I don't know why I thought this message board would be different

[liberal_at_heart]

I left another board that was full of conservative republicans because I got tired of being brow beaten. I come here thinking more people would share my progressive views. I can handle someone saying "I can see what you are saying but I see it differently and I dissagree". But to have so many people degrade, insult, condescend, and bully other people trying to beat them into submission until they agree with you just because they have a different opinion? I thought democrats were suppose to be more tolerant than republicans but clearly some are not. I hope those who bully and brow beat other people know that that tactic doesn't actually change anyone's mind. In fact, it probably makes people distance themselves from your point of view because of those tactics. It is the holiday season and I like to enjoy the season and all this nastiness does not add to my enjoyment so I think I am going to take a break from the board. I just have to wonder are all message boards this way? Becuase if they are maybe I just don't belong on any of them. Hope you all have a good day. Happy Holidays.

[vadawg]

1. welcome to the internet, i hopw you have a great stay....

[BzaDem]

4. +1

[villager]

2. It has become, in so many ways, as nasty and snark-filled as the AM Radio shows

that so many DUers imagine having conceptual "distance" from....

Alas....

[JuniperLea]

3. You need to introduce yourself to the ignore button...

DU goes through tough times now and again. It's good to use ignore on bullies, and on those who do nothing but attack, and those who spread vile lies. I fully expect to see many a tombstone when I get around to clearing out the list again... who knows when that will be this time.

[RyboSlybo]

23. I don't use the ignore...

Not that I wouldn't like to from a time to time and i can't say that I blame you. But I spend much more time reading here than posting and if I ignored everyone that pissed me off I would probably not enjoy this site as much. It's entertainment value and really it is good to hear all the opposing viewpoints especially the downright evil ones. But for me I think it's better to be informed... and hey... it's only the intrawebz... :argh:

[JuniperLea]

27. I used to feel exactly the same way...

I always said, live and learn from fools and from sages. I just don't have the time or energy to deal right now. And whenever I see someone else getting frustrated or angry at "Ignored" I feel validated in my choices:)

[RyboSlybo]

32. Ah yes... time is precious..

I do really dig your Peace sign! Very groovy baby! Shall we shag now or shall we shag later?

I love that movie... :smoke:

[WyldRogue]

29. The Ignore button...

... I may disagree with people's opinions and ideas but putting even the shrewdest of people on ignore is essentially hiding out. Remember, it is all just words on a screen and putting people on ignore because you don't like or agree with their opinion/attitude is asinine.

Still, if one must live by the Goddess Ignorica then so be it lol

Do I get put on ignore? Hope not :)

[JuniperLea]

30. That's not what I'm doing at all...

And frankly, I'm not quite sure how you arrived at that conclusion.

I ignore bullies, I ignore those who offer no substance, things along those lines. I will ignore those who agree with me, but do it rudely.

There are plenty of intelligent, well spoken people here on many sides of many arguments who offer substance and real questions and reasoning.

I don't have time for games.

[JuniperLea]

31. Oh, and calling people's choices asinine...

Is really rude, and given you didn't get what I was saying, pretty lame too.

[spanone]

5. this board like all boards reflects life. messy sometimes....

adios

[MineralMan]

6. Start your own message board, then, and ban everyone but you and

the two people who agree with you. That's what I'd do if I were you.

[A HERETIC I AM]

7. Here ya go;

[Auggie]

8. Is it tolerance or bad manners?

D.U. is, overall, a pretty good place to hang out. Give it a little time -- it'll even out.

[1]

9. i know! like when i went out with this really great guy. he said he'd call. he never called...

[timeforpeace]

25. He was intimidated. Only goes out with 2's.

[JuniperLea]

28. HAHAHAHAHA!

:rofl:

[FarCenter]

10. It is physically impossible to "beat someone into submission" via a data connection

Unless you have some sort of robot attached to your PC?

[notesdev]

11. Gotta learn to just let it roll off your back

People think anonymity allows them to be jerks without risking the punch in the face they'd get it they acted that way in person.

I think anonymity lets people be their true selves. The reality is that for a very many people, their true selves are jerks.

[housewolf]

12. It seems like Americans have lost the skill of arguing & debate

Not to mention the skills of listening and discourse. Rather we have substituted the habit yellling past each other.

[barbtries]

13. i hope you'll stick around to read this

http://www.themudflats.net/

this is a great blog with a wonderful crew of regular readers. snark is essentially unheard of there. i find myself visiting the mudflats as much or more than DU these days.

[Romulox]

14. If anything, this board is TOO tolerant of aggressive RW ideology. nt

[JVS]

21. Yep. I never imagined a few years ago that this board would turn on liberals so badly.

[ipfilter]

15. All forums are like this. Been that way since USENET.

Just check your feelings in at the door and don't take things too personally. Chances are, you will find many like minded people here on DU, but the topics are broad and so are the opinions.

[FarCenter]

19. There are some forums that are polite and agreeable

Nobody interesting goes there.

[The Straight Story]

24. like at barbie.com or care bears forum?

:rofl:

[vadawg]

37. dude you got to be joking, try asking a question about carebears on their forum

dudes are worse than the trekkies for correcting your shit, and the arguments are legendary, such as what softener is best to use when you bathe your bear etc etc..

[The Straight Story]

39. I'm not gonna ask how you know all that.....

;)

[vadawg]

42. dude i can answer that question in just one word, daughter... :)

[The_Commonist]

16. It's an internet discussion forum...

...populated by anonymous human beings.
Humans beings are far from perfect to begin with, and with that anonymity, people act snarkier than they might in real life.
All it takes is a thick skin, a righteous well thought out position, and some degree of eloquence with the written word and for the most part you will be all right.
Nobody agrees with everything anyone says, and them's the breaks.
Democrats are all over the board, so don't expect lock-step.
That's what makes us much more interesting than, you know, those OTHER people!

[Junkdrawer]

17. It's never been a complete progressive "safe zone". BUT....

every year it's become more and more a Left vs. Right combat zone.

As I've said before: a victim of its own success. Because it was a relative "safe zone", it attracted a lot of eyes. And where there are a lot of eyes, the professional advocates/propagandists are sure to follow.

And, for the pros, if they can't bring you to their point of view with their myriad of tricks, shitting all over the board in an attempt to prevent consensus is always the last option.

[crappyjazz]

18. Don't despair my friend

You learn a lot about politics here and a lot about people. You're lucky that you've learned quickly that people that represent one party are not really that much different from the people that represent another party ... despite the screams of protest that they are. Soon you'll learn that all political parties are pretty much the same when you peel down to the core.

[Cleita]

20. That's because you are still running into conservative

asshats here too. They usually get banned in due time. We have an ignore feature. I find putting them on ignore and using the hide a thread feature filters out all the bottom-feeders and disruptors and you can actually have a meaningful discussion with fellow progressives.

[JuniperLea]

36. +1

Very well said.

[treestar]

22. The tactics are separate from the substance of a position

Anyone can use the bad or good tactics.

[xiamiam]

26. fyi..this place is different...it was very different during the bush years

a little more active, fewer war backers..maybe none.. a lot more cohesive in what we had to do...there will always be freepers but they usually expose themselves .

the best thing about this place is the information you can get..and disseminate...wasting your time if you think you will ever convince a cheerleader..pearls before swine..learn what you can...do with it what you will...and keep at it...

if you notice, the climate here at du has changed considerably since the afghanistan escalation speech...the escalation is a difficult thing to defend if you have lectures re the afganistan pipeline, afghans legitimately sharing their feelings about us being there. in videos...at our fingertips..just a click away for anyone curious enough to exercise their little finger

the unrec team can barely keep a thread down..people are awakening to what is happening...we were and still our hopeful...but there are some things that none of us here at du will abide...like torture..and dick cheney

[dysfunctional press]

33. why not start your own board with your own rules...?

:shrug:

[Blue-Jay]

34. You forgot to put "liberals" or "progressives" in air-quotes.

That's what most of the leftier-than-thou-types usually do.

Ex: "I thought this was a "progressive" message board.... blah blah blah..."

[Bitwit1234]

35. What post have you been reading. Course the ones I read

don't have people browbeating me into believing what they do. Guess I know my own mind.

[MiniMe]

38. Welcome to DU

Be glad you weren't here for the primaries. It was cutthroat back then. We have trolls like any other public message board. And there aren't 2 people who agree on everything, the world would be boring if there were. All democrats are not necessarily progressive, take Ben Nelson for example. For example, I am happy that Obama is President and I support him, but I certainly don't agree with some of the things he has done so far. I don't know what your views are and what you feel you were brow beaten for, but I will say that many here think that is should all be done right now, and want the President to act unilaterally on some things. It is different issues for different people. Add the trolls to that and you get the idea. We had a poster with over 1,000 posts banned (or tombstoned as we call it) today. So I welcome you to DU as I always enjoy people with different opinions and opinions with a reason. Just remember, it is a democratic board, not a progressive board. Many here are progressive, and some are on some issues and not others.

[HipChick]

40. Been that way since BBS's...

[Cary]

41. It didn't used to be a cesspool.

It is now.

[librechik]

43. sensitive people with thin skins die quick deaths on the political forums

Try not to take what perfect strangers sya to you personally, and learn to stand by your own beliefs. The same\mad mob of troglodytes determined to cut you off at the knees will greet you juat about anywhere nowadays.

I know, it's sad to see it happen here too. But so it goes.