Post-election DU upgrades and news
This is a long announcement. Please read on for news about DU and social media, discussions about the future of the Democratic Party on DU, and an update to DU's post footer buttons.Hello everyone,
Well, it's been about a month since the election, and like everyone else here, the results hit me pretty hard, personally. I must admit that it's taken me some time to process things. I was not as shocked as I was after the 2016 election -- when we all felt that there was no way America could elect someone like Trump -- but given everything that's happened since he was elected the first time, it's clear that a second Trump presidency is going to be significantly worse than the first one (which was already appalling).
But if DU wasn't created for times like this, then I don't know what it was created for. When we launched the site in 2001, the media landscape was absolutely dominated by right-wing news talk radio, and we wanted to use the then-new technology of the Internet to push back, and provide a space for those on the left to talk free and clear of right-wing interruptions. DU is no longer new technology, but its purpose remains the same.
So with that said, here's some news about where we go from here. The three important things I want to talk about in this post are social media on DU (and DU on social media), the future of the Democratic Party, and some post-election DU software upgrades.
Social media
X/Twitter and Bluesky
Post-election, it has become clear that social media is more important than ever in our political landscape. As such, we are making some changes in this area on DU.
First, we plan to remove X/Twitter embeds from DU. Since liberal Twitter seems to be moving over to Bluesky, we plan to replace X/Twitter embeds and X/Twitter sharing with Bluesky. This does not mean that X/Twitter is banned from DU. It just means that -- if everything goes according to plan -- links to tweets will no longer embed as tweets on DU, they will simply show up as links. Meanwhile Bluesky links will show up as embedded posts.
In addition, we are removing X/Twitter from the Share options on DU OPs. That button will be replaced with a Share to Bluesky button.
Unfortunately, embedding Bluesky posts is not as straightforward as we had hoped, and we're not sure yet if we can get it to work. If we can, we will announce the switch from X/Twitter to Bluesky embeds when it happens. If we can't, we'll decide whether to continue with X/Twitter embeds or not (we are leaning towards removing them).
In the meantime, the Share to Bluesky button will be available when we release our new software patch tomorrow (see below for details).
DU on social media
DU has had Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts for years. However, the only thing I ever used them for was posting my Pic Of The Moment, which I have not produced in a while, and which I'm still figuring out how (or whether) to continue. We have not used our Twitter account since Elon Musk bought Twitter, and I consider that account effectively irrelevant.
DU does have an unused Mastodon account, and I recently created a Bluesky account, which is also as yet unused.
The simple fact is this: I suck at social media. I don't have personal social media accounts. I don't care about social media in the slightest. But I don't think that should stop DU from having active, effective social media accounts. I know that there are lots of people on DU who are essentially experts at social media, who could actually turn our social media accounts into a force for good.
So I'm just going to put this on the table and leave it for further discussion: I'm considering asking for volunteers to help manage DU's social media accounts. If you're the kind of person who likes social media, is good at it, and has an idea for what DU could do with its current social media accounts, I could use your help. If you're interested in exploring this idea further, please reply to let me know.
The future of the Democratic Party
We have entered a new political era. While Donald Trump trashes our societal norms and government institutions, our old leaders are aging out, and a new crop of younger Democrats will soon rise to the top. Donald Trump will be a lame duck as soon as he takes office, and it surely won't be long before talk turns to the subject of who will run for president in 2028.
To be clear, I'm not suggesting that we need a forum to discuss the 2028 Democratic presidential primaries. That is a long, long way off. However, I'm suggesting that we might need a dedicated space to talk about the future of the party, and where we go from here. DU was recently operating under General Election rules, meaning that DUers must support our presidential nominee, and in the age of Trump my observation has been that DUers have been less tolerant of criticism of Democratic politicians -- understandably so.
However, I think that it would not be unhealthy to provide a space for discussion of where the Party should go next. These conversations may not be easy, but I do not think we should be afraid to have them, and I think they can be done in a civil manner. If you have an opinion on whether we should consider a new forum for these discussions, please let me know in reply to this thread. I'll see what the response looks like, and if it's something that seems wanted or needed, I'll open a new thread to discuss it separately.
Post-election DU software upgrades
Tomorrow, we are releasing a new software patch which makes some changes to the footer buttons on posts. (We were hoping to make these changes prior to the election, but ran out of time.) These are not significant changes, but they do streamline the buttons somewhat, and also add some additional functionality which people have been asking for.
Please note that the examples below are shown in DU's default mode, but if you use Night Mode or Skinner Mode, the buttons will also be updated appropriately.
New OP footer buttons -- when looking at someone else's OP
One purpose of this upgrade is to improve the visibility of the Share button. There's obviously a ton of great info on DU, and we think it should get shared more widely on social media. So we've given the Share button a more prominent placement.
But what about the Edit button, and how do you self-delete, or add/remove Journal entries? Well...
New OP footer buttons -- when looking at your own OP
When you are looking at one of your own posts, the new Options button will appear. This is essentially a re-branding of the "Powers" button. (The "Powers" button was a holdover from DU3, because it's what we called that button when it was used by Hosts and MIRT, but we think Options is more intuitive.)
This button will not be available unless you are looking at one of your own posts. When you are looking at one of your own posts and the Options button is available, clicking on it will allow you to edit, self-delete, or add/remove the post as a Journal entry.
(Note for Forum Hosts and MIRT members: The Options button replaces the Powers button, so you will find all your current abilities by clicking the Options button. When you see the Options button on someone else's post, it will appear as a normal grey button. On your own posts, it will be green as in the screenshots above.)
New reply footer buttons
Everything mentioned above about the Options button also applies to replies. (In the examples below, you won't see the Options button, but if you're looking at your own post, you will.) In addition, we have improved the Rec function on replies by separating the rec count from the rec button. This change will allow you to click through and see who has recommended a reply, just as you can do with an OP.
When a reply has not been recommended
When you have recommended a reply
Clicking the Rec button will add a rec (or remove it if you already rec'd and changed your mind). Clicking the rec count will take you to the post in single-post mode, which will display the list of who rec'd it.
We plan to update the buttons on Tuesday afternoon, December 10, 2024, at around 4pm ET. This will hopefully be fairly seamless, with only a brief moment of downtime. I'll make an additional announcement tomorrow right before we do it. Please note that when we launch this patch, as with every change we make to the software, there's a strong chance that it will require some bugfixes and cleanup.
I think that's all for now! Thanks for reading.
EarlG, on behalf of Elad -- the DU Administrators
= new reply since forum marked as read
Today, is a WONDERFUL day! 
I'm having trouble reconciling your statement that
"Bluesky is more giant accounts trying to get follows."
And that your handle came up in search as part of a list for a #FBR train where posters agree to follow back everyone on a list provided by a third party through what are known as Follow Back Parties.
I personally would rather individually vet people before I follow them.
Did you join the list to avoid starter packs? Do you have history with the list maker, Meidas Sassy? Do you recommend them? Do you follow any from the train? Have you found the accounts you follow from the train ok?
I followed a few from a #FBR that came with a picture I reposted. Often those lists come with AI pictures.
Adding pictures is one of the tricks used in social media networks generally to drive engagement. Research in social media strongly supports that increased engagement from users happens when graphics are present regardless of the accuracy of the information provided in them.
Most memes are worthless to me with no source. AI art theft is also somewhat repugnant to me but lots of posters are creating AI graphics to drive engagement.
That picture I liked and reposted is from user Skye. He's one of what I call "working" accounts. Those accounts seem to have limited conversational participation but tend to post #FBR lists and other things they manufacture from the accounts on the site. Like the one you popped up on.
They're everywhere. Many refer to themselves as part of the #BlueCrew. They appear to be trying to start a strong base where they might launch monetization later if blue goes in that direction. Right now, they claim that they aren’t. Time will tell.
I belong to one Team Pete starter pack list. I am also one of a few fortunate to be assisting with beta testing an application associated with the site.
Overall, my experience with blue has been very pleasant. I'll look forward to hearing more about your experience.
Thanks for your reply and for sharing your account there with me, relayerbob.
❤️pants
You're enjoying threads. I don't do anything Zuckerberg. But thanks for the reply! ❤️
Block The Follower is what you don't want
Remove The Follower can be done...
Using this method will remove a follower from your list of Bluesky followers, but they will still be able to see your posts. This method works on any kind of device - Android, iPhone, Computer, etc. To remove a follower, follow these steps:
Login to Bluesky using App or website
●Go to your profile page.
●Click on the "Followers" tab.
●Find the follower that you want to remove.
●Click on the "Remove" button.
This will remove the follower from your list of followers, but they will still be able to see your posts.
Block is what disables their ability to read and interact. If that's what you want then you have to use block. But my understanding is you want the former.
Good luck! 🍀🤞
❤️
2nd…I do believe that a separate forum for the ‘ Direction of the Party’ would a good idea. Keep it away from GD, things could get out of hand there.
Doggone changes
Casting my vote towards a more socially minded, progressive looking, future ready Democratic party. Onwards! Upwards! 🗳️.
Thank you!
and the "Options" for "Powers" is definitely a good change 'cause I know a bunch of folks had no idea where "self-delete" was. 
Look forward to the updates!
I would also like to see something like a "2024 Post Mortem" forum/group similar to the 2016 one, to eventually move the election discussion. That way a more liberal SOP could be deployed to allow more "critique" that might otherwise generate hides as TOS violations... but then with the expectation that this type of critique would be kept THERE versus elsewhere.
That would be nice! 
for all you two Do to Keep it Going for us.
(I won't let my misplaced paranoia be given "print," but will just say I am relieved)...
Some great changes. I like not embedding X, but there are (unfortunately) still some important figures still posting there so I agree that it shouldn't be banned.
Kudos!
PS. I never knew where to post the question, but I'll ask it here. Do you ever hear from Skinner and if so, would he mind your giving us a little update on how he's doing?
I make extensive use of Trashing and Ignoring.
NOT TO USERS: These do not work on the home page.
I also have browser extensions: “TrumpTrump” and “Firewall Trump” For what it’s worth.
And for all of us bummed out this Christmas Season:
Share with your ChrisoFascist friends:
Lots of love for DU friends.
Beer’s on me if you can find me.
Sadly, the Usonian HQ here is socked in with pea soup fog. 
that it can easily be undone. May be like WWE in there. Cursing is one of my favorite pastimes. haha
Thanks for what you and Elad do.
I don't know how many posts I've written and then deleted since the election! I'm really looking forward to the new forum!
I also used it to keep up with what I read. I used it like a bookmark for the thread.
I could take a break or if I needed to do something. I could even just use it to stop and think about what I read and if I wanted to reply, what to say. I also used it to mark places I wanted to return to and reread sometimes.
And of course, I used it for recs. Especially if I was responding to a friend and if I had strong feelings about the post.
I'm glad you replied. I feel like someone understands me. Thank you, nmmi. ❤️
when the feature was first introduced.
I often thought of the beach analogy at low tide -- where when the water leaves -- the naked swimmers are left exposed, and I kinda wondered if some day that would happen with reply recs. I suspect we'll find out tomorrow (or today, depending on the time zone, Tuesday anyway) when the changes are expected to be implemented.
Edited to add - and thanks for bringing up the topic.
... I like the X and BlueSky changes!
... I like the idea about making DU bigger on other social media!
... I like the new forum idea!
I so appreciate all that you do to keep DU current and also user-friendly.
Again, thank you.
I really admire the work you do here, even though I'm such a Luddite I may not understand it all..
You keep it all real, or as real as it can be in these days..I love DU and I love being able to access the comments, the news and to read whatever is written here which is usually inspired. It's a beautiful gift to this community. so
With gratitude, I thank you 
discussions were heading (meaning Monday morning quarterbacking). Some people seem to have had it down pat. 
I for one want to hear from the new leaders of our party and where they want to take our party (after all we have voted for these people to to do that very thing).
IMHO discussing "The future of the Democratic Party" in any forum here will come of no good. Yes, I am an old member and not wet behind the ears when it comes to fighting for Democratic values. After all that's what the future of the Democratic party should be all about.
I don't want this post to be all negative, so I will end with this HOPE.
P.S. I love the "Post-election DU software upgrades"!
Known to not have moderation by definition is lawless. It would likely become a magnet for bad actors.
There are many, many bad actors that do nothing but spread anarchy and disrupt as much as possible. That's all that they do, all the time. It's like they see it as their life's calling. Most are really proud of themselves, too.
Individual groups have rules and hosts, too. So they too are moderated.
There are very few hit squad alerts and those that occur are usually blatantly obvious.
I'd have to look at an example of what you're proposing because at this point, I don't see how it would work.
Thanks for your reply!
❤️
Looking forward to the changes. I will go with the flow!!!
Thank you so much for all that you do!
I agree that DU needs to have a presence on various social media. I think your request for volunteers to help in that area got lost among all the other information in your post. Maybe consider making that part of it a stand alone post of its own? It might get more attention and response that way?
And please DO continue with the Pic of the Moment!!! Both here and on social media. They are gems, they're a highlight of DU, and they're a draw to this site when seen by others.
Thank you, Earl G and Elad, for this website!!!
