We’re thrilled to have such dedicated first responders who helped kick off our fundraiser with remarkable efficiency. Your immediate response allowed us to achieve our initial goal for IT infrastructure in just over 24 hours. The rapid pace at which this unfolded means that katiebird’s thermometer hasn’t caught up with our current progress.
As of 1 PM today, we have raised $2,510 towards our second goal, which aims to enhance the comments section. We have also reached 221 donations towards our overall target of 1,100 contributors. Unfortunately, this post was published a bit late due to my multitasking blunders, but I’m excited to share our progress nonetheless.
Your generosity reflects your commitment to this community and your desire to cultivate meaningful discussions for a better society. You are investing in Naked Capitalism to help it become even more effective in navigating the complexities of a propagandized world and in paving avenues for future progress.
If you haven’t had the chance to contribute yet, please check out our Tip Jar to support our initiatives. Every amount, whether it’s $10 or $1,000, contributes to providing you with daily news summaries, insightful commentary, astute analysis, and heartwarming animal images, all within a welcoming community of like-minded individuals.
Considering that many of you may not have the time to read Naked Capitalism daily, we’ve enhanced our newsletter in 2024, moving from a monthly to a bi-weekly schedule to help you stay updated. A special thank you to moderator katiebird, who not only manages the newsletter but also supports our fundraising efforts.
We’ve been receiving sincere messages from readers expressing appreciation for our comments section. The diverse perspectives and valuable insights from our community have significantly enriched our coverage of current events, especially regarding the Iran War. Here’s a commendation from ChiGal:
The depth and breadth of the discussion and analysis here is unparalleled – it’s genuinely thrilling to see Yves engage the commentariat, enriching her posts and allowing us all to benefit from the community she has nurtured over many years.
There truly is nothing like it anywhere else on the internet – many thanks to all of you.
And a note from eg:
This blog has become an essential first stop every day for me since the Brexit process. The analysis just keeps improving – from U.S. elections to COVID, Ukraine, and now West Asia. I’m thankful to be liberated from the repetitive narratives propagated by the corporate media. Much appreciated.
Oregon Lawhobbit also shared:
A huge thank you for all the effort you put into the Iran War Threads and for your general commitment to enriching this blog! Your work, along with that of the NC Commentariat, makes my life much more interesting and informed than it could ever be on my own!
Bill Fergus added:
I just donated $100. I wish I could contribute more, but being over 70, I’m concerned my 401(k) might soon become a 101(k). I’ve been a loyal reader and occasional commenter, and Naked Capitalism has truly been unique in such a positive way. Your coverage of the Iran war has been outstanding and consistent with your reporting since I started reading in 2010. Keep up the great work — I hope you are enjoying life across the globe!
Thanks to the tireless efforts of katiebird and semper loquitur (who also manages the new Sunday movie feature), comments are now moderated faster than ever. The moderators play an essential role in determining cases that are usually discussed among all site administrators. They also correct inaccurate links and occasionally intervene in comments. Katiebird keeps a detailed record of who is in various “doghouses” and why, which is invaluable when reviewing cases. Additionally, she prepares our bi-monthly newsletter while semper loquitur takes care of essential administrative tasks.
In a landscape exacerbated by algorithmic and Trump-era polarization, and with AI bots populating social media, the level of discourse has deteriorated significantly. It has become increasingly challenging to maintain Naked Capitalism as a space for rational and civil discussion amidst this media clutter.
If you recognize the importance of the comments at Naked Capitalism, feel free to skip the rest of this post and head directly to the Tip Jar, which provides details on contributing via check, credit, or debit card. Your support promotes engaging, rigorous, and often entertaining discussions among community members.
Managing comments has always incurred costs, and those costs have been rising as stricter moderation rules have led to more comments being sent to moderation queues. Ensuring prompt attention to these comments is now more critical than ever.
Comment management involves not only handling the moderation queue and establishing various rules (which, as you’ve experienced, can occasionally function in a Skynet-like fashion, despite our intentions) but also actively reading comments multiple times a day. We occasionally need to intervene to de-escalate discussions or clarify misinterpretations regarding posts or reader remarks.
We dedicate more time than you might think to dealing with borderline comments. This ongoing oversight requires significant time investment but is vital for maintaining the overall quality of comments. Our efforts ensure that readers feel empowered to share their opinions and provide valuable information, as long as they adhere to guidelines promoting high standards of accuracy and thoroughness.
The success of this approach is evident in the vibrant community we have at Naked Capitalism, where diverse voices express themselves, despite the widely recognized decline in online discourse. Naked Capitalism is even cited in journalism courses as an example of the type of engaged audience that major media outlets aspire to have (and could cultivate, should they break away from the constraints of powerful advertisers and elite interests). Therefore, to support our efforts, please consider donating now. Whether it’s $5, $50, or $5,000, every bit helps us reach our goals.
We have set a fundraising target of $30,000, which only partially covers the total expenses for comment moderation and the newsletter. Your prompt contributions are vital! Our Tip Jar outlines how to donate via check, credit, or debit card. If you choose to send a check, please email yves@nakedcapitalism.com with “Check is in the mail” in the subject line so that we can include it in our running tally.
Once again, we encourage you to invest in our comment community! This goal is for all of us!
