Is DU really Democratic? At 60,000, should we elect representatives?

[Bonobo]

A bit of a ramble:

I was thinking today that sometimes the cacophony of opinions at DU really frustrates me.
Should we be able to vote for "representatives" whose collective "weight"(mandate) is represented in some way on-screen in a way that shows its relative popularity -for example, a lone wolf Lieberman-like position would not command the font-size that a representatives opinion would because. Or here's another: people who choose to weigh in on issues judiciously, not mouthing off and running up 16,000 posts in 6 months, should be listened to more carefully because they speak less often about issues. I know that runs counter to the logic of the post count bean-counters, but nevertheless...

Anyway, as societies evolve, they do form institutions to solve the chaos that one sees here. So I submit this issue for discussion. I think at the least this might provoke some discussion. No flames please because I really don't mean to criticize DU. I have been here since Shock and fucking Awe and I appreciate this place very much. Still, there are some loudmouths here who post so often, and thus so "loudly" that they simply leave more "impressions" on-screen and thus wield more influence. Yes, we are all free to do the same, but to do so would result ultimately in screaming in a room full of screamers. On the other hand, if the screamer was someone who had been vested with a mandate by receiving votes similar to the way that we vote for certain posts...

[NMDemDist2]

1. we are very democratic

we can all scream as loud as we care too. the folks with good sense and street creds get their props

the cream rises to the top so to speak, most folks know who the loudmouths are and move on by......

[catmother]

2. well said. n/t

[eleny]

4. short, sweet and to the point!

:thumbsup:

[Bonobo]

11. I don't think that's democracy either.

Admittedly I may have started off on the wrong foot with my post and it may in fact stink, but I think there are some issues at least that should be considered.
For one, that shouting loud and often and the unequal exposure that comes as a result is not in any way democratic or fair.

[NMDemDist2]

15. i (respectfully) disagree. Democracy at it's finest is many voices

that slowly coalesce into a consensus

yelling doesn't make it so. thoughtful, considered arguments sway people to your side, you compromise your position until an ever larger group supports it

and the folks who don't get on board still get heard loud and clear. it's important that minority opinions get weighed respectfully as well

I don't see a need for your elections. I do know the admins have looked at having some sort of rating on threads but decided against it and went the "greatest" pages instead

it will be even more interesting when they (the admins) get the blog/diary section set up.

I see you've been here a while and so you must know Skinner et al. are always looking for ways to make DU more usable to the members.

I guess I must not understand your suggestion, it's sounds much like "But some animals are more equal than others" to me....

:shrug:

[bowens43]

3. So basically, you're in favor of censoring

those with whom you disagree. Not very democratic.

[Orangepeel]

5. that's pretty much what the greatest page is

the more votes a thread gets, the higher it is on the list.

[troubleinwinter]

6. If someone seems too "loud" to you, use the ignore button.

[JAbuchan08]

7. That's Republicanism

Democracy everybody shouts as loud as they can and whatever is most popular becomes law.
Although I wouldn't be entirely opposed to moderator voting. Perhaps we could vote for a media relations ombudsman to survey the news and react to any anti-DU rhetoric. I do think donors votes should weigh more, but I dont' like the idea of some posts having more "weight" than others, typically its not too difficult to judge posts on their substance.

[TalkingDog]

8. I would like to head up the Southern Red Dirt Love Goddess Contingent n/t

[NMDemDist2]

16. you may have to arm wrestle SouthlandShari for that title

:rofl:

[LWolf]

9. Sounds like a popularity contest to me.

Not that popularity contests don't occur on DU on a minute-by-minute basis, but who is supposed to judge a poster on his or pov, and apply a "ranking?" Who gets to decide what pov is higher ranking than another?

That doesn't sound like democracy to me. I think democracy happens when you make judicious choices. Read, think about what you post, and be smart enough to avoid being sucked into circular bully pulpits. If you can't stand letting some bombastic, blowhard egotist's remarks pass, use the ignore function. Or give your response and move on; let the opponent have the last word. The last word is not always the best.

As a hard-core confirmed lone wolf, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't refer to my pov as a "Lieberman-like position." Perhaps you could stick to calling it "a conservative Lieberman like position," or "a republite- Lieberman like position."

[Neil Lisst]

10. Should DU have reps to speak here? Not NO, but HELL NO!

People come here to talk, not to read. We have reps in government. DU gives each individual a voice that can be heard if it has something to say.

Besides, people do vote. By posting on a thread.

[Bonobo]

13. But wouldn't a DU rep get listened to more because they represent large

numbers of people. For example, if DU had 1 million members and a representative, that peson would be able to command real influence within the Democratic party. Same idea.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

12. Hooboy it would a lotsa fun to see an election at DU.

I nominate myself for the biggest font.

[troubleinwinter]

14. I will run against you.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

17. I will squash like you like a bug

for the sake of freedom and democracy.
To start off my campaign, I would like to congratulate you
for beating that solicitation rap. It wasn't your fault that
you happened to be downtown in a redlight district at
3 in the morning just when the cops decided to do a sweep.
However, I must question your plan to legalize eating kitties
and puppies. And I do hope that you will join me a pledge to
keep this campaign on the high road and not in the gutter like
your many numerous despicable previous unsuccessful campaigns.

[NNadir]

18. I like DU just the way it is.

I really don't want anything to change.

[Avalux]

19. Locking.

You have the power to solve the chaos. At your disposal are the alert and ignore buttons. If you believe a member is being purposefully disruptive, hit alert and allow the moderators to handle it. If there are loudmouths that are annoying you, put them on ignore - turn them off.

And, if you have questions about the rules and/or operations of this message board, please contact the administrators directly instead of posting your questions publicly:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/contact.html

Thanks!

[A-Schwarzenegger]

20. This looked like it could be fun.

But OK.... Wait a minute, I thought this was locked.

[Avalux]

21. Locking.

For the second time. Glitch the first time I suppose. :yoiks: