Is "Ask the Administrators" used anymore? There have been no responses for about 2 months.

[RKP5637]

Just wondering.

[DetlefK]

1. I asked them why my post was hidden. Months ago. Never got an answer.

[Hekate]

5. Were you even around for the hack? In any case, you can go back and look up their statements...

...made after they got DU back online. They consulted with legal authorities, and I believe they have a lawyer. I always assume they are following the suggestions of those entities and keeping their mouths shut in public. It is not our "right" to demand to know the details in a legal case.

[Weekend Warrior]

7. I didn't demand or claim a "right" to anything.

I don't get the whole putting words in other peoples mouth thing.

[Hekate]

3. Even the Admins deserve a summer vacation with the wife and kids?

[pintobean]

9. You seem angry.

Do you think they owe you something?

[beaglelover]

10. I'm not angry. Just speaking the truth KID.

[NurseJackie]

12. It hasn't gone unnoticed. Others have observed the same, and concur with your analysis.

Can a neglected site survive and stick to its original mission? When a site is leaderless, does the original mission morph and creep over time to reflect the ideas and standards held by a simple majority? Could an administrative loss of interest indicate that the site may cease operations? Or could it lead to the site being sold?

It probably sounds like wild and "idle speculation" from me... but these are things that I've heard others discussing (elsewhere online and in private messages, texts, etc.) It would be a shame if that happened. There's be an adjustment period, but I'd survive.

[cwydro]

22. I-ve been disappointed because I like to read the questions and responses.

Many times it's something that answers a question that I had.

I think I've only submitted a question once or twice; each time it was answered.

I thought it was kind of weird they've stopped answering, but perhaps there's just a bunch of meta stuff - I think they generally ignore that (with good reason).

[Warren DeMontague]

27. "This restaurant is terrible! ... and, the portions are SO SMALL!"

[pintobean]

42. Wasn't me

[33taw]

54. Agree that everyone needs a vacation.

With that said - there should be a back-up to individuals on vacation who can respond within a few days or a week. All sites should be providing users with information related to requests for their data - even if it is a simple "we have been asked to provide information and are working with legal staff to determine what is appropriate".

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. Why don't you go ask them?

[Ms. Toad]

6. That's a tad pointless,

since they haven't responded since June 26.

[RKP5637]

14. How? LOL! They don't answer!

[Major Nikon]

43. Post a request to get tombstoned right fucking now

If you can still post in 24 hours, it's safe to assume they aren't being read.

[Caliman73]

44. do people still use that phrase?

I used to love seeing the little tombstones. Pizza anyone?

[Iggo]

11. Sounds like a job for The Preacher.

[NurseJackie]

13. LOL! We've been watching that show...

... the last episode was bizarre, and amusing!

[RKP5637]

20. Oh no, you did it, I'm going to have to watch it! n/t

[MineralMan]

15. Well, people are certainly posting there.

The site seems to be running fairly well these days. Members are still voting in juries, so the community moderation also appears to be working. The MIRT is busy nuking trolls. Discussion is ongoing, as well.

There doesn't seem to be much the Admins need to do at the moment, so I suppose they're working on something else.

[RKP5637]

16. Yep, I think it's going much better than in the past! n/t

[MineralMan]

17. Yeah, I think so, too.

After the election, some people didn't return, for one reason or another. Things seemed to calm down a lot once DU was back online after the hack.

There's still a lively discussion happening, but some of the extremes have flattened out a little, so it's less toxic these days.

The goal of the whole community moderation thing was to make the site more or less user-operated, I think. I can't blame the admins for not wanting to work around the clock keeping the site within some sort of sane boundaries.

DI, on the other hand, has become a wild thing, from all I can tell. I have a screen name over there, but there are only a couple of long-ago posts under that name. I bailed very early from that site. That one's not working as well, it seems to me.

[RKP5637]

18. Yep, I really don't blame them for making DU more or less user-operated. It seemed to me they were

working 7x24 at times. It also seemed Skinner had to intercede a lot from time to time. I think the new jury process has taken a lot of the toxic environment away. I did post a couple of system related things and they got fixed. So, someone must be looking at it, but not getting into dialogues. I'm OK with it all, just my perpetual curiosity about things. I don't go over to DI much. Just looked around a few times, but never got an account. I'm just more comfortable with the constructive sanity of DU.

[Hekate]

57. +1

[Sunlei]

19. They've posted recently, monitors have been changed, site works fine.

perhaps questions on "Ask" aren't high on the 'to do' list.

You can't read them anyway, only if answered. That forum doesn't even show to the not logged in.

I did leave them a song today

[RKP5637]

21. Sing a Song!

[Sunlei]

23. Here's the song I left on "ask"

[RKP5637]

25. Perfect !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[Justice]

24. I agree. I've asked 2 questions in that time frame and no response.

Actually don't think things are working great.

There are more duplicate threads than ever. 2-3-4 sometimes on LBN and then again on GD. Maddening. Create lots of "junk"

Lots of silly posts and click bait posts in GD. There is too much actual stuff going on so these just muck up works.

DU would be more powerful if there were a Russia forum, so info could be posted there, build based of knowledge and discussion.

Have health care debate, Russia investigation and 2 or 3 other things in GD rather than separate places, so items disappear from page 1 rapidly which is part of reason get multiple duplicates - people don't see it on page 1 so post, but there is already a recent post on point which slip to page 2.

Mods do their best but lots of clean up needed.

[Stinky The Clown]

41. What mods? Do we have mods again?

[Warren DeMontague]

26. I suspect that, year after year of dealing with the same bullshit, they may have checked out.

Oh, I'm sure a crucial question pertaining to site management would get addressed, but 50,000 different iterations of message board personality drama crap and "my team HATES those other people and those types on that other team, why haven't you banned them all yet?" or "how dare you keep my friends on ffr"

....is gonna get ignored.

[RKP5637]

28. Yep, I would think so too! n/t

[TooStrong]

30. True, but they seem to ignore everything.

I've asked many questions over the years (none like your examples) and I've never received a response.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. Over the years?

You just signed up last month.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

47. Ooops

[RKP5637]

52. That one was definitely a LOL!

[steve2470]

32. I agree, and he seems to respond to the easiest questions

The ones like, "is this broken ?" He probably ignores all the complaints that will just piss off the user with a honest answer. Running this place, for the most part, is a pretty thankless task with lots of kicks in the ass, both warranted and unwarranted.

[Warren DeMontague]

35. Having been here for, what, 13 years now myself...

I can say that the fundamental bullshit that plagues this board never changes at all.

I would imagine after years of trying different tactics to mitigate it- remember meta? - they likely have thrown up their hands and say "fuck it".

Some people are simply NEVER going to be happy with this place or the way it is run. But one wonders why they stick around, then.

[steve2470]

36. oh meta devolved into a complete shitstorm

13 years for me too in October. To me this is the best place for politics on the net, overall. Unless you're a Nazi.

[Warren DeMontague]

38. I remember. Oh, do I remember.

Funniest part of that whole deal, though, was the people who complained the MOST about meta were the ones who didn't know what to do with themselves once it was gone.

[steve2470]

39. I have a renewed appreciation for this place....

I go to another forum, which will remain nameless. Not a political one. At any rate, the rules (to me) are extremely strict, and I've already gotten my knuckles rapped a few times. It's also got a more conservative demographic than this one. I enjoy being a bit profane here and posting some semi-questionable stuff and no one really blinks an eye. Can't do that everywhere I enjoy you too, Warren. One of the more broad-perspective chaps here.

[Warren DeMontague]

40. Back atcha Steve

I like this place. There are some truly funny, thoughtful and clever people and it can't be beat for staying up-to-the minute on what is happening in our crazy political universe, especially now.

And despite the baloney and shit-stirring, honestly I'd much rather deal with the drama farmers and game players here than have to wade through the mindless arguments of right-wing Trumpkins.

[TooStrong]

29. I've emailed every email address I could find over a hidden post and never got a response.

They might as well take them down, IMO.

[Texasgal]

56. Why are you e-mailing the admins

to answer your question when one was provided when you had your post hidden?

[Stonepounder]

31. Personally, I have received an answer every time I have asked about a post being locked.

Or when I have made a comment about a post being locked. I don't think I have posted to 'Ask the Admin' but I have emailed a host and almost invariably get a response back within 1-2 hours.

Not sure if this is the same think you were asking about, just a note on my own experiences.

[RKP5637]

37. Thanks! n/t

[WinkyDink]

33. Oh, they're around. Just try posting something against the TOU.

[trof]

45. The admins are all dead.

Their heirs just collect the advertising revenues.
Thread monitors are bots.

[RKP5637]

46. ...

[Skinner]

48. Oops busted.

Thanks for the reminder. I guess it's been a while. I'll try to swing through later today.

[blogslut]

49. Aww!

[RKP5637]

50. I was getting a little concerned about you, it had been awhile!

Thanks for getting back to me! DU is such a great place!

[FreepFryer]

51. +1. Little bit of a Russian sockpuppet problem, jury systems can't adddress, but otherwise all good!

[left-of-center2012]

53. This has happened before

I once asked why there had been no responses in Ask the Administrators for a couple months.
Then a whole bunch of posts got responses ... and then, nothing.

You should not be attacked for asking.

After all, this is the "DEMOCRATICunderground".

Maybe Ask the Administrators needs a larger staff?

[RKP5637]

55. Skinner got back to me, see #48.

[fescuerescue]

58. Pretty sure they are too busy fighting Trump and Pence

to waste time on answering trivia questions. Remember - they are right in the thick of it in DC.

Besides, I think that the DU speaks for itself, as any piece of art does.

[question everything]

59. Skinner is back at the ATA

Now waiting for EarlG to post his commentaries on the deplorables.

[RKP5637]

60. Yep! n/t