To those of you who get emotional on DU and go out and vote a certain way because of it

[usregimechange]

_______ supporters here on DU did ________ and it really pissed me off so I am voting for _________ because of it. What a dangerous and unwise way to make one of the most important decisions a citizen can make. It is fallacious and nonsensical in several different ways.

1). All candidates have supporters that cross some ethical line. Holding the candidate responsible for a couple of DU _____bots is an overgeneralization.

2). Emotional decisions are inherently nonrational. Rational decisions require weighing pros and cons in a complex geopolitical and philosophical mesh of factors to come up with the best option. Emotions guide you to the best choice like threading a needle blindfolded with boxing gloves.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Indeed. DU is an internet message board with maybe a couple thousand active members.

Of those, there are only a few dozen ranting loons that take up most of the bandwidth slinging crap about how THEIR candidate shits diamonds out a platinum asshole and the other candidate is the corporeal manifestation of evil and eats puppies for breakfast. None of this matters because the real world spins on completely oblivious to the tantrums of DU's tiny coterie of drama queens. It can be fun reading, but if you allow these fits of hysteria to influence your vote in even the slightest, you're silly; your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries. And I fart in your general direction.

[usregimechange]

2. Well said ocelot

[sellitman]

3. That post should stand alone.

Repost it and I bet it gets 100 Rec's or more.

I'd Rec in your general direction.

[Medusa]

4. Bump

or a brilliant post.

[Cha]

5. I'm really enjoying the

last night before Super Tues on DU..course, I have about 32 people on ignore but why do I need to see flagrant downers aimed at demoralizing Obama supporters by the hilary contingent?

I come here for postive, optimistic support..not qualudes personified.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. But that's the point -- it's just a bleedin' message board!

Who cares if there are a few spittle-flecked ranters on DU who like to piss on your campfire? Don't take them seriously! If you believe strongly in your candidate, why should you care if some keyboard warriors with god only knows what kind of agenda are throwing poo at your guy/girl like an orangutan on crack? Courage! This shit doesn't matter.

By the way, I've noted an approximately equal number of equally overheated Clinton and Obama supporters. It's not one-sided by any means.

[Cha]

7. If you're looking from my

vantage point it has definetly been more one sided. And, I'm too sensitive to not let it faze me when I see deliberate, demoralizing smears against my candidate. :)

[ClericJohnPreston]

8. You do know

that the type of isolation you relate, "exclusivism", is a sign of cult-like behavior.

I have no horse between the two remaining candidates, and am still hoping for a brokered convention.

That said, as a thinking person, I am quite concerned about groups with rampant sloganeering, starry-eyes, and who isolate themselves from critical analysis.

Just sayin.....

[angie_love]

9. I don't get it either.

No one has any influence over my vote except for the candidates. They are the only ppl influencing my vote. I don't give a crap what anyone else says. To vote based on someone elses supporters is extremely immature IMO.:shrug: