Recent Diaries box will be returning

I always watch site dynamics closely, and have always said I wouldn't be afraid to tweak functionality as warranted. Well, despite always saying the traditional recent diaries box would never return, I've decided to give it a shot. Expect the change to happen either today or tomorrow, depending on when the next code update happens.

From the start, let me make it clear that this is an experiment. I won't be afraid to tweak again if warranted. But for now, I've decided to give the unfiltered recent diary box a try because:

• The expected flood of diaries never materialized. While the number of diaries is up, it's still a manageable number.
• Most diaries get that single recommend and eventually make it to the front page anyway, so why delay the inevitable?
• I haven't seen too big of a problem with troll diaries, and they'd get pushed down quickly anyway given the larger number of diaries overall.

All that said, I want to make several things very clear:

• There is still no limit on the number of diaries. People can diary about whatever they want, when they want, and as many diaries as they want. Your opus may get pushed down the front page quickly. That'll be the nature of the beast. The best way to be found and read will still be getting people to follow you, via groups, and via tags.
• I don't want to see "already diaried!" Again, given the myriad ways people can find content, I'm not concerned about stuff scrolling off the front page recent list quickly.
• People can still post "not substantive" diaries. That is no longer a requirement. I know many of you disagree, but I see Daily Kos evolving into a true blogging home for progressives, and you don't have to be on a word-count minimum to be a good blogger. Just look at Atrios. So if a good, well-researched piece gets pushed down by a one-sentence diary, it'll suck, but again, the recent list shouldn't be the primary vehicle for finding the best diaries. Diarists will do more to get their stuff read by tagging well, getting followed, getting recommended, getting republished by groups, etc.
• People can still post about non-political subjects. This is a progressive community, and while our progressivism informs our lifestyle, it doesn't exclude all else. I love seeing the community talk about things that have nothing to do with politics -- it paints a more complete picture of who we are as individuals. So talk about cats, gardening, knitting, sports, whatever. True communities are bigger than any single topic. Once upon a time I was ambivalent about seeing those diaries on the front page. Not anymore.

Again, this is an experiment, and as I'm proving now, I'm never afraid to tinker and make changes -- even if those changes are things I swore to never, ever, under any circumstances, do.

Source: http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/RnAtCrG8Y3A/-Recent-Diaries-box-will-be-returning

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