Demand Accountability from Current!

I'm still kind of new here but May I say that aaaaahscrew it hey if you don't like the way things are done then Buy the site and change things to fit your dream site I will let you know how your doing other wise shut the hell up cry baby if you don't like the way things are go start your own site and run it your own way damn I hate the haters

I don't mind that current publishes everything, what I mind is that the inane and stupid gets promoted above really important items...and unfortunately, you can see this in a lot of the items current promotes about itself as well.

Even worse, not only did the post died, but we also did not get a response from any of the staff....

Numinant, if the staff was ever going to suppress(stop) posts like these, then i am with you, I'll completely lose interest, and leave forever..

I wonder if the staff actually listens to some of our users' views, because it seems like they will only agree with their own interests...

I have spent so much time on debating Current's policies about news, features, Bots, censorship etc all wasted time.

This is what it all boils down to. When you run a 'User submitted material share site' you have a journalistic responsibility. You can not discriminate against content, nor should you push it ahead of other content. If that's what you want to do, take down the 'user submitted' and let the so called 'editors' do it. (most of those have probably never spent 1 day in school for journalism)
I have own several news organization sites and I see material everyday that I do not approve of, do not agree with or even find interesting, yet it has to be posted and distributed for those that DO want that information. Current has a long history of censorship, we all know about several issues that they just take down with no note to the contributor.
That is however their right, it's in the Terms of Service agreement we all agreed to when we signed up. So the bottom line is, they can do anything they want, you don't like it then there are numerous excellent share sites on the Web. Do a search and join those that will fit your needs. There are even sites that will pay you for your articles and opinions. Need help, email me.

Amended original post with this statement:

***After further deliberation, I'm not sure that flagging is the best method of expressing dissent, although it does do one thing, which is annoy the staff and demand attention. But better is probably emailing Current directly at this address feedback@current.com and writing them a proper letter of complaint. And if you're comfortable sharing your letter with the rest of us, please post it here!***

Another course of action to consider--

If you go here http://current.com/editors-picks/ you'll see a list of editor's picks. I find a lot of satisfaction in indiscriminately voting them down (at least the ones on the first page) for counterbalance.

You know what else would be nice? More transparency regarding article scores. Nobody is really sure how the scoring system works because it isn't apparent. We're just supposed to take for granted that the system is well-balanced, but many of us aren't finding that to be our experience.

Why not be explicit about what each article's score is, and how it arrived there? How many positive or negative votes did it receive? And as long as editor's are skewing scores, at least divulge how many points have been added. Right?

Agree!
I'm gald you're taking the initiative, some one had to. :)

I demand more hot Jewish guys, above age 30. Thank you.

This made me realize I have yet to totally figure out Current TV and this website. But I will keep at it. I think I agree with what you're saying.

Thank you for bring this topic out into the open. It has been the subject of a lot of recent debate for me and many others who agree with you.

Why bother having the voting feature if current staff members pick what THEY think is important? Why not give the power to the people again?!

I agree with some of these comments... current was once a great site but lately I have been strongly debating closing my account. The only redeeming quality about Current at the moment is the Vanguard pieces, but those are few and far between these days.

I think the post died, nevertheless, just start another one!

Whether you agree with the specifics of this complaint or not, it is undoubtedly a symptom of the larger problem that Current.com users are feeling marginalized and disenfranchised by the changes to the site.

It's everybody's site so go ahead speak up we are the people. Well now that I said that I bet I won't be featured on What's on current today.

They are irrelevant, it does not matter if it appeals to everyone, because that is the last thing anyone should be concerned about...

Umm has anyone been following the rioting in Urumqi???

Of course it isn't here on Current.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z61RbRJFJPw

Warning - very disturbing images but this is going on RIGHT NOW.

So don't read them. As for why it's so high of course it is. Once upon a time cbs had a brilliant plan to breakthe Neilson ratings. They ran a story about neilson families during sweeps week. According to the Neilson ratings like half the country watched that show. It was crap of course, only the neilson families cared. Any article referring to people who read current is going to rank high. It doesn't mean people agree.

I for one generally like the editor's picks. It's just one section after all and they are specially marked.

I agree!

Oh neat.

So if anyone cares to share what they post when they flag editor selections, please do so.

Perhaps flagging the Twitterbot with your criticisms might be useful as well.

Commence with the Bitch and Moan Offensive!

this story is number 4 on the news page

If we could cut back on the spam (or hate speech as some folks put it) I'd be happier.

For the last time Obama is not an alien from another galaxy sent here to put our babies in soylent green farms.

Yes I get it...you don't like him...please god at least provide legitimate reasons.

The one today about the hundreds of hidden prisons hiding Americans that knew the truth made me laugh.

"If they were there you wouldn't be telling us because you'd be in them."

Another thing, why doesn't the staff ever deal with the constant hate speech?

That, above all things, should be handled...

squeal repiggies, squeal.

storys are voted up or
down not picked by the editor

HERE HERE..nothing more than pro-radical left winged allegations and specualtions designed for one thing thing..NEGATIVE PROPAGANDA..

I agree...........i'm on here because I feel my vote is important.....

Seems like the Editor's Picks have been getting a bit worse lately. I'm not furious, but sometimes I am surprised by the poor quality of the picks. I thought Current was better than that. I love the picture you chose for this post!

Me tink sometimes me muddas milk IS sour from time to time

In an attempt to curb repeating 'topic/location' posts.' or 'posted under wrong topic.'
It might take real staff to monitor... imagine

But that apparently , would be expecting Current to change with an eye toward censorship. .. not entirely an option in my opinion

Complacency has many forms...

Just wonder, why don't they ever ask about anything of which they change around here, they just appy it, without asking the people, the users of Current, of how they feel of this new change?

And yet, they still push on about it, ignoring the people's opinions about it....

People who site blogs as news sources is what annoys me... if you want to post an article with a blog as the sited source, it does not belong in the news section.

the editor's picks to me seem to defeat the whole idea of current. If we wanted editor's picks, we'd go to cnn or msnbc or fox.

I've been conducting my own small campaign agaist the bot......when I find TWITTERBOTs post I REPLY to it and simply write IDIOT.

Try it....it relieves some frustration caused by Twitterbot

Not an overwhelming response so far.

I have no problem with the Editor's picks. They seem to be designed to stimulate discussion, without a strong left or right agenda. I also do not join lynch mobs for basic reasons of principle. Trying to organize a protest against a legitimate business strategy strikes me as fascist and childish. This site gives voice to all of our opinions, not to just the few that wish their's was the only voice heard.

I Agree. :/

Yes, its been a long time...

I'm sure the staff will come, at any point now, after they say "We're going to work on it", or "We are currently working on it",(No specific time date) with a added recommendation from Current89 on the staff's comment...

Afterward, this story is will be lost with all of the other discarded articles, because that is what usually happens to such protest articles like these...

just another corporate website

Being able to post stuff like this is one of Current's redeeming qualities. Should they ever disallow or suppress them, that's when I'll lose interest in the site entirely.

I've been seeing a lot of protest posts (including I) lately, and I am very proud of you guys for speaking out like so....

I love these topics..

Yes, another protest!

Let us see who controls what gets featured or not!

No seriously, its really obvious that the staff does do the editor's picks, and chooses most of the featured picks, its very annoying, the twitterbot as well, as the non-newsworthyness of some articles, and please, not that sexist stuff!!

Good luck getting any accountability out of these lame fuckers

Good idea!