As we know this has gotten out of hand on active sites like dKos, where discussions get swept into limbo even before many people know of their existence. Things are better on this site only because the number of original diaries is limited in time.
If I had my way I would prefer to see the use of forum type of software. There are several versions floating around, but they all have the benefit that discussions get sorted into broad bins and that the FIFO operates only within each bin. There is also more screen real estate available within a section so that more stories are visible at once.
FIFO blogs seem aimed at those sites which depend upon currency, such as news sites or individual personal diaries. What you had for breakfast three days ago no longer needs to be prominent.
Policy discussions should persist longer since they require continued discussion for ideas to be developed. Indeed one person frequently returns to the topic as new thoughts arise from reading prior remarks.
I already commented on my general dislike of meta diaries elsewhere, so I won't repeat myself. I think the "rules" listed by Jerome should be put into the FAQ (if they are not already there), and perhaps should be part of the registration process so that new members understand how things are run. Policies not Politics ---- Daily Landscape
"Diaries" are supposed to be personal blogs. There is no recommendation of diaries: just chronological sorting.
Anyone can write a "story" and choose a "section" for it. "Stories" go to an editing queue where registered users can make editorial comments and vote whether the story should be posted to its section, or to it and the front page.
Eventually we're going to have to reimplement the ET software and keep the features that we like while changing the ones that we don't like and adding others.
There is a debate where you can pitch your suggestions about this: Redoing ET's front page by Migeru on December 30th, 2007. We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo
