At the risk of starting trouble, I have to ask this.

[MarkDevin]

What is the problem with certain people around here? If someone expresses an opinion with which they disagree, these people are all over that poster with vicious personal attacks and accusations of not being "a real Democrat," whatever that means.

Who or what gave these individuals the right to decide who is and isn't worthy of calling themselves a Democrat? And why, for that matter, does DU permit such callow, petulant behavior?

Perhaps it's because I've only recently begun to visit these message boards, but I'm not used to that kind of narrow-minded, mean-spirited, childish idiocy. And I must say, I find it extremely offensive!

Again, I'm not trying to start trouble, but if this is the kind of bullshit I can expect at DU, I doubt that I'll be around much longer.

[4dsc]

1. I miss all the good stuff

Too bad I don't have more time to waste to view the kind of posts you're talking about.. More important things to do..

[bluerum]

2. sorry

:wtf: :wtf:

[MissB]

3. Either use the alert button to let the admins know

what is going on in a particular thread or use the "hide thread" feature.

IBTL

[liberalpragmatist]

4. General Discussion can be rough

Don't let it turn you off too much; the issues forums, LBN, and the DU lounge are friendlier.

You also popped in a VERY heated time.

It is true and unfortunate that many issues prompt narrow-minded and petulant attacks; you're on a board of committed partisans, so there is unfortunately a lot of knee-jerk thinking at times.

Keep in mind though that there are lots of reasonable people on this board, and if you call out to them, they'll usually appear :)

Welcome!

[Control-Z]

50. I've never felt very welcome in the lounge.

I'm not sure why that is. I don't post all that often but I've always felt welcome here in GD. Not in the lounge. I feel like I don't know the secret handshake or something.

[Radio_Lady]

52. Hi dancingAlone -- I'm probably old enough to be your grandmother.

Didn't want you to think that we are all feisty and stuff.

This is a terrible time to be a human being as much of the world has forgotten the good part of our humanity.

Anyway, I hope you join us in the Lounge. I don't know the secret handshake either, so just call on me if you need to.

Warm regards,

Radio_Lady in Oregon -- a 67-year-old woman, wife, mother, stepmother, grandmother and radio show host/book and film reviewer in Oregon

[Control-Z]

62. Thanks, Radio_Lady!

See how you are here at DU? I whine a little and one of you comes to my rescue. I love that about you guys. When I found DU I said it was like finding home. I guess I've just thought of the Lounge as the place where my older sister gets to hang out. Thanks for the warm welcome.

edit: for typo

[Gman]

68. I've been hiding the Lounge for a few years now

The Lounge can be annoying at times.

[Jara sang]

5. Those people are assholes.

Especially the ones that have no concept of the fact that they know absolutely nothing about the person making a post or a comment. They show their ignorance in such attacks. They show their stupidity.

[cboy4]

33. LOL! You have a lot of nerve. I remember you saying "shad up" in

response to one of my posts, when in fact you know "absolutely nothing about the person making a post or a comment."

(I can provide the link if you'd like to see it)

So why don't you start practicing what you preach, before you start lecturing all of us.

[Jara sang]

59. I recall posting a picture of a fish as well.

you obviously don't know a joke when you see one.

[RevCheesehead]

6. Ever notice that posts get meaner when *'s popularity is in the toilet?

Ever wonder why?

[BeHereNow]

18. What? Are you suggesting that troll attacks increase in such times?

SAY it isn't so!!!!
LOL!
Put it here, as in I HEAR you.
Subtlety is not their forte...
BHN

[RevCheesehead]

22. Hi, BHN!

Long time, no see! :hug:

I took a very long break from GD, and am putting my proverbial toe back in the water. I prefer the insanity of the Lounge and the Keith group.

[AspenRose]

24. Watch that pirahna when you put your toe in.

:D

[RevCheesehead]

32. ain't that the damned truth?

:evilgrin:

[William Seger]

64. .... and snarks, too

[truedelphi]

41. Tell us please about the Keith group

How and where to join PLEA-ASE

[RevCheesehead]

45. It's one of DU's groups.

You need to be a donor to get a star next to your name. Then you can join in the fun and post with us every night during the show!

Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=315

[Radio_Lady]

55. ADDENDUM: KOEB's start time is 5 PM here in Pacific Time.

If you watch him repeated at 8 PM Pacific Time, the fun's all over in the KOEB group.

But that's OK. I'm used to getting up at 9 AM some mornings in Portland, Oregon, and having only half a day to work with people on the East Coast. That's if they don't take a lunch hour. If so, then it's only three hours -- 2 PM to 5PM. Oh, and on Fridays, move of the large book publishing companies take the afternoon off in summer. Fun and games!

I hope you follow all of that...... (HA-HA)....

[RevCheesehead]

56. Hey! Some of us are into late night fun!

Many times I have an evening meeting, and post during the late show (what I call the ReCountdown). Come and join us! :hi:

[Radio_Lady]

58. Didn't realize that. Thanks for straightening me out.

I'll try to make the date, but usually, we watch through early dinner at 5 PM PT and then go straight to evening activities.

[SensibleAmerican]

65. So posts were extremely nice when Bush was at 92%?

I wasn't here at the time ...

[Homer12]

7. Polerization of ideology

This is one reason why people become extreme.

Everyone gets crap here from certain posters, who think they are above all others and know all.

Listen, let their arrogant remarks slide off you and speak your mind.

[DireStrike]

8. This is a good post

I don't know why people get so vitriolic about this issue. Ad hominem accusations fly all over the place. And it's not like the issue is somehow tainting discussion. The people discussing it seem to fall into it over and over again.

It usually isn't like this over here, for the most part... a few people will act that way sometimes and get rebuked and ignored for the most part.

I'll have to look over my own posts and make sure I've been reasonable and on the topic of the issue... that might be a good idea for everyone to do.

[Nikki Stone 1]

10. kick

:kick:

[Codeine]

9. There's a Party Line we have to walk here.

A misstep means we're undercover Freepers, not progressive, or (my personal favorite) a PAID SHILL! Realize it's a vocal minority of idiots who spout such things and let them run off you like water on a duck's back.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. Please stay

sometimes our differences flair up here, but by and large I've found the majority of posters follow the rules. It's always good to know that the rules say, to parphrase, that you are to be polite to one another and not let a discussion degenerate into a personal attack. If you find this happening, hit the ALERT button. Also realize that if you find it is one particular poster that is making your stay here miserable, you can place that poster on IGNORE.

Not all of us are flaming-many, like me, are reading threads for understanding.

[MrTriumph]

12. Mark- Some of us are very angry at DINOs and DLCers

Mark, the party of FDR & HST has been hijacked by Bush enablers and Liebercrats. Can you believe Alito was not filibustered? Can you believe the bankruptcy bill? And so on.

Sorry if you don't like the "bullshit" (your word, Mr. Let's Play Nice), but this is a web site, not Sunday School.

[MarkDevin]

46. I think the DLC is the worst thing ever to happen to the party.

But that's just my opinion. Others are free to disagree, and I won't tell them they have no business calling themselves Democrats. Is it asking too much that they return the courtesy?

[graywarrior]

13. Don't let a few dorks run you off.

For the most part, DU has some great people on board. Ignore the idiots.

[Monkeyman]

14. Rove Plants

[charlie]

15. Israel/Mideast situation

has raised the temperature in the room. Ordinarily, discussion of the topic is segregated into a separate forum. There's a reason for that, as you can see. When things get back to normal, tempers will cool and infighting will return to its usual slow boil.

[nashville_brook]

36. "Midbeast." i spoonered on your post title

when i read it. The Middle East. The Middle Beast. would be a good name for a band.

[charlie]

44. Heh. True, it would

:D :thumbsup:

[babylonsister]

16. It's initiation by fire, Mark. But stick around, you do tend to

learn a helluva lot more than trusting the media whores. As for the name-callers and disruptors, they eventually get outed and hopefully tombstoned (banned).
Have faith; we're not all like that.

[RaleighNCDUer]

17. We do our best to offend trolls and freepers, and some here tend

to go overboard in trying to expose them for who they are. And as the rules say we are not to directly accuse someone of being a troll, the attempts to get them to expose themselves can get pretty harsh. Those who are not trolls or freepers, who stand their ground and defend less than popular stances with logic and reason will soon find kindred souls.

If it is simple disagreement that bothers you, well, what some people see as vicious attacks others see as simple disagreement. Genteel language is not a pre-requisite here. Generally, however, a liberal bent is (though there are many conservative dems here, too).

Welcome to DU. Stick around for a while, and you'll see what I mean.

[AspenRose]

19. ..

Ignore.

Hide Thread.

Alert.


Your best friends.


Learn it - live it - love it

[bbinacan]

20. Ignore what bothers you

and give DU a try.

[H2O Man]

21. Hate the Irish, do ya?

WE WERE HERE FIRST!

On a more serious note, you make some valid points. Ben Franklin used to say, "When passions drive, let reason hold the reins." The threads discussing the Middle East sometimes show the danger of allowing passions to hold those reins.

[flowomo]

23. eh, stick around....

despite its flaws (and they are many and serious), this board is as good as it gets, with respect to its technical qualities (speed, design) and content (nothing goes unnoticed). I learn a lot here -- even though I want to punch the screen sometimes.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

25. Please stay!

:hi: :pals: :yourock:

[laylah]

26. I always find

drive by posts to be those of ones who really do not care for intelligent dicourse. Only to stir the pot.

Welcome to DU, btw.

Jenn

[Gregorian]

27. It's hard to believe we get along as well as we do, being so different.

It's incredible! I've wondered since the first days I came to the forums, how such individual people can get along so civil.

It's a testament to the intelligence of Democrats.

[BigBearJohn]

28. curious... what are you trying to achieve by posting this?

You can find mean people anywhere... people have emotions
and sometimes they go overboard... if you are that
sensitive, maybe you should find a board that is more
lovey-dovey

[bluethruandthru]

29. Stick around.

After awhile you'll notice the same few people with chronic crabby syndrome. It doesn't matter what the discussion is or what the tone is...they'll come barging in and insult people. I think they just like to push people's buttons.

[demosincebirth]

30. If you're talking about the "far lefties," I'm with you.

Gotta wear your helmet around 'em.


Stick around it gets better.

[MzNov]

37. what do you mean by "far lefties"?

are they more guilty of being nasty or something? just curious

[demosincebirth]

71. The opposite of the of the far-right.

I always said that if you go far enough to the left you will meet the far right. Thats where some are. They have tunnel vision, and will not see any view point except their own.

[survivor999]

31. GD used to be better

When the stuff that belonged in the Lounge was actually moved there! :) It's becoming a semi-Lounge...

[nashville_brook]

34. World War 3 tends to bring out the animal in us

grrwwaaaarrr!

[MzNov]

35. you'll always have a few people like that

it's disheartening sometimes, it makes you wonder if you're dealing with a troll. somebody just ATTACKED me once for talking about a couple of our illustrious Senators. ferrrchrrissssakes! None of us is a total expert on anything, but I think all progressives should at least respect each other's views and not get into calling names, etc. Don't take it personally.

[acmejack]

38. Just as in the real world there are callow, petulant people here too.

It's sad, but true. IMHO, it would be a classic case of cutting off one's nose to spite their face if you should leave because you were extremely offended by the "narrow-minded, mean-spirited, childish idiocy". I would suggest you imbibe a bit off your relaxant of choice, acquaint yourself with the functionality of the "Ignore" button and dive in. I believe you will discover the good greatly outweighs the bad. If not, you are certainly welcome to make good on your threat to leave us, but I suspect that the 92,343 remaining DUers won't really notice.

[hlthe2b]

39. Very tense situation right now, so try to take it in stride...

Even among many of us who have been DUers since its inauguration, have had to recognize that tense times sometimes bring out the worst in us as a community.

Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East has always been a trigger point for the most controversy and heated dissent and clearly the eruption of violence in Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza has stirred most of us in ways that can make objective discussion sometimes difficult. Add to this the fact that we are finishing primary elections in many states and these have highlighted the national stress points-- among those who want the democratic party to reflect the majority views of democrats which may put many at odds with more centrist, traditionalist, or risk aversive democratic strategies...

Use the alert and ignore buttons and hang in there. Even during the worst of these cyclic periods, DU remains a great place to keep on top of what is happening, discuss, and to learn from each other. Many times those who are seemingly most cantankerous or even nasty, will quickly be shown to be intentional disruptors and thus banned. We have to expect that more and more as DU becomes bigger, better known, and acknowledged as asserting some influence...

[mmonk]

40. You'll need a thick skin and an open mind to survive here.

You'll be better for it in the long run. People can learn alot here. There's truth and also varied perspective you may not have thought about. I will say, however, the current Israel/Palestinian situation has produced things that have surprized even me in the verocity of feelings bordering on unreversable hatred. But never leave here.

[tinfoil tiaras]

42. I agree to an extent-but don't leave!

For a while, I thought I wanted to leave here because I thought talking about issues with no opposing viewpoint was boring, but I started posting more (The Lounge is GREAT!) and meeting new people and I feel (almost) at home here.

Second, on to your point. Sometimes I feel like that, but as in real life, you just gotta suck it up. Yes, I agree with you about saying someone's not a "real Democrat". That's bullshit. We're all "real Democrats" here. If you weren't a "real Democrat" why would you join this site in the first place (unless you were a FReeper troll, but that's different).

Like others have said, you came in at a REAL tense time (this whole Isreal buisness) and when things are tense, emotions flare, good and bad. If you think something's out of line, just report it to the mods. They'll take care of it. It's their job.

[FredStembottom]

43. I don't generally see such attacks......

There are tons or replies that I don't like the tone of right off the bat. So I don't finish reading them.

It works!

[babylonsister]

47. New rule for Mark: if you request responses, it's

always nice to acknowledge someone took the time to get back to you. You received many
thoughtful responses, too. Cosider yourself lucky!
:hi:

[BigBearJohn]

54. Nicely put, dear sister

[Laurab]

48. It's all in the way you look at it, really

If you want to concentrate on personal attack posts and stupid shit, it's all here, but there is a ton of good information, and a whole lot of good people here, too. I try to just "take what I can use and leave the rest", although I do find myself defending decent people (or people who I feel are decent) against those attacks sometimes if I happen to fall into one of those threads.

You'll get all kinds of "bullshit" at DU, and all kinds of good stuff, too - it all depends on what you choose to spend your time on. There are over 92,000 people registered here, all with opinions.

All I know is whenever anything happens in the news, politics, etc - I find it here long before I find it anywhere else. Like other people said, alert, ignore, hide threads - they are all your friends.

[Mythsaje]

49. I wouldn't worry too much about it...

I've posted a few controversial subjects a time or two and gotten flamed for it. But I still maintain that authoritarians--be they "left" or be they "right"--are assholes.

:evilgrin:

And I'm a liberal. I'll decide if that makes me a Democrat or not. No one else gets to make that judgment on my behalf.

[Just Me]

51. Maybe, you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

:shrug: Go where YOU feel comfy. 'kay. :hug: Best wishes to you on your journey.

On edit: just consider your arrival a challenge, an initiation. I've been creamed many times,...I recovered.

[Bretttido]

53. I would venture many of the insults come from freeper-trolls

Freeper-trolls = undercover nut-jobs from FreeRepublic that try to instigate fights on DU.

[Oversea Visitor]

57. If one express an opinion one has to defend it

After all by posting his view point person want to share.
What point is there in not allowing others to question it.
The right to express disagreement should not just be look as an attack.

I do not know what you actually relating too.
However there are many type of disruptor around.
Their purpose here is to disrupt and basically cause friction among DU members.
Seen too many
They are nice to fool around with.
One can see from their arguement of how desperate they are

You got to hold you own and your opinion must be logical or GEE you get torn to pieces.
After all do not make people look foolish with stupid comments

:rofl: Me got lots of deleted post which moderator consider too much in response to stupid post.

[lostinacause]

60. Unfortunately this is human nature. More then not attacks are due

to a faulty set of beliefs. People are not able to back them up so they resort to personal attacks.

[pitohui]

61. ok two things

first off -- if you see a personal attack, hit the alert button, the mods will remove it

second off -- many people who hang out on the internets, i would say a significant number of us, including myself, have asperger's or another condition that makes tact very, very challenging

many times i have written a response and later read it and been horrified at how awful it sounds, when the intent was not to be awful, the intent was merely to emphasize

some people don't do tact well, altho most of us do try

and sometimes people are just upset abt something, the large issues of the day inevitably have real world effects on people, i'm sure i left any number of nasty posts when i learned some people i knew had died in katrina

well, there are others here who have lost people in israel or in other conflicts

so it's hard

any debate or discussion group gets rough and tumble at times, i've even seen a rock collecting club come to blows and death threats (and NO i'm not kidding), it's part of human nature that humans find it hard to be rational while debating

[rucky]

63. You're one of those "Not starting trouble" types, eh?

Anti-troubleite!

[Skittles]

66. Mark, it's very simple

this is a big board and we are not goose-steppers like conservatives. If you are offended, hit ALERT, or put the poster on IGNORE, or do BOTH. But PLEASE stop whining.

[Gman]

67. People here feel the more liberal you are

the more Democrat you are. Actually, you have to cross the line from liberal to progressive to be a true Democrat here. That's why people like Ed Schultz get raked across the coals here regularly. If you support Israel you're a neocon, etc.

Fact is that we need the votes of the Ed Schultz' of the world to win elections. But, people here feel the Ed Shultz' of the world that vote Democrat are evil DLC'ers and therefore are neocons and we don't want their votes.

I can't wait for these people to grow up. Unfortunately, there will then be another generation that perpetuates the cycle.

[Joe Fields]

69. The irony is that we democrats pride ourselves in not being in

lockstep in thought, or ideology, unlike the vast majority of republicans. We like it to be known that we have an inclusive "big tent." But here on DU there are numerous people who immediately resort to hurling insults wehen someone presents a differing or unpopular viewpoint. Now I have to ask, is that really a democratic thing to do?

[Skidmore]

70. We get troll infestations from time to time. That's been known to

happen. They come in here and stink up the place while tossing grenades. That kind of attack is usually recognizable early on. You'll note that trolls are buried when identified and honored with tombstones.

[troubleinwinter]

72. Did you INTEND to call DUers narrow-minded, mean-spirited, childish idiots

??? "Callow", "petulant", "offensive", "bullshit"? Or was it an accident? Well, at least you didn't mean to start trouble.

:hi:

[geniph]

73. It's the Keyboard Commando thing

I'm frequently appalled by how utterly uncivil, rude, threatening, and vicious people will be online. They'll say things they would never, in a million years, say to your face. Oh, some of them would probably say the same nasty things to your face, but you can usually spot that kind of crazy a mile off in real life, and stay the hell away from them.

Safe behind the anonymity of a username, people feel perfectly free to let whatever manners they were taught simply disappear.

Compared to unmoderated political forums, this one is extremely civil. Go take a look at an unmoderated forum sometime if you want to see vicious personal attacks.

If people abuse you personally (not your ideas, but you personally), alert on the posts and ask the Moderators to pay attention to it. Some people need to be warned that personal attacks are not permitted here.

Oh, and use your Ignore feature; if a poster seems to you never to have anything substantive to add to a discussion and invariably annoys the hell out of you, make them disappear. Life's too short to be annoyed by what is, after all, a way to pass the time.