I was going to post an article I thought was important.

[madfloridian]

Then I saw the utterly relentless attacks going on. So I won't post the article, as it will sink. It will get no responses because it is not about attacking candidates.

There used to be good discussions here for those who wanted them. Now it is all candidate-based vitriol.

I noticed two people today on here that I have respected in the year I have been at DU. They have changed so much. They do not sound like they used to sound.

I think tonight has been the worst. These word play attacks. It is like it has to be planned, it is so angry. Perfectly good responses are posted, trying to clarify, but then comes another hateful response.

I know the admins say that is politics. I disagree, so I may be banned soon for speaking up. I just have a problem when we are giving utter ammunition to the right wing, and when we are attacking our own more than they are.

Yeh, stupid post, huh? Someone jump on here real quick like and tell me how sappy I sound, how silly my remarks are. That is the pattern now.

[wtmusic]

1. Aww c'mon

Don't get your feelings all hurt now...

Put it up. So what if someone attacks it? You'll probably get some good replies if it's worth all that angst.

[madfloridian]

2. Oh, very nice.

This is what DU has become.

We will all have angst after the election with this much anger and hatred among us.

[NYC]

3. Post it.

A lot of people read without responding.

[madfloridian]

4. It was only an article.

I am too "angsty" tonight to bother.
:hi:

I just got invites to a couple of other boards where there is not so much ugliness. I may have to do that to get rid of the frustration I feel when I come here.

[NYC]

8. Articles provide information

If you found it interesting, the odds are some other people will also find it interesting.

You should avoid the candidate bashing threads. Nothing comes of candidate bashing.

Use DU for providing and acquiring information. :hi:

[nomaco-10]

5. No attack from me.

I came here yesterday to see what was going on and the first thing that hits me in the face is F*CK YOU Damned Hypocrates. I read a couple of posts and leave. Today, no different. I stayed in long enough to see 4 or 5 super posts sink like rocks and disappear into the archives of DU. Any new person that comes in here must think "what the hell, these are the people that are gonna get together and put bush* out of office, they're even harder on their candidates than BFEE is". I've heard it's been worse here before I came, but I certainly don't see how. I post here less and less, and unfortunately I read here less and less, it's a shame.

[ewagner]

6. Believe it or not

I think there are a lot of us up here who don't get involved in any candidate bashing/baiting/flaming threads.

I like to discuss things other than which candidate I support or oppose because these are important issues which need to be addressed.

If you post a thread that is not a bash, I'm very likely to read it and also enter into the discussion.

Post Away! We're anxious to talk to you.

[madfloridian]

10. I think a lot of people are feeling that way.

It is almost not worth the irritation I feel when I come here. I had my husband, who is a non-computer person, sit here today and read some of the threads.

He was absolutely shocked. He could not believe it. He said "they sure don't care how insulting they are, do they?"

When I try to post an intelligent response with a quote from the candidate, it just gets slammed.

It has be organized. I think some people thrive on stuff like that. I don't. I find it unpleasant,and I am really afraid I will get banned for speaking up.

[wtmusic]

12. You can't get banned for that

I don't understand how you can feel insulted by someone who is just spouting nonsense.

I can get insulted like the next guy, but only from people whose opinion I would trade an ounce of salt for. All of your posts that I've seen were thoughtful and interesting (except this one ;-))

[SoCalDem]

16. me....me....me....me

I never respond in the candidate threads either.. I will vote for the one who makes it all the way to the end, but until then, I see no need to "discuss it to death".. potato-potahto..

I am one of the ones who would like to see any thread with a candidate's name in it, sent right off to campaigns and candidates..

Lucky for them, I am no longer a moderator :evilgrin:

I rarely post in GD and even less at LBN.. It's just too frustrating..

I guess I'll just hang out in the lounge until this nonsense is all oevr :)

[Fridays Child]

7. We need a gutter forum...

...into which DUers may enter at their own risk. Anything goes in that forum and moderate the hell out of GD.

[Tinoire]

9. Please post it! I always appreciate/enjoy your posts!

Thanks :)

Your posts are never sappy or silly!

Peace

[madfloridian]

11. Ah, now I do feel silly.

What a nice compliment. I get depressed sometimes where we live, as it is not exactly a haven for liberals. I think a lot of people feel that DU was a nice place to come and share, or felt.

Thanks Tinoire.

[moof]

14. Who is silly ?

& how do they feel about you feeling them.

All seriousness aside, it seems that after reading this entire thread you at least owe it to us loyal "madfloridian" fans to post the article in question.

P.S. no offense to all the ceiling fans, window fans & any other fans that were left out but in all fairness "madfloridian" fans were the main fans that have posted here.

[Tinoire]

17. Well it was sincere!

I understand you about the 'felt' and I feel that same way a lot- like my home has been violated and trashed.

Now where's that story ;) I'm really curious now!

[Adjoran]

13. I know what you mean

I've seen threads slip away in minutes because they involved issues, not candidates or politics or voting machines or the Bushies. Not that I think those areas aren't important, but they tend to wash away everything else.

It is politics, of course. The election is only a little over a year away, and people are getting intense. The stakes are high and so is the pressure.

Once someone clinches the nomination, we will have to start working very hard to mend the natural wounds which we will have inflicted upon each other, not from malice, but from passion and earnestness.

Right now the Dean folks hate the Kerry people hate the Lieberman people hate the Clark people hate the Gephardt people if you can find any hate the Edwards people hate the Kucinich people and well, we're gonna have to get beyond that if we are going to mount a strong campaign against the Bush* people.

[tlcandie]

15. Post away! I enjoy hearing from you MadFloridian as I live in

Florida too and know all too well the feeling of isolation :( Seeing everyone with all their patriotic bumper stickers and flags posted all over their cars!

Please stay and post! :hi: :loveya:

[Buns_of_Fire]

18. I'm kicking this because...

I WANNA KNOW WHAT THE ARTICLE IS!!!!! ('Cause many here read, but don't necessarily respond...)

[Lindsay]

19. Neither sappy nor silly.

You sound frustrated to me, and I understand the frustration.

I'm relatively new here, but I've learned to ignore the candidate-centered threads. They make no sense to me.

OTOH, I will read articles that other DUers find important, and the commentary on those articles. I'm here for the issues and the solidarity in opposing the current (mis)administration.

So please do post what you want to post.