This may be not the right place for this, but are the forums only for one side of a discussion?

[upaloopa]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by SYFROYH (a host of the General Discussion forum).

Is dissent not supposed to be a part of the forum? If so why is there a forum? If all you want is a place where everyone will agree with you and where you can criticize those who don't without any replies from them why not have your own blog why do we need a place like that here?

I guess I don't understand.

Like he OBG group criticizes those who are critical of OB but they don't want to hear from those they criticize.

[el_bryanto]

1. you mean dissent in the first line

But I largely agree with the sentiment. The problem is that everybody on this board has an issue or two which they feel is black and white. If they see disagreement, that disagreement is evidence of bad faith.

To take an extreme example, we surely wouldn't tolerate someone arguing that blacks are inferior to whites - we would (rightfully) shout down such a person and ban them. There are other issues, which might well seem open to discussion for you, but for some one at DU they are the equivalent of claiming that blacks are inferior to rights, and should be treated equivalently.

Bryant

[GoneFishin]

2. I noticed that too. If they don't expect or want any opposing views then why post an OP

that is guaranteed to attract them?

[PowerToThePeople]

9. Because

"Your user name"

Those threads/posts fish for responses in kind to get those responses hidden. Do this enough times and the voices that stand up against what you are positing are banned from the board for 90 days.

This is the goal of such posts.

[Andy823]

3. Or

Like the anti Obama, democratic party group that has only one way of seeing things, and if you don't agree you are an "authoritarian", Obama bot, "turd way", etc.

[OrwellwasRight]

10. I've never seen any DUer

use the term "turd way" except those who claim it has been used against them.

[Recursion]

11. You're joking, yes?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023941386

http://metamorphosis.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4228616

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024165292

http://metamorphosis.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5192655

http://metamorphosis.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5176661

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025789493#post1

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251342372#post1

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017226919#post6

http://metamorphosis.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5176661

Like, literally 3 seconds of searching

[OrwellwasRight]

22. Actually, you made my point.

In not one of those posts was one DUer calling another DUer, "Hey, you are turd way." No DUer has been called 'turd way' in any conversation I have every been in, though plenty of Third Wayers claim to have been called "Turd Way" and I have been in many of those conversations, because I am a progressive, and I have never seen it. We criticize DLC, New Dem, and Third Way as a failed philosophy that is killing the party. But you want to fail to acknowledge that it is a real issue.

Instead, you seem to want to call yourself a victim of name-calling, which I did not find on your links.

I think if any post like that existed, it would be hidden by a jury as in appropriate.

[TheKentuckian]

21. Not true, I use it all the time it represents the entire umbrella of corporate friendly conservative

Democrats including Third Way but certainly not exclusive to it bringing in New Democrats, Blue Dogs, DLC, No Labels, or what have you. It is the ideology of the turd, waste to be flushed into the sewer.

[OrwellwasRight]

23. You call people that name?

Or you simply use the term to describe the failed pro-corporate philosophy? Because there is a difference, and I don't think the corporate types are the victims they claim to be. I have not seen one post where one DUer calls another DUer a "turd."

Obviously, I have not read all posts on DU. And don't claim to. But I have never seen that term except when the DLCers say. "oh we're the victims, you're always calling us names like Turd Way, woe is us."

I'd rather debate the issues and not hear how put upon the poor New Dems are.

So that is my experience and what prompted my post.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

4. I think it depends on the specific one?

Or is that groups only? You mention forum, then jump down to BOG (group), so I'm not sure if you're using them interchangeably, and I thought there was a technical distinction between the two terms.

[NYC_SKP]

6. Groups versus Forums: the forums are meant to allow for dissent and discussion, some groups, too.

Protected groups are run as hosts see fit and are allowed to block members who don't toe the line.

Not sure what you mean by "OBG group" and "OB" but if you mean the BOG then you should know the history.

On DU2, the Barack Obama Group languished and nearly died due to over moderation. It was forbidden to go there and vent, it drove off a few members.

On DU3, the BOG and other safe havens are allowed to call out other members, complain about DU, and do other things that were formally disallowed.

One might say it's gone from one extreme to the other, but I like the way the BOG is run.

I'm not delighted, in contrast, to how hosts manage a couple of the safe haven groups, but that's their business.

You take your chances, what hosts might not hide or block, juries might.

[Ms. Toad]

13. They are still subject to the DU jury system,

So if you run to a group to "call out other members," or "complain about DU," being in a safe haven group won't save you from having your post hidden.

(On the other hand, if you wander into a safe haven group and violate the rules of the group, juries are likely to hide your posts - even if they would be perfectly acceptable elsewhere.)

[NYC_SKP]

14. That's a fact. No place is safe from a jury.

And hosts are prohibited from locking except based on SOP, but if they want to they can abuse that rule.

DU2 is filled with abuses by hosts and by juries, the only "higher court" is the ATA, where Skinner has consistently ruled that, Oh well, you take your chances.

I'm not sure why the OP is concerned, it's pretty much the way it goes. In fact, the post is subject to being locked as a whining or meta post.

[belzabubba333]

7. groups are not forums and are run differently

[Recursion]

8. There are forums and groups. Assuming you meant "BOG" for "OBG"...

the Barack Obama Group is, not surprisingly, a place for supporters of Barack Obama and not the appropriate place to criticize him (that's GD and damn near everywhere else, it seems). Similarly, posts critical of Warren will not last long in the EWG, criticism of Sibel Edmonds will not last long in the "Sibel Edmonds" group, and praising Microsoft won't do well in the Open Source/Free Software group.

Forums, on the other hand, are much more open to differing views so long as they are within the fairly broad terms of use.

[on point]

12. Factual criticism should always be in. Falsehood never. Places to only praise are not forums, but

alters.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

17. "Factual criticism should always be in. Falsehood never."

It's the debate that sifts through fact and falsehood. Each side assumes itself to be right. It's only after their assertions are challenged and shown true or not can we be ore certain of who carries the argument.

[on point]

19. I agree with that. Discussion should leave both sides wiser

I guess I probably meant already clearly debunked lies meant to poison discussion.

[treestar]

15. Yep.

Those forums exist as safe havens. You have GD for the rest. Do you expect to go into the Feminist Groups with misogyny or the AA group with white racist talking points ?

You have GD so what's your complaint?

I'd expect DU to have an anti-Obama group, except for the fact the rule GD.

[SheilaT]

16. I've been banned from a group because of my outspokenness

against its subject. Don't think that's right, but I get to express my opinion elsewhere, so it's not the end of the world for me. Or even the end of my time on DU.

[OKNancy]

18. You don't go into a vegan group and praise hamburgers.

There are many places here at DU and on the net where you can criticize and slam whomever you want.

[madinmaryland]

20. We have an OB/GYN group on DU???

Where's it located?

[aikoaiko]

24. Locking

The SOP prohibits complaints about DU or in this case a DU group. Perhaps ask your question in Ask the Admins