Who are you People?

[Ripley]

You know, the ones that have replaced most of the Liberal, long-time, thoughtful posters on DU?

"I got a star by my name, so that entitles me to":

1. Post sexist shit about how hot some republican strategist is.
2. Ask about well-know disruptors that were banned here, as if they thought they were real liberals, ever.
3. Continually discuss the media stars as if anyone really gives a shit about those who deny Americans real news about the US wars and the World.
4. Innocently ask why Dean was ever allowed to speak, or THK was ever allowed to present herself, or why liberals don't just drop the abortion-thingy, or why WE don't reach out to WACKO END OF TIMES DEATH CULT RELIGIOUS TYPES.

Too bad I don't see the thoughtful folks I used to admire here anymore. But I don't blame them for leaving..I'm pretty much gone too.

Tom Paine where are you?

Maybe the fracturing of DU into little cliques is where everyone has gone. But frankly, I think that dissecting is only making folks more susceptible to their own echo chamber and further alienated from the larger issues that concern all of us liberals. I guess the Admins had good intentions, but I see this place becoming a train station of shallow chatrooms.

Too bad.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Dumb Question

How do you get a star? Should I feel bad because I don't have one?

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. Donate

:-)

[intheflow]

8. Seriously?

I'm surprized you don't have one, proud2Blib. You are such a lively participant here. You get a star when you contribute money to DU.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. I'm poor

an underpaid public school teacher.

Maybe after Christmas, I can afford to contribute.

And honestly, I don't contribute to any forums. But I like this one so I guess I can put a crowbar on my wallet and contribute. Is there a minimum? Do I get a different colored star if I give just a little bit of money? :)

Before you all think I'm just a cheap freeloader, I contribute lots to local charities. And I play Santa Claus every year for 3 or 4 students in my class. This year, I am being Santa for a boy who just moved into a homeless shelter, a boy whose dad is in prison and his grandparents are raising him and three brothers and a little girl who is youngest of 7 and mom lost her job last year. They are all wonderful students - 2 of them have perfect attendance so far this year. So I am saving my money for my Santa stuff. It is so neat. I have our school social worker call their moms and find out what they really want for Christmas. And she doesn't say who I am, just someone who wants this child to have a Christmas.

So as much as I want a star by my name, (and to support DU of course) I have to wait till after Christmas.

[intheflow]

28. You may be poor of money, but not poor in spirit!

There is no limit. We don't think you're a cheap freeloader. Liberals understand there are poor people in America! I am also poor, but came into some bonus money so was able to contribute a piddly little bit.

Contribute when you can. The best part of having a star, imho, is the search option. :)

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. Thanks

I do feel blessed. And yeah, that search option would be pretty cool.

[Pushed To The Left]

34. You do have a star next to your name!

[CornField]

2. Here's hoping you were going for angry

cause you blew right by thoughtful.

[JPace]

3. Losing this election was like getting hit in the gut.....

for many of us there isn't much left inside. We need time to personally regroup and face that long long four years ahead of us. If we post blather for a while....please excuse us and give us a little slack!

[Ripley]

12. Slack.

Yeah, I give that to those who deserve it. Not to those who creeped in the basement window and slime away under their cover of having a lib handle and avatar. It's extremely transparent for a lot of posters. Even those with over 1000. Haven't you heard? Sometimes they FINALLY get banned.

Wonder why it takes so long?

[UpsideDownFlag]

15. it takes a while, but sooner or later, it always happens. nt

[Tansy_Gold]

16. It's okay, Ripley.

I'm not one of the DU originals, but I've been here a while. No star -- I'm poor, unfortunately -- but no blathering about celebs, no mindless drivel, or at least I hope not.

On Nov. 3, hubby and I left on a long road trip. We drove 5308 miles in 12 days, most of it in a state of numbness. I've only been able to bring myself to look at DU in the past couple of days, haven't posted much at all.

I think there are those who are new to politics and who think it's only about winning. So the logic goes that if we lost because of abortion, then we should give up on that. or we should embrace those who voted against us, i.e. the xtian wingers. Some of these folks will learn, some won't, some will just go away.

For the rest of us, the die-hards and the dyed-in-the-wools and the ohmyfuckinggodhowcouldihavebeensoblindallmylifes (I'm in the latter category), we'll come back. We'll regroup and recoup, we'll marshall our forces and gather our courage. We'll find enough embers and kindling to rebuild the fires and relight the torches.

In the mean time, hang in there. Lurk if you must, or even stay away for a while. But don't give up. Oh, goddess, don't give up.


The DUer who will probably always be known as

Tansy Gold

[Ripley]

27. Glad to see you Tansy Gold.

Your post explains a lot. 5308 miles is a long way. I know everyone has had to DEAL in their own way. But it is such a shame to see the shit that gets by these days at this site....

There is so much filler.

[Tansy_Gold]

29. Ignore the shit; hang on to your sanity

The trip we made was planned in advance; it had nothing to do with the election. But in a way I'm glad we did it, because sitting around the house in the immediate aftermath would have been too stressful. This way we were out and on the road and able to air our own frustrations and angers.

I haven't listened to the radio -- not AAR, not NPR, not a thing -- since Nov. 2. I've watched damn little tv, just a few things on the History channel or PBS; no news. I keep posted on events in the wide world via BuzzFlash, various email alerts, and DU. I'm watching, and waiting.

But DU is not my world, and if a horde of trolls waltzes in, well, that's okay. I can ignore them. At least for now.

One thing I'm doing is writing. A few LTEs, some essays for my own edification, even some fiction. There are other audiences than DU, and some of them are even more appreciative!

[intheflow]

4. Ripley, don't go!

Many of us are still here. Well, ok, I'm probably new by your standards, but I came to DU to enjoy the company of other liberals. We're still here, but you just have to search harder for the real threads.

Peace!

[mmonk]

6. me

Don't get too frustrated. There are liberals here.

[DrWeird]

7. Pff, forget about that.

Today I saw an uncommon but not terribly rare weather phenomenon that I've never seen before. Let's talk about that instead.

[Divernan]

10. You've got THAT right! Never seen so much drivel & conceptual navel-gazing

Don't know what the chronological age and educational level of many current posters are, but they sure don't come across like
people who have serious interests or concerns. And they are swamping DU with vacuous, self-serving drivel.
In anticipation of the "Hey, man! Lighten up" response, I say, why don't you set yourselves the goal of posting three politically significant posts, or starting three politically relevant threads for every one you start or post in in the Lounge? Of course to do that , you'd have to do some serious reading and studying of what's going on in this country.

[cry baby]

35. sorry you feel that way about the newer people. I have found

posters here on the whole some of the smartest, awe-inspiring, intelligent, empathetic group I've had the pleasure of associating with. It has absolutely made my day reading posts today about the hearings on election irregularities. I am learning so much from most DU'ers, I can't begin to express my thanks enough for my re-education and my new addiction. I am really sorry this group isn't satisfying to you.

[number6]

9. disagree

"but I see this place becoming a train station of shallow chatrooms."

you sure ?

[sweetheart]

11. a changed world

This new 4 years of the demon, may require the "old" posters whom
you are familiar to fight the good fight offline.... and the new
posters who are delightfully unaware of the hopes and dreams of the
last crew, to repeat the error in spades.

I can't say, after almost 6000 posts, most of them well crafted, and
often essays in their own right, that i've said my peace... and now
have other priorities. I'll repeat myself for legallizing drugs and
getting rid of bush, otherwise, i'm tired of bothering. It only
leads to on-line hatred and whatnot. Why bother. I've got a family
to support and a life to life. What needs be said in an america now
who has backed the bush morons with a "mandate" margin. Its out of
my hands.

Its someone else's country now. They screwed up, and i get to see
the crash from the back seat. What is the point of standing out,
making a penetrating point, if all it does is bring the police state
down on your "anonymous" ID, to attack your decent private life.

Like i've said before, i'm in this until the inauguration (coronation), and after that, we'll see. I won't delete sweetheart,
but i'll hang up the password and let her rest. Frankly, i don't
plan to post after the winter solstice. So ends 2004, and this
period of one form of political dissenting. 2005 will bring another
situation, and doubtfully, for this individual, that DU will play
quite the part it once played.

[Ripley]

14. Thanks sweetheart.

Take care.

[NurseLefty]

13. OK, I admit, I am uncool.

I came to the blog world rather late. I visited DU to read posts for a while before I registered, then donating.
I knew that blogs have been around but I've been up to my ears w/ nursing school & working.
But, I am glad I found DU, because there is a community here. There seems to be something for everyone. I've been able to get so much off my chest about this election, and I have not agreed with every point of view. That's democracy, right?
As for things a bit shallow, I am a creature who finds relief in humor. And I've seen some hilarious threads here. The Flame War Thread, for example, had me in tears from laughing so hard.
I salute all the 1000+-ers here. I've read some very good pieces from many of you.
THANKS! :toast:

[Divernan]

17. DU has ALWAYS had hysterically funny threads, i.e., "Yaks"

but believe me, we are flooded with egomaniacal garbage - a huge number of posters who are basically "Hey, look at me!"

[Must_B_Free]

25. that's nothing new....

I've always been like that

[UpsideDownFlag]

18. which media stars arent we allowed to talk about? Olbermann?

he's 'mainstream'...dont a lot of good work, too.

[Ladyhawk]

20. I think there might be some trolls fanning the flames.

Some very stealthy trolls might have been waiting for the election to turn out like it did. They're here to make sure we never calm down and have thoughtful discussions.

It took me awhile to calm down. I was very, very angry. I think many are still very angry. Anger does not lead to thoughtful discussion.

We can still disagree, but we need to find our common ground again. I may not agree with all of you on every single issue, but we all believe in civil rights and freedom: freedom to be gay or straight; freedom to be religious or not; freedom to speak freely about how we feel.

We are the progressives. We need to find that place where we can agree to disagree or we'll be overrun by the radicals on the right.

:grouphug:

[bhikkhu]

21. I hope I don't fit the "new model"

I don't watch tv, so I know nothing about celebrities.

I admire Dean. He was the first in the party to publicly speak to the concerns of my mind.

I don't know enough to speak about "well-known disruptors".

I am a father of two supporting a family (more or less poorly) and trying to get through college. I am a long-time student of history, psychology, and politics. I am here because this is the only place where I have found like minds, with intelligence, passion, and independence.

DU has been something of a lifeline for me, in my small town dominated by fundies and * supporters. I have posted largely since the election as I feel a greater urgency, days ahead where our efforts here may be, by any measure, important.

[TahitiNut]

22. Good question.

And where is all the troll food coming from? (They wouldn't stick around if they didn't get fed - or at least they'd get more strident in hopes of more scraps.)

[arwalden]

23. Wow.

Cliques indeed. Ya know... I think you're right!

[Must_B_Free]

24. They aren't me

Must_Be_Free has been here since near inception and will always remain, posting my bitingly severe sarcasm and conspiracy brainstorms, offering a critical thought whenever it occurs.

Also, I am relatively friendless, so no worry of cliques here...

[JPace]

26. I like your picture....wish he was my president,

Oh dear is this a shallow (and thoughtless)post? Oh well so hang me!

[antigone382]

31. DU still holds a LOT of power, believe me.

I'm a relatively newer poster, and I can't tell you the way my life has changed because of DU...I have been educated, at least partly. I know who I am, who my friends are (liberals), who my enemies are (neocons), what my enemies are doing, and what my friends and I can do about it. There is still a lot of important, relevant information exchanged here--and I think demopedia is going to contribute enormously to that, if we really work on it.

You've been doing this for four years...not to speak for you, but I'm sure you've watched with increasing disillusionment and boredom as the same discussions come up over and over again, and you've had to explain yourself and your position time and time again to less informed and more pretentious people. You've watched it grow from a small group of incredibly committed and focused people to a huge community of over 60,000 people with varying levels of commitment to and concern for the goals of Liberal America, many of whom are in fact disruptors. I can imagine how you would get frustrated.

But to me, someone who spent most of my life in a vacuum of cable news and freeper family members, DU is an incredibly vital, dynamic resource, where information is constantly being updated, analyzed and discussed. There are still a lot of very intelligent, eloquent people here. If I post too often in the lounge, most of the time it's either because I don't yet feel knowledgeable enough to contribute anything useful to a GD thread, or someone else has already posted something tantamount to what I would have said, and I have a personal rule about never saying something unless I have something to say. I'm learning as I go, and I'll be more productive as that happens--and it's because of older DUers like you that it will..

DU has changed, but that's because it has had to as it has grown. Maybe there are a lot more vacuous threads (some of which were admittedly started by none other than myself--sorry :)), and maybe it has gotten clique-ish, but a group of 60,000 people are never going to be on the same page. I think that the DU groups are going to help, rather than hurt, because hopefully people will post less crucial threads in their own forum or group, thus slowing the speed at which threads in the main forums slide down the page.

The fact is, as Democratic Undeground grows, it will become more and more significant, rather than less so. The vast majority of us come here with a basic common goal, to see the success of a Democratic party that adheres to its liberal principles and purpose. Here, we find a place to remain informed, exchange ideas, and to find motivation and direction for our political activities in the real world. You are an older member, and you now have a new, important role to fill, if you choose to accept it, as one of the "elders"; someone who remembers the original vision of Democratic Underground, and can help remind at least some of the newer members what that vision was, and is, all about. Please, for the sake of us newbies, don't lose hope.

Edited for grammatical errors.

[juslikagrzly]

36. Amen Antigone!

As a newbie, I've probably learned more about the inner workings of my country in the past 6 months than in the whole of my pre DU life! DU has both saved my sanity and given me the inspiration to contribute and organize in my corner of the world.

Many of us just had our awakening this past year. F9/11 was my personal epiphany and DU was the google result that saved me from desperation, depression, despair and continuing apathy.

I feel for those of you who've been there, done that. How incredibly maddening and frustrating to have to do it all over again. But I echo Antigone in that as the "elders", please continue to pass on the wisdom. Take a break if you must, but don't leave. We need you.

[Djinn]

32. I've been here a while now

and there's always been the odd sexist or racist post, there's ALWAYS been inane posts (isn't that kinda what the Lounge is for?) there's ALWAYS been discussion about "media stars" there has always been anti-abortion threads (or those suggesting it shouldn't be high on the agenda) and from memory it's also been against the rules for some time to assume or suggest everyone that doesn't hold the same views as yourself must be a troll/freeper.

Chill - don't go into threads that piss you off - plenty more to choose from

[robbedvoter]

33. I dunno. But don't give up. DU started after the first stolen election

The second one brought in fresh blood - more people that noticed and got pissed - but also, I guess some trolls. And there is the Vichy trend - encouraged from above - which we need to fight - and will overpower with our numbers and logic and strength. hand around.

[Moderator]

37. I'm locking this thread

reason :

bound to lead to paranoia and make
new DUers feel unwelcome .