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So We Can All Be Informed - a TPM Proposal
I have noticed recently that many very fine posts never make it into the recommended list. That list is where most people read and comment, and anything below the line is often ignored in the vast sea of posts.
Some posts are pretty silly or irrelevant, to be sure, but with the sharply increased rate of posting, many great posts disappear quickly.
My proposal is that we have one post that we all recommend in which we put links to our favorite TPM posts as we find them. We aggregate the best of our posts into one that goes above the line. We continue to add to that post until its time is up. Then we start another one.
This is a temporary fix to the increased post load and the fact that many good posts go away before they have a chance to be seen. I'm going to start by recommending some posts in the comments below. Please feel free to add TPM posts or other links to significant articles and information.
Comments (23)
Great idea, Rusel. Got to keep the aggregate list in the Recommended List. Super!
September 15, 2008 8:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is so 6 months ago. I guess deja vu is all we have to look forward to.
September 16, 2008 2:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well I guess kinda deja vu. I'm sure you remember this by Marx, "History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce."
September 16, 2008 3:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
I take it you don't like the idea OceanKat. I hope other people can find it useful. And Des, I'm afraid I'm somewhat of a newcomer to TPM and wasn't around 6 months ago. I only proposed this in response to a change in posting frequency, which has been aggravated, though lately less so, by the multiposting problem.
To me, TPM is a way to have conversations on things we agree and disagree about, and a way to pass along useful information to each other. To that end, this aggregate posting concept allows us to recommend posts that people might not otherwise see. Although I recommended a couple of my own, I did so because they contained information I thought worth sharing, not because they showed off anything about me. My goal is to recommend other people's posts when I have time to read below the line and find the ones that are getting forgotten and that also have information or perspective to share. I hope others will do the same and that we will all take the time to keep this idea going, for want of a better solution.
I am revising my opinion of how to do it. I think we should post the title of the diary along with the link, and a short summary of why we think it's worth reading.
TITLE
LINK
OPINION
Thanks
September 16, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Okay. I'm going to start out with three posts that I think are helpful. One is from Elizabeth2 and two are from me. I know it may seem like shameless self-promotion, but I think the information in these posts is worth seeing, but in general I expect in future comments to be mentioning posts from other people.
My first post to mention is:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/must-read-nyt-frank-rich-the-p.php
September 15, 2008 8:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
My second post to mention is:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/just-how-much-religion-is-too.php
September 15, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Third one:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/what-is-your-favorite-mccain-f.php
September 15, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm horrible at this, but ...
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/time-out-from-palin-for-your-f.php
September 15, 2008 9:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Would it be bad form to plug your own posts on the thread?
Oh well, better to ask for forgiveness than to beg for permission...
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/3-questions.php
September 15, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think it's bad form if you believe the information in your post will help people deal with the issues we face. I'm personally most interested in posts that educate or help us sort out the issues, reveal new information, etc.
September 16, 2008 12:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Please note Jacob's worthy tribute to a noble scribe who was lost to this world on Friday of last week, David Foster Wallace: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/alas-poor-yorick-david-foster.php
September 15, 2008 10:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is a great ad idea and maybe if it hangs around longer, someone 'in a position to do something' will pick it up:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/biden-and-women.php
September 15, 2008 10:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I want to mention this post, which talks about how Petraeus is confirming Obama's message and refuting McCain's. But according to McCain, Petraeus is the military genius of the age.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/barack-obama-was-right-john-mc.php
I would submit that this, along with the information in this post:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/surge-my-ass.php
should help Obama, if we use it.
September 16, 2008 12:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought this had some interesting factoids about Alaska, tanning beds and corruption:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/alaska-myths-and-tanning-beds.php
September 16, 2008 12:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Voter suppression info: McCain camp puts out millions of absentee ballot mailers in swing states with erroneous information. Info and link in this post by ncvoter.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/mccain-absentee-ballot-mailer.php
It's my opinion that information regarding possible voter supression efforts should make the recommended list and receive the widest possible audience.
September 16, 2008 1:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. This is very serious and there really need to be some criminal investigations. We should be writing, calling and reporting on this aggressively.
September 16, 2008 1:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great idea, Raider, even if it was (allegedly) stolen from Des. (You know how cranky Des gets when he feels slighted.)
This one was on the rec list yesterday, but I thought it was a masterpiece: "The Fate of the Republic." By the Commentator formerly known as Prince (at least I think that's his name).
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/the-fate-of-the-republic-is-at.php
September 16, 2008 8:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Self promotion and curiosity-- with the snippets of news I get here it seems like the media is starting to discuss the fact that McCain is lying; does is it more extensive than it seems or less, based on references on lefty blogs?
It's a piece on taking control of the narrative, using their strengths against them, their willingness to make any lie.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/obama-has-to-tell-the-people-m.php
September 16, 2008 9:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hi,
I like this idea, but once you get past a few comments, you essentially have the same problem as the Recent Posts list: Too much reading, not enough skim time.
September 16, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like the idea of doing something, but have to agree with slouch. If everybody were to post on it, the list would be longer than TPM's.
September 16, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not the perfect solution, but in this case at least you have someone's opinion that it's worth reading. If we each take the time to summarize why we think it's worthwhile, you can decided whether to click the link or not. It's different in that these posts won't go away as fast, and people have a chance to notice them. There will always be too little time and too much to read, but I hate to see good posts get lost as fast as they have been lately.
September 16, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Refueling stop: video and text of Biden's Michigan speech. A good reminder when you lose sight of what's at stake.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/joe-biden-speech-yesterday-in.php#comments
September 16, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would help if the rec'd posts above were not posted again below the fold, so to speak. Is there anything that can be done about that, TPM?
September 16, 2008 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
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