Think about leaving DU? How about a piece of advice before you do?

[Hawkeye-X]

Take a break. DU, like any other websites, will always be there (unless Skinner forgot to pay his yearly hosting fees).

I've taken several weeks break, and feel refreshed and ready to kick ass and take names.

Hawkeye-X

[BeHereNow]

1. Couldn't agree more. If DU upsets you, TAKE a break.

If a web message board community moves you to such emotional
distress, more walks and less keyboard time is advisable.

My 2 cents.
BHN

[AlCzervik]

2. i took a break after the election, it did me a world of good, i'll be going on vacation

for 3 weeks this summer and there will be no bringing of the laptop with me, i will continue to read the paper everyday though.

[alittlelark]

3. I have been on a 3 day or so hiatus

What's goin' on?

[BlooInBloo]

4. And try to come up with a memorable GCW thread, else you'll be forgotten immediately.

[The Straight Story]

5. Been there myself

Took a much needed break to care for the wife and get moved out here to CA. Helped a lot.

Sometimes though one feels like leaving behind, it can be hard to be torn down and at times chased from thread to thread and ridiculed.

And people here are real people - with real feelings. We all forget that sometimes, I know I do in the heat of the moment :)

I can see disagreeing with folks here on issues, but some folks take it personal (again, I ain't perfect in that arena either) and fight back by being real dicks.

And some of us pay monthly here for that abuse :rofl:

It's easy to get discouraged. I sure was. Wife was sick, job was screwing me on paychecks, I was suffering depression and fear - so I took things more personal than I should have. On the same token others are going through similar things and it does not hurt to be nice when opposing a view point.

[Glorfindel]

6. Wonderful idea! I'll be away from DU from 5/31 until 6/11

and I'm already missing it, warts and all. Yes, it can get intense sometimes, but it's a haven of rational thought in an increasingly insane world.

[KharmaTrain]

7. I Have My DU Rules...

I've taken my share of DU vacations in my nearly 5 years playing around this place...and now can pretty much anticipate the shitstorms as they precipitate.

My cardinal rule here is to count to 10 before I post...make sure I really want to post before I do. It's easy to get caught up into a flame war and many times it's jumping to reply...where a couple seconds of "hey what am I doing" can come in handy.

Also, in my too many years on the "internets", and the many message boards I've learned there are a percentage of people who come out here looking to "vent" in one way or another. Be it a bad day or they just like to fight, people will quickly type things behind the keyboard that they would never say face-to-face. Inversely, you get some incredible insight from people as well. Thus, I only look at the words, never judge the poster or name. If someone wants to pick a fight, let them waste their time and electrons on someone else.

Foremost, one must remember, this is a community. It's loaded with personalities...and DU has had it's share. While I am not into the cliques or see this as a social experience, others see it differently...and thus take things far more personally. I realize people don't care what I really think, thus my thing here is to learn by engaging...and I appreciate those who take the time to enlighten me or share their thoughts.

When I found DU in the dark days of 2002, it was a relief to the wingnut-dominate political message boards I had been on. However, I've found this place, due to its diversity, can be more contentious and this catches many by surprise. You think "how could people I ally with be so cruel". Welcome to human nature.

Cheers...

:hi:

[MichaelHarris]

8. I can't leave

I pissed off to many people.

[Generic Brad]

9. There's an alternative to leaving

Try lurking for a while. Hold your tongue and just read what others are saying for a few weeks. Sooner or later you may find yourself jumping back into the dialogue.

[leftist.]

10. But, omfg I really have teh g00d reasons 4 leaving!

Anyway, "leaving" DU is retarded (especially since no one really leaves). I'm a liberal socialist and I fucking HATE the dems, but OMFG I'll work with them over the repubs ANY DAY. anyway, brb leaving DU k thx bai