I have a suggestion. Let me know what you all think.

[Dhalgren]

How about not letting anyone post until they have donated money to DU? Then if some brain damaged squirrel gets on any clutters up the board with crap, at he/she has help support DU. There must be some drawbacks to this...

[Nicole]

1. Bad idea I think.

Some of the best threads I've read here were posted by members who didn't donate.

[malta blue]

2. Unfortunately, not everyone has disposable income

to go along with good ideas.

Gotta be a better way my friend.

[Odin2005]

10. Ditto, I'm a colllege student surviving on SSI

I'd love to donate but I need to stretch my money as far as I can.

[Goblinmonger]

14. Now you have a star, though

so you can go to the groups. I donated in your name because you are that damn cool.

[Odin2005]

16. Thanks!

:yourock: :headbang:

[helderheid]

3. I think it's a great idea so long as the amount isn't too much - like a dollar. I can't see the

freeps agreeing to pay even that much to cause trouble.

[Sammy Pepys]

4. I think that's a bad idea.....

Who's going to give money to an internet message board simply for the benefit of posting there?

[quinnox]

5. A surprising answer

I agree with you, even though I have not donated to DU. I would seriously have to consider donating with this rule in place and it would weed out some of the freeper types.

Donating members should get more priveleges here then they do IMHO

[Mandate My Ass]

6. The disruptions aren't bad enough IMHO to go that far

The trolls' outbursts are usually short-lived, if annoying. The mods do a good job so I don't think there's any need to shut out that many voices.

[Individualist]

7. Bad idea

Some of us have financial difficulties. If not for the generosity of another DUer, I wouldn't have a donor star.

[jannyk]

8. No, I left another 'liberal' site because

they made donations compulsory! Haven't been back since. I always donate, but making it compulsory I will not go along with. Then it's nothing more than a private 'club'.

[walldude]

9. The economy is getting worse, I can't see banning people

because they can't afford it. Besides having the occasional troll unites us...

[Lone_Star_Dem]

11. Nah, it's not that bad

Besides, we've had plenty of trolls that paid $5 for a star.

[Drifter]

12. See ya ...

If that were the case I would have never joined and never posted.
Quite frankly no one would have signed up if it cost to post.

I believe I signed up a day or 2 after the site was establish back when the monkey was anointed.

Cheers
Drifter

[mmonk]

13. .

[KharmaTrain]

15. How About A Newbie Board...

I agree that GD, GDPolitics and even the Lounge should be sacred ground to those who pay the bills around here. I've sponsored several good DU members and will continue to help those who aren't as fortunate as I am in becoming paid members. Most of us know who these people are...and this leads to my suggestion...

Set up a section of DU just for Newcomers...a Newcomers Lounge, GD and LBN that they can get involved and keeps the non-paying trolls out of the most popular and visited areas of the site for regular members. Allow these people to view the other forums, but the only place they could comment initially would be in these forums.

Once they donate or get sponsored by a regular member, then they can get the full website posting access.

Just a thought...