So we had the rollout of the great idea of having the Front Page writers post on the recent diary list. What seems to be happening?
I can dredge up two scenarios of what may be unfolding.
Scenario A is that the community of non-front page writers recognize how grossly unfair it is to give a few hand picked people two bites at the apple. Keep in mind, these front page writers--all decent and good people, I'm sure, are selected by Markos (for reasons known only by him), and possibly don't represent the choices the larger 300,000+ community would make if given the opportunity. Scenario B is that what the front page writers are posting are simply not deemed worthy of the esteemed rec list. So if what they're writing is not worthy of the rec list, why in the world do they get a second shot at the Front Page? This makes no sense at all.
I have no doubt that the front page writers are all terrific and committed people. But only Meteor Blades has participated energetically with the right side of the page. MB (as he is affectionately known) is not simply the moderator, but is also as a person who frequently comments in and recommends our diaries. Laurence Lewis is the second person who comes to mind who also participates with any regularity in our diaries. Other people may have different experiences with other FP writers.
Given this huge chasm between the left and right sides of Daily Kos, it's not surprising that the community seems to be withholding recs from people who for many years, have been very aloof from us. Among the FP writers, there's undoubtedly a ton of back room patting each other on the back, and high-fives, but sadly little genuine interaction with the community at large--not a whole hell of a lot of camaraderie. Certainly this is my perspective and I've been here since 2004. Okay, every one can pile on right about here and tell me how wrong I am. But I really don't think I am.
It's also not surprising that most of the diaries being posted by the front page writers are dying on the vine, some seem very dated--old news that's been reported on already. Why are these not pulled out of the lineup?
A couple of examples. A diary by Kali Joy Gray with four recs. A diary byLaura Clawson with two recs. A diary by Joanon the Cordray nomination, which was reported on at length yesterday. Another Laura Clawson with 10 recs. And Jed Lewisonwith recs. Looks like Dante Atkins made it through the gauntlet with at least one of his diaries. [Note: I could be a little off on the rec count since I wrote this earlier in the afternoon]
Hunter is in a category by himself, many believe he is the finest writer on Daily Kos. But I see even Hunter didn't survive.
I think (and this is only anecdotal evidence from the first day), that the community sees the implicit flaw in giving a few people special rights or powers. I can't say this is not Democratic because, we are exercising our right not to hit the recommend button.
When something is well intentioned, but grossly unfair, people respond as it would appear, they are responding today.
I'm certain if Markos decides to comment in this diary, he might say, 'this is working beautifully, you're rejecting virtually all the FP posts', and from the looks of it, he would be correct. But the larger issue remains, which is, is it appropriate--or fair--to give a few people two bites of the apple? Why promote to the front page a sour apple?
I would like to suggest a little tweaking about how this situation could be corrected. The easiest solution is to stop doing this. Go back to the original way of posting. A left side of Daily Kos and a right side of the page, and rarely the twain will meet.
There's another solution which would level the playing field. Let the Front Page writers post diaries, just as we all do, and if what they write is deemed worthy of the rec list, then it will make the rec list. If they make the rec list, great, earned recognition. If they don't make the rec list, the diaries goes to diary heaven. This is fair.