Wee Willy- BWAHAAHAAHAAA! No! He's Serious!

[Billiam Pitts]

 

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023167978

WilliamPitt (54,732 posts)

I've read here a dozen times today that DU is an echo chamber, has no wider impact, etc.
Once upon a time, DU considered itself a think tank of sorts. People came here to inform, inspire, to become informed and inspired, and to carry that information and inspiration out into the wider world.

In the spring of 2002, as the country still sat in a fearful crouch after 9/11 and the mother****ers in the Bush administration were running wild, a few of us on DU who live around here decided to do something. We crafted a detailed pamphlet on the hard realities of the day, photocopied it a thousand times, and stood in a busy Boston square to hand them out. We talked to anyone willing to talk, argued with those who wanted to argue, and spent a day together in an act of simple education.

...which seems quaint and maybe even a little silly after twelve years. We were genuinely worried at the time about being assaulted or targeted in some way - if you think things are more paranoid now, I would argue you've blocked out the darkness that was late-'01 and all of '02-'03 - but we did it, and came back here to DU, and shared our story and our pamphlet...and in the weeks and months that followed, piles and piles of DUers followed suit where they lived, and came back to share their experiences here.

And if you think that didn't make a difference - even a little one - then you are cynical past the point of redemption. DU-as-think-tank and DU-as-activism facilitated that...and it still is those things. It takes a truly cynical person to look at what happens here and see only an echo chamber.

People are informed here, inspired here, enraged here, engaged here, and that carries into the wider world...where real people have real conversations, cast real votes, donate real money, and volunteer real time for or against what they may.

That is "feet to the fire," and it matters.

Toss even a small stone into a still pool, and the ripples spread in all directions in an ever-widening circle.

It matters.

 

[dandi]

...We talked to anyone willing to talk, argued with those who wanted to argue, and spent a day together in an act of simple education.

...which seems quaint and maybe even a little silly after twelve years. We were genuinely worried at the time about being assaulted or targeted in some way - if you think things are more paranoid now, I would argue you've blocked out the darkness that was late-'01 and all of '02-'03 - but we did it, and came back here to DU, and shared our story and our pamphlet...and in the weeks and months that followed, piles and piles of DUers followed suit where they lived, and came back to share their experiences here.

...and so, the Bouncy was born.

[Ralph Wiggum]

That is a priceless thread!

[GOBUCKS]

Once upon a time, DU considered itself a think tank

That's one of the funniest lines ever.

[BEG]

That's one of the funniest lines ever.

Heh, H5

[franksolich]

That's one of the funniest lines ever.

"Drunk tank" would be more appropriate.

[Big Dog]

Ah, the heady days before "24 business hours".

[Freeper]

These fools still think that they matter, and they think that DU matters.

[BlueStateSaint]

"Drunk tank" would be more appropriate.

And "septic tank" would be even more appropriate.

[zeitgeist]

"Drunk tank" would be more appropriate.

Bingo that was what I was thinking.  I would imagine the pamphleteers  ambled back to have a Wee Dram at Willies favorite watering hole.  There might have even been pictures taken of the cabal posed over some frosty mugs of adult beverages. 

[DumbAss Tanker]

Pomposity, thy name is Pitt.

[RobJohnson]

"Drunk tank" would be more appropriate.

 

[RobJohnson]

IdaBriggs (6,457 posts)

110. In 2004 New Hampshire was recounted because of This Site.


Also major things happening for premature babies and children with neuromuscular issues because of this site. I share what I learn here.

It is a good site, especially with Meta gone

[chitownchica]

Think tank?

His vision of think tank status is as grandiose as his threat to scrape Frank from his boot heel.

[diesel driver]

"Drunk tank" would be more appropriate.

I see Willie has sobered up enough to remember to unzip his pants before urinating. 

[jukin]

"Drunk tank" would be more appropriate.

IMHO, "Drug Tank" is more apropos.

[txradioguy]

Ok Will let's prove that DU isn't an echo chamber.

Let me sign up with this screen name and post freely without fear of being banned.

[obumazombie]

Ok Will let's prove that DU isn't an echo chamber.

Let me sign up with this screen name and post freely without fear of being banned.

You must be...

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhZULM69DIw[/youtube]

[ChuckJ]

And "septic tank" would be even more appropriate.

I just thought he had meant to type 'stink tank' and had finally gotten something correct.