Please ignore this diary. It's just a rant.
First, let me announce, for all to hear, that I do not have a My Space, My Face, or My Ass Hanging Out for All the World to See, page.
One of the truly great aspects of the net, for me, has always been the notion of presenting ideas, free of the social cues that determine how we will be heard. I don't care if you are fat, or bald, or cross-eyed. I don't care who you "hang" with, who you date, or if your house is clean or spotless.
I just want to know how well you write, how well you reason, and how courteous you can be when the droves of chipmunks get in a snit. I want your ideas about substantive things.
I want graphs, and links and carefully thought out presentations of policy, and data, and a through examination of your positions. I want to LEARN things.
Increasingly, this place is degenerating into a cozy little coffee club, where personal stories dominate. Not stories about voting or canvassing. Those are relevant, and provide important ways to educate and share with the community.
But, the diaries that demonstrate the most effort, those that represent hours of thought, and planning and gathering supporting information are being swamped by vignettes that are more appropriately shared across the back fence with your BFF.
We have some powerful people, candidates for office, serious thinkers, data stars, and organizers who valiantly contribute their efforts, only to see them swamped by diary, after thoughtless diary that seems to feel we all really CARE about every event in your life.
Can we get back to the mission of this site? Can we beat back the urge to broadcast every little event, every random thought, and every YouTube video you find?
This is not a social networking site. DKos was designed to further the aims of electing More and Better Democrats. Isn't there some place else that would be more appropriate for personal disclosures and momentary whims?
Ask yourself. Does this diary address an issue of real interest to a political community? Is it about GOTV, Health Care, real social issues of importance to Progressives? Or is it just another little vanity flourish that is more appropriate on My Space?