3 Questions For Liberaland Readers
1. How often would you like us to change the thread where you can post our own stuff, or should we just keep it forever ongoing?
2. Would you like a Reddit-type site geared to the left, or just a Reddit-type site in general where you can post whatever?
3. Would you like a Drudge-type headline site geared to the left?
Please comment below!
Copyright 2015 Liberaland
Camden Clark July 16th, 2015 at 16:07
1. Make sure people can submit their stories and whatever will work.
2. No and definitely no. That’s what reddit is for and its already a left wing site and has individual left wing communities.
3. This is more up your alley.
What works best for smaller sites like this is to have your own voice. More blog-ish posts with Alan would be better than just reposting news (that’s what huffpo and drudge report are for)
katkelly57 July 16th, 2015 at 16:17
In #1, (you can post our own stuff) did you mean…your own stuff?
Big fat no to #2.
And a no to #3.
Alan July 16th, 2015 at 17:19
number one: meaning this open thread….should it stay as one forever, ongoing thread, or should we change it up regularly?
tracey marie July 16th, 2015 at 17:33
maybe occasionally you can propose a situation or ask a question that leads to discussion.
Chinese Democracy July 17th, 2015 at 12:47
but wouldnt that put this thread on a topic? Dont be afraid, embrace the freedom heh
katkelly57 July 16th, 2015 at 19:36
Variety is the spice of life, go for it.
Budda July 16th, 2015 at 21:06
Keep it as is.
robert July 17th, 2015 at 01:21
keep it ongoing
mea_mark July 17th, 2015 at 11:35
Can you do both? Don’t kill the old thread but let it live on and just start a new one every now and then. Eventually the old ones will just run out of steam. If you start a new one every week or so I bet the old ones will be tapped out in a few weeks, then they can be archived.
burqa July 20th, 2015 at 07:17
YES!
Chinese Democracy July 17th, 2015 at 12:46
my posts are all gems, i cant see deleting them in a house cleaning. But seriously, I say change it up at the beginning of each month.
Larry Schmitt July 20th, 2015 at 08:56
I think if it’s one continuous thread, it gets kinda long, like on MMFA. One of the things I like about this site is the manageable number of comments on each thread. Too many gets out of hand. Maybe create a new one every week or so.
tracey marie July 16th, 2015 at 16:20
I like this site, I like the format. I like you posting from other sites.
craig7120 July 16th, 2015 at 17:53
1. Open thread is fine
2. I don’t know what reddit is
3. I can’t read the headlines until I click read but I don’t mind
4. Is anomaly a moderator? I think giving that kind of power to a girl is trouble
Good stuff Alan, take care
Suzanne McFly July 16th, 2015 at 18:24
You better watch it, Anomaly can kick your ass and she has a lot of back up lol
craig7120 July 16th, 2015 at 18:39
Look, I don’t want any trouble
:-p me giving you the raspberries
burqa July 20th, 2015 at 07:16
Yeah, she gots super powers and can throw lightning bolts and stuff…. There was this one guy who was giving her a hard time and she crossed her arms and twitched her head as if to quickly nod “yes” and a hole opened up underneath the guy and he disappeared and has not been heard from since….
Suzanne McFly July 20th, 2015 at 11:03
I need to get some pointers from her.
burqa July 20th, 2015 at 13:30
You have your own super powers.
All you need to do is stand there and smile, slightly, like the Mona Lisa and all men in a 500 yard radius freeze and are unable to talk. It works on gay men, too!
Fortunately, you and Anomaly only use your powers for good…
Suzanne McFly July 20th, 2015 at 16:22
Ha, I wish lol
burqa July 20th, 2015 at 18:23
Oh yeah, it’s true. Also, whenever I see your posts I get all tingly and silently think, longingly, “Ohhh, if only, if only… ”
I’ve heard where you are the sun shines extra bright for the plants but there’s also a 20% reduction in glare for humans in the immediate vicinity….
Suzanne McFly July 20th, 2015 at 20:48
Awww, you’re making me blush again
burqa July 20th, 2015 at 21:16
We’d be quite a sight then, with my brain locking up and you blushing and me grabbing a lamp post because my knees had turned to Jell-O at the chance to be of whatever service you may desire from your humble servant…..
Mike July 16th, 2015 at 20:32
Open thread, I’ve had some conversations that can run weeks.
Reddit sucks they try and squeeze too much stuff on a single page.
I like stories geared to the left (not skewed to the left)
I would like to see you get FOX to allow you to start interviewing a few progressives instead of the format they have you working now with the RWNJ’s. Serious rightwingers are fine, but lately you’ve gone out of your way to be nice to some pretty vile people.
DogsRgoodpeople July 16th, 2015 at 22:55
I had some organic wine tonight and it was damn good. I hope that answers your questions.
Keep up the good work sir ,you’re doing a great job !
robert July 17th, 2015 at 02:38
some not so friendly trump yard signs
http://www.cafepress.com/+trump-for-president+yard-signs?cmp=knc-m-us&pid=3742398&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=msn&utm_campaign=politics%20small%20items%20-%20us&utm_content=search-b&utm_term=trump%20for%20president-yard%20sign
anothertoothpick July 17th, 2015 at 11:48
Maybe you could do something to attract more right wing nut jobs. If we had more right wing nut jobs we could point out how stupid they are and then we would feel pretty good about ourselves.
I’m serious. It gets boring just agreeing with each other all the time or beating up on John Tartar.
I used to post on Mother Jones, daily, practically until I got banned for life. But Mother Jones sure attracted a lot of good conversation.
Just sayin.
Chinese Democracy July 17th, 2015 at 12:42
posting the same old crap to ignorant trolls … isnt all that interesting to me. You dont sharpen your wits .. you basically ending up just venting h8 on the less fortunate heh
I find plenty of good conversation here.
anothertoothpick July 17th, 2015 at 12:54
So you don’t like a good fight CD?
Let’s say you got ten posters all yelling and agreeing about the same thing what you basically got is one person thinking.
I am not forgetting that this is the internet and nobody is going to change anyones mind about anything.
Chinese Democracy July 17th, 2015 at 13:19
nope… and I havent been banned from any sites for life lol
anothertoothpick July 17th, 2015 at 14:50
L O L! And I don’t use that often.
Chinese Democracy July 17th, 2015 at 14:57
seriously.. I dont mind a good discussion. Im just bored of troll baiting. I know you are but what am I. blah blah blah. This site is open to everyone so if conservatives want to post here they are more than welcome already. I just skip by the Libtard stuff.. But if a conservative actually types something cognizant.. Im willing to debate ideas.
dewired4u July 17th, 2015 at 15:58
I got banned from RAW for telling cat lovers to keep their cats from roaming around free crapping and killing and to get them fixed.
Chinese Democracy July 17th, 2015 at 18:56
They would have banned bob barker too
burqa July 20th, 2015 at 07:12
I have convinced people here to change their views.
It used to happen more often here when there was not so much hysteria and people looking for an excuse to go off, but settled in and discussed topics in depth.
One of my favorite such instance was when we had a discussion on interrogation, a topic I have done extensive research on. There used to be a lawyer, a former prosecutor from New Orleans who posted here whose views were pretty conservative, but he’d work with you. So I began my parade of expert witnesses – the best experts on the topic are professional, career interrogators and I can cite over 60 of them from the military, CIA and FBI, as well as several foreigners who were considered tops in the field.
I posted only a fraction of what I’ve researched before the man changed his mind.
One thing I don’t think many realize is when we drop calling everyone we disagree with racists and use other invective, but instead settled own and politely engage in adult conversation, our positions of the Left shine most brightly.
When we take away the emotionalism and the nastiness, we remove excuses for the discussion to degenerate and get away from the facts that the Right can’t handle. Then all we need to do is keep herding them back to the topic at hand.
Not only does this approach magnify the strength of our arguments, it also provides the sort of atmosphere that makes it more possible to persuade someone to modify their views. We should not expect them to adopt our opinions to the letter, but we can make polite, reasonable arguments in a more convivial atmosphere.
Think about it for a minute. Under what circumstances would you be more amenable to persuasion? When someone is shouting at you, calling you names and refusing to let you out of a box?
It comes down to what we seek to accomplish. This once was a site where there were many extended, substantive, grownup discussions, and it can be that way again. Do we want to come here to throw darts at people?
And what do we want those dart targets to do, dig in their heels and move in the direction of the extremists on the Right? Wouldn’t it be better if they were to move toward us and away from the extremists?
The first way just helps the other side but the way I suggest hurts the other side by removing adherents who can likewise turn others around.
eyelashviper July 17th, 2015 at 15:58
Head over to mediaite.com….rw trolls aplenty and in need of some educational slapdowns…
Alan July 17th, 2015 at 16:50
check out my Twitter feed for rwnjs
Chinese Democracy July 17th, 2015 at 18:59
lol I reply to your re tweets once in a while .. always turns into a hair on fire flame war.
Larry Schmitt July 20th, 2015 at 09:03
Those people are scary. They shouldn’t be allowed to drive.
dewired4u July 17th, 2015 at 16:00
some under the radar news and stuff that is important but under reported.
eyelashviper July 17th, 2015 at 16:01
Never been to Reddit or Drudge, and don’t need them.
As long as the thread is not too big or gets wonky, let it stay.
Thanks again for always asking for feedback…what a novel and appreciated thing to do!!!!
beulahmo July 17th, 2015 at 16:21
I like it the way it is.
StoneyCurtisll July 18th, 2015 at 15:43
Question 3…
I do not want anything “Drudge type”…
Question 2…
Reddit sucks, thats why I never go to Reddit….
Question 1..
I would like to see the ‘open thread’ changed once a week…
Warman1138 July 18th, 2015 at 20:25
I have no opinion, I’m dain bramaged but seriously I enjoy reading the majority of the posts because they lighten my day. And I like poking at politicians and pundits.
robert July 19th, 2015 at 11:11
El chapo escape explained by our Taiwan friends
https://youtu.be/AS58aQj2fN8
burqa July 20th, 2015 at 06:49
Didja see? They had a Starbucks in the tunnel…..
greenfloyd July 20th, 2015 at 08:46
That’s funny, especially the way they show “El Chapo,” or as I like to call him “Shorty Guzman.”
Now I wonder where did the little guy go? I’ve read the Mexican President has just built a spectacular vacation home in some remote location, Guzman was the one who probably paid for it… Times are rough for the old Mexican oligarchy and they’ll take any patron they kind find. Otherwise Democracy could breakout and ruin their 500 year old party. Then, Mexicans might actually want to stay.
burqa July 20th, 2015 at 06:38
As for the 3 questions,
1) I think in some cases you could leave it up for a few days, rather than just one, depending on how many posts go up. This is a question I’d lean toward what is more convenient for you and the admins.
2) I know nothing about Reddit. I’ve been here since ’07 and have always liked your commentary, Alan, and remember the original idea of having a place for liberal thought. I’ve thought a lot about this and how it could be more than just a place where sensationalistic posts were made that keep everyone in a state of outrage. To this liberal, there is a lot of beauty in the world and many lovely people doing wonderful things – moreso thanks to the efforts of liberals in many cases. I would prefer to keep it that way and would object to it being more of a generic site.
I remember when discussions tended to be on a higher plane, thanks to the people posting who collectively did not want a site like all the others with all the vitriol, name-calling, faux outrage and hand-waving. I hope one day we get more people who share that interest because this place used to be an oasis where much more reasoned thoughts were posted and we had real discussions in which we explored issues in greater depth.
3) Drudge? I don’t know. I have only been there a handful of times, the last being a year or so ago when you were similarly polling us. I did not like the layout.
I think this page would benefit if it was in the page format found on many boards. 25 replies per page is what I often see. I’d prefer that type format under the blog posts because it is easier for me to go back and find comments.
With Disqus we get a lot of people wandering in and out who put up a post and run. I’d like for them to register here first so there is a greater chance they’ll return and we can have more communication between people rather than them just plastering posts and moving on. I don’t care for the drive-bys and there are a lot more of them these days.
Back to my thoughts about the site in general. I remember when I first got here and what you were trying to do initially, Alan, and I think you can build on that.
I would like to see a separate section that is more closely moderated that contains liberal essays on a number of topics, not just current events. This thought came to me after your post on Mario Cuomo. Alan, that was an excellent piece of writing and I recall how it moved me when I first read it.
It’s nice covering current events but I think having a section that contains pieces like what you wrote about Cuomo. I recall enjoying it to where I wished you had written several more pages. Given your interest, I am sure it would have been very good.
The section I imagine would have links and texts of speeches by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., for example, or Ted Kennedy’s speech to the Democratic Party convention in 1980. Given your personality and position, it would be nice if you could get some of your guests to contribute something. I’d like to see an essay by John Lewis next year on MLK’s birthday, for example. I’m thinking maybe start with a number of classic texts and then add one every month and feature it.
What I would like to see this other section of Liberaland be is a place where students could go to get information and the best writing by liberal thinkers of our time and times past. See what I mean? Give the place some more substance.
I would also include in this section a place where there are links to your past shows or your favorite interviews. One I really liked was with, oh, I’m drawing a blank – I want to say it was Cousin Brucie – no, that’s not him. It was about radio from back in the day – Barry Farber! That was one of the best shows ever. On Christmas Eve every year at the top of the menu would be the Worst Christmas Song Ever, too (“He’s knocking at the door of his own house!”).
Alan, I’ve complained at times (and have one coming) but want to commend you for always looking to improve things here. Sometimes it has not worked quite as well as planned, but overall it has been good and the effort deserves praise. I appreciate that you’ve listened to us.
Oh, and one day I hope we get the Chat Room going again – it was a stone gas and if there’s a next time you gotta get Epiphany back assuming her queenly duties. Have Emily* serve as vice-queen.
Now, the ads. Thanks for the efforts to date. I’m not seeing the Newsmax block or the Impeach Obama, sign up here” ads or the shooting game ads that used to appear next to blog posts about some horrific shooting. Lately, though, some of them have tried to look just like the blog posts on the forum menu pages, so having a logo in the corner may help differentiate them.
One horrible development is now I’m getting ads that appear right on top of the text so I have to click them away and dig down to find Liberaland buried below.
*Emily – it’s off topic but the rest of you should be aware of something Alan did for Emily. She is a sweet college girl and when she was in her freshman year and wanted to go into broadcasting, for a class project she contacted a number of celebrities seeking an interview. Alan was the only one who responded and he generously gave her all the time she wanted to interview him and I hope I never forget this kind gesture because it says a lot to me about the kind of guy you are, Alan. You could have been too busy like everyone else but instead you were extra nice to this tender young lady.
robert July 20th, 2015 at 11:00
4 men killed at sea Remains a mystery [ video]
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/20/world/middleeast/murder-at-sea-captured-on-video-but-killers-go-free.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=b-lede-package-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
burqa July 20th, 2015 at 21:19
Logging off, gang.
As usual, respectful nods to the gents and euro-style cheek kisses for the ladies
………………………….a bien tot…
CHOCOL8MILK July 22nd, 2015 at 03:58
1) Keep the ongoing thing going on with a time limit such as burqa suggested. Perhaps for the week?
2) I enjoy this site and the commentators. Why move towards some other site where there are usually perverts and assholes? Yes…Reddit is more exposure. However, if you want a flood of trolls, go to Reddit. Be sure to get more mods.
3) I like the current content. Not a fan of pure linking sties. Regarding LL, I enjoy the Good News section, as well as the political stuff. More science articles would be nice; like the environment/space/medical break throughs, etc.
mrk1839 July 22nd, 2015 at 18:33
you attract enough right wingers as it is – it would be great if they came here, or listened to you, in order to learn something and open their minds. keep this as is
Warman1138 July 23rd, 2015 at 19:57
One- It would be interesting to post and see others post’s. Two- Reddit is bad. Three- Drudge sucks.
Alan July 24th, 2015 at 15:33
in terms of Drudge, I’m not referring to the content, but rather the style. Obviously it would not be a conservative site.
Warman1138 July 24th, 2015 at 16:22
If it could be done with tact and a seeking of the truth without grandstanding that would be interesting. It would be nice to see people thinking for themselves done in a positive way. I was going to add polite, courtesy but political matters tend to inflame. It’s always important to keep some form of fire extinguisher handy, rhetorically if not figuratively of course.