How about a new forum on DU called The Sparring Ring

[BurtWorm]

where freepers and DUers could duke it out? Freepers--or anyone at all--would be able to post there without registering. This might reduce the number of trolls in the other forums while increasing the number of hits DU gets. (And when I say "hits" I mean hits.) If DUers are feeling in need of a little ultraviolence, they could check into the Ring and beat the virtual crap out of a freeper or two.

What do you think? Is it doable? Would you go there?

[AnnabelLee]

1. They might invade en masse

:scared:

[BurtWorm]

3. Yeah, but they would be stuck over in the Sparring Ring

multiplying the number of visits DU gets and hopefully keeping their sticky little fingers out of other forums.

[umcwb]

2. For an admin response to this idea,

See this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=120&topic_id=368&mesg_id=368&page=

Basically, they say that this website was set up for liberals and other progressives. There are plenty of other sites if one is looking to take on conservatives. Besides, it would be next to impossible to enforce the DU rules in such a forum.

[BurtWorm]

4. I hear you--and I understand the counterarguments

I wouldn't want freepers running amok in the Lounge or GD, certainly. But this would be a minimally moderated forum, where only things like copyright rules would be enforced. The benefit would be that DUers would not have to go to freeperville to engage in a little sparring; they'd have to come here. But they would be ghettoized in a forum you'd have to choose to go to.

[cherryperry]

5. no, thank you,

there are enough differences between us DU people; we don't need to give freepers another chance to invade our space and, for that reason, I just wouldn't go there.

[BurtWorm]

6. Understandable.

And welcome to the paradise that is DU, by the way.

:toast:

[leftist_rebel1569]

7. Hmm...

well, if we could make it a neutral area, maybe co-sponsored by DU and Free Republic, it might work. Just...not here. We have too many differences in DU, we shouldn't bring more differences here.

[BurtWorm]

8. It might remind us of our commonalities

and who our real "enemies" are.

Just playing devil's advocate.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. NO! One little corner of the internet free of their stench isn't too

much to ask.
It's what makes us different.

[BurtWorm]

10. The "beauty" is, though, you wouldn't have to go there

but it would be there if you were feeling the urge for some sport. The headlines wouldn't appear on the "latest" page. It would almost be like a junk folder. They'd have to discover it. Or you could suggest to someone who was throwing around a freeper argument in DG, "Please take that argument to the Sparring Room. This is for progressive discussion only."

By the way, that would make us different.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. It will only infect the other forums worse than they already are

I already pay for their point of view every time I pay my cable bill. I wouldn't pay for it here. I donate to keep America (or at least DU) beautiful. Just my sentiments. Besides, there's already "hate mail."

[jonnyblitz]

12. there is enough sparring going on between DUers. we dont need freeps

IMHO.