Thanks Skinner for a better forum

[steve2470]

I've been here for almost 13 years. I've seen many many many "digital dustups" here. To be expected, of course.

However, many of those have been quite, um, non-productive, to put it politely.

Since you changed the TOS, MOST of the dustups have been, IMHO, productive. Exchange of information. Cordial disagreement. Very Democratic and democratic.

Forums should contain accurate information, and mostly productive disagreements or at least cordial ones. IMHO. Thanks again Skinner.

[KT2000]

1. Agree

it is more civil here now.

[Demsrule86]

2. Yes indeed.

I like that we have rules for juries and no one knows who is on the juries or who was alerted on.

[retrowire]

3. I agree but

I also think the cooldown coincides with the god damned primaries being over.

[Steven Maurer]

4. The primaries aren't over on my facebook page

I have a small handful of friends who are - I have no better way to put it - left wing kooks. Total "punish the Democrats for rigging the primary for Hillary (who is a complete NAZI and it was rigged because I say so), with Trump" types.

It's amazing to say, but the DU is better than Facebook now.

[retrowire]

5. Sigh...

They've given into emotion rather than reason.

[Ezior]

17. This is a global phenomenon

German news site Spiegel Online posted a Susan Sarandon interview yesterday. Of course she explained why she is so happy that Trump is such a horrible president, because now the revolution has been started. Then she went on to explain that Trump is still better than Hillary because Hillary supports fracking and because of Lybia.

(Interview: http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/leute/susan-sarandon-ueber-fluechtlinge-donald-trump-angela-merkel-g20-a-1156065.html )

Knowing her, I of course expected this. But whenever I read someone who says this i still go WTF. WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU.

So then I checked some of the (German) comments and guess what? "Cool, finally someone tells the truth about Obama and Hillary! Yeah, Trump sucks, but WHAT ABOUT Hillary and Obama? Bernie would have been so much better!" / "Yeah, right! WHAT ABOUT the DNC lawsuit?!?!?!?" / "Instead of bashing Trump all the time, finally someone tells the truth about the failing US! Obama was really bad! Everyone pretends that Hillary was the best?"

So 3 out of the first 5 comments are left wing kooks. Or maybe Russian trolls? They seem to hate the US in any case.

It makes me sick everytime I read comments like this. Comparing Trump to Hillary or Obama is crazy – and not coming to the conclusion that Trump is THE WORST is absolutely insane. I now doubt democracy if you can DESTROY a fine woman like Hillary Clinton simply by having trolls post shit about her for a few months. This must be some kind of nightmare!

[Orrex]

19. Dammit, Janet.

If dear Sue had to work for a living, she'd be singing a different tune.

[Corvo Bianco]

23. My supposedly-reasonable Bavarian friend hates Hillary. Reason? None.

She is the steady and capable woman that millions cast the rage of their trembling masculinity upon.
And that makes her my hero.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

6. I hope we can civilly debate issues and direction for the Democratic Party.

I.e. I would like to take back the term "Democratic Party" from Republicans that childishly say they either want to work with or criticize Dems by referencing "Democrat Party". It always is wrong, insulting, and we just let that slide by. Taking that back and specifying what a liberal is and has done for this country vs what Neo-cons and Cons have done to this country via war and corporate personhood.

[zentrum]

7. Still finding

...it like egg shells around here. Very hard to dare an honest examination of problems within the democratic ranks. I miss the in-depth analysis that used to take place.

[steve2470]

8. got a post you can link to ?

Your walking-on-egg-shells-shoes might be more like army boots to some. It's possible. People are different.

[zentrum]

10. No, I don't save posts or names

...or keep notes. I just remember the experience over time and how different it feels now. The point I'm trying to make is that I'm still wearing the same shoes I always have---very progressive ones, but the ground underneath feels very different. So I don't engage as much or spend as much time around here as I used to. I'm sure it's no loss to any one but me.

[steve2470]

12. with all due respect...

If you suggest change to the party, you WILL get pushback. It goes with the territory. No matter how well thought out and constructive. You need a thick skin to do it, IMHO. People on DU who have zero digital tact tend not to fare well. At any rate, all the best to you.

[ProfessorPlum]

18. heaven forfend that a party that does not control

any branch of the federal government, and only a fraction of state governments, should think about other possible strategies.

One might almost think that people that don't want the Democratic party to change don't have its best interests at heart.

[Fix The Stupid]

21. If I could rec a post... this is it. n/t

"One might almost think that people that don't want the Democratic party to change don't have its best interests at heart"

This sums it up perfect.

Used to be the ratfuckers were obvious - now that there is no left wing and left wing voices are not welcome here, makes it hard to muddle through. You have to agree with crazy right wing ideas to fit in here now.

Not going to do it.

[Demsrule86]

14. Maybe this is not the site for an in depth analysis of what is wrong with the Democratic party.

This is a Democratic site where we support and help elect Democrats. I believe constant criticism and negativity towards the Democratic party helps elect Republicans. What is the point of such criticisms...join a Democratic group and work within the party to make the changes you think are needed...but sitting on the sideline criticizing does no one any good...no one will join a party they hear over and over again sucks. So I appreciate TOS which includes support Democrats etc.

[Arazi]

9. It's better. The worst disrupters are gone and obvious flame bait is now recognized

But there's still too much hive-mind. Too many purity police. We're the big tent party - unfortunately too many here have forgotten that

[zentrum]

11. Agree about the hive-mind. But

....I miss the so-called disrupters and never felt threatened or damaged by their point of view.

[Demsrule86]

15. I have...and many who received unfair 'hides' felt threatened and some were driven off this site.

I appreciate TOS and the new civility.

[Corvo Bianco]

24. I would suggest that the change in DU temperature is due to the terror we're all experiencing in

our bellies all day every day. That's going to have a huge impact on nerves, reactions and responses. I'm far more defensive about *everything in life* than I was five years ago, because I feel I can't count on people to be reasonable. We'll calm down, maybe, I hope at least with each other.

[Skittles]

13. I donate to DU because it keeps improving

yes indeed

[steve2470]

16. same here

We still disagree with each other here, but it seems to be much more civil now. Hopefully during the next round of primaries it will be tolerable. One can hope anyway.

[Skittles]

20. it always helps to have a common enemy

[steve2470]

25. very true! nt

[phleshdef]

22. I think Discussionist provided a way for the mods to push the trolls out and figure out...

...who they were based on IP information. I've noticed a lot less trollish bullshit around here since the inception of that cess pit.