I think some of our "new" posters could use some DU help.

[Barack_America]

They seem to be having some difficulty identifying the political story of the moment, which is Donald Trump, Russia, and the outlandish claims he has made against Obama to try to distract us from that.

Some of our newer, less-experienced posters, are getting hung up on more "fancy" topics such as old primary disputes, nonsense about the proper way to sit on a couch, etc.

While even more experienced DUers can be led astray to focus on these more disruptive non-issues, we know that they "bear" no threat to our democracy compared to Donald Trump, Russia and the GOP's scramble to cover that up.

So, when we see our new DUers distracted by these "fancy" topics that "bear" so little consequence, let's be helpful DUers and redirect them back to Donald Trump and Russia.

[sunonmars]

1. I dont give a fuck how Kellyanne sits in the WH,i'm justconcerned she's working in the WH full stop

[leftstreet]

7. It was probably Obama

[Barack_America]

8. I fully expected it.

It does border on meta, but I felt it was something worth mentioning.

Our newer members seem to be posting OP's about everything but Trump and Russia. They could clearly use some help in identifying the political story of the moment.

If you catch what I'm saying.

We're not alone here, as Election Day showed us. That hack clearly came from another continent.

[ret5hd]

26. That "hack" came from DU's front yard.

[Warpy]

55. Yes, it did

The video had "eastern Europe" written all over it.

[Ron Obvious]

9. And now someone alerted on THIS...

LOL

[vlyons]

4. Oh relax!

People are having fun ridiculing anything in Trump world. There is value in ridiculing would be autocrats and their sycophants and minions. If you think a comment is a waste of time, don't reply to it.

[LOL Lib]

28. Totally Agree!

It's a message board with multiple forums. Telling people how to post sounds like something team Drumpf or Putin would dream up.

If you don't like a post or thread just ignore it. If new members are so bad just put them on ignore.

[Hekate]

48. The OP is not "telling people how to post," and it isn't "something team Drumpf or Putin would dream

...up," LOL Lib. Read the TOS and consider the civility clause.

[vlyons]

52. no one has been uncivil to you

Not called you any mean nasty names. They've just disagreed with your OP.

[LOL Lib]

57. The OP is specifically stating that only matters pertaining to Drumpf

Should be discussed. Limiting the topics of liberal discussion to only Drumpf sounds EXACTLY like something a dictator would do. Next I hope you and the OP will tell me that my opinions matter less because of my gender.

[iluvtennis]

38. +100 nt

[Demsrule86]

5. Yes some are in the weeds...and some have an unknown purpose.

Either way it keeps us on stuff that is important to fighting Trump.

[ornotna]

6. Ding ding ding

We have a winner.

[lapucelle]

10. Kellyanne looked "cozy" on the couch, and that might "bear"

noting as well.

[Barack_America]

14. Indeed.

[susanna]

25. Precisely. n/t

[B2G]

11. So that's the only topic up for discussion?

Because...you say so?

[Barack_America]

12. Dems are united and focused on exposing Donald Trump's connections to Russia...

That's THE story of the moment. If people would rather discuss Sanders or Conway or Stein, okay, but it's my right to wonder why someone would push a topic like that right now.

[emulatorloo]

15. It is a discussion board. People discuss things.

If you don't approve of a discussion, trash thread. Rather than baselessly accusing your fellow DU'ers of being trolls.

[Barack_America]

19. And a very talented group of hackers happened upon DU on Election Day...

...thought, "this would be fun", and that was the end of it. They had never been here before...or since.

Nope.

Am I suspicious of low count posters who start OPs on divisive topics?

Yes, yes I am. Just wanted to alert others that I've seen a few of those today...

[emulatorloo]

23. I've seen those threads. They aren't pushing Pro-Trump talking points.

I don't see any Trump trolling.

And by the way, not sure what gives you the idea that discussing Stein is off-limits.

[pintobean]

30. Well, it's a good thing you're not being divisive

because that's exactly what disruptive trolls would want.

[cwydro]

53. Lol, thanks for this.

What a patronizing OP.

Smh.

[B2G]

16. There a a TON of posts on Russia

You can easily ignore the others.

[msongs]

13. just post "link to tweet" with no other content. its the new DU way nt

[grantcart]

17. I f you tweet that and post it as an OP I predict 400 recs

[Gore1FL]

27. That only works when the thread title is "LMAO" or "OMG" or similar.

Otherwise you only get in double digits!

[Barack_America]

21. I was actually lamenting that earlier today...

...remembering the days when posts had, you know, content, original thought...that kind of useless stuff.

Those just sink hopelessly these days.

But alas, this IS meta, and now I am distracting from Trump and Russia, just as our fancy and cozy friends want.

Isn't it creepy to think those same fuckers who hacked the DNC could be lurking here and involved in DU's hack?

[JudyM]

36. I've lamented that, too.

[Hekate]

49. +1

[truebluegreen]

56. Yes, where did those people go?

[Beartracks]

45. Or "OMG!" to something Maddow or Reid just said on TV, with no context. n/t

===================

[FakeNoose]

18. New poster here ...

and I get what you're saying.

But the person who posted the pic of Kellyanne on the couch chose the wrong Topic for the post. The post itself was OK, but it should have been placed in the "Offbeat" topic.

Why can't there be a way to move posts into the Topic where they really belong?
Then it's not a big deal when somebody posts it incorrectly.

Just sayin'.

[Barack_America]

22. Welcome.

[mopinko]

35. we used to.

now its on the poster to do it themselves if it gets locked.
it was a pain for the old mods.

[MFM008]

20. Stay focused

RUSSIA. MONEY.

[sagesnow]

44. I SO agree.

Stay focused. Avoid getting distracted by Kellyanne Squirrels and other shiny objects.

[Beartracks]

47. And GOP AGENDA.

Under cover of this chaos, they'll be rolling out an agenda that will actually harm Americans.

=======================

[logosoco]

24. I like having a broad range of topics to discuss.

But I do prefer to focus on the now and the future.
We can learn from the past but nothing is happening there now.

[mwooldri]

29. But.... Bernie Sanders!

He went into Trump Tower personally and put the bugs in place. Just to disrupt Hillary!

Old Primary Disputes should be ignored, after all Bernie Sanders and Angus King (people forget about him) are really Democrats in all but name, but we have some actual Democrats who are Democrats in Name Only. Look at their voting record. How someone sits down doesn't worry me, but we can talk about that if it matters.

It also intrigues the heck out of me that the Republican Party has co-opted the colour red. The same colour that signifies Communism. So even if there is no Russian connection, we do have a bunch of Reds in the White House.

[erronis]

32. Agree. And forget about Hitler, Stalin, stazi, KGB, everything else!!!

History is so boring. Keep to the message, children!

Which is: Some people that are related to the Evil Cheeto have had some contacts with a buff Russian male, or his appendages/apprentices. This is totally scandalous! Bigger and better than email servers, bigger than corporatists funding the whole f'in electoral process!

Red is BAD. Blue is GOOD. Back to bed and sleep well, my little darlings.

[Ilsa]

31. I brought up the topic of having a Trump scandal/crime forum to

separate the serious, almost daily events of 45's emerging betrayal to our nation from other serious topics (bills emerging from our hateful congress, SCOTUS and other court stuff, etc) and fluff like Kellyanne Conjob putting her feet on the Oval Office sofa.

Are we ready to approach the owners and administrators to create a forum for all the intel, leaks, russian murders, and other documentation of 45's crimes?


http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028745018

[bekkilyn]

33. But the grizzly bear threat is a huge problem in our schools. (nt)

[littlemissmartypants]

34. This thread is making me miss Christmas.

You know, that time around the table. We drink wine, eat till we puke up politeness and hide behind constipated smiles. Sorry.

NO! I hate Christmas.

It needed to be said, Barack_America. You're showing your bravery and devotion. Thank you for setting an example.

__________

Focus is your most vital tool.
Whatever you focus on, you strengthen.

____________

Thank you for the post, Barack_America.
♡

[HipChick]

37. OP...K&R...Russia and Follow The Money

[JNelson6563]

39. I think this is brilliant.

Additionally, many of the posts from our new DUers are proving to be alert worthy. I saw one earlier, sadly distracted with old primary battles, but did not comment. Moved on and seconds later invited to be on a jury. Guess which post. I was glad to helpfully vote on the merits of said post in the hopes of educating new DUer.

Here to help.

[John Lee Pettimore]

40. I am new and confused.

Does this mean that we can or can not post about bears?

[pintobean]

46. I think we're back to this.

[BlueWI]

41. There are always multiple important stories.

Obviously the epic fail and potentially seditious Trump administration needs prominent and daily resistance, and a lot of resistance has happened. More is needed. Meanwhile, two huge recent stories with implications for 2018 are also important, and that is the DNC leadership election and the pro-union activism in Mississippi by the NAACP, UAW, the Sierra Club, and Bernie Sanders. This unionization campaign is even being covered prominently by WaPo, but in my observation it hasn't gotten the same prominence here on DU due to the post-primary divisions. Only way to reduce the divisions is to discuss them respectfully when they arise, if you ask me.

How about welcoming a diversity of views on issues on this site since most or all share the same end goal of defeating Republicans, sustaining Democratic victories, and passing progressive and socially just legislation? Opinions differ on priorities on any given moment in the news cycle. Perhaps we could all live with that fact and move forward.

[Hekate]

42. How can we redirect the obsession with fantasy electoral do-overs & how HRC becomes POTUS by...

...knocking off Trump, Pence, and the Speaker of the House simultaneously?

Dozens of putative newbies have flooded in waves with this fantasy since November. They don't listen. They are joined by some DUers in this time-wasting exercise, altho most DUers have gotten over the fantasy and accepted the Constitutional reality.

At this point I am more than tired of the exercise and I am beginning to wonder where this meme is coming from and why so many have joined to engage us in it. I've not seen the like before.

[OldHippieChick]

43. Some of us are female and capable of

paying attention to all these things simultaneously.

[oldcynic]

50. Why not comment on Conway, the ideal republican female toy...

She's doing her best to be a teen-aged pedophile dream but it doesn't quite work when a middle-aged, haggard, dyed woman behaves like a fourteen year old at a slumber party. She's desperately pretending to match Twitler's ideal...cute, gullible, naive, innocent, adoring, obedient madonna/whore. What's cuter than your little former plaything curled up on a couch taking pictures of your big important self condescending to be in a room with the lowly. Think what she had to go through to get into that position. She tells you more about Twitler than she does about herself. And that's worth talking about.

[LiberalLovinLug]

51. Is this OP a joke?

That's what I thought at first. Satirical.

So lets all forget about the fact that the GOP is maddly passing destructive legislation. This OP is the best news they could ever hope to hear from Democrats.

The GOP has been busy

Selling off public lands
Rolling back regulations
Curbing the 1st Amendment with anti-protest laws
Making it easier to hide dark money

I'm missing others I know.


So newcomers are unwelcome unless they 'focus' on one issue. Chewing gum and walking are not allowed by the veteran elites on DU. The gum is still sweet in the mouth so stop your damn walking forward. Those other issues will take care of themselves if everyone jumps on the overcrowded bandwagon of one issue.

Brilliant.

[Barack_America]

59. Earlier today, there were a string of drive-by, divisive OPs...

...by low post-count posters. The OPs were clearly trying to distract and sow division. This thread was my attempt to encourage other posters to not fall for it, and let them sink (without violating the TOS).

Taken out of the context of the time this OP was posted, I can understand the confusion.

[Kimchijeon]

54. I do like having multiple discussions and various topics

Granted, there have been floods of new and returning users since the election. And for understandable reason, we want to discuss, vent, share, plan and organize in a supportive environment.

For myself I appreciate having such a variety of discussions going on, even if some are just fantasy pontificating "what if, wouldn't it be great if". I know that there's bound to be trolls as always, but that just comes with the territory on any forum.

Anything that will help to expose and oust the fascist enablers in office I think deserves attention. And there seems to be some real possibility with the Russia issue, I look forward to seeing that progress and what gets uncovered!

[demmiblue]

58. Also, stating one's desire to stomp the left in the face every chance he gets...

is also probably not a good idea.

We need to unite against the republicans. And if one cannot handle uniting for our common cause, then they should probably think about posting elsewhere.

[Warren DeMontague]

60. Fancy!

[bdamomma]

61. The Russia/Jeff Sessions/Election Infiltration

and of course his Tax returns should not be taken off the radar.

45 has such contempt for the American people, he thinks we are NOT concerned about his antics.

He better think again. Oops that's if he can THINK!

[applegrove]

62. Guests? I always offer them some cocktail sausages out of a can. I keep

cans on hand as you never know when guests will show up on the DU.

[hauweg]

63. Trump/Russia is one thing

"New" poster here. While the Trump/Russia link is important, some people seem to get that distracted to not
see what else is going on. For example:
1. HR 861 Terminate the Environmental Protection Agency
2. HR 610 Vouchers for Public Education
3. HR 899 Terminate the Department of Education
4. HJR 69 Repeal Rule Protecting Wildlife
5. HR 370 Repeal Affordable Care Act
6. HR 354 Defund Planned Parenthood
7. HR 785 National Right to Work
8. HR 83 Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Bill
9. HR 147 Criminalizing Abortion
10. HR 808 Sanctions against Iran

[oldcynic]

64. (repeat) excellent, except make it more personal

Publish a list of the ways Americans are being skinned alive
Tell people the Environmental Protection Agency is being wiped out and Twitler supporters say "so what". Why not, instead, publish a list that is personal and simple enough for those a burger short of a whopper. It would be a shockingly long list and might...might...have more impact than political arguments.
IN YOUR NAME: (or something)
1. Your pet's food will no longer be inspected for poisons.
2. Asian carp will eat the native fish you want to catch in the Great Lakes.
3. Coal dust can now be dumped in your creek.
4.
5.
The idea is to make it public and expandable somehow. Can it be done?


If there are turds in the toilet, flush.