It's time to face the ugly truth and, as a communtiy, take a good look in the mirror

[Political Heretic]

Being involved in politics, at any level, should be about statesmanship. If it isn't that, then its just a bunch of thugs sitting around blathering.

I have become quite convinced that there are a significant number of people here who are really full of a lot of shit. They use "politics" and "party" as cover to get joy out of just expressing hate. No, not hate - that word isn't accurate enough, and it's too easily dismissed by people.

It's really a bunch of people sitting in anonymity using internet boards as an emotional outlet for their inner Id. It's just a bunch of people releasing their inner Archie Bunkers and getting away with it. People acting in ways that they would never, ever dream of acting in real life toward anyone - especially toward fellow liberal minded people or fellow Democrats. It is antithetical to reason, rationality, critical thinking, or fair-mindedness.

There are seriously some people here who wouldn't lift a finger to campaign, wouldn't dream of donating to a candidate, and don't give a damn about even considering what's best for America right now, or what's best for the Democratic Party. DU member Richardo described the truth perfectly in saying:

"Internet message boards are the General Stores of the 21st century, where disaffected non-participants can go and sit around the cracker barrel and grouse about politics."

It's also the place where people with a lot of pent up issues can come and treat other people like dirt bags with impunity. So people come here and check their Super Ego and any sense of maturity at the door. Anything you can say is OK because its anonymous. It is ID on parade.

Being in this community right now feels like being in a crowd of drunks watching Ultimate Fighting Championship. Now, I like UFC from time to time, and have been known to enjoy some alcohol too. But not when I'm pretending that what I'm doing is because I'm so passionate about America or about the Democratic Party, and certainly not if my behavior amounts to giving myself a license to say or do anything I want to someone else as an expression of my Id.

Right now its hard to see GD: P as much more than a bunch of people using an anonymous internet group to be a sanctioned way to be a dick and get away with it. It's that simple.

Some people here speak the exact same way about fellow DUer and democrats that they do about George W. Bush or Dick Cheney, or Freepers - the exact same way. In fact sometimes they even use the exact same words. That's because it really isn't about love of country, or concern about democracy, or the best leadership for the future. No, those things are only the cover for a lot of people - a pretense so that they can simply pour out their own bile with impunity.

But worse than everything I've described so far, is that fact that this degenerate attitude is infectious - you can only find yourself drowning in it for so long before it drags you down as well. I know its had that effect on me. In trying to stay balanced, after a while you take so much stupid, vicious, insults and anger that it becomes incredibly tough not to punch back.

Let's just not try to pretend to be anything more than what we are, okay? GD: P is becoming nothing more than a juvenille internet hangout where people come for unfettered emotional release - to write out their anger, frustration, fear, tension or just personal issues dealing with people, wrap that into some pretense that it has anything to do with politics, or the good of the party or the country, and spew it onto others. All ID. Conscience, since of responsibility or accountability to certain interpersonal standards of behavior, any sense of shame ---- all completely absent.

Let's at least tell the truth.

[Political Heretic]

1. morning up