Man, I love DU

[The Straight Story]

Was listening to the Keith Toby song "I love this bar" and thought about DU.

We got people all over the board here. Just like in a bar.

We got the 9/11 folks (mihop), we got the anti-israel folks, the pro-israel folks, lamont/liberman people, the truth out defenders and attackers, the folks who think any terrorist plot uncovered is BS, and the ones who think there is really a threat from terrorists. We've got lookers (folks who come here to read), we got posters, we got people who disrupted poorly.

We have a mix of people, on all topics - from religion to primaries, from war to peace. We got em all.

THAT is what makes DU, well...DU. I disagree with some here, they with me. We argue, we discuss, we sometimes call each other names.

Overall, I love this place. We fight, we get it all out, and we de-stress.

Every few days it seems like something new in GD to argue over. From terrorism, to Libermann, from TruthOut, to Hillary. The list goes on and on.

One thing is for sure though - we have (thanks to skinner and crew) an outlet for our thoughts and emotions. A place to share what we feel. A place to learn and see other ways of thinking about things.

DU is my bar. And I get drunk on it daily. Because here I can express myself, you can as well, and we can both see points of views we might have otherwise never have seen.

Have one with me tonight, and relax. In the end we all want the same thing - peace on earth, goodwill towards men/women.

[MadMaddie]

1. K & R

:toast:

[Digit]

2. I hear ya, I hear ya

It is the one place where my values generally match the values of others.

Very refreshing!

[upi402]

3. Well I don't drink, but here...

:toast:

[hopeisaplace]

4. I'll drink to that

:toast:

and "The World Needs A Drink" (Terri Clark)

[EFerrari]

5. Peace?!

Peace. :hi: Columbus!

[TomInTib]

6. Hey! Go folk yourself!!

Or just drink deep and long from the bar, here.

Any way it goes, you will get f**ked here anyway.

[longship]

7. R & K

You'd better believe it.

Thanks DU! Thank you for all of this.

[rumpel]

8. Cheers.

:toast:

[Kurovski]

9. K&R

That sounds about right.

Edit: Lou Dobbs!!!

[Der Blaue Engel]

10. DU is my bar too...

...and I'm an alcoholic. :D

:toast:

[ebayfool]

11. The DU Bar & Grill - yupper, it fits!

"DU is my bar. And I get drunk on it daily."

And rec'ed!

[IChing]

12. Well, I don't know about you but that guy over there

looks like a narc....so warn the lounge and the 911 forum for me.

I just pass them a joint.

nicely written piece it does seem like that doesn't it?

[IChing]

26. I tell you I just visited the Israeli/ Palestine forum could use a joint.

I just went down there and

both sides need to chill....I know it is serious but

some down there only see one side of the story and refuse to see the other side's viewpoint.

[MissWaverly]

54. I think Skinner needs to change the Israel/Palestine Forum

they should have video smack downs where you could defeat your opponent like in the arcades,
for a donation to DU, of course, some of those people have serious anger issues

[WiseButAngrySara]

57. The Pro group has a new site where they are blasting Anti's as

anti-Semite, and completely innocent posts are being deleted here at DU just because of an opposing view. It's not right. To squelch all moral dissent is like the nazis.

http://prosemiteundercover.phpbbnow.com/viewtopic.php?p...

[Zhade]

62. And the administrators know about who posts at both sites...

...committing libel against DU and its users.

Nothing has been done yet, but I feel confident the mods will do the right thing.

[The Straight Story]

63. For once I agree with you :)

Maybe someday we could start a thread - who is your DU nemisis? Naw, I wouldn't pick you. Really.... ;)

Thanks for keeping me honest on threads, always good to debate, learn, rinse, and repeat.

Maybe we could hit up a game of chess someday....

[Zhade]

66. Aw, I'm sure we've agreed on more than one thing.

:)

And as for chess - love it, but I'd lose!

[Taxloss]

68. So what? The antis have their own site as well.

"complicitywatch" ring any bells?

[Raydawg1234]

13. Toby Keith, interesting choice, have you heard his song "Shock and Awe?"

It's disgusting RW propaganda.

[IChing]

15. Don't worry, I just changed the juke box to Neil Young's new CD

God, I swear some people's taste of music in this place......

[The Straight Story]

20. Good songs, bad songs. Good threads, Bad threads.

It's all the same :)

[datasuspect]

69. shit merle haggard sang "fightin' side of me"

but i still like merle.

toby keith is no merle haggard though.

for the record, i can't listen to most modern country music anyway.

[Hekate]

14. I'll drink to that!

:toast:

Hekate

[Viva_La_Revolution]

16. ok, I'll have another one with ya...

but then I really need to stagger home and crash. No, really... just one more...

[EFerrari]

17. We interrupt this Love Fest to ask for votes for Viva's BookTV thread

because we have no shame.

:loveya:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1891706&mesg_id=1891706

[Mabus]

18. Thank you for the reminder

Done. Thanks for rallying the troops, so to speak.

on edit: People can now return to the love fest. However, a few more k&r's for Viva's thread would be great.

[EFerrari]

21. Yeah -- back to the love fest! Thanks!

DU!

[earth mom]

19. I'd rather have a beer with you all...

anything to forget the chimperor!

:toast:

[Oversea Visitor]

22. Hmmmm me think me have not get chance to

disagreed yet..... maybe got :rofl:

[Mythsaje]

23. A bit like Spider Robinson's

"Callahan's Crosstime Saloon," or my own "Magitech Lounge."

A place where people realize that pain shared is lessened and joy shared is increased.

[DeSwiss]

24. I'm a Newbie

... and I like it!!!!! :bounce:

[Hissyspit]

30. Welcome to DU!

:patriot:

:toast:

[bling bling]

25. I'd like to add one more thing I love

It may sound trivial compared to everything else but I love the format here. I understand it, it makes sense, it's easy to maneuver around, it's easy to see if you have replies to your posts or which posts are "new" in a thread. I can read subject headlines of posts if I'm in a hurry, or I can scroll down and.......why am I telling you this, you already know the features.

Anyway, I like the format. Waaaayyy better than most of the other discussion boards I've seen.

[WiseButAngrySara]

58. Ditto! and Ditto! ....n/t

[EFerrari]

27. And another thing: today DU went a long way to preserving

a suicide prevention hotline that BushCo wanted to shut down if they couldn't datamine.

Just another day at DU.

:loveya:

[BadGimp]

28. thank you The Straight Story and Fellow DUers!

AMEN

Dam Strraight

Hell Yeah I'm an American!

A heart felt thanks to everyone who has had a hand in making this forum sacred ground for American Patriots.

God Bless America..

[WhiteTara]

29. may you never thirst

:toast:
and may you never hunger

[marions ghost]

31. DU

whatever you may feel about it, is a place where people at least TALK about things that matter. An oasis of sanity in zombieland. A refuge but also a wellspring, a source of strength.

DU is a place for people who instinctively know that no matter how bad it is--nothing is gained by shutting down and turning away. These days it's not easy to LOOK at the issues. It takes a support group to face some of the more profoundly disturbing implications. But we can do more together than we ever dreamed of alone in these challenging times. We must fight against the forces that clearly seek to divide and silence us.

This week has been unsettling but I have found the discussions of the alleged terrorist plot at DU very helpful. Info and opinions from several sources is so much better than the condescending "one size fits all" slop the MSM dishes out. And last but not least I appreciate the dose of humor often found here--it helps to keep a balanced perspective.

Thank you DUers & DU staff. :grouphug:

[xchrom]

32. it's a groove thing!

[Vidar]

33. A worthy tribute.

[FSogol]

34. I dunno, so far I haven't gone home with anyone, I shouldn't have.

:shrug:

[robinlynne]

35. nicely said. thanks!

[Libby2]

36. I love DU too.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

37. Absolutely SS! And Thank You For Being Part Of It My Friend.

:toast:

[helderheid]

38. Cheers!

This is a perfect analogy! I'd rather hang with you guys than at any random bar anytime!

[Spazito]

39. Well said! I love DU for all the reasons you have listed....

It is the most educational, informative, intellectually challenging site on the net, imo. I know I need to have my "ducks in a row" when debating an issue or I will be, and rightly so, shot down in double quick time.

A :toast: to all DUers, the admins and the mods!

[treestar]

40. DU is a great place. It is where you can say a repug is a moran

and everybody knows they don't need to correct your spelling. It is where you can make a post like "Why do you hate America?" and don't need the sarcasm smilie, because everybody gets it.




:toast:

[Mr_Spock]

50. Why DO you hate 'Merka?

You Nazi bastard! :P

[bonito]

41. Cheers !

:toast:

[Zhade]

42. What anti-Israel folks? You mean, anti-Israeli war crimes?

Or the odd troll who spouts anti-Semitic comments?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

43. Seemed Pretty Apparent The OP Meant Opposed To Israel's Recent Action.

After re-reading the OP, however, I'm of the opinion that such definitions need not be parsed in order for the the reader to grasp what it is the OP was trying to say. I think the thread is extremely clear in its intent and is better when looked at as a whole rather than dissected with focus on one teensy weensy piece.

[tinfoil tiaras]

44. i love DU too!

K&R. <3

[derby378]

45. We got pro-gun Dems, anti-gun Dems, and everyone in between

In the end, our goal is the same - the restoration of a Democratic Congress in November.

Welcome aboard!

:toast:

[Mr_Spock]

53. Here a gun, there a gun, everywhere a gun-gun.

Old McLiberal had a gun,

ee i ee i o!

[Time for change]

46. Well said Straight Story

[Gregorian]

47. Diversity rules!

We almost get along here. In fact, we do get along. I find it phenomenal.

Don't laugh, but I liken this place to college radio. Solid eclectic diversity. Maturity. Sohpistication. Where can one listen to Coltrane juxtaposed with Iggy Pop? Or Billy Holiday and the Butthole Surfers?

The thing about life is, it's diverse. You either celibrate it or use up your life energy fighting it.

I am so pleased. Thanks for bringing it up. It gives us renewed faith that humans are good.

[Tigress DEM]

51. I second that. Diversity Rules because therein lies our survival.

If we as a planet are going to move forward, we have to take the whole acceptance of others as-is to a higher level and really enjoy our differences and not just stick to what little tiny corner of the world we know and feel we can handle.

Other people are who they are and if I accept them as they are and not try to make them into something that I'm comfortable with, then we get along better. I hate it when someone thinks that because I have my own opinion and defend it that it means I don't respect theirs. I don't have a lot of patience for people who are horribly mis-informed and parrot to me ideas based on false information, but I try (and I hope it comes across that way) to simply suggest that they get more info.

Everybody has likes and dislikes, but it's important in these times not to decide on important things without adequate information. That is why DU is such a great place.

Minor things like movie and food choices are an example of where everyone should not feel they have to explain to others. I personally have no desire to see "Snakes On Planes" or to eat escargot, although some people may enjoy both.

But, for instance, when it comes to do we work together to find a solution to global warming or die pretending it isn't our problem... then I feel people (myself included) need to get informed and get going on doing our part. Course I did go to see An Inconvenient Truth, so maybe some movies deserve being promoted here, but going to see a movie because "everyone else is going" doesn't get the democratic juices revved up.

[Gregorian]

60. Snakes on a Plane!

Now that has potential. For failure. I mean, Samuel Jackson? What happened? Did they run out of script writers? Is he at the end of his career? I have been getting a lot of mileage out of the Snakes on a Plane thing. I hang out at "another website" that is really cool. We've been laughing it up for a week or so over this thing. I happen to like the old stuff. I saw Amelie the other night. It's not old, but it seems old. I'm like a male version of Amelie.

I believe that half of all of the world's problems are due to misunderstanding. A total accident. Someone misheard something. That glance was a smile, not a sneer. I just discovered tonight that Charles Bukowski was actually a very clean guy.

Oh boy, it's Saturday night, and I'm blabbing away in cyberspace. Well, it's all in the name of togetherness.

[Tigress DEM]

48. Reminds me more of Libertine Salons of Europe...

In a bar if we did half the stuff we do online here we'd get tossed out on our hindquarters even if we'd only been sipping sodas.

Seems to me some of the "debates" in those early salons ended up as duels on the street at dawn. Sometimes I feel the way we shoot each other down here is just about as blood thirsty.

I take a break and come back when I can deal with it and accept it as is for the good and bad that you point out. It's still better than rolling over and drinking the koolaid and it's a forum where people learn how to stand up for their beliefs all right.

[Mr_Spock]

49. I'll have a Kirin

in a tall glass :toast:

[Tigress DEM]

52. Dos XX with a lime slice please.

:toast:

[rosesaylavee]

55. DU has become an 'old friend' in my life

very quickly over the past year. I am so grateful that this forum is here! Great ideas, great humor, the occasional severe annoyance with trolls, but overall, a place I take great comfort in visiting often.

[orleans]

56. i call DU my playground

it's a place i love to go to, for fun, for reflection, for learning about life/observing life, and let out pent up energy (venting), meeting up with friends, meeting new friends

it's a place i land with like-minded (mostly) individuals--so unlike my real life. the people i live with think along the same lines as i do, they feel as passionate as i do--almost--but i really don't have anyone else in my life that does...except here.

wish i'd found you sooner. so glad i've got you now.

[WiseButAngrySara]

59. What a great post, and much needed after I/P Angst and Fury!

:kick: and R! and :toast:

[lonestarnot]

61. mmmm he.

[Philosoraptor]

64. ditto

[Kajsa]

65. Thanks, The Straight Story.

I feel the same way about DU.
There's something for everyone here.

:grouphug:

[EFerrari]

67. kick

[datasuspect]

70. hey doctor, lemme get a bud draft

and a jack and coke with 2 limes.

keep 'em coming

[Taxloss]

71. Yep

It's a diverse old place all right, and that has to be a good thing.

I don't drink, so I'll take a mineral water thanks.

[The Straight Story]

73. damned hippies and your mineral water

You needs a pickup truck, not painted with purty flowers and peace signs, with a cunfudurite flag and a twelve pack of bud light. You must be from new englund or californy.

[Taxloss]

74. How about tomato juice, then?

I think they do sixpacks of V8.

On edit: To be honest, I never associated hippies with those who eschew drink and drugs. And my personal hygiene is impeccable. And music festivals aren't my thing. But otherwise ...

[The Straight Story]

75. A v8 is fine for a pickup truck, but not to drink :)

If you run vodka through a britta filter it is like bottled water I hear...

[Taxloss]

76. A six-cylinder V8!

Vroom!

[GreenTea]

72. And to get laid!

[The Straight Story]

77. Kick on that comment and a hope that folks will donate

What would we do without DU?

[Rainscents]

78. Insane?

:shrug: Thanks DU!!! :toast: