Reply #448: When open dialog is considered 'kooky', I think there is a problem.

[shance]

Being someone who is an explorer and researcher by nature, when I first saw this thread, I was disappointed and disheartened to think that open, thought provoking discussions might be threatening enough to individuals at the NYT and Fox, that they would want to attack it so ridiculously.

With regards to the 'kooky' threads, I personally found them very interesting, not to mention, well referenced by those offering information with regards to the potential of mother nature being affected by man made technological "advances". It seems to me the tragedy would be in halting discussions that others qualify as 'kooky'. I guess its kind of like the overused and vague term terrorism. It means different things to different people.

With that said, I can also empathize with the Adminstrators here at DU and Skinner, and perhaps that such a issue like regulation is not an easy one either way. Democratic Underground has grown to become an amazing internet think tank and refuge for those of us wanting to hang out with some kindred folk and chat about things of interest to us. If this were my forum and I had received such interesting responses from Fox and NYT, it would certainly get my attention, and I would want to protect and maintain the reputation and quality of the forum and what has been built over the years.

Perhaps that's the paradox.

What has made DU the incredible, ground breaking place that it has become, has been at times the most provocative threads. I remember when the information just began simmering about electronic voting and the controversy surrounding it. I also remember being called a conspiracy theorist a few times**

I believe if it had not been for the forums here Democratic Underground, and the great work done by some great, dedicated individuals, along with the freedom to ask questions and search for solutions and answers to vital issues, without a shadow of a doubt the awareness and the exposure surrounding the legitimacy of our vote would not be ANYWHERE as far today if it wasn't for Democratic Underground.

Skinner and all the rest of you DUers, you have built an amazingly successful, effective, powerful Democratic community for which you can be immensely proud. In fact, the issue today is proof in the pudding of how successful Democratic Underground is.

Thats the difficult part perhaps, I guess is when others, even MSM seemingly become threatened by such success. I believe in order for something to continue to grow and thrive, it needs to continue to support, nurture and protect the same qualities that made it successful in the first place.

This is yet another growing pain perhaps. It will come and go just like the other growing stages have.

I would wager what brings people to Democratic Underground, is like the Forrest Gump quote, you just never know what yer gonna get***. That is what makes this place so successful and so sought out. Its a diamond in the rough. And I don't think its any surprise that there will be sources in the MSM that want to tarnish the diamond and are threatened, if you'll forgive the corneyness, by the beauty of what happens here.

I will say the reaction by those Faux and the NYT speaks volumes, certainly much more than our "kooky" threads ever could. It speaks volumes because such "kooky" discussions triggered quite a reaction.

I guess my question to those at the NYT and Fox would be, if the threads are that kooky, why are you so worried about them?

Why are they so defensive?

If it's all so kooky, then why in the world are they so worried about just a bunch of "kooks" sitting around talking?

That would be my question. Also, I do believe a very important point has been raised by a few regarding free speech. It is being stifled wherever those who don't like free speech can stop it from occuring. When that goes, Houston we have ourselves a real problem. And it starts with little things, well, perhaps like this with the NYT and Fox crowing and trying to diminish what I believe is so good here.

I understand the position Skinner, atleast Im certainly trying to.

Another thing that I think alot of us see, is what a compliment in many regards it is to see the attention from MSM regarding DU's "kooky" threads.

I hope that it will be taken as just being that, a compliment and that will only inspire some much deserved pride here at the Underground*** What I hope even more is that this situation will not be allowed to dictate what is being discussed here at DU. I believe that may in fact jepeordize the quality of the forums and seems to me that the MSM once again will be victorious over creativity, spontaneity, and innovation.