FYI: We're going to re-organize some of our forums soon

[Skinner]

As promised, we are going to reorganize some of our forums, probably early next week. Don't worry we're not shutting down any of the DU Groups right now (but we might in the future). Right now we're just in the "moving around and re-naming" phase, which is something we need to do in order to prepare DU for some future upgrades.

Here is what is going to happen:


REORGANIZING

The "Politics & Issues Forums" category folder and the "Non-Political Forums" category folder are going to be consolidated into one category folder called "Topic Forums." The forums inside that folder will be split into two sections: The first section will be the Politics & Issues forums, and the second section will be the Non Political Forums. All of the forums listed under "Topic Forums" will list on one page, but there will be some sort of cosmetic separation between the political and non political -- probably a narrow black bar or something like that.

All of the forums currently listed under "Politics & Issues Forums" will be moved into the new "Topic Forums" folder. All but two of the forums currently listed under "Non-Political Forums" will move up to the "Topics Forums" folder, and will be listed under the second section.

Non-Political Forums moving to "Topic Forums"
Books: Non-Fiction
Books: Fiction
Entertainment & Pop Culture
Marketplace (the three forums will be consolidated into one)
Religion & Theology
Science
Sports

Non-Political Forums moving to "DU Groups"
Writing

Non-Political Forums that are probably going to disappear forever
The Meeting Room


RENAMING & CONSOLIDATING FORUMS

We are going to re-name almost all of the forums in the new "Topics" forum, to make them simpler and shorter. A small number of underutilized forums are going to be consolidated.

NEW NAME                       OLD NAME

POLITICS & ISSUES FORUMS
Activist HQ                    DU Activist Headquarters
Bush/Conservatives             Bush, Conservatives, and Conservatism (Archives)
Choice                         Choice & Reproductive Freedom
Civil Liberties                Free Speech, Press, & Internet *and*
                                 Religious Freedom & Church-State Issues
Congress                       Legislative Forum
Democrats                      Democratic Party
Disability                     Disability Issues & Activism
Drugs                          Drug Policy
Economy                        Economy, Budget, Taxes & Jobs
Education                      Education
Election Reform                2004 Election Results and Discussion
Environment/Energy             Environment & Energy
National Security              Foreign Affairs & Defense *and*
                                 Homeland Security
GLBT                           GLBT Issues
Guns                           Gun Rights & Gun Control
Health                         Health Care
Israel/Palestine               Israeli/Palestinian Affairs
Justice                        Justice, Courts & The Law
Media                          Media
Politics/Campaigns             Campaign 2006 & 2008
Poverty                        Poverty & Economic Development
Race/Equality                  Race & Equality
Rural/Farm                     Rural Issues
Seniors                        Seniors & Aging
September 11                   September 11
Veterans                       Veterans and Military Issues
Women's Rights                 Women's Rights & Issues

NON-POLITICAL FORUMS
Books: Non-Fiction             Books: Non-Fiction
Books: Fiction                 Books: Fiction
Entertainment                  Entertainment & Pop Culture
Marketplace                    Marketplace (Three forums consolidated)
Religion/Theology              Religion & Theology
Science                        Science 
Sports                         Sports

We apologize in advance for any confusion this may cause. Thank you for your understanding.

Skinner, EarlG, Elad
DU Administrators

[Wilms]

1. Good news, to me. 2004ERD was becoming a non-starter.

Just hope these guys won't mind.

http://www.verifiedvoting.org

[meganmonkey]

6. Although last time a name-change was discussed for that forum

the world almost ended, IIRC :P

I hope this is taken in stride :)

[Wilms]

9. I remember.

[OnTheOtherHand]

10. LOL! (I don't do many of those) n/t

[EFerrari]

41. I was new then. My, we got worked up.

:)

[gkhouston]

12. true dat

but I think enough time has gone by that a name change might be less... cataclysmic? :-)

[Jersey Devil]

2. A suggestion

I hope you don't mind. I am a big baseball fan and notice that practically no one posts about baseball in the Baseball Group, posting instead in the Sports Group. While I really would like a forum just about baseball it doesn't seem to be working out. Maybe it should be rolled into the Sports Group.

[MissMarple]

3. OK

[tabasco]

4. You guys run a great site.

I'm sure any changes will be good ones. Thanks for the great work!

:hi:

[intheflow]

5. I think everything looks great, except

(there's always an exception... :eyes: )

I'm just wondering about the Choice & Repro Freedom being renamed Privacy/Choice. Does that mean that PATRIOT Act/FBI Porn Squad/Federal Monitoring of the Internet discussions will take place alongside Repro Rights in that forum? I don't really have a problem with that, it just seems kind of like mixing apples with oranges given how specific the other forums are.

[marions ghost]

19. I'll second that--excellent point

"Privacy" issues are far more than reproductive choice. Both categories are too big to mix and yeah too many apples and oranges.

How about Reproductive Rights or Medical/Reproductive Rights.

[Skinner]

22. The forum is not intended to include patriot act.

But the intent of the name change was to include all issues related to choice -- such as access to contraception.

But I see the problem you've identified. Maybe we should just call it "Choice."

Not sure about where PATRIOT act should go. Maybe we should change the name of the First Amendment forum to "Civil Liberties".

[Skinner]

24. I made these changes.

I think it makes more sense this way.

[intheflow]

26. How about Reproductive Rights?

I never liked the phrase "choice" anyway--frames the whole thing in a market lingo, imo. Rich women will always have access to abortions and birth control, the rub is about limiting what's available to poor women. But the ability to control one's own body, to make private choices about birth control... those are reproductive rights.

/Rant.

Choice seems more fitting than than Privacy/Choice, so :thumbsup:.

I also like the idea of a Civil Liberties forum. If browsing the list, I'd visit Civil Liberties, but not First Amendment.

[Skinner]

29. Reproductive Rights might work

We're trying to get these short, and at this point I don't think we have any that are longer than 18 characters. I kinda want to hold the line somewhere.

[arwalden]

7. The "Meeting Room" Is Going Away?? -- Nooooooo!

How will we be able to learn and share the latest information about chemtrails, bigfoot, crop circles, ufo's, alien abductions, the face on mars, telekinesis, mind reading, tarot, remote vision, loch ness, Sasquatch, yeti, feng shui, hexagonal water, and healing magnets?

[marions ghost]

17. start a

Paranormal Phenomena Group (under interests)

[BiggJawn]

35. Oh, you're MEAN!

:evilgrin:
I was thinking the same thing!

"The water Remembers"

[derby378]

8. I'd rename the "Guns" forum "Second Amendment"

After all, the forum for church & state issues and free speech debates is called the "First Amendment" forum.

But that's just me.

[Skinner]

20. We considered that.

But we felt that using the term "second amendment" suggested that we were taking one side of that debate over the other. Simply calling it "Guns" is more neutral, IMO.

As for the "first amendment" forum, it was the only short name we could come up with that covered all the issues we wanted to include: Freedom of speech, press, internet, assembly, religion.

ON EDIT: Now "First Amendment" is called "Civil Liberties". So that should solve that problem.

[derby378]

25. Duly noted (n/t)

[Skinner]

11. Kick (nt)

[pacalo]

13. LBN & GDT will remain, right?

[Skinner]

15. Yes.

These changes will not affect anny of the big forums.

[Blue Shark]

14. 2004 Election Results and Discussion...

...lets make this one "Election Theft"...call a spade a spade.

[mestup]

16. Aren't Women's rights and GLBT rights also Civil rights?

I'm new here, and I don't want to ask a stupid question (although at 100-ish posts it's probably too late).

Browsing through the new categories, I notice that the old forum titled "Race and Equality" will be renamed "Civil Rights." I just assumed Civil Rights would include Women's rights and GLBT rights.

Under the old Politics and Issues the forums were thus:
GLBT Issues
Women's Rights and Issues
Race & Equality

I honestly feel stupid here. By saying "civil rights" are we to interpret this as specifically relating to the Civil Rights Act? Is that how most people interpret "civil rights" when they hear it?

Honestly curious. I'm getting too old to understand all the labeling and terminology I see everywhere nowadays.

I would have assumed the category "Civil Rights" would have sub-cats of Race, Women, GLBT. Especially since these three groups have to fight so hard for their "civil" rights.

(Also, I think using the term "issues" after any of these titles, rather than "rights," minimizes the focus of each group. Issues are what they talk about on Oprah. Rights are what we march for in the streets. Just sayin.)

DU is a great place! Thanks for these forums.

[Skinner]

18. Not a stupid question at all.

In fact, I think you make a good point. It is true that Gay rights and women's rights are also civil rights.

Perhaps we should just stick with "Race/Equality" to avoid any confusion.

ON EDIT: I just made this change.

[madinmaryland]

21. Will that affect they way we have our "My Forums" set up?

[Skinner]

23. The names will change.

But overall, your My Forums" list should not change much.

[KG]

27. is it okay to whine, wring my hands and gnash my teeth over this?

:)

[Skinner]

30. Of course.

We are expecting much whining, hand-wringing, and gnashing of teeth.

[loudsue]

38. LOL! Skinner .....

:loveya: I'm sitting here chuckling... :yourock:


:kick:

[marions ghost]

28. A thought about Election Group---

I tend to think (re Wilms post #1) that the name Verified Voting is just TOO close to the well-known voting reform group. It also implies (to me) an emphasis on electronic voting issues. If that's what you want, OK--but I think something like 'Election Reform' is more neutral on that, and encompasses ALL the ways in which elections are manipulated (registration issues, access, fake shut downs, etc). The issues are much bigger than just Verified Voting.

Anyway--whatever. :thumbsup: the reorganization of groups and names is a good idea for better navigation. :thumbsup:

[Skinner]

31. I really like "Election Reform"

:thumbsup:

I think we might actually use that instead.

ON EDIT: We changed it.

[OnTheOtherHand]

37. excellent, even better --

broader _and_ earlier in the alphabet (and no risk of stepping on good organizations' toes). And positive, and more familiar. (I hesitated to suggest it because... oh, never mind, let's not jinx anything.)

[paineinthearse]

32. What will happen to GENERAL and GENERAL DISCUSSION POLITICS?

I don't see them listed.

[Skinner]

34. They aren't changing at all. (nt)

[Jamastiene]

33. Looks simplified, like it will be easier to find stuff. I like it. n/t

[KoKo]

36. A "quibble" here with your re-naming " Drug Policy Forum " to "Drugs."

Naming a Forum "Drugs" could lead to all kinds of misinterpretations.

Since, Hubby and Me are "Pharmaceutical Consultants" just doing a Forum titled "DRUGS" could be misleading.

Given that the Bushies have Corrupted the FDA and the Pharmaceutical Companies are in Bush/Lobbyists Pockets and we have all this CRAP being sent out by Bushies that we ALL WILL DIE from "Avian Flu" it seems that re-naming a Forum just "Drugs" is misleading.

It might invite those who advocate all kinds of drug usage to be lumped in with those of us who are fighting the Big Pharma for "Truth in Advertising."

The difference between a broad title "Drugs" and "Pharmaceuticals" might seem semantic..but for a Discussion Forum it's HUGE.

I'm requesting that Administrators SPLIT Forum into "Pharmaceutical Policy" and "Drugs" Forum. So that "Drugs Forum" might deal with marijuana use for clinical purposes or the use of Hemp for industrial uses...as opposed to discussions about how "BIG PHARMA" is trying to use Americans as Guinea Pigs for testing under Bush's Privatization Schemes.

Please...can you split these Forums? The difference between "Pharma Discussions" and "Mind Bending Drug Use" for whatever purpose is enormous." I know I sound picky about this but ...it's really kind of IMPORTANT for OUR FUTURE!

On EDIT: I think I'm avocated your keeping "Drug Policy" as a Forum Head over just "Drugs." Just a "one word difference" but it means so much. :shrug: You wouldn't have to "split" Forum for my suggestion..but keeping the broader Forum terminology might allow a broader range of posts in that Forum.

[JohnLocke]

46. I second that (nt).

[Skinner]

39. kick (nt)

[Skinner]

40. kick (nt)

[EFerrari]

42. Underwear will be worn on the outside. So we can check.

:kick:

[alcibiades_mystery]

43. CRINGE: I know you have to determine recognizable categories

And that there are technical issues as well, but as somebody who spends his life examining the political (in the broadest sense) import of cultural production, I absolutely cringe at the idea of "books," "entertainment," and "marketplace" being labelled "NON-POLITICAL." I know. I know. I'm "nitpicking," and this board is about "politics" (narrowly conceived), but to think that "books" and "entertainment" aren't precisely the political form itself just hurts my bone marrow.

Couldn't it be "Issues Forums" and "Culture Forums" or something that does less to erase the political work of our cultural production?

[greyl]

44. Congress, Legislative, C-span "on-The-Floor"...

I'm trying to think of a way to highlight discussions of the actual proceedings of our goverment as opposed to the MSM filtered version.
We DUers typically complain about complacent, incompetent or even sinister forces at work in the MSM, yet we are usually talking about what the MSM says is today's news.

The threads about House proceedings being shown on C-Span are, to me, by far more important than those about what (D) or (R) said to a talking head on a mass media show that exists solely to create revenue for the station owners.

The stuff we could witness on C-Span shouldn't be as underground as it is, imo.

(maybe at least a link to live proceedings on C-Span can accompany the links to AAR at the top of the page, if forum juggling can't address the issue?)

[JohnLocke]

47. Fantastic idea (nt).

[JohnLocke]

45. About GD and GDP

Is it possible to consider merging General Discussion and General Discussion--Politics? Essentially they contain the same material (GD and GDP both discuss politics), and having two forums duplicates a lot of work.

[Skinner]

48. I agree.

In fact, I proposed this last spring. But for some reason, a large number of people wanted to keep GDP open. Go figure.

[FogerRox]

49. I got here late--

I thought Verified Voting was a little weak. Election Reform is good, & covers more turf..

]Devils Advocate<[br />
How about VIP----Voting Issues Project? Its a bit more to the side of being generalized.

Just 2cents

[fortyfeetunder]

50. I'm all for it

Continuous improvement is a benchmark for any good site. DU is among one of the best sites. Kudos to you, the DU staff and the admins!
:loveya:

[sadiesworld]

51. How about a pornography group?

Apparently, the 1st Amendment group isn't being utilized in this regard. I certainly understand why recent decisions re. the 1st should be on the "big boards", but why the day-to-day divisiveness?

Thanks.

[Skinner]

52. I think that the Civil Liberties forum would be a good place

to discuss the Administration's war on pornography.

[Amaryllis]

53. Will this change admin picks at all? I'd like to put in a plug to make

election reform once again an admin pick...if we don't clean up our elections, nothing else matters. THey've got congress, they will shortly have the Supreme Ct BECAUSE they have congress...if we don't have control of our elections, we have nothing.

[ihaveaquestion]

54. How about a forum specific to the Afghanistan-Iraq Conflicts?

When posting something about Afghanistan and Iraq, I don't always know where the post should go. GD; GD/Politics; National Security; Veterans?

[TechBear_Seattle]

55. Church and State issues should remain a separate forum

I believe church & state issues are more fundamental than just civil rights. Given the current regime, it is the freedom that is most directly being attacked.

[Skinner]

56. This wasn't so much an issue of the church-state issues forum.

It is clear that church-state issues are extremely important. But we are trying to simplify and broaden the topic areas so as to provide space for almost any topic that might come up.

The Free Speech, Press, Internet forum was not getting enough traffic, so we felt it should be consolidated with something else. The church-state forum seemed the obvious match, since both forums deal with first amendment/civil liberties issues. Also, there was no obvious forum for PATRIOT Act/Privacy rights type stuff.

With all this in mind, it made sense to us to consolidate forums relating to civil liberties into one place.

[Zenlitened]

57. Sounds like the Church-State Separation forum paid a price...

... for the failures of the other areas.

Be interesting to see how the "personality" of the Civil Liberties forum develops.

Maybe church-state issues are best discussed in GD anyway.