Do you think it would be a good idea to have a con/lib forum on DU?

[Goldmund]

Poll question: Do you think it would be a good idea to have a con/lib forum on DU?

Do you think it would be a good idea to have an isolated forum on which both conservatives and liberals would be able to post?

It would work something like this: new users could apply for regular user status, which would work like it does now -- or "visitor" status, or "freeper-creeper" status or whatever, which would only enable them to post to the new mixed forum. On this new forum, all rules would apply -- no ad hominem attacks, civil discussion, etc -- except that you would not be considered a disruptor for expressing an anti-Dem point of view. The freeper users would maybe have an elephant icon next to their name.

Trolls and disruptors would be banned from existing forums as they are now.

I think this would be a decent idea for several reasons:

1) I know we all, even if secretly, and even if only sometimes, love to debate conservatives.
2) I see at least 10 threads a day that go like: "My Republican sister-in-law says X, help me refute it". Well, wouldn't it be more direct to send the sister-in-law here to apply for "visitor" status?
3) The current free-fall of Bush and his cronies has resulted into the views like those on DU no longer being on the airtight fringe. I actually think there are loads of people out there who are ready to listen to those like us but aren't ready to declare their association with the "fringe left", as we have, if unfairly, been painted. I think it could be useful in an election year.
4) Discussion with them would give us more experience in confronting the right-wingers, or the right-swingers, in our personal lives. It could result in many more "My Republican boss just emailed me to say he's voting for Kerry" type stories.
5) Yes, there are many forums to which both liberals and conservatives post, and we all know why we prefer DU. But I think the dynamic in this case would be different -- they would be our guests, and clearly outnumbered.
6) It would inevitably give more exposure to DU.


etc.

I am sure there are many counter arguments to this, but I thought I'd throw the idea out there before I bring it up to an Admin.

So, would you support adding a forum for conservative vs. liberal discussions to DU -- and a new user designation which would empower the user to only post to this forum, but would give them immunity from being tombstoned for disruption if they are conservative?

Poll result (36 votes)
Yes. Bring'em on.	(11 votes, 31%)	Vote
No. There are enough of them elsewhere.	(25 votes, 69%)	Vote

[Servo300]

1. I think that this has been suggested before & nixed (n/t)

[Goldmund]

2. If so,

I wasn't aware. Sorry

[Warpy]

3. NO!!!!!

I have long since given up being in mixed discussion groups. These pricks have tried to hack my computer, have threatened my ISP with lies about harassment, and done every nasty trick you can think of. They are universally petty, vindictive and mean spirited. To hell with them. Leave them on the Freeper boards where we don't have to look at them.

[Solidarity]

6. No!

I agree with Warpy.

[Goldmund]

12. Well,

who is "they". Those who know me here on DU know that I'm as left as they come. But this kind of "they are universally mean" type of attitude helps no one. No, I wouldn't be crazy about having freeper Nazi types here -- but there are lots of more or less clueless "swing voters" that are begging to be informed.

[mopinko]

20. i agree with warpy

ya know the old joke about banging your head on the wall, cuz it feels so good when you stop? well i like the way my head feels right now, cuz i decided to walk away from a bird board, where i had good friends, but it was full of freepers. they had a separate hot topics board, and things got moved there just because i disagreed with people. i tried hard to be nice. i doubt most of my post would have even been alerted here. but i was constantly getting warned. it was driving me crazy. i had to stop.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. We already have one. DLC vs progressives right here.

[Cursive_Knives512]

5. No way

It's like having a website and forum for science fiction lovers, and making a separate room on it for sci-fi bashers. It makes no sense.

[Goldmund]

14. Bad analogy.

This isn't a website for Democratic Party lovers. It's a website for discussion of current events and political viewpoints from the common perspective of liberalism.

[Cursive_Knives512]

16. ...

So think of a better one.

[Minstrel Boy]

7. Not only no, but

FUCK no.

That's not what this place is for.

Even if it were an "isolated" forum, it would be a dissipating influence.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. I have links to forums

where you can debate with cons on the News and Views page of my website. Check them out if your suggestion of adding a room to DU for that doesn't fly.

[ObaMania]

9. Yes, but...

Only if there were strict civility rules and the cons were only given access to that board!

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MikeG]

11. Don't try to understand 'em. Just rope, tie and brand 'em.

[Canuckistanian]

13. I have no problems with it on 3 conditions

1. Open up ONE (1) forum, exclusively for the lurkers, Freeps and other opposing viewpoints.

2. Make it a free forum, ie, no moderators interceding or "booting".

and

3. Contain them within that forum with important restrictions. No posting on other forums (except under existing rules) and a daily post/size limit.

[Goldmund]

15. I agree

Those are all good suggestions.

[patdem]

18. I suggest one more condition...they have a gold star

if the opposition wants to take up space (which costs money) they MUST contribute first!!!

[Sticky]

17. It would be the mod board from hell.

At this point I don't think any minds will be changed. Besides, Freepers do not have the capacity to debate. They only know cussing and hate.

[LynzM]

19. Sure, but once people start realizing it's here...

They start coming over and signing up under 'false' premises, claiming to be what they're not, and coming into here and disrupting even more. I think it just draws negative attention to us. It would be harder to catch more disruptors. I think if you really want debate, branch out on the sites you visit, and go find it! JMO

[Moderator]

21. Locking

Please discuss Administrative Issues like this directly with the Admins or in the Ask the Admin Forum.