How about a SNAKE PIT forum? (Seriously)

[Nikki Stone1]

For celebrity news (unrelated to significant political action), fist-fights and brawls, "pull my finger" threads, threads with deliberately misleading and inflammatory titles,etc.?

We could all come up with some kind of list and, provided the mods agreed, DU could pop all the distraction threads into a Snake Pit forum, where they could continue to be fought out or discussed but not in GD. It would certainly help cut down on the dissension that some of the trolls, moles and other malefactors produce on this board.

Yeah, I know some cases would be iffy, but a lot are really clear cut.

[rox63]

1. Isn't that kind of what the Lounge is for? n/t

[Nikki Stone1]

5. No. the Lounge is more for fun and socializing

The threads I am talking about are almost always polarizing or distracting from real news. If the mods would put all celebrity threads in the Lounge, that might help GD, but I don't know that the Lounge would be terribly appreciative.

[Phredicles]

6. I think the lounge is maybe a little more chummy than these things,

and so this might be an idea worth considering. Just my opinion of course, and I'm not as heavy a lounge frequenter as some; they might really be the people to ask.

[Nikki Stone1]

11. I get the same impression about the Lounge

I'm talking about threads that are a good deal more vitriolic.

[DonkeyInChinaShop]

163. General Discussion has become The Lounge

[buckybadger2007]

2. I like it....

... but I'm new here so what do I know.

[Goblinmonger]

3. As much as any of us.

And I gave you my last heart so you can have some street cred.

[wicket]

4. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Nikki Stone1]

8. Yeah, welcome

:)

[madmax]

13. Hi - Welcome to DU

Just jump right in - the natives bite but, they won't eat ya. ;) :hi:

[live love laugh]

133. I can see it now....

A link saying "This thread has been moved to another forum" <click> The Snake Pit! (Although the Cesspool might be even better.) :rofl:

I love it! I hope Skinner's listening.

:rofl:

[hlthe2b]

7. I was thinking for the anti-vaccine threads...

just my thoughts....

[Nikki Stone1]

9. When those threads degenerate into hyper hysteria (and they do so almost from the OP)

then I'm all for throwing them into the Snake Pit.

[hlthe2b]

12. Exactly....

[Nikki Stone1]

16. I've been using the "hide thread" function a lot more lately

because of those threads. Hyped up titles, poor logic and/or math. Just a lot of hot air.

[mhatrw]

68. Of course you were. How about if DU makes a "snake pit" for any posts you

disagree with? Would that make you happy and civil?

[Nikki Stone1]

70. The post with the bad math. I remember you.

:D

[hlthe2b]

Case in point...

And right on schedule...:rofl:

[Bluebear]

139. .

[mzmolly]

167. Would an "anti-vioxx" thread be a candidate as well?

:shrug:

For the record, the mods are moving the vaccine discussions to the health forum as of late.

[madmax]

10. Yeah, I think

it's called the Lounge. That place is a 'snake pit'. :evilgrin:

[Nikki Stone1]

14. No. See the posts about the Lounge above

I'm talking more of a place where people can degenerate into "You're a racist!" "You're a homophobe!" "Here's the 100th thread on Anna Nicole!" without tying up GD. Not that we shouldn't discuss racism and homophobia, but when the thread degenerates into name calling, it should be zapped to the Snake Pit. These kinds of threads provide fodder for trolls.

[quinnox]

15. Great idea

The Du has been lax for a few months or more on letting lounge type topics stay in the General Discussion. Also, the threads that talk about people losing loved ones, I hate to sound cold or harsh but those are "vanity" threads and shouldn't be in this forum. Along with other personal topics as well.

Note when I say vanity I mean they are personal and have to do with a persons own life business, I don't mean to sound cruel.

[Nikki Stone1]

18. How about the "I'm leaving and here's why (you bastards)!" threads?

Snake pit.

[quinnox]

21. sounds right

[Nikki Stone1]

23. Maybe we need forum for personal messages. Hmmm

...

[quinnox]

28. A special forum for those experiencing grief from a recent loss

I think it would be very good and people could get much support from that forum. I don't think it is an appropriate topic for this general discussion forum however.

But I also like your idea of a snake pit for all the celebrity news.

[Nikki Stone1]

32. That sounds very nice

....

[Marie26]

44. There already is one, here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=323

[Nikki Stone1]

47. Thanks

But then why do people still post deaths in GD?

[Marie26]

56. Maybe

because that's where people tend to spend the most time & feel most comfortable. Plus I don't think a lot of people know about the Bereavement Forum, so I wanted to post the link here. GD is sort of a "catch-all" forum, anyway.

[Nikki Stone1]

64. Thanks for posting the Bereavement forum info

Appreciate it very much

[quinnox]

54. Great , but now I don't understand

why the threads where people describe losing loved ones aren't being moved there.

[Bluebear]

59. I only visit GD, for instance. If one of my friends here suffers a loss I would like to know. nt

[Nikki Stone1]

67. But GD is not your personal club. DU is organized by topic, nnot clique

What's so hard about clicking on a forum related to the topic you are interested in?

[bettyellen]

do you see the irony there, nikki? it ain't your club either. LOL...

[Bluebear]

121. LOL

[Nikki Stone1]

155. Not asking for a club, dear. Just asking that people follow the structure of the forums themselves

People disrespect the structure and use this place as their own personal club.

[bettyellen]

157. Child, it's GENERAL disc, and the Admins determine the content, not YOU, not a club....

what is this hall monitor bullshit that's going on here, members trying to be admins when clearly they are not?? You disrespect this place and DUers with this post and you think it;s some clique that disagrees with you? Nothing to do with your nose in the air or trying to tell people what they should and shouldn;t talk about, right? Lol, because that's clearly "respectful" behaviour. Sorry if you need to vent on people who have other interests than you, I'm sure you'll go far with that!

[Nikki Stone1]

158. Dear heart, DU has already set up a system. I think we should respect that

Putting your cliques ahead of the system that has been set up is not respectful.

[bettyellen]

159. your imagination has created some cliques that do not exist....

but it's all n your head.
feel better, kid!

[Bluebear]

160. Stop! You're not following the system that DU has set up!

:crazy:

[bettyellen]

161. did the mods tell her something about a "system" and neglect to tell us?

LOl

[Bluebear]

162. If the system is in place, why is she suggesting a new forum?

Doesn't that fly in the face of the system that has been set up here??????!!!!!1111

[TZ]

149. Can I say

that at my last job I told my boss after he was fired for political reasons and was cleaning out his office that our place of employment was a nest of vipers and he agreed so I know that environmet too well!!:rofl:

[bobbolink]

153. That's what happens when a community is formed.

The only way we are going to actually make a difference in this country is to form bonds, and that means we are going to care about each other.

Many of us DON"T hang out in the lounge, and for good reason. We WANT to know when one of us is having a crisis or tragedy, so for that, I strongly suggest you make LIBERAL use of your "hide thread" option.

Once we all lose heart for each other, it's all over.

[Bluebear]

17. You think Anna Nicole is a "useless piece of garbage". I don't.

So there you have it, one man's snake is another's pet, I guess. Being progressive, I try to not to put people in a pecking order of who is more virtuous or worthy.

[Nikki Stone1]

19. Why put her in GD? Why not the Lounge?

?

[Bluebear]

20. Maybe people here who never go to the lounge want to discuss her?

[Nikki Stone1]

22. What's so hard about going to the Lounge? (It's a click away, not a mile walk)

Seriously.

[Nikki Stone1]

24. I'm waiting...

patiently

[Bluebear]

26. so not worth it

[Nikki Stone1]

27. Sounds like you have no real answer, so you're forced to reply with a question

I'll ask again. Why not just post this in the Lounge?

[Bluebear]

31. You can ask as many times as you keep yourself entertained.

[Nikki Stone1]

33. No, you can actually answer the question. How about it?

:)

Why is it so hard to click on "Lounge" and post a dead celebrity thread there?

[blonndee]

36. . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=218809&mesg_id=218947

[Bluebear]

38. Good luck with that

but thanks :rofl:

[Nikki Stone1]

41. My "luck" depends on you. Why couldn't you post Anna Nicole in the Lounge?

?

[Bluebear]

37. So you object to brawls and you engage in one here? OK

[Nikki Stone1]

42. Not a brawl, just question. You're turning a very simple question into a major issue

Why not just put an Anna Nicole thread in the Lounge?

Simple.

[Bluebear]

I already answered you so quit badgering me, please. It's annoying,

[Nikki Stone1]

48. Where is your answer to "Why can't you post Anna Nicole in the Lounge"?

I don't see it.

[Bluebear]

50. Good bye.

[The Straight Story]

52. I'll answer that one

Just like coming to DU people have a home within DU. One might say as well, why not go to another site for entertainment news, only a click away if ya bookmark it.

The reason is people build up friendships in their respective rooms on DU. The lounge, 9/11 forum, etc - so when we want to discuss something we tend to want to get feedback from posters we have known a long time and trust.

Like BlueBear and I - we don't always get along, it can get testy, but overall I have come to respect him and his writings/opinions. We might fight like cats and dogs over snickers bars :) but we seperate issues from personalities.

And that takes time and effort.

GD is for 'general' discussion - as in, general news. We have a politics forum, we have a lounge, and this is their child (imho). This is general life, and when something crosses the border the fine mods move it (they do that to me off and on, and I usually agree with them).

GD is like cnn/msnbc/blogger/local news/etc - We have activist forums, etc for those wanting to focus on something specific.

The reason GD gets the traffic it does is BECAUSE it is all over the board and everyone can find something here. Then folks can break out and go into seperate rooms if they like to get specific.

Just my take.

[Nikki Stone1]

63. I appreciate your answer and wish Bluebear had been the one to answer it

since the question was addressed to him.

However, DU is organized by topic, not by clique or social group. The idea that "we hang out in GD so we post Lounge-type threads in GD because that's where we live" works counter to the actual organization of the board. It's kind of unfair to people who really are interested in the topics. Many people come to GD (after LBN) to see what's up politically, only to be hit with the umpteenth Anna Nicole thread, bumped into prominence by online friends of the poster.

Perhaps Bluebear needs to make friends in the Lounge, if that's the prerequisite to having one's threads read in the Lounge.

[sniffa]

66. oh yawn

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=218809&mesg_id=218947

[Nikki Stone1]

69. Tired, sniffa? Maybe a little coffee?

:donut:

[sniffa]

72. i wish bLuebear had answered you

then, i wouLdn't have to be bored reading you over and over asking him to answer you.

:boring:

[Nikki Stone1]

74. I wish Bluebear had answered me too.

:donut:

[sniffa]

76. i know, he keeps avoiding you

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=218809&mesg_id=218947

[Nikki Stone1]

80. Well, such is life

:donut:

[Bluebear]

83. What the fuck ails you anyhow?

Do you know how ridiculous you look in this thread of yours?

[sniffa]

87. jeez, just answer the question

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=218809&mesg_id=218947








































:rofl:

[Bluebear]

88. I was informed upthread that GD is not my "personal club" & to make lounge friends

So I can talk about Anna Nicole. :rofl:

[Name removed]

96. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bettyellen]

117. really! get over yourself and discuss the 9/11 conspiracy theory du jour, because THAT matters

not that imaginary homophobia and misogyny that is you know, all in your head anyway.
also, dungeons and dragons, that is also suitable for GD...

[Bluebear]

123. That's right.

All those threads about homophobia and misogyny, why can't people lighten up?

XOXO

[bettyellen]

131. lets take the "general" out of GD and remake it in our self important image, shall we?

and we can designate the lounge as a ghetto for freepers, feminists, intellectual lightwieghts and homos.
I wish I was exaggerating, but this is how it reads to me.
ick.

[LostinVA]

145. No, that's how it reads

[bettyellen]

146. so it's an elitist circle jerk, what matters to me daddy? ooooh, your words are so big and hard!!

:rofl:

[LostinVA]

147. hehehehehe

[LostinVA]

144. Yup, all those trivial vanity threads about equal civil rights

*yawn*

[Nikki Stone1]

89. You still haven 't answered the question. Why?

Seriously.

[Bluebear]

90. Answer my question! It was: What the fuck ails you?

:rofl:

[Nikki Stone1]

93. You still haven't answered the question

Why not?

[Bluebear]

98. You are sounding real familiar now. Be an angel & tell us who you really are.

I seem to remember a similar meltdown by someone else.

[Nikki Stone1]

109. Anything but answer the question, eh?

Throw mud, get personal, anything to avoid answering why you couldn't post Anna Nicole in the Lounge. Why?

[Bluebear]

113. LOL

[swimboy]

135. He did answer your goddamn question

and sniffa keeps re-posting it for you. I think you are confused because his answer ends with a question mark. Can you still dig that it is an answer, not a question?

[The Straight Story]

114. Why don't they go to GD-Politics then?

And I didn't say we should post lounge type threads here because of a clique, the idea was that anything goes in the lounge (ie, politics, fun, social, etc) and some people want that, then there are those who want more news and commentary on social issues so they go to GD for a mix of local, national, sensational news which shares a common border with the lounge.

Those wanting to be pure go to areas with a more strict focus.

After all, GD politics is only a click away.

[jannyk]

124. Perhaps it would be more pertinent to ask

why the hundreds of ANS posts were not moved to the 'Entertainment' forum or the 'Snickers' threads to the GLBT forum? Many of them are just 'flamebait' or 'vanity posts' anyway. At the very least, why are these multitude of threads, all on the same topic, not combined? Are we doomed to repeat the barrage of inanity every time some minor celebrity keels over - this week ANS - who's next - Lindsay Lohan or one of those anorexic twins?

I'd say the majority are here because they cannot get what they are seeking from the MSM. Yet, over the past few months, GD has become the sounding board for the MSM's 'distraction topic' du jour. GD is becoming an online 'People' magazine - worse than that, because the topics denegrate into vitriolic hate fests.

You were correct in saying earlier that DU is like a 'home' to many of us. However, I don't know about you, but in my home we don't keep our toothbrushes in the living room or our saucepans in the bedroom. Just like at 'home', there is a place for everything here on DU - 'Editorials' get moved, '911' posts get moved, 'LBN' posts get moved and/or combined, 'Israel/Palestine' posts get moved - so why not the 'ANS' and 'Snickers' posts? Can't we keep GD tidy and interesting?

/typo

[Bluebear]

125. I think it's sad that you want GLBT issues moved to the GLBT forum.

As if they don't concern anyone other than gay folk. :(

[La Lioness Priyanka]

126. perhaps it more pertinent to ask why you think your issues are more important than my civil rights

[ThomCat]

128. People in the majority often think that civil rights is a

"special interest." x(

[ThomCat]

127. The GLBT forum is where we discuss among ourselves.

But if there's an issue that affects everyone, or that everyone is involved in (like something that was broadcast to the entire nation during the single most watched television event of the year) then it shouldn't be just us in the gay dungeon discussing it.

Like it or not, a homophobic message broadcast to everyone is a legitimate issue for GD.

As for ANS, her death is not entertainment. I don't know anyone who was entertained, or anyone who was discussing her career or or how this impacts the entertainment industry. Just because she was a celebrity doesn't mean that every discussion about her should be banished to the entertianment dungeon.

If everything was put in one of the small forums as strictly as you propose then there might not be much of anything left in GD.

[The Straight Story]

130. I can agree with that to some extent really, my notes on it all:

1. If you ever travel the back roads of the internet you end up at freerepublic, where indeed they have pretty much an official thread for everything. Their ANS thread is 6000 posts long. Not always good for folks here on dial up. And who is gonna read all that anyway? Here you pick and choose based on headline, like one would the national enquirer versus weekly world news :)

2. Since DU is so segmented, and pretty well I would say, people have the choice to go to those individual areas, gd has been, as long as I recall, a melting pot where news and politics meets entertainment style news and commentary, with a huge dose of user generated original postings.

It must be working because it seems GD is one of the most high traffic areas of DU - which to me means people enjoy it. And the reason they enjoy it is because they can go to one place to get it all, versus going to several forums to get things.

3. The MSM and GD are a lot of like in some ways, yes - but that is to be expected since we get a lot of commentary on how the msm is covering things, followed by a lot more intelligent discourse on those main stream stories - which aids folks in talking to those who only get a short burst of news. We get in depth and personal.

To me, personally, GD IS meant to be a general discussion of news and opinion - no one focus like the politics or 9/11 areas.

The fix as I see it
one could make GD a gateway - you can select all the forums you want to appear in it, then when posting a story select the forum it best goes in - entertainment, politics, local, etc so that it cross indexes. It lives in the forum you choose but also shows up in GD. Those wanting purely one subject can peruse the forum they want and get everything we are posting, or if they want it all come to GD and see what everyone else is posting into forums that they have checkmarked to show up in GD - even the dungeon could show up to them :)

At any rate, my 2 cents :)

[Midlodemocrat]

132. Who are you to determine what is tidy and interesting?

I sure as hell don't see a little blue man next to your username.

:eyes:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

138. Oh snap!

[swimboy]

134. I think you have a very strange attitude.

I don't have any use for Anna Nicole threads either but it is easier for you to click on Hide Thread than for everyone else here to figure out how you want DU organized so we can click where you think we should instead of where we already do.

[spoony]

118. Then why a snake pit? Why not the Lounge?

The proposed forum would be the topic of countless arguments about what belongs where, I mean even more than currently.

[LSK]

Anna Nicole Smith has nothing to do with politics

[redqueen]

102. That's why there's GD: Politics. n/t

[LSK]

120. so thats what its for!!!!

:think:

[WI_DEM]

No, I think there are a number of ways to avoid threads you don't like

such as the hide feature or just plain ignoring them.

[Nikki Stone1]

29. I do use the hide-thread feature. But a lot of folks have been complaining lately

and a Snake Pit forum might be nice.

[NewJeffCT]

25. sounds like a good idea... however

I think there are too many forums as it is. I don't think there are enough hours in the day for me to go much beyond here and the Lounge, with the occasional foray into the CT forum.

[Nikki Stone1]

30. I know, the one drawback. Some of those topics should be in GD

like some of the 9/11 threads.

[NewJeffCT]

35. One forum I would support, however

Is one where people can discuss the pros and cons of their candidate for president. I'm already tired of the "your candidate sucks" threads and it's only February of 2007.

[Nikki Stone1]

43. Wasn't GD-political for that? I agree there needs to be a place for it.

...

[NewJeffCT]

60. I thought so, too

But, I've seen more than a few threads in here over the past few months...

[Nikki Stone1]

71. A lot of these are very personal threads: "I hate Hillary, Obama, Biden....etc"

Not constructive discussion

[bettyellen]

115. see, i think most of the 9/11 threads are crap and belong in a snake pit!

but what do i know, i just watched it happen.

[CabalPowered]

34. Another forum I used to frequent had a "mud pit"

for similar reasons. It worked quite well.

[Nikki Stone1]

45. Sounds right. Snake pit, mud pit, something on that order

It cuts down on the ability of trolls to cause havoc

[shadowknows69]

39. Yeah,let's bring more potential negative energy here

Thanks but no thanks.

[Nikki Stone1]

49. I think the potential negative energy is already here.

A snake pit would give it a place to go.

[redqueen]

57. Do you not see that threads like this

make it worse?

[Nikki Stone1]

73. Having never posted a thread like this, I had no way of predicting the outcome

But I find myself agreeing with you. The chief problem seems to be that serious discussion is left to the topic forums and GD has become a place where cliques live and choke out a lot of serious discussion.

[redqueen]

79. There have been too many in recent days.

I guess you were lucky enough to miss them.

Serious discussion goes on in here, too. Perhaps if you ignore some of the fluff, it'll be easier to find.

Good luck, and peace. :hi:

[Nikki Stone1]

82. I hide the fluff all the time. I do see some great threads here. That's why I posted this

The great threads get lost in the crap.

[redqueen]

86. They do not get lost, if you simply bother to click the little x there.

:hi:

[Nikki Stone1]

92. Thanks for bumping my thread, Redqueen

:hi:

[redqueen]

99. Hahaahaha... I see how it is....

Have a good day. Hope you feel good about contributing such a meaningful discussion to GD.

Peace. :)

[Nikki Stone1]

101. You did your best to make in non-meaningful and I appreciate that

:)

[redqueen]

106. Good one!

That is a joke, right?

[Nikki Stone1]

111. Total truth, cross my heart

:D

[tabasco]

40. There is a lot of stuff in GD that should be in the lounge.

The "pull my finger" threads (good name for them, btw), are particularly annoying and just add to the already messed-up GD forum.

[Nikki Stone1]

51. I know. I wish the mods would be more active on moving those kinds of threads to the Lounge

...

[baldguy]

46. Sounds like Freerepublik

[redqueen]

53. Why not just hide the threads?

It is VERY easy to do.

Why all the complainey threads about threads someone doesn't like?

What's the point, to air your personal dissatisfaction? It's not news that lots of people don't like some threads, and others do. That's why we have the "hide thread" feature.

This reminds me of kids appealing to mom or dad to punish a sibling because they're "looking at them" or doing some other annoying yet easily ingorable thing. Ignoring things that irritate you but are not substantially bothersome is a good skill to learn, it's very helpful later in life.

[Nikki Stone1]

77. I do it all the time, hon. But lots of folks have been complaining about the distractions

and I thought I'd post a suggestion. Obviously, it has been counterproductive. That says a lot about the cliques who people GD.

[redqueen]

84. Complaining is not helping.

That's my point.

And IMO it says that people are tired of hearing the... I'll just put it bluntly: whining. :hi:

[Nikki Stone1]

97. Thanks for bumping my thread, Redqueen

:hi:

[muriel_volestrangler]

108. It's a bit tedious having to do it one at a time

and I actually wonder about the load on DU's servers, if everyone were to actually bother hiding all threads in GD they know they're not interested in. I reckon 90% of threads here aren't of interest to me, and I can't see how other people can keep up with more than, say, 20% of GD. Each one you hide gives you a screen saying it's hidden; then another one with it hidden. If you could hide several at once, just like you can delete several pieces of junk mail in any decent mail client at once, the 'hide' feature would be a lot more useful.

[AlCzervik]

55. If that happens hopefully Skinner can get a deal on padlocks

he'll be buying them in bulk.

[Marie26]

58. Where would this thread go?

Snake Pit?

[Nikki Stone1]

81. LOL!! The irony has not escaped me. I can tell you I won't be posting this suggestion again.

:)

[Blue-Jay]

91. No, this thread would go in the Snark Pit.

:D

[Nikki Stone1]

95. Yep, it surely would. And that says a lot about DU GD, doesn't it.

I'll just keep hiding threads as usual...

[Blue-Jay]

116. It's not a BAD idea. The name could use a little work, though.

[quinnox]

119. I think the snake pit name is awesome

[quinnox]

61. I really think Skinner should consider this

if he isn't too busy right now and not reading
Du (and can be forgiven)

But if not Skinner the other admin. And please if an admin does see this - a request, move the "experienced a recent death of a loved one" threads to the bereavement forum.

[Bluebear]

62. The people who post deaths of loved ones here pay their dues too.

I don't it's unreasonable that they are allowed to share news with their friends here.

[quinnox]

65. It used to not be like this

They didn't allow those topics in General discussion. Not just grief threads, but other vanity topics. This is a recent change and in my opinion it has greatly taken away from this forum.

I know I don't have a star and haven't donated but I still wanted to make this request all the same.

[Nikki Stone1]

100. No kidding. What happened?

Why did things change?

[quinnox]

103. I don't know

I wish I did, but I think I will bring this topic up myself in the future until we get some answers.

[Nikki Stone1]

85. "Paid their dues"? What does this have to do with the topic of a forum?

Really, what do you mean by that expression?

[Strawman]

122. I think that's going way too far with this idea

I like to think DU is a community of sorts. It seems to me that the grieving individual ought to be able to chose the forum to post about his or her loss and whether they need some support from the larger community or from a smaller group of peers in a DU group like the bereavement forum.

I don't think the argument is without merit with regard to celebrity news and other content. That's worthy of consideration at least. But to say that about members posting about deaths of their own loved ones seems very harsh to me. I'm really not trying to sound judgemental about your idea, but maybe you want to think about drawing the line in a different place. Think about this. Maybe you want to be a little less rigid and more empathetic on the subject of those posts. If somene hangs out in GD and never hangs out in the Lounge, I can certainly understand them wanting to post that kind of content in GD. In many ways it's an entirely different social circle.

[mhatrw]

75. Yeah! And we could put requests to the DU's administrators for new forums there, too!

Anything that Nikki Stone1 thinks is a "distraction" should get condemned to the Snake Pit. That way, it would take fewer snakes to cover the general forums.

[Done]

78. An always anonymous forum? nt

[Nikki Stone1]

104. There's a dangerous one

Yikes

[quinnox]

94. I really don't get all the hostility this thread is getting

Why are so many attacking you for a simple forum suggestion? Do they want to get this thread shut down on purpose by making a flame fest?

Anyways, I know I agree with you and there are many more DUers who probably feel the same way, hopefully they will post their support.

[Nikki Stone1]

105. I think because some people mistake a topic forum for a personal home

I think this "snake pit" suggestion has stirred up a hornet's nest because it undermines the idea of GD being a "coffee house" for certain groups of friends. Perhaps the mods should just rename GD.

[Bluebear]

107. 1079 views and not a single rec. Yeah, this is an idea whose time has come.

:rofl:

[Puglover]

136. Better yet why don't you start your own message board

with its very own Snake Pit. Just a thought. :hi:

[johnfunk]

110. Very good idea... but call it...

the "SNAKE/TROLL/FREEPER PIT". Covers all bases (and asses).

[Nikki Stone1]

112. Yeah, that was the original idea before this thread degenerated

Very sad

[uppityperson]

129. "Flamebait Forum" perhaps.

rather than deleting or locking them, just more to Flamebait Forum. That way, is people want to continue to snark, they can, and all in 1 place!

[TX-RAT]

137. Heres a snake for the pit.

[InvisibleTouch]

140. Nice!

Yours? That's more the kind of snake I'd want to discuss. :)

[TX-RAT]

141. One of my little buddies on the ranch.

[TZ]

150. Hey

I think I used to work with that guy!!:rofl:
(sorry I can't resist a snake joke these days)

[k_jerome]

142. why not post this in the lounge? nt.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

143. I'm glad you brought this up because I guess that I have been wrong

on the designations. I have always thought GD meant general discussion on all topical issues and GD politics was for all discussions of a political nature.

I was a little ticked off a few weeks ago when I was seeking to elicit opinions from GD on internet date sites. A friend of mine who was widowed at a young age was being encouraged by fellow workers to join some internet dating sites and I was seeking advice and information at GD that I could pass on to her. I received some serious and informative replies along with warnings from people who had personal experience on the subject. But shortly into the conversations the thread was whisked over to the lounge. I don't have anything against the lounge but that is not the place to go to discuss serious subjects. The lounge is for people to relax and of course the conversations are light and often silly.

If GD doesn't want to accept serious discussions on topics other than politics, then perhaps a snake pit forum is the way to go.

[TZ]

148. oh I would just love that

I think that would be great. Of course you know the sock puppet crowd won't like that much. I am going to go look for my snake stick right now:)

[ecstatic]

151. Cross between GD and the lounge

I like it. I'm too mean and cyber-anti-social for the lounge.

[Sydnie]

152. We used to have that - it was called the Ask the Admins forum

:rofl: ;)

[troubleinwinter]

156. Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

I used to check it out from time to time, just for entertainment.

[ContraBass Black]

154. Who keeps recommending these "put posts I don't like somewhere else" threads?

:shrug:

[Bluebear]

166. :)

[NuttyFluffers]

164. y'know, not a bad idea.

i think there shouldn't be a topic parameter to determine what goes in, though. i think it would be better to leave it to mod discretion to put deeply heated topics in a safe place where people can feel safe to unleash all their pent up venom and rage (within the general rules of course). this way topics don't have to smother everything else that is going peaceably well, or get transfered to a group where some people might not be able to post, or is smothered by strict/incompatible room rules. it's like having an arena to fight while the rest of the city is civil.

i think a bare knuckle, dragged out, no holds barred space where people can just rip each other to shreds would be a good place to get a lot of frustration out of one's system. it would be a place where mods could put flametastic threads so that they can burn themselves out. kinda like a fire break from the other forums. basically mods wouldn't have to bother policing so carefully there, sort of like 'visit at your own risk' space, and let all that energy burn itself out. that way they could focus on keeping the other forums happy and civil, while the other space people could be happily at each other's throats. it would cater to all needs of our respective moods -- and we all get our deeply heated moods. i may be pacifist, but trust me i have my moments where i just wanna stamp my foot and throw my shoe. embracing that facet of us, and giving it a special, safe place seems only wise in my opinion.

though, i think a less negative, more upbeat name should be given to the place. i'm apt to give it the name Romper Room, but that might have copyright issues. Thunderdome has another nice ring to it, too.
:evilgrin:

[Balderdash]

165. kick

:kick: