With the transition to DK4 and the absence of administrative moderation of comments, I/P discourse on this site has devolved into a fetid shithole. Now some Kossacks might disagree, and suggest that I/P discourse here has always been a rank cess-pit of personal invective and thinly disguised bigotry, but I think it's fair to say that whatever norms once reined-in the most egregious comments and commenters no longer apply and that the tenor of I/P has become significantly more hostile. In light of Markos' pronouncements on moderation during and since the transition--that the community rather than the site administrators should bear the responsibility for tempering commentary--this state of affairs is unlikely to change.
This is not an appeal for Meteor Blades or any other site-administrator to take up anew the role of moderator. I much prefer that MB spend his time writing substantive and informative Front Page stories and diaries without distraction. Theoretically, we're all adults here and we ought to be able to monitor our own commentary without some form of administrative deus ex machina.
So, here's what I propose:
1. use the comments here to list the criticisms and/or arguments which you perceive as 'out-of-bounds' or otherwise problematic (bigoted, inappropriate, offensive, mean-spirited and/or counter-productive) in I/P discourse and, most importantly, explain why.
2. if you disagree with an issue raised by another Kossack, note your disagreement and defend your perspective (as distinct from, say, just typing 'bullshit,' 'wrong' or 'fuck off'); if something is unclear, then ask for clarification without presuming ill-intent.
3. be cautious with the use of 'we' instead of 'I,' and if you are going to use 'we' then explain for whom you are speaking.
4. likewise, be cautious with your use of 'you' (singular) versus 'you' (plural), and if you are going to address a comment to a plurality of Kossacks be specific.
5. use this space for today and the whole weekend. Hotlist, republish and or forward as necessary to get I/P participants here to hash this shit out before things get any worse.
Here's what I mean by 'immoderate':
1. DO NOT RECOMMEND COMMENTS in the following threads, just let the comments stand on their own as representative of an individual Kossack's thought, perspective or opinion.
2. likewise, DO NOT HR COMMENTS in the following threads, just let the comments stand on their own.
3. BRING THE NOISE: let's use this space to air the problematic issues and work through them as best we can for productive and perhaps more 'moderate' discussion in future diaries.
Seriously, bring it all: the good, the bad and the ugly. Here's an opportunity to 'speak your mind,' 'call it like you see it' and otherwise voice concerns about the state of I/P discourse without derailing commentary in other diaries.