Welcome! We need to pick a host, pls join the discussion here:

[dixiegrrrrl]

Pls read this announcement from Skinner about how and even IF a group picks a host, and come back to share your thoughts.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1013434

I was the host of this group during the preview process, and would not object to being one of the hosts here, I am on the puter a lot, so have time.

Welcome to clean shiny DU3!

(pls. wipe your feet on the mat)

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. I nominate you, or second your nomination, or whatever post# I am.

LOL

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. We need a few more voices to make a choice, then have to let Skinner know

the decision, and he pushes a button.
Perhaps best left to morning to see who else joins, but so far you and I are in line first, so to speak.
Each group can have up to 20 hosts, tho some groups will not need as many.
I value the economy group, esp since so much is happening so fast now with the global crash.

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. No doubt.

I am the (now former) Wall St economist that chatted with you on DU2-Econ on a number of topics. It will be so much easier when we have our avatars back!

I didn't mean to nominate myself with that post if that is what I did, but am happy to help if you all like - just let me know.

Glad this move is over and we don't have to worry about losing threads/links anymore. I have some stuff to add tomorrow...

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. I spent most of the evening copying my email data to save it.

and tomorrow will be making pdf files of stuff from some forums over at DU2 before they disappear.

[Dover]

11. I nominate you the hostess with the mostest

I tend to be here for short concentrated periods of time when I get the chance, but mostly don't hangout at DU like I once did.
No time these days. But when I'm here I always find this forum fascinating and your posts are particularly good. So thank
you for offering to be overseer and get this new DU3 program off the ground.

I haven't really been following the changes here. Will our 'old' bookmarks and inbox correspondence disappear if we don't
save them?

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Skinner has said DU2 will be open for "a little while"

and somethings will be archived.
Which things he did not say.
I do know that my inbox messages are over there, did not transition.
And there are no instructions on how to get to DU2 once DU3 becomes a direct link.
Right now we can get to DU3 by linking from DU2.

So, I, being of the "better safe than sorry" persuasion, have taken advantage of the built in pdf file maker in my puter and started copying what I wanted saved.

And...good news!!!! Our power blinked off as I was writing this, puter died, but when I booted up, this message was still here, waiting to be finished!

and ty for vote of confidence.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Midnight here, I am tuckered out from all the excitement.

See y'all in the am.

( where are the darn emoticons??)

[dkf]

3. Second...

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Kind of you.

But remember there are slots for more than one.

[Warpy]

7. Not me, I tend to be too rude to gold bugs and libertarians,

but thanks for the thought.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Hey..glad you made it!

The only host duty is to decide if the post fits the topic of the group.

We got LOTS to talk about, this coming week is gonna be interesting!

[westerebus]

10. It's much to clean and tidy.

Do they really think i can do this w/o spell check? And i fourth your hosty-ness.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. Good morning!

Your browser has a built in spell checker, does it not? Underline word, B click.....
FireFox browser automatically underlines in red any misspelled words.

ty for vote of confidence.

[NMDemDist2]

14. I love this group

And you'll. make a fine host I think

Thanks for volunteering!

[Ghost Dog]

15. Hi, pleased to see you all!

I'll have to explore here more but it looks like this 'group' would be what I was looking for, where to keep tabs on the real pulse of things...

Hang on, though, as for the group-hosting thing:

I'm not sure this group would be covering a controversial topic, being economy-related, nor would it be one where only one viewpoint is welcome, and the group would be open to open debate (within the DU purview) on the topic, would it not?

So, on reading the explanation page at http://www.democraticunderground.com/1013434 , I'm not so sure the group would need to have such a Host or Hierarchical Host arrangement in the first place? The Jury system would be operative anyway.

Also, an actual group of "regulars" would need to form and coalesce, probably, before the right decision could be taken.

Hi again, be back when there's time.

[dixiegrrrrl]

17. Reviewing Skinner's guide:

"If your group is dedicated to a non-controversial topic,
then there is probably no harm in assigning someone as a Host.
You are unlikely to need someone to lock threads or block people out of the group,
but it might be useful to have someone who can take ownership of the group."

One of the "ownership" roles of a host is to pin topics if needed.
I doubt that this forum would require blocking anyone, it has not been my experience in the past that has been needed.

As I said in my earlier post, regular members of this forum can decide "if and when" a host is needed.

Oh, let me add...nice of you to drop by.
I hope you will explore this group to decide on joining.
You might want to browse the Economy group posts over at DU2 to get a feel of how it worked there.

[westerebus]

20. I don't forsee any big problems, just some annoying minor trolling and a smidge of propaganda.

They should not be any big deal. Ruby the liberal looks to be a contender as co host, has my endorsement FWIW.

Is it too early to set up the secret hand shake and decoder ring? Just in case.

[Ruby the Liberal]

19. Just from poking around during testing

and not meaning to point anyone with a stick, some of these groups have distinct personalities and challenges that others don't.

Controversial to me would be a group that has extremes and would need to take those into consideration - ex, Gun Control, Religion/Theology, Israel/Palestine, 911 (Creative Theories).

Protected (only one viewpoint) are safe haven forums so members who want to gather with like minded members only have a place to congregate away from controversy - ex. Barack Obama, LGBT

Open Debate would be the more generic forums where people of all stripes of interpretation are welcome and the group as a whole enjoys reading open discussions

That said, the TOS of the message board is the oversight and TOS violations trump any group dynamics.

I agree that in the Open Debate areas, hosting is not nearly an issue, but there are things a host can do that the Jury cannot like ban disrupters from their group, open close and pin threads, etc..., so from a maintenance perspective, is a good idea - noting that the only person who can delete a post is the person who posted it (not juries and not hosts).

Lastly, each group can have 20 hosts. Skinner will only appoint one host per group - after that it is up to the group and its hosts to add other hosts to the list. In order to kick that off, one has to be appointed then it is up to the group what to do from there.

[Autumn Colors]

16. I support your nomination as host, dixiegrrrrl

[libodem]

18. me too

[dixiegrrrrl]

21. glad you made it!

Was the crossing smooth?

and ty for vote of confidence.