Author Topic: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.  (Read 2981 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline RobJohnson

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8876
  • Reputation: +333/-109
A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« on: August 19, 2013, 02:19:39 AM »
I stumbled into this gem of a thread at CU in their b/w forum....  It's huge and Nads of course chimes in and you guessed it...she talks about the ignore function!

Quote
TekGryphon (181 posts)

A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.   
 
Last edited Sat Aug 17, 2013, 07:56 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

In 2002 I had just turned 18 and was an economic conservative. I was raised in an economically conservative household, which contributed to much of my beliefs, but a lot of it was my own naivety and ignorance at the time. I remember thinking how smart I was because I gathered my news from a wide variety of sources. What a joke, since most of those sources were conservative. I remember thinking how "open box" I was because I read Drudge Report. Hahaha.. oh Lord.

One thing I did like doing was visiting Democratic Underground. Not because I liked you guys, no. I hated you guys. Every time something bad happened to Democrats I remember rushing on here to read and feel smug at the gnashing of teeth.

But somewhere along the line some of the things I was reading here started to sink in. Cracks started forming and grew stronger.

I think what contributed most to those cracks was the respect for history, facts, and statistics of this community. While other conservatives in my social circles conveniently forgot the promises of the Bush Tax Cuts (higher wages, more employment, and lower deficits) I did not, because you guys reminded me. While others forgot about Social Security privatization and what it would have meant in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage collapse, you didn't let me forget. While others bought into the media bubble depiction of the Individual Mandate as a liberal idea, you reminded me of its multiple-decade history among the right. Your commitment to facts, statistics, and history gave me a clear view of how tax cuts for the wealthy motivated behaviors among business owners and CEO's that were contrary to the economic prosperity and economic mobility of this country.

For all of that and so much more, including being awakened to many social issues, I thank you.

There's a problem, though. While the Democratic Underground of those early years was not perfect, and it certainly had its fair share of posters with more enthusiasm than reason, it focused on and celebrated the factual, history-conscious, and reasonable debates. That is not what I see celebrated today.

Seemingly every day I come on DU now, the Greatest threads are singularly focused on various cliques engaged in passive aggressive bickering. Everyone seems to be either a Paulite, Obama-bot, Pony Chaser, etc, etc. I wish had a kept a list over the last couple of years, because it didn't even remotely start with the NSA issue.

I don't know how we can fix this, but I want to leave you with a thought that deeply disturbs me:

Had this been the Democratic Underground I had found when I was a young conservative. I might still be a conservative today.

That scares the shit out of me, and it should scare the shit out of you, too. 


Quote
nadinbrzezinski (124,938 posts)

 5. The community has changed

 in scary ways, as you noted, and as to the bickering... well, when you have true liberals (in the classic sense) and true conservatives (again in the classic sense), yes the cliques have formed.

 This place is not unlike High School

 We have the nerds, who have a respect for stats, charts, history, all that.

 We have the jocks, and we have the popular kids, as well as the bullies. And that is just scratching the surface.

 And I will be honest, this place is less and less attractive for real discussion. I keep coming for my friends... the rest... that is what ignore is for. And now I have even more of a reason to keep them there.

 Oh and I hear ya, you are correct.


Quote
nadinbrzezinski (124,938 posts)

 17. And you will have even less of those

 It's by design I fear.

 If ignore did not exist this passive aggressiveness would become open warfare...take my word on this.


Quote
nadinbrzezinski (124,938 posts)

 61. No, they really are not

 at least not in GD, perhaps in a few of the protected forums. The reality is that this place is a shell of what it used to be... it has drifted rightward, and it will continue to be less and less attractive to free thinkers. I come here anymore for friends, not debate or even news.

 I also come here any more to post Amber Alerts, and shit like that. DU used to be a place that was making a difference... not any longer. It used to be read by Congressional Staffers, that is happening less and less as well, yup, that comes from a congressional staffer

Take her word.......it's worth reading the whole thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023479213

The thread turns into a huge fight and even RobertEarl shows up.......

Quote
RobertEarl (4,109 posts)

 76. You are getting there

 And you're still young! Good evolution you have mojoing.

 So like yeah, man, everything changes, man.

 You are reaching a limit on what's new? Heh, been there done that. But when something new does happen, like this old spying story finally getting some press, where is a better place to be than DU?

 The economic news? Old.

 Politics? Older. And seemingly more corrupt. What can we do about it? Many many stories fly through here, we all go, YUP, and then as Al gore said: Got to clear some space to fit in some more newer outrage. Ya got a solution for those facts?

 A bit of advice: Never blame anyone else for your lack of anything. You want something? Make it happen. You want to see DU change? Make it happen. Be the change. You do got your mojo working. Keep it going.

 So, what are ya gonna do next?




Offline RobJohnson

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8876
  • Reputation: +333/-109
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #1 on: August 20, 2013, 12:29:15 AM »
Quote
LaydeeBug (4,968 posts)

236. There is a lot of BULLYING going on here at DU. It's smug and insidious

and it is BULLYING to be sure

Offline Chris_

  • Little Lebowski Urban Achiever
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 46845
  • Reputation: +2028/-266
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2013, 08:22:29 AM »
:bouncy:

1-1/2 bongs.  No cops, no bushes, no drunken injuns.
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline JohnnyReb

  • In Memoriam
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 32063
  • Reputation: +1998/-134
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #3 on: August 20, 2013, 08:28:51 AM »
Proof that reading DU will drive those of weak constitution insane.
“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of ‘liberalism’, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.” - Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate 1940, 1944 and 1948

"America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within."  Stalin

Offline RobJohnson

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8876
  • Reputation: +333/-109
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2013, 01:53:21 PM »
:bouncy:

1-1/2 bongs.  No cops, no bushes, no drunken injuns.

It might be a mole.

Offline obumazombie

  • Siege engine to lib fortresses
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21814
  • Reputation: +1661/-578
  • Last of the great minorities
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #5 on: August 20, 2013, 04:00:30 PM »
There were only two options for gender. At last count there are at least 12, according to libs. By that standard, I'm a male lesbian.

Offline freedumb2003b

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6055
  • Reputation: +824/-72
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #6 on: August 20, 2013, 04:29:52 PM »
It might be a mole.

I love mole'.

Most NorteAmericanos say "chocolate sauce on chicken?" but think bitter chocolate with no sugar and spices instead.  Legend has it that chocolate' was the cocoa bean ground into water with strong chili spices (which I have had and really liked [ok, with Tequila as a little spice]).

Measure with a micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with an ax

Hello to the Baizuo lurkers from DU, DI, JPR and Huffpo

DUmmies can no more understand the "Cave" than a rat can understand a thunderbolt, but they fear it just the same. Fear the "Cave", DUmmies. Fear it well. Big Dog 12-Jan-2015

Proud charter member of the Death Squad Hate Force! https://conservativecave.com/home/index.php?topic=112331.msg1386168#msg1386168

Ted Kennedy is the only person with an actual confirmed kill in the war on women.

Offline RobJohnson

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8876
  • Reputation: +333/-109
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #7 on: August 21, 2013, 03:19:14 PM »
I love mole'.

Most NorteAmericanos say "chocolate sauce on chicken?" but think bitter chocolate with no sugar and spices instead.  Legend has it that chocolate' was the cocoa bean ground into water with strong chili spices (which I have had and really liked [ok, with Tequila as a little spice]).



Zappaman claims the poster in the OP was previously banned.



Quote
Star Member kestrel91316 (46,919 posts)

275. DU has become chock full of people who seem hell bent on destroying

our sense of community. Some of them have very high post counts, too (but have managed to virtually never post anything supportive of Dems or Dem policies).

Sometimes it makes me wonder what is really going on with the site owners. Are we being played?


 :lmao:

Offline 98ZJUSMC

  • The Most Deplorable
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8424
  • Reputation: +436/-76
  • Now, with 99% less yellow!
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #8 on: August 21, 2013, 03:39:19 PM »
:bouncy:

1-1/2 bongs.  No cops, no bushes, no drunken injuns.

 :cheersmate:


Quote
Had this been the Democratic Underground I had found when I was a young conservative. I might still be a conservative today.

What a pantload.  Must be a mole.
              

Liberal thinking is a two-legged stool and magical thinking is one of the legs, the other is a combination of self-loating and misanthropy.  To understand it, you would have to be able to sit on that stool while juggling two elephants, an anvil and a fragmentation grenade, sans pin.

"Accuse others of what you do." - Karl Marx

Offline obumazombie

  • Siege engine to lib fortresses
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21814
  • Reputation: +1661/-578
  • Last of the great minorities
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #9 on: August 22, 2013, 12:19:53 AM »
Are they talking about pizza ?
There were only two options for gender. At last count there are at least 12, according to libs. By that standard, I'm a male lesbian.

Offline Skul

  • Sometimes I drink water just to surprise my liver
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12475
  • Reputation: +914/-179
  • Chief of the cathouse
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #10 on: August 22, 2013, 01:12:45 AM »
You SOB's leave my mole alone.
Stop.
Then-Chief Justice John Marshall observed, “Between a balanced republic and a democracy, the difference is like that between order and chaos.”

John Adams warned in a letter, “Remember democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet, that did not commit suicide.”

Offline RobJohnson

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8876
  • Reputation: +333/-109
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2013, 06:17:21 AM »
You SOB's leave my mole alone.
Stop.

 :lmao:

Offline Big Dog

  • ^^Smokes cigars and knows things.
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15581
  • Reputation: +1954/-213
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #12 on: August 22, 2013, 07:08:13 AM »
You SOB's leave my mole alone.
Stop.

My mole is a member in good standing of the DU GBLT posse. It's gonna hit on your mole soooo bad!
Government is the negation of liberty.
  -Ludwig von Mises

CAVE FVROREM PATIENTIS.

Offline JohnnyReb

  • In Memoriam
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 32063
  • Reputation: +1998/-134
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #13 on: August 22, 2013, 08:32:44 AM »
My mole is a member in good standing of the DU GBLT posse. It's gonna hit on your mole soooo bad!

If your mole is a good looking "L"......then she can lick my good looking "L" ...... and we'll sell the porno.
“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of ‘liberalism’, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.” - Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate 1940, 1944 and 1948

"America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within."  Stalin

Offline obumazombie

  • Siege engine to lib fortresses
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21814
  • Reputation: +1661/-578
  • Last of the great minorities
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #14 on: August 22, 2013, 10:11:21 AM »
My mole is a member in good standing of the DU GBLT posse. It's gonna hit on your mole soooo bad!
I sure hope your LGBLT mole isn't holding the bacon.
There were only two options for gender. At last count there are at least 12, according to libs. By that standard, I'm a male lesbian.

Offline Big Dog

  • ^^Smokes cigars and knows things.
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15581
  • Reputation: +1954/-213
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #15 on: August 22, 2013, 06:39:32 PM »
If your mole is a good looking "L"......then she can lick my good looking "L" ...... and we'll sell the porno.

Of course it is! I can pass for a hot lesbian at the DU.

Government is the negation of liberty.
  -Ludwig von Mises

CAVE FVROREM PATIENTIS.

Offline dutch508

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12581
  • Reputation: +1733/-1068
  • Remember
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #16 on: August 22, 2013, 09:30:13 PM »
Of course it is! I can pass for a hot lesbian at the DU.




You two should get married... :-)
The torch of moral clarity since 12/18/07

2016 DOTY: 06 Omaha Steve - Is dying for ****'s face! How could you not vote for him, you heartless bastards!?!

Offline Big Dog

  • ^^Smokes cigars and knows things.
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15581
  • Reputation: +1954/-213
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #17 on: August 23, 2013, 06:10:29 AM »

You two should get married... :-)

In the Socialist State of DU, same-sex marriage is not encouraged, it's mandatory.
Government is the negation of liberty.
  -Ludwig von Mises

CAVE FVROREM PATIENTIS.

Offline 98ZJUSMC

  • The Most Deplorable
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8424
  • Reputation: +436/-76
  • Now, with 99% less yellow!
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #18 on: August 23, 2013, 09:07:32 AM »
You SOB's leave my mole alone.
Stop.

 :lol:
              

Liberal thinking is a two-legged stool and magical thinking is one of the legs, the other is a combination of self-loating and misanthropy.  To understand it, you would have to be able to sit on that stool while juggling two elephants, an anvil and a fragmentation grenade, sans pin.

"Accuse others of what you do." - Karl Marx

Offline RobJohnson

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8876
  • Reputation: +333/-109
Re: A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.
« Reply #19 on: August 25, 2013, 12:53:09 AM »
In the Socialist State of DU, same-sex marriage is not encouraged, it's mandatory.

 :-)