I hate it when the theme of the day here gets agreed upon and prepared somewhere else

[Tom Rinaldo]

It's like showing up for a neighborhood block party after the organizers agreed on the dress code without letting everyone in on it.

[hlthe2b]

1. so, whats the theme of the day... didn't get the memo...

hmmm?

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. Themes are in the eye of the beholder

Different eyes are more likely to connect dots differently - sometimes a real pattern emerges, sometimes it's an optical illusion. I leave it for each to see or not see what they will. I chose to be generic. I have seen past instances however, at close hand, where off site collaboration emerges "spontaneously" at DU. Any side on any issue can do it. It's not my favorite aspect of the use of social media, that's all.

[msongs]

3. can you share an example of a previous theme for the day and what somewhere else? nt

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. Often they coalesce during primaries - but not always

I will stay away from the most recent one because it remains too raw, but an example might be a spate of threads about Bill Clinton dissing African Americans in any one of a number of ways appearing in clumps on DU prior to the 2008 South Carolina primary. Essentially it involves the coordinated use of agreed upon talking points. Any of them may present a valid topic for discussion, of course, but there is an additional impact created by a swarming effect produced by a conscious team of advocates simultaneously working off of a common script by prior agreement developed somewhere else. That aspect of "the debate" isn't so much meant to enlighten as it is to dominate "the news cycle", yes even on a discussion forum.

P.S. the somewhere else can be any type of closed membership/ by invitation only membership forum or group. It could be a self standing forum site with a very specific focus, or a closed Yahoo or Facebook group, or you name it.

[Tom Rinaldo]

8. Sorry I forgot to answer your second question immediatey

I'm replying again in case you didn't see the P.S. from my first reply

[EarthFirst]

5. Sh*t! Am I over dressed for the occasion?

[MuseRider]

6. Niiiice!

It matches the constant links!

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. Where can I find that outfit?!?

Do you mind if I wear it too?

[beam me up scottie]

15. Sweeeeeet!

[panader0]

9. It seems the plan is to avoid those silly Republicans

and concentrate on discrediting our allies. WTF?

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. Republicans are adversaries. Allies are Rivals. Big difference n/t

[stevenleser]

12. Still with the Brock bogeyman? The primary is over. You can give up the bogeymen

created for the primaries now.

[Shandris]

13. I'm sorry you're unaware of the movements around you...

...but that doesn't make it a bogeyman.

[stevenleser]

14. Oh I am aware of a lot of things. Brock was a silly bogeyman during the primaries

Continuing to talk about it now is pathetic.