to the old timers on DU

[wilt the stilt]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by EarlG (a host of the General Discussion forum).

what has happened to this once progressive liberal website we all enjoyed. Now there are more trolls that ever. I long for the days when Elizabeth Edwards was a member. I know I sound nostalgic but it sure was nice.

[Scuba]

1. I was an early advocate of the jury system, but have reversed my position...

... the old mods were doing a far better job of keeping DU free of right-wingers and their talking points. It's very disappointing.

[hlthe2b]

2. Nuke of newbie trolls is at pretty record levels right now...

I can assure you that MIRT records for nuking newbie trolls is at an all time high... Clearly there is a concerted effort on the part of certain RW websites and NRA-affiiliated to spread the propaganda here. The fact is that it isn't hard for some to hide out in the gungeon long enough to surpass the 100 posts that pretty much takes them out of MIRT's hands--during 'normal' times when gun posts are not allowed in GD... But the light shone on them in GD, following recent horrendous mass killings, has netted quite a few, who are clearly not here to participate as democrats/progressives, but only disrupt on gun issues.

The gungeon, though, has become a portal for many to blend in long enough to establish themselves--a stated fact that will offend some more progressive regulars there, but true, nonetheless.


This needs to be posted in Meta, rather than GD, btw, as it is likely to be locked...

[WilliamPitt]

3. Used to be a place to get away from right-wing talking points.

That was, in fact, its central purpose and most beloved feature. If I want to argue with some buckethead about their absolute right to own an AK-47 or AR-15 with high-capacity magazines etc. etc., the Yahoo boards are wide open. This used to be a refuge. Now, we're told to use the "Trash Thread" feature, as if that somehow cleanses the poison.

It's funny you posted this. I came to DU this morning and immediately regretted it; the first three things I saw really pissed me off and grossed me out. That has been a common experience of late. This will be my only post here today; I promised myself a weekend off from being mad about what used to be such a fantastic place.

Cheers.

[backwoodsbob]

4. this site has went to hell

I blame it somewhat on the battlenet kiddies growing up and bringing their attack attack attack style of posting to political forums

[HereSince1628]

5. There are more trolls because we've expanded the definition to include DUers

And the presidential election brought in another crop of 'loyalists' with their litmus tests.

My experience is that old-cheerleaders never die.

They just can't find people to argue with who supported Howard Dean, John Edwards, or Wes Clark...

So, they are forced to disparage honest people with concerns about the rightward lean of compromise.

Or Democrats who own guns, or Democrats that eat meat, or whatever the cause of outrage for the week is going to be.

[spanone]

6. i'm just amazed at how Obama is shit upon day after day RIGHT HERE on d.u.

and i mean heaping tons of shit.

i'm not talking about fair criticism.

i'm talking about shit.

[FarPoint]

11. This is true...

and it is destroying our Board.

[liberal N proud]

7. A new influx of trolls

But this wave too will pass. The trolls will either lose interest or be weeded out over time. We have experienced this before and will again.

I suspect much of this wave is as a result of the gun debate. That alone has exposed even some long time DUers true colors.

[FarPoint]

8. DU is now a business more than a service style message board.

I understand we all more forward. Those days of bonding are now history. I have learned to comb thru the threads and ignore offensive posts. That's the new DU. I have adjusted accordingly. I savor the memories.

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

9. Elizabeth Edwards was a member!?!?

That is so awesome! She was a class act! God rest her soul.

[Fumesucker]

10. To employ the appropriate vernacular, DU has become a target rich environment

[unblock]

12. two problems i see: one, the jury system is new and therefore imperfect

i'm not yet at a point of throwing in the towel, but i think it needs tweaking. an appeal system, or perhaps 3-3 ties should be hidden rather than left.

second, it turns out that many on du weren't merely critical of shrub, they were just plain critical people. which is all well and good when directed at republicans, but when a democrat is in the oval office it's not nearly as much fun. i'm not sure what can be done about this; it's the classic challenge of governing as the "in" party vs. dissenting as the "out" party.

[Uben]

13. You have to accept that everything changes.....

..not just here, everywhere. Change is constant. Yeah, we've changed immensely since I first rolled in here in 01, but that was to be expected, and we will continue to morph. We will be fighting new battles, we'll see new people here, and there will always be dissent.....it's the nature of the beast!

[elfin]

14. Was a political, sane oasis

Now many rude and/or unnecessarily harsh posters, thinly disguised wingers, belligerence, etc. causing too many of our more temperate members to leave, feeling bullied.

Been here since 2002.