Does PD need a host?

[OswegoAtheist]

Hello, my name is Matthew, and I'd like to nominate myself as the Propaganda Debunking Group Host.

First, we have to ask the question, "does this group need a host?" I believe the answer is, "it'd probably be a good idea." I think that the most important duty of the host will be enforcing the Statement of Purpose of the group, which states, "Discredit and or refute right-wing propaganda disseminated via e-mail, newspaper, 527 organizations, and broadcast media." To me, this means that, while we can remain flexible in our definitions on what constitutes "propaganda", we also have to clearly delineate between Americans For Prosperity mailers (obviously propaganda), and posts that begin, "Uncle Jakob said this and this about President Obama during Shabbat last week; is it true?" (clearly not propaganda). Also, I believe that a group host will have to make a distinction between propaganda and rumours, and decide whether the latter has a place in this group. For example, does a facebook status message count? What if it's being passed around or becoming popular? Does it count if it's not put into print? All of these are topics a Group Host will have to take into consideration.

Second, I'd like to present my qualifications. I've been debunking urban legends, political releases, and outright lies for well over a decade as a member of the Snopes community. I have a great deal of experience in research, I have access to numerous resources through my university's library and archives, and my Google-fu is honed and precise. I also like to think I have a great BS detector, and a firm grasp on logic and reality (which is why I'm a flaming liberal ).

I hope that this post engenders a good conversation about the purpose and boundaries of this group, and that you will consider me as the first Group Host for Propaganda Debunking. If elected, I promise to be fair but strict, flexible yet firm, and some other good adjectives that are opposites.

In all seriousness though, and putting aside the speech-making, I think that PD needs a Group Host primarily to help define what our boundaries should be, and to keep this group from devolving into an endless parade of "my hairdresser tweeted something bad about VP Biden" posts.

Oswego "And don't forget: I'm also awesome" Atheist

[Bolo Boffin]

1. I'd support you, and I'd volunteer to be a host here as well.

I've done forum moderation on a couple of webboards, Smirking Chimp and Stripcreator. I've been debunking 9/11 conspiracy theories for nine years now, although there hasn't been a lot of new developments on that front. I'm very keen on stopping lies about Barack Obama and the Democrats.

I'm not sure we could get away from the endless parade, however. People hear something awful from whatever source and they're going to want answers. But what I think you're getting at is teaching people to find their own answers rather than just handing them one. That kind of thing would be a good sticky topic - Resources for Debunking or Before You Post thread that gives resources and a plea to do a search. Maybe videos of the last few American for Prosperity trash-talking exercises along with debunking as well.

Bolo "Descriptive Thread Titles Are Our Friends" Boffin

[dmr]

2. I'll support you both.

[Historic NY]

3. You get my vote....

going to be a busy season. Some days that all I do is debunk.

[SheilaT]

4. I hope this forum is more

active here than it has been at DU2.

There's so much crap out there, and I've been a fan of Snopes for years, so I hope we get lots of posts here.

[OswegoAtheist]

5. If nothing else...

...I'll be cross-posting snopes stuff here, and vice-versa. To be honest, I didn't even know PD existed until the beta testing of DU3

ETA: Plus we have an election cycle coming up, and based on the last one, the crap will be flying for a good while.

Oswego "Out-sourcing" Atheist

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Yes, there should be a host.

I am glad that I found this for the first time since I played around on DU3 in the spring. Your "speech" moved me, and I am willing to nominate you as host. Of course, I don't know how this should work. All I know is that I want to have a group where I can find the truth vs the bullshit, and how to argue against the insane things thrown around. Thanks for stepping up to the plate.