DU has changed you..... how?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

By reading and participating in the forums at DU, you must have grown, learned and so forth. In what ways has being here changed you and or your view of the world we all inhabit?

[Justyce]

1. I'm more up on current events

The info flies fast & furious here -- I love finding out the details of what's going on before anyone else I know does ;)

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. Yes..... don't you find it curious that what gets put up here is

often three days ahead of CNN, MSNBC and the rest?? You just KNOW they are reading here and taking cues. Isn't the net quite the tool?? Belated welcome to DU btw :)

[kath]

31. 3 days ahead?? Shoot, stuff discussed here (& at TableTalk's WhiteHouse

folder) is often 3-6 MONTHS ahead of the MSM!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

32. Thank you for that correction, and yes, that is true, very true... and

very very incredible when you think about it. :)

[ret5hd]

2. It has made my wit and sarcasm have MUCH more sting...

when debating with RW'ers around the proverbial water cooler. The downside is, most of them try to find someone else to debate now.

[DanCa]

4. It made me more aware to the problems with organized religions

I still believe in jesus but I am open to the criticisim now that rw wing churchers - not left wingers- have done to the us. I can also differientiate between "brands of christianity" now and couldn't before. I think DU has made me a better christan amd shown me that theres alot of others who feel the same way. End of sermon.

[cynatnite]

5. all but the 'voted for *' one...

I am far more informed than I ever was which has helped reinforce many of my beliefs. My beliefs have also evolved and matured plus some have changed quite a bit, too.

Marijuana is one example. I used to believe the only legalization of the drug should be for medical purposes, but after an education, I think it sould be completely legal.

I've learned far more respect and understanding of others, plus my skin isn't as 'thin' as I once thought it was.

One of the first things I was told to do upon arriving here at DU was to take a good read of the Constitution, then later told to read it a second time. It's the best advice I've ever gotten here at DU and I try to make time to read it every couple of months.

Activism has also been one of the best lessons I've learned. I am far more active than I used to be. I write LTTE's, email and make phone calls. I talk to family and friends as well.

I am a better person because of DU. :)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

21. Me 2! nt

[seito]

28. Yep

[JackDragna]

6. It's done many good things for me.

I wish I could say it made me more wise about the world, but unfortunately, I already knew about the level of corruption rampant in many levels of society. My parents educated me on how our government preaches about its love of freedom, but hates freedom as a matter of foreign policy (see Iran-Contra, the supporting of any number of tinhorn dictators, etc)This is not to say this place is unimportant in terms of disseminating political information. I first came here after the 2000 elections and have seen this place grow significantly in its influence.

What encourages me about DU is that there's people out there who also see how the world truly is and don't shut up about it. The truth about what's going on in America is a silent truth, one people don't bring up for fear of being socially ostracized. Even those who would normally agree with us don't like talking about the problems of this nation in public. It's more comfortable to live in a fantasyland, where the nation will be fine if everyone just goes to work and lives life the best they can. It's nice to have a place like DU, where people don't buy the lies fed to us by the wealthy and powerful.

[Bluzmann57]

7. Now when a rightie wants a debate, I'm ready

and I'm willing and able to debate them, mostly because of verified information recieved here on DU. One big problem is that when I prove them wrong by (gasp!) pointing out actual facts, they want to yell and cuss me out. Mostly I laugh at them, but hey, I can yell and cuss with the best of 'em if need be. So bring it on righties. Thanks in part to DU, I'm ready!

[porphyrian]

8. I seethe more with hatred for this administration,...

...it's enablers, and it's apologists. I suspect it can't be healthy. Occasionally, I just have to go away from everything political - at least, until the reality that everything's political is once again thrust into my face. Then I come back here, vent, and get ignored by more and more who don't want to be troubled with my vulgarity.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

10. I hope this quote makes you feel a bit better.... "A man without

a temper, ain't worth much". Vent, rave, and keep your spirit alive with the fire that made this country what it used to be. 4Mor

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. I am a lot angrier. Too informed? *g*

[HysteryDiagnosis]

11. No... you are armed with the truth, better that no matter the

consequences.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Yeah, but I remember how blissful my ignorance was. Not that I would go

back, because choosing ignorance is choosing death and destruction. But I miss not be po'd all the time. *g*

[HysteryDiagnosis]

13. The bright side is that once a critical mass of awareness arrives

(it probably already has since some thinking repugs have removed the blinders) it will all be downhill for this band of hooligans, and hopefully, they will never infest our government again.

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. Except that they will.. They came to us with Raygun and then again now

We never seem to learn our lessons in this country.

[wryter2000]

15. Other

Sorry.

I was starting to doubt everything I knew about this country because it seemed as if EVERYONE thought the exact opposite of what I'd been taught. Religion belonged in government. Teaching evolution was narrow-minded. Women had abortions casually, and abortion was no different from killing a baby. Tax cuts brought in more revenue. The free market could cure social woes.

Finding so many people who knew those things are all bogus saved my sanity.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

18. Send your check to the sanity foundation, P.O. box BR549,

Nutsville, Ohio.... kidding, I knew that some people have been uplifted, validated, supported by what they have been able to experience here... and you have just validated that for me... I am sure there are many. One other thing, is that this forum gives peoples in foreign lands a glimpse into some American mindsets... thus separating us from the agenda of our NEOCON infested govt.

[StellaBlue]

16. For me

It reminds me what's really important and provides a great way to veg out while still being 'educational', as opposed to watching the TV. :)

Reminds me why I am NOT consumeristic, shallow, willfully ignorant, etc.

[WiseButAngrySara]

17. I voted All of the above, BUT I NEVER VOTED for that moran!...n/t

[HysteryDiagnosis]

20. Yeah.... that's a wildcard.... sorta put in there to stoke the fires!!!

[Seansky]

19. Other

DU has further enlightened me about the changes currently taking place.

[U4ikLefty]

22. None...DU has given me more ammo against the neocons

when current issues hit the street.

I am on a topic BEFORE the press gets to spin things, which helps me immesurably in my attempt to keep sanity in a brain-washed US.

[Oeditpus Rex]

23. I was once a 98-pound ignoramus

This is what happens when you rely on the MSM for information.

Seriously, that may be the biggest thing — finding out just how much the MSM doesn't tell us. It's absolutely incredible. I mean, I know newspapers are limited by space (I used to be a newspaper editor) and teevee news by time, but that hardly excuses their choices in coverage.

[Ignis]

24. Fool me...

Can't get fooled again!

Nice poll. :)

[BeFree]

25. DU

Has shown me how right I was, and helped me to be able to have better intercourse with people on the streets. Uh, no, it hasn't helped my sex life, so stop saying that. LOL

DU'ers are my kind of people. People who care about others and who are willing to go against the idiocy of the general American public. If this country had a majority population of DU'ers I would have much more confidence that my country could survive the coming storms.

Thank you DU'ers for your hope, your wisdom, and your courage.

[phusion]

26. Much more bitter and cynical

about America. I feel like I'm turning into George Carlin.

[JNelson6563]

27. You wouldn't believe it

I went and found my local Dems and got real busy. The year I worked full time on it we tripled our revenues and made incredible progress. I went on to become chair of our Congressonal District and am working to apply all that I did here in my county throughout the CD.

I was inspired by those working so hard on 2002. I hope others are encouraged enough to get out from behind the computer and get busy.

Julie

[me b zola]

29. Could there be an "all of the above--except the part about voting for *" ?

I feel as though I'm an all of the above, 'cept that I never voted for bush*.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

30. That is probably the best answer that one can give.... nt. Too

late to edit the poll though... sorry.... that choice was put in there for reformed freeper types. :)