Yes, there are those who would not be ‘caught dead’ in a community diary. Some are here for the politics only, or for pure political information or commentary or ideas. Others may regard community diaries as fluff, as distraction from the purpose of Daily Kos and committed Democrats, perhaps as a balm, when they feel that what is needed is fire and great anger, intense passion, and an insensitivity toward the feelings of those who oppose us. Some may feel that courtesy and respect are wasted just about anywhere in the political arena.
I don’t know. It is just speculation on my part. There are many more possible explanations, of course, if not an infinite number, and it is anyone's right to choose what she or he will patronize, on Daily Kos and off.
More below, but first, a word from our sponsor ...
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I do know that very many people who read/comment/diary here stay away from ‘community diaries.’ Perhaps that is puzzling for me because the first thing I did when I joined Daily Kos was to try to find a ‘community’ of sorts. A place where the same people might be found each night, so that I could get to know them a bit, and they could get to know me, and together we could march onward to meet the challenges facing our party.
I began in Top Comments on the ‘ground floor,’ as it were, when Carnacki first began it! Here is what he said in that very first Top Comments diary (named 'Commentary Central,' on that occasion.)
3. This might be the hardest part to implement, but I hope this diary becomes a nightly feature. And I don't want to post it every night. What I hope is that others volunteer to do it.
Hah! I read that, and I was there!
But then Carnacki followed that up with a more evolved idea.
In particular, I'm thinking the best volunteers will be those who aren't people well-known on DailyKos for diaries, but who comment often and read quite a few diaries. In other words, for those of you who have been lurking, but have been wanting to get more involved now that YearlyKos is over, this could be the perfect feature for you. I am a strong believer that DailyKos is only going to survive and thrive if new voices continue to be developed. When I was new to DailyKos and we had two diaries a day, I often used up both of my diary allotments. I was even fortunate enough to have two diaries on the recommended list at the same time a time or two. But now I limit myself (usually, last week being an exception) to two diaries a week. I have had the fortunate of getting a good number of my diaries on the recommended list and "Carnacki" is well enough known here that if I wrote more diaries, I'd probably get more on. DailyKos doesn't need that. We need to encourage and develop fresh voices.
After all, what IS community without fresh voices and energy? Without fresh INVESTMENT? Indeed, navajo’s fine community work has this as one of its primary goals.
So I was looking for a ‘home’ on Daily Kos, a ‘Cheers’-like place, ‘where everybody knows your name.’ I found it, too! And it was right for me! Still is!
But, though Carnacki did what I think was a fine thing in creating Top Comments, for all his talents he was not a group administrator. I took that role, for a short time. (Followed by gloriana, then my great friend, sardonyx, and finally (and for the longest time!), brillig!) Eventually Top Comments diaries evolved to do more than just nominate comments for additional view and appreciation. Some of the finest diaries I have ever read on Daily Kos have been published under the Top Comments banner, and the same is true for Kitchen Table Kibitzing, and Kosability and New Diarists and Connect! Unite! Act!, and so many more! (Note: You can click on those links and 'follow' those groups, too! And any groups you like! It really helps when people do that!)
Please stay open to the work of community diaries, and to the power that community fosters, the support, the networking. It can help you, and it can help ALL of us. Thanks for reading!
On to tonight's comments!
From JaxDem:
In this morning's Abbreviated Pundit Round-Up (http://www.dailykos.com/....), Greg Dworkin included articles relating to how many HIV/AIDS researchers actually died in the downed Malaysia flight. In addition, Greg added several tweets and information from his own effort to find confirmation of an accurate count. Decrying the terrible loss of lives, singe wrote this fine comment.
From raptavio:
Here is a fantastic suggestion from tmservo433 for all Kossacks who might have gone to NN 2015 but who will join kos' announced boycott -- to spend that time, money and energy doing something valuable for our communities at home.
From gooderservice:
This comment from Glen The Plumber offers some positive suggestions for dealing with a potential hot weather NN venue.
From BeninSC:
I was pleased to find a TC-worthy comment in SCDem4's fine diary on South Carolina Democrats. SCDem4 posted the comment, in fact, a most informational one with the Twitter handles of all the candidates recommended! There is HOPE in South Carolina!
Top Mojo from yesterday, 7/18/14, courtesy of
mik!
1) A huge loss for World Health by fcvaguy — 112
2) The recent essays by a few pundits by Gentle Giant — 111
3) Speaking of NN14... by Dallasdoc — 103
4) To be fair-- by Thinking Fella — 100
5) It's a tragedy within a tragedy. It's devastating. by Eileen B — 100
6) This is the reason I won't contribute to the DNC, by TigerMom — 98
7) Democrats Fighting for Ownership Instead of by Gooserock — 95
8) Just waiting for... by bobswern — 95
9) We'll never win if we're too afraid to lose by Dallasdoc — 86
10) Debbie Wasserman-Schultz! Grrr! by Demi Moaned — 85
11) The US isn't achieving energy by dallasdunlap — 81
12) Head of DNC doesn't care about GOTV? by Dallasdoc — 80
13) If anyone thinks we haven't reached Peak Oil by Methinks They Lie — 80
14) If so, then I say draft Howard Dean for another by My Philosophy — 78
15) I Was About to Add This Comment Myself. by Gooserock — 75
16) No, in her world, she won. by expatjourno — 73
17) OMG! by ChemBob — 71
18) Its SOP to diminish movements on the left. by The Dead Man — 68
19) Pillaging of our society and our environment! by bobswern — 68
20) wingers are resurrecting Reagan on this by entlord — 67
21) Chuckie and Debbie drew straws... by Egalitare — 67
22) Damages by Demi Moaned — 66
23) Until we bring primary challenges, who cares? by Noodles — 65
24) Nicely done; by Santa Susanna Kid — 65
25) EU pressure on Russia may finally appear by Dallasdoc — 64
26) I never thought about how awesome oil drilling by xxdr zombiexx — 63
27) I voted for this fucking "progressive" twice by imsodizzy — 62
28) No doc you got it wrong..... by delver rootnose — 62
29) Not centrist, right wing by Mindful Nature — 62
30) One difference: no Scalias, Thomases, Alitos at by We Shall Overcome — 60
31) Judging from Mohyeldin's few remarks, I think... by bobswern — 60
32) Unsurprising. by Victor Ward — 60
And here is the Top Picture Quilt, courtesy of
jotter!