This looks like an interesting experiment. I expect to browse more often than post.

I am glad of this forum. I hope people will continue to discuss the issues of the world rather than use this as convenient mouthpiece for the political ism's of the world.

Thanks for trying. Let's see where it takes us.

Thanks for the encouragement, Travis.

My hope is that people take advantage of the Flagging and Rating features to help direct the conversation and encourage meaningful dialog.

-Keith
Public Action Product Manager

Getting along this website is quite hazardous I 'd say.
I suppose one has to get used to it, but I find it unusually complex (too many clicks to get to the only topic available yet?)
Best wishes anyway

Interesting, I will see if this is my experience.

Topic suggestions:
Iraq -- it's the elephant in the room if you don't.
Immigration
France's new direction
Global warming

Hey... I'd like to see this thing take off. Love the programming, the personalities, etc. Let's get some topics going in the Jazz area, eh?

/willy

Thanks for inviting me. Some topics I like to see debated:

1. Unconstitutionality of trade treaties.
2. Corruption in San Francisco DBI (Dept of Bldg Inspections)
3. Musings on the "Left Behind' and 'Rapture" people
4. Importation of foreign workers to do the jobs which haven't been outsourced
5. Campaign finance reform
6. Who will be the candidate of the religious right.
7. Michael Moore's "Sicko" and issues raised.


Kurt

"musings" on the Left Behind and Rapture people?

I love The World and listen regularly. This opportunity to discuss issues is great. I plan to participate, but shortage of time is a factor.

I believe this would attract more attention and be much more interesting if you allowed real time debate. Let contributors create their own topics and give others the chance to respond immediately, rather than going through the CENSORSHIP that currently exists on some topics. It has always been very amusing to me that "progressives" (PBS for example) are the first to censor, control and apply political correctness. Try giving people the benefit of the doubt. You may be surprised.

Even this "feedback" thread is censored!! LOL

Well, we like to think of it as "moderation" not "censorship." You're free to voice your opinions, the moderation is only to keep it polite and on topic. What discussions would you like to see then?

Michael Rass
moderator

I can't help but think Hugo Chavez, as reported in a recent news story, is feeling like a "moderator" as he begins to dictate education in Venezuela. Hey, there's a topic! Seriously, what I see lacking in the KUER forum is spontaneity. I'd like to know what people think about everything from the current OJ arrest and the Larry Craig bust to news that Syria is working on nuclear weapons. Why just today, a news item describes a "chemical weapon" explosion in Syria with "dozens killed" when a combined group of Iranians and Syrians were mounting the warhead on a scud missile. Wouldn't it be nice to get opinions and debate from your audience before this story is buried by the MSM?

Again, trust your contributors until they prove to be a problem (then give them the boot) and allow them to create the topics in real time. Otherwise, your forum will continue to be dull with a few people commenting days after the fact, or never, on news... some of which could change our lives.

There are a lot of venues where anyone logged in can post a new topic about almost anything. The World's forums aren't like that and they don't need to be. I see a level of discourse here that is getting harder and harder to find in the unmediated online world, perhaps because it's "censored". I long ago gave up on the forums for the On Point show; few posters stayed on topic and most were simply flaming at one another, back and forth. Reasonable and pertinent comments were totally swamped in this free market of half-bright egos.

So please, Mr. Moderator, do your thing. It must not be an easy job.

Thanks for the kind words, Max. I, too am impressed with the quality of the comments.

Michael Rass
The moderator

I like it because of the higher communication levels of the listeners. I appreciate the benefit from reading other's views and maybe taking time to consider their view. I'm teachable. I was looking at the names suggested, why not pick one there are plenty to choose from.

To be honest this site is not very user friendly
I would like to see discussion threads linked to stories I heard on the radio today
That is the way it is on WNYC and it works well. We can all post our comments and interact with each other about things that are current.
Also, I have no way of knowing how to rate the story suggestions with stars. It is completely a mystery not obvious to me at all.
I am not sure of the utility of discussion boards designed like this one.

I'm a liberal college professor in the physical sciences, and only wish that Exxon-Mobil would give me some money. I'm writing this because I was appalled by your treatment of the Climate Change Skeptics meeting in NY early this week.
My objections are that you first characterized the conference by the comments of a comedian who gave a speech during the opening dinner. You ignored any of the content presented in the meeting and then finished the piece with the usual alarmist talk about melting glaciers, and the psychology of people in the US that don't buy into the scare tactics. Sounds like you consulted with RealClimate.org rather than doing expensive investigative journalism. Shame on you.
In the future I'll be taking everything said on your program with a large gain of salt.

As an Alaskan I promise that Exxon is a poor choice for fund raising (They owe far more than they pay!!) Climate change feels real here. I suppose that time will tell, But I too wish for some forum that lets an in depth conversation be developed. The World is a magazine that uses such short sound bites that it can only spark an intrest.
Scott