2010 Member Survey
Thank you for taking the 2010 Democratic Underground Member Survey. The purpose of the survey is to collect some data to help us figure out who our members are, and how you feel about Democratic Underground. We want as many people as possible to take it, so we can get a really good sample. We hope that the results help give us some idea of where we go from here. This survey is open to all active DU members who registered before August 20, 2010 (the date when we first announced the survey).
Please be aware that this survey was not drawn up professionally; it is merely a series of questions that the DU Administrators would like answers to.
Your responses to this survey are anonymous. Neither your username nor any other personally identifiable information will be saved along with your answers, so the administrators will not be able to figure out how you or any other individual responded to the questions. The usernames of members who have taken the survey are saved separately, to ensure that each member takes the survey only one time.
The survey will be available for two weeks, until 11:59 PM Pacific Time, Thursday October 14, 2010. After that time, no more responses will be accepted.
As much as possible, we want the survey to be "fresh" for each member, and we do not want chatter or spin on the site to influence the way people respond. Therefore, while you are permitted to discuss the survey in this thread, the moderators have been instructed to delete any posts about the survey if they are posted anywhere else. This restriction will be lifted once the survey has been completed in two weeks time.
Thank you for taking the time to take our survey.
Member Information
Year you joined Democratic Underground:
(withheld)
Approximate post count (0-9, 10-499, 500-999, 1000-4999, 5000-9999, 10,000+):
(withheld)
Overall Attitude toward Democratic Underground
Overall, are you satisfied or unsatisfied with Democratic Underground?
Satisfied
Unsatisfied
Don't know/Other
Over the last year-and-a-half, a number of people have expressed concerns about the state of Democratic Underground, and have been asking for changes to the way it is run. Which of the following comes closest to your opinion?
Democratic Underground ain't broke. Don't fix it!
Democratic Underground is mostly fine. Some minor changes would help.
Democratic Underground is broke. Something significant needs to be done to fix it.
Don't know/Other
What do you like most about Democratic Underground? (One thing only. 200 character maximum. Be as brief as possible.)
What do you dislike most about Democratic Underground? (One thing only. 200 character maximum. Be as brief as possible.)
Which of the following is closest to your opinion about the type of website Democratic Underground should be?
Democratic Underground should be a safe haven for Democrats only.
Democratic Underground should be a safe haven for committed progressives only, regardless of political party.
Democratic Underground should be a safe haven for Democrats who are generally progressive, and other progressives who support Democratic candidates.
Democratic Underground should welcome all kinds of Democrats, and all kinds of progressives.
Don't know/Other
Political Attitudes and Alignment
Do you consider yourself a Democrat?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
Do you consider yourself to be politically liberal or progressive?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way President Obama is doing his job?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/Other
Would you support a challenger to President Obama in the 2012 Democratic presidential primary?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
If President Obama is the Democratic nominee for president in 2012, do you intend to vote for him in the general election?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
Which of the following is closest to your opinion about the two major political parties?
There are important differences between Democrats and Republicans.
Both major parties are basically the same.
Don't know/Other
Which of the following is closest to your opinion about Barack Obama and George W. Bush?
There are important differences between Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
Both presidents are basically the same.
Don't know/Other
Which of the following comes closest to explaining how you vote in general elections?
I usually vote for the Democratic candidate -- the only left-of-center candidate capable of defeating the Republican alternative.
I usually "vote my conscience" in favor of the left-of-center candidate from any party that comes closest to my values.
Don't know/Other
Attitudes toward Forum Administration and Moderation
IMPORTANT: When answering the following questions, please keep in mind that the ultimate responsibility for how the discussion forum is moderated and administered lies with the DU administrators. The administrators provide the moderators with detailed instructions about how the DU rules should be interpreted, which posts should be removed, and how the forum should be moderated. The actions of the DU moderators should be seen (as much as possible) as reflecting the will of the DU administrators.
The character of a discussion forum often depends on how actively the discussions are moderated. Some people prefer that forums be actively moderated, to try to keep the discussions relatively civil and promote thoughtful interactions between participants. Other people prefer less active moderation, so members have greater freedom to express themselves, even if uncivil or disruptive postings are more common. Which of the following is closest to your opinion?
I believe that Democratic Underground should be more actively moderated than it currently is.
I believe that Democratic Underground should be less actively moderated than it currently is.
I believe the moderating on Democratic Underground is just about right.
Don't know/Other
Overall, do you feel that Democratic Underground bans too many people, not enough people, or an appropriate number?
Too many people
Not enough people
An appropriate number of people
Don't know/Other
Democratic Underground gives members the ability to inform moderators about potential problems by clicking the "Alert" link on any post. When an alert is sent, the moderators always evaluate the post and decide whether to take action. Quite often, however, nobody will alert on posts that violate our rules. Which is closest to your opinion of how these posts should be handled?
If nobody sends an alert on a particular post, it is safe to assume that nobody wants the moderators to get involved. Moderators should evaluate posts and take action ONLY IF a member sends an alert.
A rule violation is a rule violation; it should not matter if someone sends an alert. Moderators should pro-actively search for potential problems, and should take action even if nobody sends an alert.
Don't know/Other
Would you like to be able to hide your posts from other DU members you consider abusive (and similarly let other DU members hide their posts from you)?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
Has forum moderation that you perceive to be overly active or unfair caused you to participate less on Democratic Underground than you would like?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
Have uncivil or disruptive DU members caused you to participate less on Democratic Underground than you would like?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
Have attacks against President Obama or Democrats caused you to participate less on Democratic Underground than you would like?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
Has hostility toward criticism of President Obama or Democrats caused you to participate less on Democratic Underground than you would like?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
Should Democratic Underground require that all criticism of President Obama or Democrats be constructive?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
Should there be any limits on what insults or attacks members can post about President Obama or Democrats on Democratic Underground?
Yes, there should be limits on such insults or attacks.
No, members should be able to post whatever they like about President Obama or Democrats.
Don't know/Other
Currently, Democratic Underground does not permit members to advocate voting against Democrats, or in favor of third-party candidates (except in rare cases). Should members be permitted to support left-of-center third-party candidates on Democratic Underground, even in races where Democrats are running?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
Overall, do you think you understand the DU rules?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
Do you feel that the DU rules are difficult to follow?
Yes
No
Don't know/Other
Is there anything else you would like to tell the DU Administrators? (200 character maximum. Be as brief as possible.)
