SUGGESTED CHANGES FOR THE DAILY PAUL! (Feedback Encouraged!!!)
Hey all, in another post there is a dialogue going on between myself and another DP member, and he questioned me as to what changes I think should be made to the DP in order to increase the amount of good information and dialogue we see on here, something that is sorely needed in the opinion of many people here. I really hadn't given it too much thought until then, and I'm pleased with the answers I came up with. I'd like to know what the rest of you think about my suggestions, agree or disagree, as well as to hear what suggestions you would either add on to mine, or even replace some with!
Let's get talking!
So here is the relevant part of my response over at:
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/62362
To Summarize:
In order to increase the amount of intelligent conversations, and to have a better flow of information and information seeking, four new sections should be created, as well as one overall policy established. They are as follows:
Four Sections:
1 - Speculations and Theories
2 - Creative Solutions Dialogue
3 - Economics
4 - Disagreements With CFL
And the overall policy needed is:
"To disallow any negative attacks which include ad hominem attacks, and any other deconstructive remarks that are not based upon the original posts and instead are aimed at the original poster's Self or Ideas." (something along those lines anyway. . )
Exceprt:
"well then, spell it out to me... how can or could Daily Paul change or adjust its structure, website, format, rules, whatever to ensure a wiki-like intelligence to spring forth? . . .What steps could Nystrom or some one else do to structure an intelligent system as you see possible?"
Well, I honestly don't have much in the way of suggestions for this forum specifically. There are some key issues that do slow down constructive dialogue on this forum, though. You have mentioned a few that relate to the way in which people act on the forums, pointing out that it seems to have it's own, somewhat stagnant, evolutionary stable state. I agree. One thing that could be done on the admin side would be to structure the intent of each forum section to better sort out the various angles and uses that people have for this forum. This would increase the overall co-intelligence of the site, as well as make the searching for specific conversations and ideas that much easier. For instance, most things get put into the general forum section which is fine, but there really aren't any place else for some topics to go that are more important than generally banal chatter! As this movement has grown, so has the amount of conversation on here, and so this forum should reflect that growth.
Some suggestions off the top of my head:
1). Create a section specifically for people's speculations and theories. There seems to be more than enough of that here and while not everyone would consider their viewpoints as speculative, it would definitely cut down on the amount of "noise" in any one section if people self-regulated in this way.
2). Create a section specifically for Dialogues and Solutions. It could even be called the "Creating Solutions Dialogue" section. That is where a lot of the forward-thinking, evolutionary stuff would be found. Advanced strategies and ideas for the movement, such as Citizen's Deliberative Councils, and even the Precinct Program would be found there. That is where a higher level of maturity would be required and maintained and instead of arguments and flame wars, only open and honest dialogue and feedback would be allowed.
3). Create a section for Economics. I think this movement is very much involved with the issue of economics at all levels, and much of the discussion on here is centered around it. Giving it it's own section would also make it easier for "noobies" to get up to speed on the major economic ideas that float around here, which is always a good thing.
4). Crack down on everyone who "disrespects" other posters. One thing I've seen all too much of on this forum and many other RP forums, is that some people have very condescending attitudes and act in their own way like some sort of "revolutionary elite" who scoff when someone doesn't understand things the same way they do. There is a lot of "troll calling" on here which, perhaps there is something to it as this is a public forum, but it doesn't add anything whatsoever to the dialogue to point out things like that when it's much easier to ignore. Also, it's very common for posters to respond to a thread with ad hominem attacks or in some way displaying that they did not actually read and digest the original post and instead chose to react with some sort of lashing out. This also adds nothing to the dialogue as well as chases away people who otherwise came here to learn and help out. It's ridiculous and should be discouraged heavily from the bottom to the top and back down again.
5). Create a "Disagreements With The CFL" section and the reason is because no one movement or organization is perfect and so what better way to critique and improve it than to have actual discussions about the weak points? Obviously this would also have to be heavily moderated so arguments and flame wars didn't occur, but otherwise there is no reason why adults cannot de-construct and critically analyze the movement they are a part of. As we've known all along, this is no top-down organization and one thing that I see being a possibility is that too many people get too used to doing whats being suggested from "the horse's mouth" and not enough people openly questioning everything!
So, those are my recommendations, what do you think?
As far as using the wiki ideals on here, I don't see a way to do it with a public forum, although it wouldn't be a bad idea if there was created a "Freedom & Liberty" Wiki started! That would be a great way to collect all of our information in one place, as well as provide a resource for the public to better see where we're coming from. This also would necessarily increase the maturity level of all content as all contributors would have to immediately realize that whatever they post will be viewed by more than just our own movement, it is a resource for all.
I LOVE this website
It's just fine. It's the people that need to CHANGE. A topic explored in Zeitgeist.
It would be nicer if people
It would be nicer if people who do not get along well with others could be put on an "ignore" list so they'd never be visible to the slighted party. I've seen this on other forums.
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"The main thing that I learned about conspiracy theory is that conspiracy theorists actually believe in a conspiracy because that is more comforting. The truth of the world is that it is chaotic..." —Alan Moore
Then it's not a forum anymore
The whole point of a forum is having beliefs that can stand up to scrutiny.
CHA-CHING!
make your own website,
make your own website, sounds like you have a foundation. The Daily Paul is fine just the way it is. Look to your local government to effect change.
"Ideas have consequences." Ron Paul
"...the most memorable concern of mankind
is the guts it takes to
face the sunlight again."-Charles Bukowski
Don't change a thing Michael :-)
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This was posted yesterday Hmmmmmmmmmmmm>>>>
Organization
View Edit
Posted October 26th, 2008 by Ron Aldof
Lets see.....
There are those that leave here because is seems we do not get anywhere. Well that could be correct to a certain extent.
We keep posting things all across a wide spectrum of topics. From the economy, the Federal Reserve, Iraq, 9/11, the msm, Council on Foreign Relations, what's Ron Paul up to, voter fraud and many many topics they are to abundant to mention. Look at the postings. The subjects flash from one to another. Everyday new ones come up and the old are gone (unless you want and have time to go searching).
Don't get me wrong the movement has come along way from where it has started. I for one love the Daily Paul and will continue to come here to find out more informative information than can be found elsewhere. But, for any movement to get any further there has to be organization.
There of course has to be a leader...Which is here. Michael. But, there could also be categories from which you could choose to go to for certain information that you are interested in. These categories could be led by category members. (Thier also could be Leaders of these categories) Lets say Gun Control. There would be certain member groups that would watch what is relevant and going to happen on this certain subject. These members in these groups will keep a close eye on legislation, politicians views, states laws, attacks on the Second Amendment and, and so forth. They in turn would address these topics and post them on the Daily Paul under that category. All of us have certain topics that and issue that we feel stronger about. We could join those certain categories they fall under. Keeping an eye on those issues and submitting them to the category that they fall under. This could give some members a feel of duty. To look for topics that are current and relevant to their category they feel strongly about. Keeping more members coming back to the Daily Paul. Not feeling that no one is listening to them when they post a topic and 15 minutes later that topic has vanished off the board.
This is not saying there shouldn't be an open board for posting. There should be. Things pop up and anyone can stumble across issues that at the time need to be brought forth swiftly so all can respond fast. For organizational matters topics can be put into categories so they will not be lost in a sea of other issues.
Let us say you come to the Daily Paul on a certain day. You are curious on how well a congressional candidate is doing. You go to that category and look to see if there is any new information was added. I see posts like plz help such and such on his campaign. Well it might make it on the list for a short while. But, sooner than later it will be gone. Here will be a chance to keep it somewhere (in a category) where someone who is interested in that candidate has a chance to review what was posted.
This is just a thought on containing all the great information that is posted on here. Not losing it. So all can absorb it at a time when they come on to the Daily Paul. And keeping members coming back also a way of increasing the membership.
Suggestions and thoughts welcome.
Chuck Baldwin 4 Prez.. 2008
Constitutional Party
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...
All that I would like to see is the abilty to to give a kudo or a negative kudo to a poster's comments and/thread.
I like that idea.
I like that idea. It adds some potentially valuable information for others to use to gauge the validity of the content of the post/comment. If something's negative, there's a good chance (but not always) that it's nonsense. If something's ranked huge, there's a good chance that it's relevant and true (but not always).
I think it should be information on one side,and action
on the other. And then a corner for BSing.
It will quickly become evident who the walkers and who the talkers are.
As someone said, meet for 30 minutes and work for 5 hours,not the opposite.
*********************************************
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I totally agree with you,
I totally agree with you, although I think that will piss people off even more than my suggestions!!! But Im with ya on that one.
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Host, The Next Step Podcast
http://thenextstep.podomatic.com
Okay, firstly I"m amazed
Okay, firstly I"m amazed that anyone is still commenting on this thread, so to all of you, THANK YOU! While this thread didn't accomplish as much as I'd hoped, it did cover the ground of getting people discussing these things. ..
Anyway, to respond to the last three comments as they are more or less the same:
I'm not proposing any "Regulations" for the site, except for the idea that one should not be allowed to be a complete asshole to someone else on the forums! And even with that "regulation" suggested by me, its ONLY a suggestion.
The next thing is that I know for a fact that adding a few new sections to the forum would help the INTELLIGENT use of this forum for people coming here.
BUT SANCHO! What about the fast paced, active forum topic flow that we're all used to!?!?!?
WELL, the thing about adding new sections is that, EVERY new post made on the ENTIRE forum gets shown in the Active Forum Topic side bar, so these new topics would only have the result of allowing for easier study and recall of posts made!
I'll say that again, if someone posts in a forum section besides the General Topics section, their post still shows up in the Active Forum Topic sidebar, which means that even with an infinite amount of new sections there would STILL be this quick, fast paced, frenetic thing we have going here that we all are attracted to otherwise we wouldn't come here!
To prove this, I just posted something in the Books section and, voila!, it showed up in the active sidebar!
SO THEN SANCHO, what would be the net effect of your proposal?
The regulars here would still enjoy the site as it would still be a party.
The newcomers who are looking to get feedback on certain topics such as economics will have an easy go and will become daily paulers themselves.
People who come here often and want to discuss certain things such as Organizing will have an easy place to go and find out what people have been talking about in regards to that. . .
AND THE FAST PACED FLOW ON THE ACTIVE FORUM TOPICS SIDEBAR WILL REMAIN FAST PACED!!!
So, not to assume this will change any minds, at least now you get a better idea of what I see as a good, intelligent, doable, possibility to increase the overall intelligent usage of this site and make this site an even better resource for people interested in this stuff!
--
Host, The Next Step Podcast
http://thenextstep.podomatic.com
Interesting,
so topics posted on other forums can be seen at the 'Active' sidebar? That's a new aspect. Thank you!
Please be nice and follow Dr. Paul's living example of kindness, respect and humility.
Freedom brings People together
Ron Paul was right
Actually...
No matter what forum you post to, it goes straight to the sidebar and stays there as long as it is getting comments, no?
************
http://www.pyrabang.com - the Patriot newsfeed machine that will take a huge bite out of Google's ad profits and put them in your pocket!
What he said!
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http://www.im2moro.com
if you put a regulations and
if you put a regulations and rules in check, I will quit coming on here and find another home, it would go against everything this movemant has stood for.
This website is private
This website is private property. The owner has every right to set any rules they want regarding his own property. That is totally consistent with everything this movement has stood for!
All I have to say is that
All I have to say is that Daily Paul is the most Free Market Liberty forum out there. Yes, it is chaotic as in a free market. However, it does sort itself out one way or another.
I truly believe more regulation and structure will hinder this site and what makes it so popular. There is true free unregulated thought and info here. Yes, people quarrel, debate, and duke it out at times(and I must admit I have been intolerant at times...do feel somewhat bad). However, nobody has the power to use some site regulation to hinder anyone else the way the site is set up right now.
More regulation would be abused...I guarantee it...I've seen it. Maybe you won't be affected, but I guarantee people would be. Who would decide how to enforce these new regulations? The effort expended to then enforce regulations would be a resource drain of many peoples lives that have to play babysitter.
I'm convinced that we can regulate ourselves even though it does get kind of Wild West here on the Daily Paul.
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Sections ? I would prefer not to.
Though I like your attitude to improve the DP, I disagree with you on your proposition.
I think it's the special charm of the DP, compared to other forums, that threads and comments are coming in on the 'General Forum' NOT in an orderly manner but are thrown in the midst of us, after someone somewhere in front of his monitor think it's appropriate to bring it to the attention of the crowd here. In this way the DP has become a peculiar mixture of newsagency, action group and marketplace, where people do cry up their ideas, products or idiosyncrasies. Though this doesn't look very efficient on the first look and may be unnerving sometimes, it makes the DP a wonderful and entertaining terminal of ideas and information.
Having said this, I would like to see some of the established and worthwhile threads to be stored in some systematic kind, so they are better accessible, whent they are not coming up as active forum topics. Perhabs we should use additional forums on the DP to store them in sections as you proposed. The only problem is, someone has to do this work and I guess Michael and the current co-administrators are not able to cope with this workload on a regular basis.
Please be nice and follow Dr. Paul's living example of kindness, respect and humility.
Freedom brings People together
Ron Paul was right
A month later....I'll say it again
All great ideas
On September 19th, 2008 ubetcha says:
for the DailySancho
Start your own site and make it however it pleases you. If you get as many members as the DP you'll know you were right.
yeah yeah, that's not what
yeah yeah, that's not what this post is about. this post is about suggestions and at the very least creating dialogue about what would allow us to more effectively organize and share information on this site? It's not about starting something new and hoping people like it, it's taking the already established and potentially evolving it to create a much more intelligent tool for our benefit.
Mmkay?
--
Host, The Next Step Podcast
http://thenextstep.podomatic.com
Suggestion
I haven't read this post in depth ... time is limited right now .... but I would like to see some sort of a "news information sharing" section. One of the best benefits to me from DP is when people share links, etc. regarding NEWS items .... helps us to keep our heads up as to happenings. For example, the thread now dealing with the military meeting ... Italy , England, Germany, France and US. How many of us would've stumbled onto that on our own, especially if our research time is limited. Anyway... if this is already addressed in this post ... sorry to bring it up again.
Yeah I was actually thinking
Yeah I was actually thinking the same thing today when I finally got around to getting hooked up with an RSS Reader(sage). I think as well that there should be a section solely for news reports!
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Host, The Next Step Podcast
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it would be cool to have chat ability.
just a thought
Ron Paul 2012
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Why Not? people who want to
Why Not?
people who want to learn about economics will have it easy, same with people who want to communicate with others about strategy and organizing, and ofcourse we keep the general section!
why not have a more intelligently designed system that would allow us to utilize our individual intelligences all the more!?!?
--
Host, The Next Step Podcast
http://thenextstep.podomatic.com
Aside from adding sections,
Aside from adding sections, how about the disallowing of negative attacks and such on here? Is there much moderation going on? All too many times I've seen people openly dissed for voicing opinions or showing ignorance to a subject. . .Not very constructive, ya know?
--
Host, The Next Step Podcast
http://thenextstep.podomatic.com
It is not constructive
yet the kind of monitoring you think of would lead to policing this side. I don't think it's Michael's philosophy and people her (including me) would like it.
Freedom brings People together
Ron Paul was right
issue tenure
There is no need to do away with individual posts but council posts can be mixed in to get a concensus on certain agenda pomotions. A rating does not help .It would make people drop out gradually. The feeling of inferior postings. When someone 's posts continue to be good viewing they gain there own respect. I would like to see a mix & they could even be labled as such for obvious reasons. Time, DATE, is important to know how the thread is in sequence. This is an easy site to navigate .
says
Some seriously home-grown
organic stuff is what you get here at the DP - no need to be messing with that; however, I do agree with the time-stamping posts idea.
Thank you
for this thread. I was surprised to read how many people are angry about it. I am not only convinced of your best intentions and appreciate your creativity, but I am sure Michael does like to see a discussion like this started. (I remember he started one a couple of month ago, but I couldn't find it now - a downside of this site is the lack of an archiving system).
Freedom brings People together
Ron Paul was right
My suggestion is you don't fix it if it ain't broke.
~Mikael / Peace, love, Light and unity ~
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Stop the NWO....It's just illumi..Naughty !
Same sentiment here
DP worked so well through Dr. Paul's campaign with this format, and still does today. I think burying threads in categories will be the end of Dailypaul as we know it. Also habits are tough to change, think of all the faithfuls used to it for the last 18 months.
Let the markets decide. If the number of visitors decline, then a correction will be appropriate, according to market demand.
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