, but these are his two big hammers - one in each hand - that he hammers away with. The Fed. Boom! Foreign Policy. Boom! The Fed. Boom! Foreign Policy. Boom! People have limited attention spans and capacities to understand, but the light finally goes off when people make the connection between the two issues - on their own.

These two hammers are really all you need to bring radical understanding to the mess we're in. Stay focused and just keep pounding away and eventually people will understand. After observing Ron Paul very closely over the past 4 + years, this is what I discern to be Ron Paul's chosen strategy.

This being said, in a free society, I believe people should be able to discuss anything they like - including what happened on 9/11, ancient aliens, chemtrails, crop circles, baseball, football, Briteny Spears, Playboy magazine, Charlie Sheen, lizard people, etc. I find all of these subjects interesting to varying degrees. I'm the kind of guy that talks to "crazy homeless people" and schizophrenics on the bus. I think there is something to learn from everything and everyone.

Furthermore, I believe that the best way to achieve a free society is to act like you live in one already -- not to beg, lobby or vote for someone to give it to you. That is already an abdication of self rule. (Thanks Octobox for helping to clarify some of these points).

My belief about freedom in a free society is why I have run the Daily Paul fairly fast and loose with the discussion topics since the end of the 2008 campaign. That and a lack of resources to properly moderate the site, and a tiredness of going through the same repetitive arguments.

The problem with continuing in this manner now is that there is a goal in sight to focus on. Furthermore, the Daily Paul is so closely associated with Ron Paul in the eyes of outsiders, even though there is no official link with Ron Paul or his campaign.

I support Ron Paul, and have learned much about politics over the past four years. And from my observations, I am firmly of the opinion that in the realm of politics (which is very different from the realm of truth), a bunch of 9/11 topics, chemtrails, Tim Turner (what's the point of Ron Paul running if Tim Turner is already President?) etc. on the front page of the top Ron Paul site aren't really helpful for Ron Paul in achieving his goal. At this point we can all assume that this goal is securing the GOP nomination for President of the United States of America.

Dig? President of the United States of America. Yes, it is serious now.

Again, I personally have nothing against the discussion of those topics per se. As I said, in a free society, people can and should talk about whatever they want. However, the realities being what they are, as the owner of this site, I have made the executive decision to set up the "Off Topic" area so such discussions can continue to take place but aren't easily findable by casual Ron Paul supporters who happen upon the site, since they do not appear on the front page.

It is unfortunate that I did not clearly explain the purpose of this section earlier, and for that I apologize to the Daily Paul community. My intention is not to censor, but to enable lively discussion for those who are looking for it, while not burdening those who are here on the site to support Ron Paul.

As it is now, the Off Topic section is not an active place, which seems to be why people complain bitterly when their topics are placed there, at my direction, by either myself or moderators. Also, the big OFF TOPIC disclaimer was seen to be as a "slap in the face." I can understand that. We've taken that off, and added a general disclaimer to the top of all threads. I wanted it to say "Don't believe anything you read on the Daily Paul." Just as you shouldn't believe anything you read in Time Magazine, the NYT, or hear on CNN or Fox News. Use discernment at all times.

I can understand that "Off Topic" may not be the best name for it, so I'm open to suggestions for a better name.

Thanks for understanding everyone. And if you have any sympathy at all for the tightrope that I walk here, please contribute to the DP fundraiser. If we hit the goal, the Daily Paul will be strengthened more than you can imagine.

Thank you for your patience and continued support of me, the Daily Paul and Ron Paul.