I know this post will get locked in 48 seconds, but... [WITH UPDATE]

[MannyGoldstein]

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

would it kill people to be nice to each other?

There's no need to call each other assholes or other nasty personal stuff. We can disagree with one another, even disagree mightily, even butt heads, but we're all on the same team and should be civil.

Hell, I don't think I even call Republicans the kind of names we call each other around here.

We're all frustrated for a lot of reasons. So what. Be civil. Or civilization goes to Hell.

UPDATE: I'm amazed that the mods are asleep at the wheel and haven't killed this thread yet, and heartened by the approval of this post's sentiment. However, I will do what the mods are perhaps too drunk or high to do, and PULL THIS POST if I see that it gets any more votes than this one:

The Real Numbers: Half of America in Poverty -- and It's Creeping toward 75%

After all, my post is just whining about DU, but xchrom's is about real human suffering. (Of course, if we stop calling each other assholes, we might be able to do something about real human suffering...)

[Mister Ed]

1. K + R. IBTL n/t

[uppityperson]

2. k&r. Do you mean just DU or in general, people in general?

[MannyGoldstein]

3. DU at the least!

But the whole world, even better.

[uppityperson]

5. Well, if it is the whole world, then it fits GD and isn't just whining about DU

soo.....................

[MannyGoldstein]

7. In that case, I meant to say "just the whole world".

Thanks for your strategic vision!

[uppityperson]

67. By the way, there are no Mods any more. The Hosts aren't drunk or sleeping either, why say that?

Being one of them. I wish you hadn't said that as it kind of goes against what your post WAS saying. "would it kill people to be nice to each other? There's no need to call each other assholes or other nasty personal stuff." And you say we are asleep at the wheel, or too drunk or high to pull this post.

Would it kill people to be nice to each other? There's no need to call each other assholes or other nasty personal stuff like asleep at the wheel, drunk or high.

Unrec for that.

[hrmjustin]

4. Lock it! Lock it I say! Be nice to one another, who ever heard of that!

Just smile and wave to the mean people Manny! That is what I try to do.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

51. I do this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2909200

[defacto7]

6. I'm in agreement.

It not only gets out of hand, it gets downright weird.

[whathehell]

59. Me too.

It's gotten completely out of hand here lately.

[ProSense]

8. Evidently,

"...would it kill people to be nice to each other? There's no need to call each other assholes or other nasty personal stuff."

...the "personal stuff" is sanctioned by some.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2906279
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2906342

[MannyGoldstein]

37. I love the part during the Yom Kippur service...

where we recount the long list of sins that we've committed during the previous year. You name it, it's there. And we don't just read the ones we think apply. We read all of 'em. Because we've done all of 'em. Each of us.

[Hekate]

60. I like that part too, Manny. You are so right.

I miss going since hubby quit. We used to make a point of taking his mother, then she passed on... All things change. But I came to love the services.

And I appreciate your OP. A lot.

Hekate

[Quantess]

9. Lashing out and behaving rudely is a symptom of feeling lousy within yourself.

People who feel crappy about themselves try to take down others, even when there is no gain. Something to remember.

[MADem]

68. This is very true. People here are even lashing out at the GD hosts....who aren't getting paid.

I think it's kind of funny that the OP's plea for more civility is accompanied by so much snark towards the people who volunteer to be, in essence, the "topic police." I think this is because they want the hosts to also police for civility--but that's the job of the juries.

Oh, well!

GD hosts that are awake are aware of this thread, too... for whatever that's worth.

[defacto7]

70. Well, this was a fun thread,

till you guys showed up.

[MADem]

71. Who guys? I am not a GD host. I have been one, though, and I know how it works.

So much for that "civility plea" in the OP.... I guess some opinions are more valid than others..?

[defacto7]

73. My apologies MADem

You are playing that part though. And yours' are the rudest comments in this thread. So I'll back off and delete my last comment because you are not what you pretend to be.

Have a nice day.

[MADem]

74. My comments are rude? In what way?

All I'm doing is noting that there's a bit of cognitive dissonance between the remarks made (about civility, and about the hosts) within the OP.

I am not playing any part--I'm old. What you see is what you get. I call 'em as I see 'em.

[defacto7]

75. Be well!

It doesn't matter!

[MADem]

76. We don't learn without feedback. I just didn't understand where I was rude, is all.

But if you don't want to converse, that's your choice.

[defacto7]

77. No worries.

I may not have been correct. No feedback necessary. I'm old too.

[Quantess]

78. No you weren't rude.

Maybe some people mistake being opinionated (opinions they don't share) for rudeness.

[MADem]

79. I didn't understand the point at all...I also didn't see his or her deleted comment below.

Maybe that would have explained the POV...?

I can't spend too much time worrying over it, I suppose!

Cheers!

[JaneyVee]

10. I've been wondering the same thing. Anyone remember tolerance?

[NRaleighLiberal]

11. Huge K and R!

[niyad]

24. are those some of the ones you are growing this year? beautiful.

[NRaleighLiberal]

31. some of my go-to, top flavor varieties...

Lucky Cross (my own creation from an unexpected bee cross), Ferris Wheel (1890s Salzer Seed Co, I found it languishing in the USDA collection), Sungold, Cherokee chocolate (which I found as a mutation in Cherokee Purple), Green Giant (from someone in Germany).

thanks!

[niyad]

36. thanks for the info--you have made me even more impatient for our farmers' market to start.

[R B Garr]

53. Those are just beautiful! You have a gold mine there

in so many ways. I just love Heirloom tomatoes (I think those are Heirlooms?). First, it must be so personally enriching to grow your own things like that. But when you go to buy them, they are so expensive! I spent almost $20 on tomatoes for this tart from Giada's recipe on Foodnetwork! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/heirloom-tomato-and-basil-tart-recipe/index.html

I got the tomatoes from Bristol Farms here in my area, and it's an upscale, pricey place, but I was still floored to spend that much. You must have a ton of great recipes for them. Enjoy!

[NRaleighLiberal]

58. I was lucky - got involved in them early on (mid 1980s), so developed

a passion/obsession/expertise. It's been fun...still is, suspect it always will be.

[NYC_SKP]

12. I agree, I think people often mean.

No need to lock, IMO.

[Art_from_Ark]

13. The world should put a little love in its heart

[Katashi_itto]

38. I like the Annie Lennox version better :)

[Mnemosyne]

14. Wrong Manny, it's been 16 minutes, still not locked. Good. I agree, how hard is it to just be kind

To one another?

[Buzz Clik]

23. ..

[niyad]

27. how did you catch one of my kits in that bad a mood?

[Whisp]

15. 'we are all on the same team'

[rhett o rick]

39. Yes we are. The Ruling Elite like nothing better than when we fight with each other. nm

[nolabear]

16. Amen. It shuts down all hope of an actual discussion, or even a good fight.

Apparently your 48 seconds isn't up yet, and I'm glad it isn't.

Rock on, MannyGoldstein.

[Skittles]

17. YOU WANT I SHOULD KICK SOME ASSHOLE ASS, MANNY_MON?

LEMME AT THEM!!!

[MannyGoldstein]

19. That's very unladylike of you.

Seriously.

[Skittles]

32. ME NO LADY!!!

I'm a kickass GAL

[MannyGoldstein]

50. GAL?

Is that appropriate again?

I lose track.

[Skittles]

52. well.....I AM in Texas

[MannyGoldstein]

54. 'Nuff said.

Yikes.

[Make7]

18. Did you just call us all butt heads?

Go to hell!!1!

[BlueStreak]

21. Yes. I was just going to ask the same thing.

That's just wrong to say "You 'butt heads' should be nice to one another."

[Buzz Clik]

20. You've got to figure out what you want.

It was not that long ago you were complaining that your threads were far too boring. Dutifully, I took it upon my self to be as offensive as possible to you in all your threads.

Now you want people to make nice?

You're going to give us all whiplash.

[MannyGoldstein]

26. Well, if it's the thread I'm thinking of...

It was more of a realization of what Hunter Thompson meant when he said "when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro". Turns out it was a lament, not an exhortation, when the world gets weird then things become boring for weird people like me.

I don't think I implored people to hurl invective.

[Buzz Clik]

30. Are you shitting me?

Over a month of stalking, insulting, cursing, and abusing you, and you were simply channeling a gonzo journalist?

No I really am pissed off at you.

But, who can stay angry at you?

Who am I kidding? I'm always angry. Take off, Manny, and quit whining.

But, how 'bout a hug first?

[MannyGoldstein]

40. I'm an admirer of Thompson's insight and prose

But a much different animal.

[Buzz Clik]

42. Nice hug.

[undergroundpanther]

64. if invective is gonna be hurled

I am gonna set up this fan and make a hasty retreat.
hehe...

[asjr]

22. Manny, you are exactly right. I have thought the same

thing for quite some time but never brought it up I guess I thought I would be called some awful name.

[ReRe]

25. It's really hard to not be cranky...

... in the this country right now. But you're right. Manny. We may have come here from lots of different directions and persuasions, but we're all in the same boat now. If we fight with each other, they win. Life sucks in the USA right now. And people are having a hard time coping with it all. Remember those days of the ago, when the employers paid real benefits? And gave merit raises every year? Bonuses at Christmas? Job security? We do need to give each other some slack.

[closeupready]

28. How DARE you!

K&R

[lindysalsagal]

29. I just left a bar where someone came in just looking for a fight.

It took her 3 minutes. She chose me, I alerted the bartender and left, post haste.

Some people just go through life looking for fights, and it's real easy when it's online and anonymous.

Even when someone is trying just to lay out opposing arguments, others on DU decide they've just been attacked.

It's not personal, unless you actually know someone in real life, so there should be no personal attacks.

We even have an ignore function, so there's no excuse for the insults. That's why I don't spend much time on here- what's the point? You're going to have to tolerate alot of useless crap to read a few good, informed responses.

[Buzz Clik]

35. Thank you, Pollyanna. To avoid another dose of saccharin, I'm putting you on ignore.

[lindysalsagal]

41. Thank you for making my point: just looking for a fight.

And insulting someone you don't even know.

This just dilutes the point of this board.

[Buzz Clik]

43. Re-read my post -- the message text.

<=== this is your clue I was kidding.

[rhett o rick]

33. It's vitally important that we Democrats get along. The Ruling Elites want us to in-fight

to distract us from what they are doing to us.

[MannyGoldstein]

44. Yep. So everyone should just agree with me.

That'd make it simple.

[rhett o rick]

46. I will agree with you Manny. Are you buying? nm

[GoneOffShore]

34. Be kind.

Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

Plato

[cui bono]

45. I've alerted a few times on threads that were posted with no other intent but to ridicule

those who had a differing viewpoint. It was so obvious there was no question that it was not about having any discussion, simply to have a party making fun of other DUers. And they always were left to stand. DU has really become something completely different than when I joined. At this point it's going to start rivaling random comments from any internet article.

Am I 100% innocent? No, I'm not. But the things I've seen posted are really awful and do not foster discussion in the least, they stifle it.
Which I'm sure is the goal of quite a few.

[Rowdyboy]

47. My advice: "Be excellent to each other. And PARTY ON DUDES!"

I think that pretty much sums it up.

[hfojvt]

48. "Bernard, I want you to know that I try"

[Loudly]

49. You're obviously not going to be banned taking a non-controversial stance like

You're obviously not going to be banned taking a non-controversial stance like love everyone.

But try taking a controversial stance like so-and-so is an asshole.

And see how much love u get going to go along.

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. It's Memorial Day...what did you expect?

[Chaco Dundee]

56. good point

You might as well grow up about this,because it does not matter how hard you try,Reality is dicated by different folke.

[hfojvt]

57. ouch, now you see

my video is how I reacted to the thread you just linked to, and I wasn't very nice there, perhaps.

xchrom posts a lot of great stuff and is usually there supporting my own efforts, but that article is just nonsense.

[Corruption Inc]

61. If I may add my observation...

Very few people/posters at this website are "on the same team". There are a lot of posters pretending to be democratic voters that are just trying to sell some viewpoint and they become intensely irrational, mean and bullying towards anyone who challenges them. Almost every thread I read is full of them and so I use the ignore feature.

I applaud your effort to change it but the only thing that can really be done is to ignore the trolls.

[defacto7]

62. It reminds me of a song....

Happy happy joy joy
Happy happy joy
Happy happy joy joy
Happy happy joy
Happy happy joy joy
Happy happy joy
Happy happy joy joy joy!

... sorry... it's from the 90s...

[undergroundpanther]

66. happy helmet

lol remember that,best cartoon EVAR!

[defacto7]

69. Yeay!!!

That's what's needed for some "unhappy" DUers.

Love Ren and Stimpy! and happy helmet!

[abq e streeter]

63. Thank you....And happy to be rec # 100

[MADem]

65. There is a caveat to the GD SOP guidelines that if

people are having fun, and the post is not doing any harm, the hosts can use judgment in exercising enforcement of the SOP.

I suspect that is what is happening, here--not that the hosts are "high or drunk." I think it's a bit ironic that you start off talking about "civility" and then suggest that the people who volunteer to keep the shit swept up around here with some semblance of organization (no one is getting paid to do that stuff) are 'too drunk or high'--kind of a rude characterization. IMO.

Not clear what you're asking for, though. Do you want YOUR post to get more votes than xchrom's? Or do you want xchrom's to get more votes than yours (that has already happened)?

I am a fan of being civil to one another, but I don't hold out much hope for a "Change The World" moment here. There are too many people here who like to get their Drama on, who use DU as a preferable outlet to kicking the dog, or who are powerless in their real lives and like to play the Internet Tough Guy in their virtual lives.

Don't give the jerks too much attention--that usually works. Call 'em as you see 'em--if someone is being shitty or rude, tell them so, and then tell them to have one of those nice days. Those sorts are just looking for someone to fight with to make themselves feel important. Deny them.

[Egalitarian Thug]

80. Sorry Manny, I think I understand what you're trying to say and genuinely sympathize

with the sentiment, but the fact is that assholes have become the overwhelming majority in this nation (maybe that they always were and I just failed to notice) and they are very well represented on this site. I've no doubt that I am counted among them, perhaps by you, certainly by those for whom being a DU "cool kid" is the pinnacle of, and reason for, their existence.

We're not on the same, or any team. This is not a community, it's not a club (literally anybody can join), and nobody that matters pays any attention to what goes on here. It has had no effect on the issues that it pretends to address. It's just a means to an income for three people. Thom Hartmann seems to occasionally use this place to find topics on slow news days or when his show gets stale, but like Thom's show, the unfortunate fact is that you could stuff the entirety of it into the eye of any major players and it wouldn't even feel the need to blink.

I don't know if you are younger, more tolerant, or perhaps you just haven't experienced the consequences of their ministrations to the same degree that so many of their victims have, but it should be clear to you by now that many of the most prolific posters here are here for no other purpose than to exorcise and validate their own selfish agendas.

Anyone that is outraged and pissed off by this oh-so-very-unacceptable reply, before you hit the alert button, do yourself a favor; spend the next two weeks tracking how much time you waste here and promise yourself that you will spend that much time actually working to help alleviate the real human suffering that Manny and xchrom are talking about.

[Warren DeMontague]

81. Locking.

Your wish is granted. This is pure meta. No "whining about DU".

I can't speak for the rest of the hosts- not mods anymore, sorry - but while I've been drunk, high or asleep -sometimes all at once!- many assorted times in my life, now's not one.