My DU experience: I've been a member for a week and 25,000+ have read my posts

[Snoutport]

Dear DU-ers,

All I can say is...WOW. Last weekend I was horribly frustrated by politics and I was searching for a way to vent (besides moaning to my poor partner who could hardly stand it any more). I'd read DU a few times but last Sunday I read a post that I just couldn't stand to not comment on. So, I joined and made my point. And, suddenly people were agreeing with me and talking about my viewpoint and, I will tell you, I have not felt so politically powerful or involved since my college days.

Thank you for the 25,000+ vies, thanks you for somewhere around 1000 comments, Thank you for giving me a voice and for letting me part of the conversation.

DU is a great experiment and hopefully it will be one of the tools that makes America a place for the people again...instead of for the corporations.

You guys rock!

[Scuba]

1. Welcome. I love DU too. Now get a star. n/t

[bigwillq]

25. Or maybe you can donate in their name.

And mine too. :)

[Scuba]

27. I could barely afford it when I was shamed into donating in my name. n/t

[Luminous Animal]

2. Welcome to DU!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

3. Welcome!! DU can be a really empowering place!

Try to take it in, read what you see, everyone here has an opinion, and a view. The collection of those views is what makes DU so great.

If you don't agree with one person, or 20... so be it. But, as a whole, this is a BRILLIANT community of individuals!!!!

[tularetom]

4. Welcome to DU

Read your profile and you should seriously consider changing your feelings about your republican friends.

[Snoutport]

6. one of my coworkers was the tea party candidate for congress

and every day i see him perform a good job and be caring and kind. so, in this instance...i gotta say that there is good to be found in everyone, no matter how different your political opinions are. But we don't talk politics much...which is probably why I needed to vent so much!

[Lucinda]

23. I have family and close friends who are Reps.

They are good people...they just see the world much differently than I do.

[Mimosa]

9. Dayum, I wouldn't tell anybody to 'change his feelings"

How bossy and condescending, Tularetom. One of the newbie's parents is a Republican. I've known older people who are old school not Tea Party Republicans who are my friends. I certainly wouldn't turn on my kind and decent friends or relatives because they may be registered as republican and only vote that way, don't even contribute money.

Like it or not America has a mainly two party system. *Some of* today's Republicans aren't civil or tolerant but there are a few decent people among them. Just as there are lying, intolerant Democrats.

Who the heck would want to switch to being a Dem if WE appear to be the party which demonises people?

[tularetom]

12. Sorry, I was being a smartass

I still have some republicans who I would call friends - they are the ones who are able to converse without continual repetition of fox news talking points. Others, who couldn't keep their mouths shut, not so much friends anymore, c'est la vie. I'm almost 70 years old and I'd like to think I want to spend what time I have left without having to hear the n-word in every other sentence.

Relatives are a different matter. We have a ginormous family and holiday dinners used to involve 25 to 30 people. Many of whom are definite "low information" voters if they vote at all. Oddly enough, the most uninformed among them were also the ones who contributed little or nothing to the gatherings in the way of help or funds. Grandma got to where she dreaded the holidays. So, we've cut back to maybe 10 or 12 family members who really want to help and as a side benefit, we now have much less tension at these get togethers.

[DCKit]

18. I'd have to agree.

I went to a dear friend's memorial service yesterday. Another, (slightly older) dear friend of 20 years was spouting RW talking points throughout our luncheon - Bill Clinton's BJ, Barack Obama's terrorist ties. I really didn't have the heart to shut him down completely with an example as harsh as the various treasons committed by BushCo*, but he didn't emerge unscathed, either. The odds at our end of the table were 5 to 1. In all, it was a good-humored exchange, but the ignorance from a respected elder was more than a little shocking.

It seems that, to be a modern Republican, you have to suspend disbelief and accept everything you hear from Faux Snooze, OxyRush and propaganda newsletters without question.

They are too fond of, and too willing to bow to authority for my taste.

[Mimosa]

21. Tularetom, no wonder it's best to avoid politics at family gatherings. ;)

You're a sweetie to have understood me. *hug*

[PassingFair]

5. I read your profile.

I have to say that life is better when both
parents are Democrats.

Or at least liberal people that care for ALL
children.

[L. Coyote]

7. Don't confuse preaching to the chior with getting something real done in the world.

You might accomplish more registering a dozen voters than you can with 10,000 posts in the ether.

[Snoutport]

8. I'm a letter writer usually

I've that guy who writes letters about the issues. It seems I send three or four political letters a month. Though, I've seen enough issues on here in the past week that I've sent out that many letters since I joined DU!

[Mimosa]

10. Welcome, Snoutport

I had about 200 posts here before anybody really welcomed me. I may have gotten 2 replies (I didn't start topics at first). That's the problem with a HUGE board.

BTW, writing letters to representatives and media is more likely to have real world impact that yammering around on D.U. like I do. ;)

[Tx4obama]

11. Welcome to DU, I hope you enjoy your stay for a long time :) n/t

[socialist_n_TN]

13. I've enjoyed your posts snout..........

I didn't even know you were a newbie! :) I'm not a grizzled old veteran myself. I've only been posting for a year or so although I've lurked longer.

Just remember, it's just message board shit. It'll keep your chops up and you'll learn, but don't get bent if you get smacked down occasionally. That'll happen.

[Snoutport]

15. I've had a couple of smack downs!

I survived!

[Rabblevox]

14. how can you tell how many have read your posts? (I'm new too) /nt

[Snoutport]

16. welcome!

I found the numbers on the main discussion page. Click the "latest" next to the democratic underground logo on the top left. Then pick one of the discussions: I usually look at general discussion or news. click on it there and you'll see a page with latest posts and the numbers of views and comments.

I didn't find it for a while and that's when I found one of my posts had 6000views!!!

[pinkkillersheep]

17. I'm new, too. Pleased to meet you.

It's only been a few days for me, but I already find myself spending several hours a day here. Like you, I'm sick of trying to keep cool while having nowhere to vent my frustration. Most of my Facebook activity is dedicated to politics, but I think my friends are sick of hearing about it so I don't get much good conversation out of it.

It's been great here so far. I can't wait till campaign season really heats up!

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. Welcome to you both!

:hi: :hi:

[Snoutport]

20. Thanks!!

[bigwillq]

24. Hello.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Dappleganger]

22. We're happy to have you...

:hi:

[Toucano]

26. So now you're powerful?

Prepare to become a target! ;-)

[Snoutport]

28. NO! far from Being powerful...just feeling powerful

There is a difference. More of a power in numbers sort of way.

[Hissyspit]

29. Welcome to DU, Snoutport!

:toast:

:patriot:

[Snoutport]

30. To whomever gave me the star!!! Thank you!!

I just got an email on here that someone paid for a year's membership for me! Whomever gave me the star, thank you!!! I will pay it forward :0)