GD & GDP are revolting

[graywarrior]

WTF happened to us?

[kayakjohnny]

1. I totally concur.

It's not the same around here. I think we've just saturated to the point where there are just too many people on board here. And a whole lot of bitterness.

[graywarrior]

3. The maturity level is about 14 years of age.

If DU is any reflection on the rest of the population, the dems are screwed in 2010. Such anger over speculation. Crazy ass shit.

[TZ]

8. DU is not a real reflection of real life

Here? I'm kinda more conservative than the average DU'er. IRL, I've been told I a radical, bleeding heart, knee jerk liberal..LOL.

[graywarrior]

11. I don't even know who's who over there anymore.

All that talk about acceptance and tolerance...right. Sure isn't being demonstrated over there.

[Quantess]

22. Well, remember the mass exodus of GLBT posters?

Many were TS'd and many more left on their own. That was a loss for DU.

[graywarrior]

31. Sad situation

[Odin2005]

54. LOL, I'm a dang Left-Libertarian quasi-socialist and even I seem conservative compared to...

...many posters, especially the Trotskyites and Anarchists that try to pass themselves off as Democrats.

[AllieB]

87. I think a lot of those folks are paid trolls.

Yes there are far left people like you and me, but some of the more outrageous ones are definitely trolls.

[SoxFan]

136. This is an important point

DU is far from representative of the Democratic electorate, never mind the public at large. It's much further to the left, and much more strident in its ideology.

I consider myself a fairly mainstream, moderate Democrat; like a lot of people my age (40), I view people like Bill Clinton and Paul Tsongas as the Democratic center-mass. On DU, this makes me a reactionary troglodyte.

[elocs]

16. DU is a reflection of itself. Measuring itself by itself it declares itself to be wise.

Or something like that.

[graywarrior]

17. The inmates are running the institution....

more like that.

[CreekDog]

51. it's a S------ Box.

:shrug:

[graywarrior]

56. LOL!

[GoCubsGo]

7. Me, too.

But, it's not a "too many people" thing. It's a "my way or the highway" attitude on all sides. No middle ground anywhere. It's disgusting.

[graywarrior]

9. Lots of rage.

So typical of a lot of people to turn on something that's not perfect.

[a kennedy]

133. kinda like the us congress right???

funny how that idea of my way or the highway permeates the country. :shrug:

[JohnnyLib2]

2. Might be a preview of the national scene?

Deep, ugly divisions. Sigh.

[graywarrior]

4. Fingers in ears...la la la la la la la!

No one is listening to anyone else.

[madinmaryland]

5. What did you do over there?? Kill a duck??

:wtf:

[graywarrior]

6. Just reading the swill.

I won't post over there anymore. I'd rather be duct taped by crazed ducks.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. We don't have Bush to kick around anymore.

DU's always been filled with absolutely crazy nuts, dicks, and buffoons.

They were always tolerated because they ranted against Bush, even if it was for all the wrong reasons (twoofers, for instance, or his earthquake machine). They're still fucking nuts and for all the wrong reasons.

[graywarrior]

12. True true. You just never know til things get tough from our side.

Then the worms turns and there's a verbal blood bath in each thread.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Which is why I've limited myself lately

to Lounge threads relating to cats and food. If I were to go to GD/GDP and say something positive, however mild, about the current administration I'd get dogpiled for being a cheerleader. If I were to offer criticism, however mild, I'd be similarly pilloried as a hater. Since I am neither, for now I will remain merely a connoisseur of LOLcats and not waste energy on message board ranters of any persuasion. Yeah, it's a political board and some level of controversy and disagreement is to be expected. But some knees are jerking awfully hard lately.

[TZ]

14. Its a sack of rabid wolverines ...again....

;) (one of my all time favorite lines here) :hi:

[graywarrior]

15. Any indication of a wait and see position is suspect.

I'll not make any judgments til all info is given. Why make rage filled statements based on speculation when nothing has been completely explained yet?

[redqueen]

18. CHICKENHAWK!11!!!!11!

[graywarrior]

19. That's DUCKHAWK, to you Queenie.

:evilgrin:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. Because rage-filled statements are easy and require no analysis.

All you have to do is work yourself into a state of high dudgeon over something you *think* has happened, or will happen, that does not correspond to your narrow worldview, and then you can have a good old hissy fit, which feels great -- especially if you can get people to join in your rant and validate your position. Sort of.

I think I will start posting LOLcats in GDP again.

[graywarrior]

21. Hissy fits are so addicting.

Be careful with your LOLcats. You may be accused of having a sense of humor and be ripped to shreds.

[JohnnyLib2]

24. I'm worried about myself--

No rage, no dudgeon and no hissyfit other than when the visiting dog "watered" the houseplant.

What's a fellow to do?

[phasma ex machina]

35. LOL to notions of your avatar cat getting dog piled.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't: some DUers criticize DU Lounge (lizards LOL) for dereliction of GD/GDP duty.

[bluedigger]

144. Alerting.

The term "dogpiled" is offensive to dogs and those who accept and encourage dogs in acting as their true nature dictates.

You filthy feline apologist!:-)

[yawnmaster]

23. There is definitely an addiction factor in all of this...

Like an addiction to masturbation, actually.
And in this case its political masturbation. Lots of dialog, indignation, flame wars, opinion food fights, etc.., but none of which makes any difference.
It just sinks down into the oblivion of the forum.
Are any opinions really changed with this kind of dialog?
The only thing, if any, that is accomplished is that there is a temporary emotional flare for the individual - just like the other kind of self-pleasuration.
Of course, there are probably a few trolls or rabble-rousers in there, too.

I, too, will engage in the textual pleasures occasionally, but I do hope to add mind-pleasure to others, occasionally.
Therefore, I usually avoid direct political issues (war, health-care, the President, Congress, etc..) and stick to complaining about bomb raids on the moon, or how much I love bacon.

[GoCubsGo]

25. More like driving by a car accident

You cannot help but slow down and gawk.

[graywarrior]

29. Sounds like a few could be good candidates for one of those addiction shows on VH1

[Odin2005]

57. And people over-analyzing every little rumor.

Even if it's BS from Politico or Drudge. UGH, that gets old REAL QUICK! :banghead:

[graywarrior]

63. Reminds me of Screaming Meemees!

[Odin2005]

64. LOL!

[RoyGBiv]

138. Bacon!!!

We need a bacon flame war or something.

Seriously, though, your post strikes a chord.

I tend to hang out in certain sub-forums of DU where what I say actually has some practical impact on people (help and support forums) or where mutual interests can be discussed and/or argued based on a common set of generalized mutual understandings and knowledge.

I read the Big Forums occasionally and post infrequently. What's interesting, to me, is that when I do post, the subject very often dovetails with subjects in those sub-forums.

[undeterred]

26. I'm becoming a lurker.

I don't like these nasty fights.

[SeattleGirl]

27. No kidding!

I just spent five minutes in there and had to get out before my head exploded.

[graywarrior]

30. My teeth have been ground down to stubs

[SeattleGirl]

116. If I spend too much time in those forums, I start getting a headache.

I cannot believe some of the stuff I read over there.

[arcadian]

28. ....

:rofl:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

32. I spend the majority of my time in The Lounge now...

...there's just a childish, confrontational vibe in GD that makes it not worth the time to post there (unless you're a "dump and run" poster and never go back to look at responses).

[graywarrior]

33. I spend a majority of my time clicking on the links at your threads

[Amerigo Vespucci]

37. Hey, thank you!

I try to find amusing and entertaining stuff to share. And if I post a RickRoll now and then, at LEAST I try to wrap it around an alluring premise.

:toast:

:rofl:

[graywarrior]

53. Trust me, it's appreciated.

Sometimes your posts are the only one I click on, it's that bad in GD

[azmouse]

34. My ignore list is getting so long that I wonder what I have in common

with most DUers. :(
I can't stand so many of the GD posters.

It's very seldom that I see an 'ignored' here in the Lounge. Y'all are totally nuts here... but in a good way! :P

[graywarrior]

36. We can't stand not knowing what everyone is posting, so we don't ignore

anyone...lol.

[azmouse]

38. I wish I could feel that way.

Some people spew such hateful things that I stopped caring what they had to say.
It does make me sad that my fellow human beings would behave that way but I've been alive long enough to know that that's the way it's always been and always will be.

[Odin2005]

39. The lunatics are running the asylum!

:scared:

[Capn Sunshine]

40. well, there's a new dynamic at work here

one, and most importantly, there are numerous, and I mean numerous, provocateurs. Some paid, some Freeper types who view it as their sacred duty to keep this place in an uproar.

There's the purity freaks---they've always been there, even Howard Dean was a "sellout" to them. Nothing will ever make them happy

And of course, theres the agenda laden- whether it be vegan prison farms or free range ducks, everything is viewed through this lens. I include the whole doomsday movemnet and 911 conspiracy folk among them.

It's just a reflection of the net at large. Not of the Democratic Party so much. DU never was, despite their illusions to the contrary.

But it gives me a real appreciation for the good folks that almost by accident gather here in the lounge. Really, you guys are the best. DU's soul lives here. :loveya:

Now back to your regularly scheduled flamewar.

[graywarrior]

44. Great post. Thanks for being so....rational.

[Capn Sunshine]

50. no, thank YOU

You're one of the good things around here :)

[graywarrior]

55. That made my day, thank you

And back atcha. Sometimes I wonder tho. I've been hit pretty hard over there. That's why the Lounge is like a little bit of heaven.

[Odin2005]

45. And the Anti-Vaxers, DON'T get me started on the Anti-Vaxers!!!

:nuke:

[Capn Sunshine]

48. Oh yeah

THOSE people :scared:

[Odin2005]

61. Yep, morons saying I was poisoned my MMR vaccines.

Those people turn me into the Asperger's version of Mr. Hyde...

[guitar man]

41. I kinda thought this would happen

We won the election, now we're turning on each other. Sad as it is to say, Bu$hco more or less united us...now he's gone.

[Odin2005]

43. Yep. I really feared that this would happen after Shrub was gone.

I don't recognize DU anymore. :(

[guitar man]

70. me either

that's why I spend a lot less time here than I used to :(

[graywarrior]

46. I guess it's human nature

DU is one of the few places one can gain a twisted notoriety so people use that for all it's worth.

[guitar man]

72. exactly

sadly, I must agree with you, there are a bunch of people out for themselves here now :(

[graywarrior]

83. Based on what's being posted in GD during the speech, I may have to leave this place for good

It's really disgusting.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

90. Was thinking the same thing -- but I do like the Lounge.

I would have to give up lounging in the Lounge...

[graywarrior]

96. I'm addicted to the Lounge.

Let's just stay here. We can send people over there to check the situation and report back.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

58. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

I guess that when the enemy is gone, so are the friends. Or else you have to gin up a new enemy.

[guitar man]

74. it would seem so

I think our time would be better spent finishing off the old enemy, but what do I know, I'm just getting old and in the way now :(

[SeattleGirl]

117. I think part of it is that people got so used to being angry at all the

shit Bush pulled that they don't know any other way to be now.

[guitar man]

128. Yeah that's a big part of it

And the 500lb gorilla in the room is, IMO , just how many agent provocateurs are among us now? Just about every time I read this board lately I swear I spot people posting that are following a script. It's not like they are even real, more like the cookie cutter caricature of a "liberal" that the rw radio guys love to paint rather than the living, breathing people I know that are real liberals and progressives . something just isn't right lately :(

[fishnfla]

42. Skinner has a problem

legitimate criticisms of Obama's policies are fair game. We are getting beseiged with one-line knee-jerkisms that are bereft of insight or debate. Simply saying you 'cannot watch BO on tv because he makes you sick to your stomach' explains nor solves anything.

It is also not within the boundaries of the guidelines Skinner established IMO

[graywarrior]

52. The attacks are personal, against Obama and anyone here who disagrees on either side

It's brutal going over there.

[fishnfla]

59. Yeah its like FR with better spelling

('cepting mine)

With friends like this who needs enemies?

[Capn Sunshine]

62. That's NOT a coincidence

see my post regarding provocateurs

[graywarrior]

65. Bet there's lots of alcohol mixed into it...lol!

I remember me in bar fights over something someone said like "er, this is the men's room, lady".

[zanne]

94. HAH! nt

[CBR]

76. Totally brutal. Almost afraid to post because I will be put in a

"camp" -- corporate warmonger or unrealistic lefty.

[graywarrior]

81. Join the club!

[Bryan]

114. Spot on

I can appreciate the moderators not wanting to establish a place where criticism of Democrats isn't allowed, but what they have now is a place where any criticism is fair game, regardless of its thoughtfulness or lack thereof.

[CreekDog]

47. Shouldn't people be angry and cantankerous over Afghanistan?

I know they shouldn't take it out on each other (except perhaps on the total fools and trolls), but I'd be more concerned if people weren't angry and cranky over the escalation there.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

60. Nothing wrong with debating and arguing --

but the vitriol and knee-jerkiness has spun out of control.

[Odin2005]

67. And the fallicious arguments.

I just avoid the threads, a certain couple of posters keep doing the "why don't you go enlist, then?" BS argument, as if I'm not allowed to have an opinion on foreign policy!

:crazy:

[CreekDog]

75. It spun out of control?

You mean it got worse? :wtf:

[graywarrior]

66. Anger is one thing, brutal attacks are another

Plus, it's thread after thread of bashing and declaring hands off voting for the next gazillion years. OK, so don't vote, but quit ramming up our asses about it!

[Blue-Jay]

49. You should post this in LBN.

[graywarrior]

69. I'd be quartered, diced and fed to my duck

[SPKrazy]

68. as in disgusting

or as in having a revolt?

[graywarrior]

71. As in puking up the lining of your stomach over it.

[SPKrazy]

73. ROFL`

Hey Gray!!!

[graywarrior]

78. Yo, I'm at work juggling a live broadcast of a town meeting, watching the speech

on line and posting here.....wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[redqueen]

77. Wow... it's really heating up in there.

If you thought it was bad before... don't even try to go near it now.

[graywarrior]

79. It's disgusting

People who want change but can't deal with changes...lol!

[Renew Deal]

80. The malcontents are doing what they do

:cry:

[graywarrior]

82. They're vewy vewy angwy

[ismnotwasm]

84. Don't know

Some of them are out of their rabbit-assed minds though.

[graywarrior]

85. We're going to afganistan to kill the fucking wabbits!

[Midlodemocrat]

86. You know what happened.

And, you're right. It's revolting.

[graywarrior]

88. I've just realized that DU has always been like this

If anything has shocked me tonight, it's not that Obama wants to go into Afganistan, it's the childish viciousness in GD & GDP. I don't want to be part of this crap anymore.

[Midlodemocrat]

89. You're not alone.

[graywarrior]

92. Good to know.

Guess I'll just sit back and watch coz I sure as hell can't influence people in the middle of an orgasmic hissy fit.

[Midlodemocrat]

104. Nope. Sure can't.

[merh]

98. What happened?

[erinlough]

91. Long time lurker here and yes there is a problem

I have been wondering what is happening. Since the election this place, GD and GDP, is almost unrecognizable. I don't trust most of the posts anymore and this is a place I came to learn, not now. I am looking for another place to get my news and read discussion on the issues because this, as it is, is not a reliable place. It just makes me sad.

[graywarrior]

93. We may have to actually post news inthe Lounge, where we're civil to one another.

Forget I said that. At least this place is safe.

[erinlough]

95. There was a time where I felt like I knew the people posting....

not any more. I run to the lounge when it gets like this.

[graywarrior]

97. We may need to start carding people here...lol

[merh]

99. I mostly lurk now.

It just isn't worth it to get into the fights with some folks.

Don't let them drive you away, we need you. :hug:

[graywarrior]

105. I can't leave, even tho I really want to.

[jakefrep]

100. Revolting - the adjective, the verb, or both?

I'm leaning towards "both"

[graywarrior]

103. Both, but mostly the retching kind

[NYC Liberal]

101. I think I'm done with GD and GD:P

I'll stick to The Lounge from now on and of course the various groups.

I am so sick of it. It's not about disagreeing or agreeing with Obama, I'm all for people debating and having a good argument. It's the kind of discourse there that's the problem.

[graywarrior]

106. It's vile.

[NYC Liberal]

109. A thread about Chelsea Clinton getting engaged turned into a flamewar!

I haven't posted in the Lounge in a long time, used to but I think now's a good time to come back.

Got enough stress in real life, don't need it on DU! So it's cat pics and food threads from now on, me thinks :hi:

[tabbycat31]

110. even food threads start a flame war

did you see the tofurkey thread last week?

[NYC Liberal]

126. Yeah, I stayed clear of that one.

:scared:

[graywarrior]

112. Maybe we'll get nekkid!

something told me not to click on the Chelsea thread...lol!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

123. Exactly.

[Demoiselle]

102. Than you all for this thread.

I thought maybe something was wrong with me...I've been surprised at the virulent anger in GD and GDP for a while now, and not at all inclined to get involved...and then of course wondering if I was, in fact, a bad Democrat for feeling that way. It's good to know my favorite people (Lounge People!) see it too. I love the Lounge. I tend to skim through the latest threads at record speed now just so I can get over here.

[graywarrior]

107. Guess there are more of us than them

Someone needs to spray some disinfectant over there

[AbbeyRoad]

108. Agreed

GD right now is especially rough going.

[Odin2005]

111. Ugh, I feel dirty now.

[blogslut]

113. It's more hostile than usual

And I can't say I have avoided falling victim to the vitriol.

Just the same, I often find myself in the Lounge or I just go hit the gossip blogs.

Blogslut jr. used to ask me, when she caught me yelling at the perezhilton site: "If that place makes you so angry, why do you go there?"

I told her that's where I go when DU gets ridiculous. I'd rather yell at stupid gossip and snide remarks about celebrities. It's a lot better for my soul than watching adults attack each other over politics.

[LiberalAndProud]

115. Can I join this thread? I need respite.

It is nasty and mean and cantankerous in those forums. DU is no longer a place to come for sanctuary, and that makes me sad.

[Misskittycat]

118. I came here for respite, too. Couldn't stand it over there any longer.

[quakerboy]

119. What, against each other?

or are they trying to decompose the bougwaze mods, or what?

[WildEyedLiberal]

120. I've been spending less and less time at DU over the last couple of years

I no longer come here to engage in meaningful discussion or get my daily news. When I bother to post, its either in the Lounge or because I can't hold my tongue in response to some terminally stupid and/or self-righteous and/or appallingly disturbing poster in GD. I don't think I'll be posting here much in the future, either. I don't even care enough to make a GBCW post, although I dislike those anyway - and besides, I'm sure boredom will bring me back, some slow afternoon when I have nothing better to do with my time than read the daily flamewars.

But yeah, DU was never all that civil to begin with - at least not in the five years I've been a member here - but it's REALLY gone into the sewer lately. Too bad, but :shrug:

[MilesColtrane]

121. You are either with us, or against us.

Apostates will be culled, processed, and eaten.

[Undercurrent]

122. Don't know what happened but

attacks, and hate spewing make me queasy.

I've taken some refuge in the 'Barack Obama Group' http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=388 , and spent more time in my studio lately (which is a good thing).

[madrchsod]

124. your studio burned?

i`ll have to bookmark your site

[Undercurrent]

125. Yup.

I'm a silversmith, and though I have a new studio now, the economy has been hard on my silver work biz so I'm spending time on my painting. If I'm going to be starving I might as well have a colorful time of it! ;-)

[madrchsod]

130. i`ll check in later then...

[old mark]

127. They need to be spanked and sent to bed

with no ovaltine.

(But some of them might enjoy the spanking part.)

Ignorant fucking brats.

mark

[Tarheel_Dem]

129. Hi GW. I rarely visit the lounge, but I'll surely be dropping in more often.

I didn't even go to the forums you mentioned today, because I knew what to expect. Went straight to the barack obama group forum, I've found it much more relaxing. All these years I thought I was a liberal, but if DU is any indication, that's just no longer true.

I think it's sad that what happened to the Republican party may be happening to us as well. There seems to be no middle ground, the activist base of both parties have dug in their heels, and it's my way or the highway. "You're either with us, or against us" seems to be the order of the day. I would never be able to pass the liberal "purity test". I certainly hope this is just an internet phenomenon, and doesn't spread to wider electorate.

[graywarrior]

131. Anyone who's anyone is on the bandwagon now.

I will not be visiting there for at least 18 months.

[Tarheel_Dem]

132. Sounds like a plan to me.

:thumbsup:

[monmouth]

134. I'm also preferring the lounge. Who's the official bartender here?....n/t

[SoxFan]

137. It's BYOB for the hard stuff

There are kegs of Sam Winter, Bass, and Guiness over in the corner. Ask Midlo about the wine, though.

[monmouth]

140. You are very kind, many thanks....n/t

[graywarrior]

141. Hospital 180 proof is required to survive GD & GDP

[MissMillie]

135. I don't spend much time over there

Every now and then I'll wander in.

If I express an opinion, there's usually someone who will not address what I said, but instead make some comment about how stupid I am for thinking the way I do. I don't even "alert" on that stuff.

I'm the type of person who can walk away from that stuff.

I imagine that there are people here who can't.

Political debate can get passionate, and that can be a good thing. But nothing exists in a vacuum... for every good there's a bad.

I've seen on FB that a lot of DUers get pretty snarky about other DUers, so the "revolting" aspect is seeping out to other venues.

The only thing that comes to my mind is Rodney King's plea "Can't we all just get along?"

[Forkboy]

139. It seems a predictable reaction to me.

It was pretty clear Obama was going to do what he's doing, and with DU always being pretty solidly anti-war this reaction makes total sense, even the uglier side of it, from both those defending Obama and those attacking him. Add to the mix a rather large contingent of trolls posing as someone on one side or the other to deliberately provoke the other side and you get the end result.

Be wary of the most strident on either side. They're either totally real or totally fake, both of which are a little frightening. :scared:

[graywarrior]

142. My own head is filled with emotional screamies

Guess I have enough to deal with living with me

[MissMarple]

143. Against what? Did they kidnap the mods and lock Skinner in the cellar?

Seriously, they are not showing our best side. That's why I'm in the lounge today. It's safe refuge. :evilgrin:

[Happyhippychick]

145. I feel so much better reading this, I thought it was just me.

I haven't posted in weeks, I am appalled at the nastiness. Obama has a very complicated situation and he has to take many things into account with every decision. He will make some decisions I agree with and some that I don't but I don't necessarily know what the best decisions are, I only have my opinions as a complete outsider. I voted for him because I TRUST him to govern in the way that most closely reflects my values.

[graywarrior]

146. It is you.

I keed, I keed.

[TK421]

147. Answer: us

[NYC_SKP]

148. Simple. Every group of folks has Bell Curves; of intelligence, of interpersonal skills, etc., etc.

And sometimes the left end of these curves comes out in fits of crazy.

There's a mob mentality to it as well, a jumping on a big stupid-ass bandwagon.

And what irony that some of them, repeat SOME of them, choose a peace symbol as their common emblem.

Hang in there, dear friend!

:pals:

edited a sp boo boo.