Your help requested, New forum ?

[Bread and Circuses]

HI,

I’m interested in exploring the possibility of creating a New Forum ,


1 ) can I create a new forum ?
2) can I make it restricted to only those who want to join it?


I’d like it to focus on humanitarian and social justice issues to tackle difficult and challenging issues. I don’t have a title yet. It’s a place where people can debate these issues with respect / civility and leave their egos , identities, and attachments at he door.

I have found that DU is a wonderful place, but that some people are now quick to mute others and label them one way or another.
I’d like a true community of respect, intellect and caring.

Thanks.

[elleng]

1. Any examples of

'humanitarian and social justice issues to tackle difficult and challenging issues' you have in mind?

[Bread and Circuses]

4. Yes.

Sometimes, with challenging issues both sides have their pluses and minuses. And it’s hard to get past the finger pointing, when one does legitimate grievances. When that happens , is hard to self examine ourselves, fears, and anger.

I don’t want to give specific examples due to that.

Thanks for your input.

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. If you're thinking about a new forum not bound by the DU TOS and jury system

You’d have to start your own, at Wordpress or something like that.

[Bread and Circuses]

5. I think DU does a good job...

With moderating posts and giving things to a jury, I find it’s helpful.

By limiting the forum to only those who join, then we would agree to stretch ourselves beyond our long held positions .
Thus, we agree to enter a space that may be uncomfortable, but we support one another.


I’m on BlueSky and Substack. So I do find the dialogue on those sites to be more expansive and inquisitive,


Thanks for your input, that’s why I posted. I want to hear opinions .

[usonian]

3. I've seen flaming and IMNSHO, it's against the spirit of DU, even if it sneaks through rules.

General Discussion banned Israel-Palestine discussions, and still do, in the "About" page.

At one point, they were allowed and still are.

Do you feel that rules should be better honored?

From what I see, there are indeed closed forums (for administrative stuff) so it's apparently doable, but as far as keeping it harmonious, I don't know. I never taught kindergarten.

Just Kidding,

I hope.

[Bread and Circuses]

6. Your thoughts are close to mine....

I was not aware that certain topics are now banned. Can you direct me to those rules?

I agree with the DU rules. It’s difficult and I support DU. It’s tough because people have different perspectives.

What I propose is a place for people who want to challenge and question their own positions and help others do the same.

We would do this with kindness and respect. This may be for a small group of people.

There’s a communication strategy called “ Having difficult conversations” It started out as a HR tool to address performance or behavioral issues in the workplace. I think the strategy can be adapted to a forum.

I’m optimistic about humans and our capacity to learn and grow. And I know that I have the skill set to help advance this effort.

Thanks for commenting.

[question everything]

7. Topics are not banned on DU; only are limited to their own groups.

The example given is that the recent war in Gaza is wider than the limited scope that existed before the current war.

I think that you can find what you seek in existing groups. Ever tried to scan the list?

[usonian]

9. I found the terms of service on the home page.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=termsofservice

Other than that, go to the top of each forum to read "About this forum", and it has the particulars. Like banned topics.

The TOS should cover civility (ahem) but it's up to users to alert. I have won all cases except one or two that didn't matter.

When one post was removed, I posted an OP entitled "Post Removed" with a picture of a post remover, like you would use in your garden. It survived the critics.



Post removed. Good luck and happy DU'ing.

[Bread and Circuses]

10. brilliant!

[highplainsdem]

8. So you basically want your own "restricted" general discussion forum? Because it would be

replicating GD, but you're aiming for "a true community of respect, intellect and caring."

Something you apparently visualize as an elite "restricted" forum.

With you setting those restrictions?

You asked if you "can make it restricted to only those who want to join it" - but every forum here consists of people who want to join it. Nobody's forced to post anywhere here.

If you mean, Can I make it private? - that would cause all sorts of problems. Starting with the precedent of letting any DU member use the board to form a private club. Which would have others making similar requests. Which would splinter this community.

Now, as for why I'd guess you're making this request... You posted an OP slamming younger musicians today, and another DUer pointed out the bias:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220596991

You didn't respond there, but this request for your own "restricted" forum looks like a reaction to someone pointing out you had made much too broad a statement in your OP.

There weren't any further replies after that objection was made. Is that what you meant by muting in what you said here?

some people are now quick to mute others and label them one way or another

You weren't being muted. You could have continued the discussion.