I just re-enabled my participation the DU jury system

[teach1st]

You all don't know me. I rarely join in on discussions. But I do read this site. A lot!

I've been opted out of DU jury duty for a few years. But after seeing some of the disappointing jury decisions lately, particularly those involving posts that are insensitive (to say the least) to women, I'm back in.

Don't mess with the DU women. They rock!

[freshwest]

1. Thanks!

[Xipe Totec]

2. I'm still a little sore and on the fence. nt

[randys1]

3. Good for you...

I have never had any illusion that having a D after your name meant you were a fully enlightened person, many are not

racism and misogyny is quite common around here

to some degree this is expected, all white Americans by virtue of their benefiting from racism are themselves racist, myself included (and I consider myself the least racist white person I know or surely one of them)

all men in America benefit from the 2nd class status Women have suffered and to some degree still do, also

we need to grow up is all

[BootinUp]

4. We need good jurors! Thanks for participating! nt

[Capt. Obvious]

5. Thanks for the heads up

black list updated.

[femmocrat]

6. Welcome aboard!

I have been doing about two juries per day. I wonder if we are in need of jurors?

[Squinch]

7. Good to hear!

[gwheezie]

8. Thanks, I like the idea of the jury

I'm pretty new here but don't mind being on a jury, I've had to opt out of any concerning gun issues as I cannot look past my own distaste for gun advocates. I tried and I just can't be objective about it.
I do think the more people who are willing to be on a jury the better.

[Shankapotomus]

9. I've been opted out for a long while too

I think I'll follow your example and re-enable, as well. Here's to better jury decisions.

[etherealtruth]

13. Thank you

the more folk we ("we" being all of DU) have participating honestly in the jury system ... I am convinced the better DU will be. We can shape DU and make it a more respectful (less hateful) place!

[seabeyond]

10. ahhhh. i am in love. i needed to hear. nt

[LiberalLoner]

11. Thank you! Same to you!

[etherealtruth]

12. For this I am grateful

The more voices speaking, the better things will be.

When I serve on a jury I try very hard to do the right thing ... I TRY to set aside biases, I try not to be influenced by personalities (admitting we are all biased to some degree by our life experience and perceptions) ... I dear we have folk here that do NOT try.

I am grateful that you have decided to let your voice be heard and help shape DU!!!!!

[Curmudgeoness]

14. Glad you made this decision.

I am often shocked by jury decisions, and I wonder who these people are who are on the jury. Good to have you opt back in. We need you.

[New Orleans Strong]

15. In the year of our lord 2014...

...we are having discussions about insensitivity toward women. On Freaking DU. I despair. And Birth Control. In the supreme Court. IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2014? I despair- And two gametes that are not attached (pregnant!) are a person, but 8 year old children who will be murdered in their own countries are not. I despair. And the 40 people who were sent back to those hell holes minus the $7,000 they paid - you BEEN to the countries, Dude? I have.?- to coyotes, oh, boy howdy! I despair.

teach1st - DO IT. And thank you -

[sheshe2]

16. Thank you, teach1st.

[niyad]

17. thank you.

[EEO]

18. I opted out after seeing gross inconsistencies between jury decisions.

The system seems to be as reliable in its equity as the Supreme Court.

[KittyWampus]

19. one of the reasons I don't allow myself to get sucked into the feminist flamewars is so I can jury.

[cui bono]

32. If you've posted in a thread do you not get picked for jury duty? n/t

[PatrynXX]

20. well there is still free speech

and the lack of an appeal system is the main reason I didn't like it. but I read alot I and respond. I just don't often respond to responses (ADD)

[47of74]

21. I still wish DU had a court of appeals

I still think there should be a mechanism for alerters to appeal a jury decision if they really disagree with it, as well as one for the person who authored the post being alerted on. Maybe build in a once per 30 day limit to appeals or some such. As an alerter I've seen obvious violations of policy get 0-6 or 0-7 votes to leave them, often with snide commentary from some jurors.

[EEO]

23. I'd be interested to see what that system would look like.

Based on decisions I have seen there is a good argument for another level of assessment based on the following three areas:

The Post: Does it truly violate the rules of the community?

The Standing of the Alerter's Complaint:Is the complainant an active participant in the thread with the flagged post and do they gain from its censorship? Is there motive and gain? Is censorship or "winning the argument" the main goal?

The Validity of the Jury's Decision: Again, based on the rules of the community, this would assess how members of the jury conducted themselves. Do their comments communicate bias or a violation of the rules of the community themselves? Is there evidence they want to censor an opinion the disagree with?

Finding fault on any of these areas can be enough to find in favor of the author of the post being alerted on. A written explanation should be mandatory on all of these areas.

[teach1st]

22. Thanks for all of the positive replies, everybody!

I have had the opportunity to be on a jury already, and the post in question was a women's issue. I voted with the majority, 6-1, and the majority affirmed that misogyny ain't gonna fly here.

[lonestarnot]

24. Welp good!

[sufrommich]

25. You should join in more often!

[hrmjustin]

26. Good for you my friend!

[JEFF9K]

27. To the contrary ...

... DU juries have hidden threads and comments that are STUPIDLY MISCONSTRUED as offensive to women.

Only people with a good grasp of the English language, word usage, and modern American culture should be allowed to serve.

[F4lconF16]

28. It amazes me

how many people seek to tell others what they may and may not find offensive. Maybe the best thing you can do, rather than implying that women are stupid for finding something offensive, is to listen and try to understand why. Posts like this calling (well, implying, but same thing) women stupid and illiterate with a little bit of xenophobia tossed in do not help.

[JEFF9K]

30. I am confident that my comment is correct, and have examples to prove it. ...

And I didn't say that women are stupid.

[geek tragedy]

31. So, a 'literacy test' to ensure that people agree with you?

Hmmm, there seems to be historical precedent for that.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1255&pid=29826

JEFF9K This message was hidden by Jury decision. Hide

11. No offense, but your post might explain only why rape-obsessed women are pissed off.

It appears some men don't appreciate women talking back to them.

[BainsBane]

29. Watch out. You'l be accused of jury stacking

by making yourself available for service.

Seriously. Good for you! We need more good people on juries.