Hi, I'm a DUmmie. Yeah, seriously. An actual member of what you guys refer to as the DUmp, etc.
I'm not one of the "famous" members, unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, as I don't like that sort of mindless cliquishness anyway). Nor am I a hugely popular DUmmie. I have a bad habit of saying things a lot of people there don't particularly like. I do have well over 1000+ and most DUers probably at least know of my existence. I've hit Greatest several times, for all that's worth. It's worth a little more to me, because Greatest is basically a popularity contest, so if I get on there, it means the content must have been above average (or abnormally awful, from you guys' perspective). Most of you also know of my existence, although sadly I don't get really frequent attention here. It's heartbreaking.
I don't suppose it would be too hard for you guys to figure out who I am, so just for the record, and right from the outset, I should make it clear that I won't confirm my identity even if you guys figure it out. That would be a rather silly thing to do, given that I'd probably get booted off what you guys call Skin's Island rather rapidly, since I already suspect I'm on pretty thin ice there anyway, lol. There are a couple issues I actually agree with you guys on (at least more than I do the left), and it wouldn't do to have this fact exposed at DU, because as you correctly point out, they do not like dissent. I've already been banned twice, actually. Two accounts down the toilet well before 1000 posts, but with this last account I finally got the message and disciplined myself to avoid the topics that get me in trouble. Ain't self-censorship fun?
So, a bit about me. I can't reveal too much, because that would just make my identity blatantly obvious and take the fun out of it for all of us. Let's just say I'm pretty much your typical liberal except for a few isolated issues. I'm not a hippie, though. I can't really stand them. No balls at all, and no real intellectual substance beyond a desire to legitimize endless dope-smoking sessions as some kind of political statement. I also part from most liberals on a couple of those tricky "values" issues. Economically, though, I'm left of Marx and should be able to provide lots of entertainment for you guys on that front. You won't find a bigger tax-and-spend commie than me, although I do oppose most benefits for illegals, for the simple reason that we natural-born American commie bastards will eventually lose our gravy train if we try to lavish largess on the entire world. In a perfect world, I'd be all for it, but this ain't a perfect world.
Why am I here? A couple reasons. Firstly, I tend to agree with those who suggest that progressives are presenting a pretty poor account of themselves by refusing to engage you guys at all. I mean, come on, like one guy said, it's not as if any of you can put a fist through the monitor, so what's the fear? I can understand other DUers not wanting to waste their time, but I think it might be good for me. That's the second reason I'm here. I've become aware I need to improve my skills in effectively dealing with people who disagree with me.
As some here correctly suggest, there's a limit to what ranting self-assuredly in an echo chamber can accomplish. One also needs to engage one's opponents, and learn to do so skillfully if at all possible. This looks like a good place to hone my patience and work on my temper, because you guys lay it on pretty thick here. I do not expect to "educate" you guys or change your minds. That won't be happening, and you won't be "educating" me or changing my mind, either. Political ideas spring from values that run way too deep for that. Most of your values are not mine, and most of mine are not yours. That is extremely unlikely to change, but like someone said, sane people ought to be able to disagree.
So anyway, enough rambling. You know how long-winded and self-absorbed us liberals can be, hehe. Just wanted to pop in, announce that a DUmmie has heard the call, and see what happens.
