What is going on here? Is this my DU anymore or is it just a weird

[Raven]

place that I don't want to go to any more? I've been here since almost the beginning and I don't feel that I know this site now. Can we try to find our roots or is it too late and those of us who where here for the towers and the elections and the trauma... and the mutual support....is it time for us to go...maybe to be "unrecommended". I don't know but every time I come here the more I feel DU is gone...no doubt about the fact that it is the moderators decision...I wou;ld like to know what their vision is.

[patrice]

1. Have you ever wondered how many DUers avoid your Replies to their posts by putting

you on ignore, so if you're a problem for them, they don't have to give you the opportunity to critique their posts?

You can only see your own ignores. You can't see who's ignoring/hiding from you, right?

[Cleita]

3. Actually, there are ways to find out. However, I'm not telling. n/t

[Cha]

5. I know a way and if you PM me..

I'll tell you.:)

[sandnsea]

2. As to "unrecommend"

I think it creates a community concensus. It isn't up to the mods to always decide what's offensive or disruptive, who's a troll, who's a pita. I think a lot of people might not end up tombstoned if it was clear the larger community was tolerant of momentary upsets, etc. At least that's how I hope it works.

[Trajan]

4. There are no guarantees in DU .... None ...

Except much whining will occur, and conservatives are assholes ....

You dont have to live here .... Visit when you feel like it ...

[HughMoran]

6. Winning did it

Get used to it until something comes along to unify us again for a common cause.

[opihimoimoi]

7. DU has become a Testing Ground between Positive and Negative

The Negatives are Bullies who wish to dominate over the Positives by any means....good or bad....

Its the YING YANG Thing.....

Come, we go Luau, sing, eat, drink, laugh.....the Pubs are Dying on the Vine

[Still Blue in PDX]

8. I just gave up my "status" and started over with a zero post count.

because my new name doesn't fit.

I was really happy after the election and changed my username from Blue in Portland.

DU used to keep me sane, but now it seems to be sort of an unhealthy addiction.

I'm just waiting to see who the first person will be to call me out for being a troll even though I've been a member for years and lurked since the beginning of DU. People here are really testy.

[Dogmudgeon]

9. I've been feeling the same way

Since politics has been going "our" way, the Left has developed a distinctly ugly, Freeperish side. And I am a strong advocate of the "bring your best game" approach to on-line discussion. Kumbayah is for AFTER the the "game". ("Game," of course, means "dialog or debate".)

But (IMO,) "teh Ugly" is for the bastards we just waxed; that is, the Right.

People don't even take the time to check out the "news" they hear. Every day brings a couple new bogus Obama rumors, which ignite two or three firestorms each, until the rumor is debunked or the tantrum has subsided. This destroys the value of ANY reasoned criticism of the Administration.

And EVERYTHING has become a personal slight. (How can anyone tell?)

I am certainly NOT a Paragon of Virtue in posting, myself; but neither am I pointing the finger. I think we should put more effort into maintaining an atmosphere that is conducive to as intense and full dialog as we can, without the devolution into "Luciannity". Otherwise, Skinner might as well place herbal Viagra ads in with the feed.

--d!

[MissDeeds]

10. DU has certainly changed

It always seemed to have a core that brought us all together. Of course through the earliest days of the primaries and through the nomination process, there were divisions and warring factions, but there was always something with which we could identify. We were unified, and I hoped that it was more than a total disdain of the Bush evil empire that tied us one to the other. But now...? I don't know. It is troubling, to say the least.

[jobycom]

11. The world has changed so DU has. I don't like it as much anymore, either

but I still come here. It's gone from a place to protest the government to a place to support the government while still protesting parts of the government that are against the basic principles we support. That's the confusion, it's just not the same situation that DU was founded for.

[Holly_Hobby]

12. I figure it's for upping click count/ad revenue

Disclaimer: I have no idea if click counts affect ad revenue or not. My paranoia gets out of hand at times. :)

Follow the money....

[FredStembottom]

13. It's still a nice place....

...with sparkle-stuff in the stucco and everything!

[lumberjack_jeff]

14. Conform. n/t

[Art_from_Ark]

15. When a small town of a few thousand grows to 140,000

in the course of 8 years, you get lots of transients and assorted other characters who have no particular interest in what the town was like when it was still cozy.