On Speculation

[BelgianMadCow]

Thesis:

One of the best things about DU is that there are many well-informed people here that engage in speculation. That is, they try to connect the dots. They try to see the big picture. They read between the lines and speculate about intent and motives of people.
They speculate about the direction the US is taking, about the likelihood of events in the future, and so on.
And, not a minor detail, try to find the facts that corroborate a certain view, or disprove it.
In short, the process of thinking

GD is the main place where this goes on, obviously (not belittling DU groups & subforums here).

Question: would it not make sense to have all speculation allowed in GD? There's plenty already, and it causes the occasional flamefest, even repetitive ones (Obama is gonna cut Social Security & chain CPI). I do understand DU doesn't want to end up looking like infowars, but I honestly don't think it would.

Opinions?

[quinnox]

1. it probably would eventually start crowding out other political topics

for instance, the 9-11 conspiracy stuff, that is very popular and it would generate a lot of threads. Or the JFK assassination. Or even UFO topics.

I can kinda understand why they disallow it, because there are paranormal focused websites where that is all they talk about, and DU is mainly a politics forum, so it doesn't fit really...
Personally, I'm very interested in highly speculative topics, but I can go to other websites if I want to discuss it.

[BelgianMadCow]

8. It sure did just after 9/11

I just don't think it would be that bad, after ten years. GD wasn't even crowded with remembrance topics this year.

[pintobean]

2. Whining about the SOP is a violation of the SOP.

[BelgianMadCow]

4. I am not whining but asking for people's opinions.

What's yours?

[Rex]

3. Critical thinking? Not in GD.

A few here hate CT.

[Loudly]

5. If a DU reader is tabbed to Latest, won't they see a post no matter where it gets posted?

Unless deleted?

I know I have had some problems in the past with dead links pointing nowhere if a post gets moved.

But as long as the program points you to the place where the OP now resides (unless removed as violating DU rules obviously), then OK to sort and slice and dice.

Just a way of managing content IMO.

[Turbineguy]

6. You are correct.

And when you get it wrong (which I sometimes do....) there's always somebody around to set you straight.

Or if you leap out of bed at 2AM with a burning question, you get an answer PDQ.

[BelgianMadCow]

12. I remember when I was new, how the "setting you straight"

was a bit intimidating, but very interesting. I love all the people here that are "contrary", even if I strongly disagree with them. A good debate is between opposing viewpoints.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. I moved any and all serious analysis off DU

It is not the DU we remember.

[SamYeager]

9. My opinion is there is way too much CT in GD n/t

[BelgianMadCow]

10. I can see that point of view

What kind of CT are you referring to?

[SidDithers]

11. Might as well...

Hosts routinely ignore the GD SOP with respect to conspiracy theory topics and sources anyway. Open up GD to everything and anything.

Should probably just shut down the Creative Speculation Group too.

Sid