Did DU just do that?...

[politicaholic]

They took down an extremely important article about the US stopping an environmental report so that they could auction off protected land and replaced it with Heath Ledger's death. Sure, it's a tragedy, but this isn't Perez Hilton.com.

Isn't that the problem with media today? Real issues get squashed by Brittany Spears news.

This is disturbing.

[maddezmom]

what do you mean took down?

[politicaholic]

9. I mean, it was the top story on the page until Heath Ledger took some pills...

He was a good actor, don't get me wrong, but come on. The environmental article was only the top article for a while, less than an hour. Yeesh!

[maddezmom]

sorry, I thought you meant removed the thread or something

[NMDemDist2]

1. I think you just lost it, it's out there I'm sure n/t

[tekisui]

2. How does the top story get decided.

I know the ones directly under it are recommended to their positions. And the Late Breaking naturally sink with new news.

How does the top headline get there?

[Earth_First]

3. Is this the article in question?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x130666

[politicaholic]

6. Yes, that's the one.

[LeftinOH]

4. It sure looks that way, but the temptation to pre-empt relevant news with

celebrity stuff is irresistible, even here. Hopefully, we'll be back on an even keel (very) soon. That said, HL's passing is tragic.

[Duer 157099]

5. Heath Ledger =/= Brittany Spears

Totally different species.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. How so?

[SteppingRazor]

14. How about this?

Heath Ledger was one of the good ones.
On edit: He's in the yellow T-shirt there. This march was in Mar. 2003, back when being antiwar was the sort of thing that got you branded a traitor by morons in high places.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. Huh.

So participating in a protest really makes all the difference?

Really?

[SteppingRazor]

18. I'm not saying that. I am saying Ledger was one of us.

And while almost any death is a tragedy, I think it's perfectly legitimate for us to stop and remember somebody who was on our side of the fight.

And even more so, it certainly marks him out from Britney Spears who, if you'll recall, encouraged blind obedience to Bush in the run-up to the war.

[Bluebear]

7. A very popular young actor's suddent death = "Brittany Spears news"

That is disturbing.

[politicaholic]

15. Yes...and environmental attrocities will stay on the back page because of it.

You're not going to convince me to feel guilty over Heath Ledger's pill popping, leaving a 2 year old fatherless.

[Bluebear]

20. It's *news* Mr. High & Mighty.

[semillama]

8. DU did it in the sense that's how the forums work

the stories with the most recent replies get popped to the top of the list. That's what kicking and recommending is for.

[rAVES]

10. FWIW I gave it a rec

[swag]

12. Britney Spears is going to be so bummed that you misspelled her name.

[EarlG]

13. The top story is determined automatically

by member recommendations. We can override the top story if there is something important that needs to go up - for example, when the winners of the last few primaries have been announced, we moved those stories into the top slot.

But the rest of the time it's automatic, based on recs.

[politicaholic]

17. Cool, thanks Earl.

I knew there was some rational explanation.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

19. With All Due Respect, If Ya Did, Do You Think Maybe You Should've Given Them The Benefit Of The

doubt first instead of starting a thread implying it was done intentionally?

[Lex]

21. Point fingers first.

That's always most fun and exciting I guess.