I am not here referring to the prima facie differences in functionality implemented in the shift to DK4. I have other things in mind.
Rather, I'm going to try to expand on a very narrow concept slinkerwink describes in this diary, and speak to the larger syndrome.
I am more concerned with what appear to be changes in site policy, rather than superficial things such as this ugly-ass, stupid, squiggly eyesore that looks like it came off a thrift-store sofa, below which I will continue.
Here are a couple-few changes I've noted:
Meteor Blades is no longer moderating the community. as I understand it, NO admin is.
In my view, this duty should not have been eliminated, but divided between perhaps one or two other admins.
The threshold to hide comments has been elevated from three HRs to SEVEN; again, as I understand it. Please correct any factual assertion I make here that you know to be in error.
Note: And someone has done just that, en correo de naranja:
Now it takes 3 HRs to hide a comment and 7 HRs to override an uprate. Otherwise, sadly, your diary is correct.
The exchange continues:
One more thing. Previously the threshold to hide a comment was two comments, and three hides were required to annihilate an uprate. So, effectively, the moderation here suffered a double blow: it went from two-tiered (TUs, MB) to single-tier, and even that got weakened. I no longer write diaries or comment.
Not going to say who that was, but I will say I consider that a loss to the community.
Here are a few results I've noted:
1) Advocating abandonment of the Democratic Party on Daily Kos is now open for debate? We now ARGUE whether it is acceptable here to assert people should switch their votes and money to the Greens?
I remember a time when that was hiderated, no questions asked. I have not seen any revision to FAQ that makes such a statement anything other than a direct insult to it.
2) There was a recent dustup over the existence of groups here advocating the legalization of incest and "virtual" child pornography.
In my view, the existence of those groups here is potentially injurious to the reputation of the site. those groups should be deleted, and their creator banned forthwith.
I find it difficult to believe that this is tolerated in a community that decries cuts to, say, SCHIP and public education, and in every other respect, stands in defense of children, but will tolerate activity of this sort on this site.
slinkerwink, on another issue:
This is when you know TU moderation has failed when due to hatred of other kossacks, people are all too willing to put their sense of morality aside, and uprate such comments that normally would have been hide-rated.
(or vice-versa)
but it works on that one too.
3) I have seen an uptick in trollish behavior from users with TU, they get the skin HRed off them and don't seem to lose it. What's the point of "Trusted" user status if we do not place an onus on users to behave in a fashion worthy of trust?
Others who read this diary may well have examples of their own. I hope they do, and hope they will offer them. But one commonality jumps out at me among the three examples I offer: thhey compromise the identity of the site.
Without effective moderation by site administrators, we risk allowing Daily Kos to become something other than what it was created to be.
Just as if a disc jockey at a country station is allowed to play Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, it isn't a country station any more.
Here, I advocate for a return to due diligence, and effective moderation, by the administration of this site. I advocate for the return to a 2-HR threshold to hide comments, and an increase in the number of HRs available daily, as a temporary and remedial measure, from five to seven.
Because if Daily Kos continues along this path, I fear it will come to resemble the blog I have been active on since October of 2005 in name only.