New Forum Suggestion for the DP moderator
I've been noticing over the last few weeks a lot of frustration among Paul supporters concerning what has been going on in this forum.
On one hand, we have a lot more... shall we say, controversial... topics coming in. Posts about other candidates, about conspiracy theories, assassination attempt fears, vote fraud potential, etc. These are topics of interest to a lot of us.
On the other hand, there are many who feel these topics are too controversial, have no place on a forum that is supposed to be about helping elect Dr. Paul, and may even turn off undecided visitors who come here simply to learn about Dr. Paul. All valid points, but then the posts are flagged and removed and many scream censorship.
Then there is the issue that every time a controversial post comes in, many times in the form of a valid question, someone screams TROLL. And then someone else calls that person a troll, and then the conversation degenerates into second grade name-calling. BTW, my new screen name is a tongue-in-cheek response to all the name calling.
Folks, this is what the opposition wants. To turn us against each other, because Dr. Paul is untouchable but we are not. Sure we all come from different political backgrounds and ideology, but we all have one thing in common or we wouldn't support Dr. Paul. That is we want our FREEDOM back!
So, I have a proposal to bring freedom back to the Daily Paul, while minimizing the damage that controversial topics may have in first impressions on new visitors:
When you click the Forums button on the navigation bar across the top of the site, there are already 3 forums:
-Daily Paul Forum
-Ron Paul Videos
-Events
How about adding an additional forum to address those topics that many of us feel are important, perhaps vital for Ron Paul to win.
Call it "Off Topic Forum", "Not Endorsed By Daily Paul", whatever you want to call it. And topics posted don't have to appear in the Active Forum Topics section on the front page (so no newbies will see them), but they will be there for those of us who want to discuss them.
And, any time someone enters a new topic on one of these subjects into the main forum, a moderator can simply move it to the Off Topic Forum. That way it isn't deleted, but hidden from first impression view.
Feedback anyone?
Last night
I tried to silence a troll that was spreading rumors about Ron Paul being left out of the NH debates. I knew he was a troll, because he had no proof. He was using the same lines you are using. Spreading rumors and divisive content is what trolls are good for. You are doing them a favor. Next time talk about positive stories and bring new ideas as to how to give RP the nomination.
Excellent idea, now how
can we make it happen.
Prepare & Share the Message of Freedom through Positive-Peaceful-Activism.
Parade rain
If you want to discuss those things, I suggest you take them to some forum unrelated to Ron Paul, and leave Ron Paul's name out of it. We have a nomination to win, and that's what theDailyPaul is for. Stay focused. Time is short and the cause is dear.
Even this thread is off topic. What has this got to do with getting Ron Paul elected?
You've got it backwards.
The Off Topic Forum could clear the main forum which is what I and presumably you want. The main forum has become tedious, distracting and combative in unproductive ways. I want to read and write about local actions and national strategies that are working, canvassing tips, etc etc. -JP
The first 5 million supporters of Dr. Paul are 'early adopters.' The next 10 million will require a modified approach.
It is a bit off topic, but I
It is a bit off topic, but I believe it helps by presenting a course of action that I believe will actually help keep us focused on the goal. The way things are going, these divisive posts will continue to roll in. They have only increased as time has gone forward. As it is, they go right to the top of the Active Forums Topic where everyone can see them. The "Jesus=Ron Paul" topic TimC mentioned is a notorious example of one that lingered for quite awhile before it was removed, and obviously cause quite a bit of damage.
I could set up another forum, and might even get members who would post in it, but it would not solve the problem. Everyone is used to coming here. Only thing that would change is that they would post in my forum, then post here with a link to their article there. Then someone else would call them a troll, they would call that person a troll, and the pattern would continue.
The only two solutions I can see is (a) the new forum category I suggested or (b) much time wasted policing and deleting, and the unintended blowback of p!$$ing off a portion of the members every time a topic is deleted.
Let it not be said that no one cared, that no one objected once it’s realized that our liberties and wealth are in jeopardy. -Ron Paul 7/10/03
Let it not be said that no one cared, that no one objected once it’s realized that our liberties and wealth are in jeopardy. -Ron Paul 7/10/03
Cool. Set it up.
.
You are right. There are many topics of interest to RP supporters that really don't belong here (per the Guidelines).
If I had to guess, it is nothing Michael Nystrom would care to do. He, I, and others, are pretty much focused on the campaign and getting RP elected.
But it's a big web out there, and lots of room for more RP discussion forums. Maybe some enterprising person will set it up, and leave Daily Paul to its purpose? That would be swell.
.
Great suggestion....
Maybe a category called "Campaign and Grassroots" and another one for "Related Issues."
I like that Idea..
I know my parents would have never found the Jesus=Paul post.. my Mom was livid.. So that would have kept her from seeing it... :)
I completely agree with this because,
though I find a big chunk of content here frivolous and distasteful (my homepage since June), censorship never works except to create unintended consequences. Trouble is defining "Off Topic." If others respond favorably to your post, maybe we could hash out a recommendation for Michael together. I was really getting ready to leave DP.. would be a shame.
-JP
The first 5 million supporters of Dr. Paul are 'early adopters.' The next 10 million will require a modified approach.
Good idea
It might be helpful to everyone to define just what topics should be in the new forum... i.e., are not appropriate for the main forum...
A few I can think of right off the bat:
Conspiracy Theories, Assassination Attempt Rumors (Anything related to Alex Jones)
Negative Article links / Smear Attempts in the MSM (Why call newbies' attention to them for one, also why waste our time flaming the authors when it only gives them more fuel that we are a bunch of fanatics?)
Online Poll Links (they had their day, but are now just a waste of time IMHO)
Blatant Negativity Towards Other Candidates (ex: Huckster's Son Tortures Animals)
Questions that are/have the appearance of the intent to be divisive
(recent examples: Does Ron Paul Believe in Evolution? Does Ron Paul think Homosexuality is a sin?)
I would have to include the infamous Jesus=Ron Paul post here as well.
Those are the main ones I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure there are a lot more.
Let it not be said that no one cared, that no one objected once it’s realized that our liberties and wealth are in jeopardy. -Ron Paul 7/10/03
Let it not be said that no one cared, that no one objected once it’s realized that our liberties and wealth are in jeopardy. -Ron Paul 7/10/03
I'm all for that
it should allow us to be more productive.
Sounds good to me
And they could even put a button so that viewers could "mark" a thread as needing to be in the off topic forum. I agree. We need to realize that this site is viewed by newcomers to the Ron Paul revolution. They are already trying to associate RP with all sorts of lunatics, and it should be high on our priority list to show the american people that we are not a bunch of consiracy theorists and anarchists. We are ordinary citizens who grew up learning about a free country with a government of, by and for the people, and that this government was bound by the constitution, including the bill of rights. This is not a radical position, and it is critical that we enphasize this point to others. By allowing these types of discussions to dominate this forum, we augment the only predjudice that people might have about Ron Paul, validate their suspicions, and potentially lose their support permanently. Let's use a little foresight here people.
Right, and don't think this is our
private little club either, where it is out of sight out of mind.
I'm very close to 2 people who star on morning drive radio shows in 2 cities (1 East, 1 West) and one of them asked me if I'm one of the Paul supporters who blogs a lot. I told him no because these guys need content, and to give him the DP address, let him know I'm active here, he might read from DP live for entertainment purposes. That's when Rothchild world domination, Ron as Jesus, etc., could do real damage to the cause.
-JP
The first 5 million supporters of Dr. Paul are 'early adopters.' The next 10 million will require a modified approach.