Anyone see the thread

[Occulus]

just now, started by one "LarryTheTiger"? It was in GD.

I think this is the first time I've seen the mods remove an entire thread due to disruptor activity. Which leads me to a question.

This guy claimed we are soooo pro-censorship for tombing him. He says we're freedom-haters because we won't let him speak. Aside from the rules, which this guy obviously ignored, well...

...doesn't removing threads and disruptor names make him right, in a way? I mean, we point to the way Rush has a full two-minute delay on his show so he can screen out 'disruptors'- us- and we gnash our teeth at the 1A Zones. How does removing names and threads make us any different?

I know, I know. "Democratic Underground is a forum for the discussion of specifically Democratic names, policies, and platforms, and is a place for Progressives of all stripes to do the same." BUT-

I, for one, really, really, really wish the mods could come up with a way to leave the disruptors' comments for all to see, and maybe just lock the 'reply' link on their posts. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm surrounded by Bushites at work (although, to be fair, that number is dwindling daily), and actually seeing the disruption attacks would clue me in to how to refute the talking points.

I'm serious, people. We get quoted in the media, and often enough, it's not favorable. If we could hold up the extremist Republican comments, however, we could very effectively say to others, "See? SEE? THIS is what Republicans on the far right really want. THIS is who they are after they take off their greasepaint and fake moustaches. While actions may be louder than words, their words point toward illegal actions. THIS is who they are."

I'd really like to see something like this: either a way to keep the disruptor comments on the thread, but make it impossible to respond to them whilst in the thread, or create a "Freeper Archive" full of disruptor posts (both as an example to them and an inspiration to us), or something similar.

Hey, I'm serious here. It's vital that we ALL learn how to respond to them, shut them up, and make them think. I believe something such as what I've mentioned above could do that quite effectively. What say YOU, fellow evilDUers?

[Kamika]

1. I don't see why we should allow them here

This is a Democratic msgboard, for democrats. Not a debate board between Republicans and Democrats.

There are plenty of those msg boards around. And I know I'd leave du if it became similar. Debating with a republican is pretty much like just hitting a brick wall with your fist and I'm sure they feel the same

[Braden]

2. leaving threads like that

would turn this into the Yahoo message boards. Its pure trash. If Larry the Tiger truly had something to offer he would have been welcomed, then beaten senseless. Calling us anti-american communists is not really the kind of debate that keeps most of us coming here.

[Kamika]

4. He actually wrote that?

Anti-american communists? heh

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. I don't care what anyone says

Frosted Flakes suck!

Oh wait, that's Tony the Tiger.

:D

[La_Serpiente]

5. We have the hate-mail section for that

[Larry Gude]

7. And then...

...change the name of the site, and then get Chris Mathews to mod and then add a Rush Limbaugh 'thought of the day' dedicated thread and then...

[eyesroll]

6. "Censorship," in and of itself, is a neutral word

Think about it.
Someone comes into your place of business and scrawls "Democrates Suck" (an homage to a disruptor here with lousy spelling). If you paint over it, you are indeed censoring that person's expression. And you have every right to do it.

Think of this as Skinner, Elad and EarlG's place of business.

I understand what you're looking for. DU keeps a Hate Mailbag for that purpose. (It's linked from the front page.)

[bearfan454]

8. He can go to freeperville to post his shit.

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Locking

Please refer all questions to the Ask the Administrators forum.

Have a Great Day,
MrsGrumpy
DU Moderator