Today marks the third birthday of OrangePolitics. What might our fourth year hold for us? I have been considering some improvements in how things are run, but they will require more time and energy from more people to make it work.
Our blogging software, WordPress 1.5, is being stretched a little beyond its capacity. I'd like to consider moving to a more powerful platform, such as CivicSpace, which would make it easier for all readers to have their own blogs on the site, and add many other useful tools. (See BlueNC for an example of a typical CivicSpace community site.)
I have also been considering implementing an editorial board. This would distribute the privilege and responsibility of setting policies (and enforcing them) among a group of 4-6 people instead of just me. (As Tom found out this summer, it's more work than you think.) This is something that I had always thought would be a part of OP, but I wanted to be sure to strike the right balance between leading the project effectively and throwing it open to the wide range of views about what it should be.
I had very specific purposes for starting OrangePolitics. While many people have expressed other compelling visions, I still think that being explicitly progressive and explicitly political is important. I also think there is room for many more local opinion blogs, and I hope people who find this one lacking will start their own.
Anyway, that's what's on my mind on this third anniversary of local politics blogging. How about you?
Issues:
Comments
Congratulations Ruby, on the
Congratulations Ruby, on the monumental feat that OP is!
Congratulations to Ruby, the
Congratulations to Ruby, the editors and many commenters that have made OrangePolitics such a vital forum.
Three years ago, less than a week into OP's life, Ruby graciously permitted me to blather on about the red-light camera mess. Over the years, though I know I've tested her patience, she's continued to host my and other folks viewpoints contrary to hers.
Yes, there's been some controversy over content. Some folks opening up dialogues on other forums. Ohers going silent. Yet others moving on to their own gigs. All together, though, OP, through the efforts of Ruby, the editors and its community, have maintained a high signal to noise ratio.
As I noted on another thread, the "long tail" of OP reaches back through time to help folks work today's current issues. It continues to be a critical resource for local activism.
Once again, congratulations Ruby.
And if you move to that new platform, one small request: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't break your links!
Happy Birthday, OP! OP and
Happy Birthday, OP! OP and I actually share the same birthday and I am turning 36 today.
OP has been a wonderful forum for discussing local issues and has created the opporunity for a unique kind of access to our local governments. (Witness a visually impaired Carrboro resident who posted here on the need for audio crosswalk signals - the Town has since gotten together with her to formulate a priority list for installing audio signals and is meeting with NCDOT about carrying the project out).
We have also had the opportunity to have collective discussions about Carolina North, the Rural Buffer, homelessness and many many other topics that have given me new insights into this community's issues and challenges. I hope all of you feel like you learned something from some of those conversations as well.
And OP has been an important resource in calling area progressives to action on some key issues from time to time. Whether in relation to reponding to the Het-Pride Parade (remember that?), the Dance-In at WSM, or any number of public hearings and other meetings.
OP participants have also done a great job helping educate one another about elections that are happening in our community and state. The traffic on this site is far greater around election time and although a few posters have been unconstructive, a lot of what has been said here around election time has been helpful and insightful. OP has particularly been helpful as a place for discussing some of the more obscure offices on the ballot (speaking of which, we have another Soil and Water Conservation Board election coming right up!)
Altogether, OP has turned out to play a number of different and important roles in our community and I know I speak for a lot of lurkers and fellow posters here when I say, thank you, Ruby, and thanks as well to everyone (well, almost everyone) who participates in this blog.
Happy birthday to OP and
Happy birthday to OP and Mark!
I particularly want to congratulate Ruby on creating a space where the discussion is overall respectful and informative. It took a while to get here but the ban on anonymity was a big step forward. Sometimes Ruby's heavy hand can be tough to deal with but the results speak for themselves.
Rarely agree with ya Ruby,
Rarely agree with ya Ruby, but you've done a good job with OP. Here's to many more years of it being around and as effective as it is today.
Happy Birthday! Where is
Happy Birthday! Where is Gregor Samsa? I miss him.........
I am sure OP would love
I am sure OP would love birthday presents, and a great one one would be to make a donation for hosting services so that we help support the forum we all use.
Ruby, Do you want donations
Ruby,
Do you want donations to the Dream Host link or should we wait until you decide on a new host?
That's a good question,
That's a good question, Fred. The safest bet is to use PayPal and make a note that it's for OP hosting. I'll save up the funds until we decide what to do.
Here's a button to facilitate: