Power going to my head in 3 ... 2 ...
Seriously, not much is going to change. I would like to suggest importing the SOP from the DU2 Science Forum -- it is a bit more emphatic about what constitutes acceptable "science-related discussion" and what is not. Not that there is any need to split hairs, or impose rigid guidelines -- I just see it as more detailed, and I would hope, clearer. I think the admins may have deliberately cut the length of the SOPs in the belief that smaller is better. I do find the original SOP not just more emphatic in discouraging pseudoscience, but also more welcoming to non-specialists.
This forum is for the discussion of science. Please feel free to post any news about science from scientific journals (Nature, Science, Cell, etc.) or from the mainstream media (The New York Times, AP, BBC, Wired, etc.). Also, feel free to post your own questions, comments, or other topics about science.
This forum is open to a everyone with an interest in science. Whether you're a tenured professor with a PhD in physics, or an interested lay person who occasionally watches science documentaries on the Discovery Channel, you are welcome here.
Threads about topics that are not science are not welcome here. Please do not post threads about pseudoscience (astrology, homeopathy, crop circles, bigfoot, alien abductions, and the like), which is not science. Don't even post threads bashing pseudoscience, because most people here in the science forum don't need to be convinced, but more importantly because such topics are bait for people to come here and argue the opposing viewpoint -- and then all hell breaks loose. If you want to discuss pseudoscience there are plenty of other places on DU where you can do so. (Visit the Skepticism, Science and Pseudoscience Group for discussions from the skeptics-only perspective. Visit the Astrology, Spirituality & Alternative Healing Group for discussions from the mystics-only perspective.)
Questions and comments from non-experts are welcome. You need not hold a consistent scientific worldview in order to participate here, but visitors are expected to have a genuine interest and appreciation for science. We reserve the right to bar anyone from posting here who is trying to deliberately stir up trouble or push some sort of personal agenda.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=228&topic_id=10346&mesg_id=10346
Science tends to be a pretty quiet and mostly noncontroversial group. Maybe once every month or so (or even less) there's an attempt to post what is commonly referred to as 'woo' (is that just a DU thing?) -- that is, pseudoscience, or speculation gussied up as science. That's pretty much the only time you're likely to hear from me wearing my Host hat.
I would like to invite a few people to be co-hosts -- not too many, given what a well-behaved, quiet little group this is ordinarily. I have already heard from a couple of people and welcome any PMs or replies to this thread from others who are interested. If you happen to have a special interest/field of expertise I would be interested in knowing what it is.
