Awesome public service message!

All a DUer has to do to become a forum host is to add his or her screen name to the waiting list. It does require 100% on the availability for jury service, which means you have to have zero hidden posts and be a Star member, but that's the only criteria. Every forum host can serve for only 90 consecutive days. When they scroll off the host list after that, the next available volunteer in the waiting list becomes a host.

Hosts do nothing but lock OPs that are not in keeping with the SOP for each forum. They have no other job or power. They exist to help keep the forums on topic. That's all.

I recommend being a host if you qualify. It takes some time, but it helps DU stay on track within all of the main forums.

The MIR Team, on the other hand, is selected by the admins from DUers who express their interest. The MIR Team's only job is to ban DUers who have less than 100 posts and who are disruptive newcomers very soon after joining DU. They can't ban anyone with over 100 posts, except in very rare special circumstances. I don't think that ever occurred while I was on the MIRT.

Disclaimer: I am a current and frequent forum host and have served on MIRT for multiple terms.

referred to groups. I think of the Bernie Sanders Group as a group, but I didn't mean to include that kind "place" on the board in my post.

I don't think of GD, for example, as a group, but a forum.

So far, are you and I using the same terminology?

How would someone put his or her name on the waiting list?

The same group of 30 are hosts for the following forums:

Welcome & Help
Latest Breaking News
Good Reads
Video & Multimedia
General Discussion
General Discussion: Primaries
The DU Lounge


Announcements and Ask the Adminstrators are also Forums, but are administered solely by the Admins.


Every other location on DU is a Group. Groups pick their own Hosts, and are solely responsible for managing those groups. Different rules apply, and they are not subject to the same 100% jury availability rating as forum hosts. Groups are basically on their own, although posts are subject to alerts by any DUer, and so can be hidden by a jury, which is made up from the general DU jury pool. Jurors need not be participants in that group.

any main forum, as listed in the previous post and click the About tab. Under the list of forum hosts, you'll find the waiting list, along with instructions for how to add your name to it. Right now, there are five people on the list. They'll all be hosts within 30 days. The longer the list, the longer it takes for a name to rise to the top of the waiting list and move into being a Host.

I see that you are qualified to be a Host. I highly recommend trying it. It's very interesting. You could also add your name to the MIRT list when the announcement shows up. You'll be surprised at how collegial both groups are and how objectively their duties get handled. Either is a great way to help DU run more smoothly.

I'm sure all involved do their best to do a good job. As for me personally, as the OP says, I have reasons for not wanting to serve. I don'ta especially want to discuss them, but they have nothing to do with anyone on DU except me.

Those thing are completely voluntary, and do require time if you do them right. Nobody should feel obligated in any way, but all are welcome.

My error. I've edited the post. Thanks for pointing that out.

Ironically, Catherina thought it was good, too.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128080259