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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:16 PM
Original message
Memo to the candidate flame warriors
Edited on Sun Sep-28-03 11:51 PM by WilliamPitt
I've been all over the country in the last couple of months:

Boston (duh, buncha different places)
Nantucket
Delaware
Philly
New Hampshire (x2, red state)
Phoenix (red state)
Denver (red state)
Boulder (red state)
San Diego
San Francisco
Montana (red state)
Seattle
New York
Austin (red state)
Houston (red state)
Greensboro (red state)
Chapel Hill (red state)
Boone (red state)
Asheville (red state)

and have met hundreds and hundreds of Dean and Kerry and Kucinich fans...and more recently, a lot of Clark fans.

Campaign supporters in the flesh always are supportive of the other candidates. It is way way way rare to meet someone who will beat the shit out of another candidate. The biggest cheers I get by far in my presentations before hundred of people come when I am asked who I support and I reply, "All of them." I mean they raise the roof when I say that.

So...do we have here on this forum:

a) A bunch of dickheads?

b) People who are brave in their anonymity?

c) People working out serious emotional issues?

d) Agitprop and purposeful attempts to divide the Left here on DU?

You tell me.

All I know is that people I meet in the flesh DO NOT behave at all like the crazed shit-slinging monkey fuckheadedness that happens here.

Figure that one out and you've got a psychology dissertation.

P.S. I actually kind of hate all of the candidates now. Not because of the candidates. Because of you. Can I get an amen?
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IranianDemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:18 PM
Response to Original message
1. Amen - D.
The majority of candidate bashers are extreme leftists IMHO.
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thebigidea Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:19 PM
Response to Reply #1
5. they worship Michael Moore! Ralph Nader is their god!
We're turning off the swing voters!
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IranianDemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:20 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. I actually like Michael Moore...
but St. Ralph is a different story.
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ronzo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:23 PM
Response to Reply #1
14. you think the disruptors are lefties?
amen, by the way.
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IranianDemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:24 PM
Response to Reply #14
15. Yes.
Mostly supporters of St. Ralph.
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:26 PM
Response to Reply #15
19. See, I wouldn't call the far lefties 'disruptors'
Edited on Sun Sep-28-03 11:26 PM by WilliamPitt
They are far lefties, and so most of the candidates don't carry the ideological pedigree. I can respect that. It's not like they're here for the sole reason of making a mess. I can think of several who have been here for years. I respect them. I'd not expect a far lefty to get all giggly over a centrist democrat. That's not disruption; that's flat-out ideological differences.
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mhr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:42 PM
Response to Reply #19
35. Spot On Will
Thanks for stating things so succinctly!
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quaker bill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:08 AM
Response to Reply #19
70. Thank you
None of these candidates are republicans. Some are more left, some are more centrist.

They all believe in the basic idea of governance that promotes the common good. The Neo-con republican leadership does not.

This next election is much more basic than the fine details people get so worked up over in here.

The republicans are dismantling the system as quickly as they can. When they are through the only remnants will be the military, a conservative judiciary, and any portions of government that serve corporate power and the transfer of wealth from labor to capital.

Substantial defeat at the polls (so large that manipulation will not mask it) is the remaining hope for this experiment in democracy called the United States.

Do we engage in the fight, or do we simply spend time whipping on each other?

Being one of them, I don't begrudge the lefties their opinions. However, this is not a parliamentary system of government. Unlike in England, getting 10% of the vote here does not move your agenda forward. In fact it may well move it backward.

Regardless of what goes on in here, our party will pick a nominee. When that happens, I for one, am picking up the banner (regardless of the name on it) and taking it to the streets.
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gully Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 11:41 AM
Response to Reply #70
95. Me too Quaker Bill. Taking it to the streets!!!
:toast:
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janekat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:05 PM
Response to Reply #70
100. I don't get why you don't go through the media, etc.....
It's more effective to change people opinions THAT way. To have turned an election "upside down" only served to alienate the very people they wanted. It set your movement WAY back.

Why don't you do a documentary ala Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine?" Why didn't the Green Party have Michael Moore do one? Why don't they write a book and get that out there? Political books sell well. I might have been persuaded THAT way.

In my opinion, the Greens did themselves in by allowing Nader to "hijack" their movement. He turned it into the "Ralph Nader" Show. A lot of Greens were very upset when Nader went after the states that were "close" between Gore and Bush after he promised the party he wouldn't.

You have to change people's attitudes SLOWLY. It doesn't happen overnight.
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ronzo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:29 PM
Response to Reply #15
21. well...
after the round of whack-a-mole, I have to say that many of these folks had to be RW disruptors. Rational Dems don't play smack. Just my humble opinion.
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nothingshocksmeanymore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:37 PM
Response to Reply #15
30. Really? Did you see this thread by an alleged non disruptor?
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IranianDemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:43 PM
Response to Reply #30
36. Ok so I got pissed off that night and flamed.
There were about 20 Clark bashing threads on that page. Ya I flamed, what do you want me to do? write a sorry letter?
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nothingshocksmeanymore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:44 PM
Response to Reply #36
37. Really just that once? Funny, I have noticed in many many threads
which I didn't bother to post.

Far fringed centrists pull this bullshit as much as anyone.
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salin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:47 PM
Response to Reply #36
42. if the flaming disruptions are from extreme leftists...
and one indulges in the behavior of starting such threads... is one by default an extreme leftist? :shrug:

Throw out an accusatory stereotype and sometimes it snag/nets more than one intends.
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charlie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:48 PM
Response to Reply #36
43. No
Just quitcher whinging about bashing when you've long been a culprit gleefully whacking other candidates. It's unbecoming.
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 10:57 AM
Response to Reply #36
91. You know, you're not the only one
who has used that excuse: "I got mad. They made me do it."

How lame. That is the argument of a 5-year-old.
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shanti Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 11:27 AM
Response to Reply #91
93. i know, it's tiresome
also when flamers say that they "only made ONE flamebait post". personally, i don't care if it's once or a million times, they did it, so they're suspect.

i refuse to post on those threads anymore!
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MuseRider Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 05:42 PM
Response to Reply #36
108. Some of us did.
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Wonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:45 PM
Response to Reply #30
39. Or this one?
Edited on Sun Sep-28-03 11:50 PM by Wonk
Davis should just resign :eyes:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=428014

on edit: Thanks, salin, re: bad link. It's fixed now.
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Wonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:46 PM
Response to Reply #39
40. Or this one?
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IranianDemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:48 PM
Response to Reply #40
44. You're joking right?
I posted that thread about Davis thinking for the good of the democratic party, and the second thread was a parody of the Clark jewish thread.
sheesh
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salin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:51 PM
Response to Reply #44
48. ah... so you get to proclaim what is good for the party
regardless of some california dems vote.

But if some other dems proclaim that they believe someone else is better for the party than clark - or question whether clark is good for the party - even though their behavior is the exact same as yours - it is extreme leftists creating disruption.

Makes sense. NOT.
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IranianDemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:53 PM
Response to Reply #48
51. I don't view them as working for the good of the party.
There's a clear distinction between those who have legitimate concerns about Clark, and those who insist on calling him names and bashing him without evidence mainly because he's a general. I never bashed anyone in my thread about Davis, I was just wondering if we could still keep California by Davis resigning.
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salin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:55 PM
Response to Reply #51
53. its all about YOU proclaiming to know the greater good
YOU have proclaimed that duer dems in california, workng for "No on Recall" should all stop. "For the Good of the Party." So Sayeth Iranian Democrat.

Another interpretation would be that such capitulation would lead to more and more aggressive attempts by the GOP to overturn election results - and that in the long run this is NOT a good thing for the democratic party.
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salin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:56 PM
Response to Reply #53
55. just read your response
you do not say this.

Your question does imply it-- though. All of it. Just not quite so harshly (as it is implied not stated.)
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IranianDemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:57 PM
Response to Reply #53
57. I'm not saying that I know whats always best.
I don't. Come on I'm not some sort of O'reilly twin.
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salin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:00 AM
Response to Reply #57
60. I added a second post for clarity
it is how those threads of yours is read - because by extension - the pushing the idea that Davis should get out for the good of the party... suggests that all who are working for him are not working for the good of the party... etc.

For those who feel strongly about the recall, as you feel about Clark, those words and that thread is as inflamatory as you find some of the anti-Clark threads.

Trying on each others' shoes can be a very big step towards civility.
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IranianDemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:01 AM
Response to Reply #60
61. Ok.
.
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salin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:54 PM
Response to Reply #48
52. let me add
that I try to always protest at the snotty prognosticating 'my views are the final truth, and all of the rest of ya'll should just shut up' threads that declare how all other candidates and voters should behave. Regardless of who is being promoted or bashed.
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:57 PM
Response to Reply #52
56. Then why aren't you bashing me?
:)

*ducking, fleeing, giggling*
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salin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:01 AM
Response to Reply #56
62. I seem to think I may have been a bit snide
once or twice on a raise your hand thread... (of course Arid always helps to have around for those threads ;-) )
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:02 AM
Response to Reply #62
64. LOL
Raise Your Hand If...*snif snif*...Goddam, put your hand down!

:)
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salin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:48 PM
Response to Reply #39
45. psst
that link circled me back to the front of gd
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Wonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:51 PM
Response to Reply #45
47. Thanks. I edited in the proper link. nt
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ronzo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:47 PM
Response to Reply #30
41. Well, I'm sure we can all agree this BS is counterproductive,
I know who I like, and I'm not trying to change anybody's mind on this board. Honestly, there aren't many swing votes here at the moment.
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Terwilliger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 01:07 PM
Response to Reply #1
102. You know, the Democrats will soon be voting to bomb Iran
I hope you'll be happy with your support then.
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salin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:18 PM
Response to Original message
2. all of the above?
and Amen.
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Sliverofhope Donating Member (858 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:18 PM
Response to Original message
3. d sounds plausible and scary
Rove's last stand. He could destroy us from prison with that.
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:19 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. Are we that important?
Survey says no.
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Sliverofhope Donating Member (858 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:25 PM
Response to Reply #6
17. True. I don't mean he's personally involved
But so what if he's in jail if we destroy ourselves, ne?
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Mz Pip Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:19 PM
Response to Original message
4. The anonimity
of the Internet makes all kinds of nasty behavior possible.

MzPip
:dem:
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JohnOneillsMemory Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 11:47 AM
Response to Reply #4
97. agreed. Like automobile isolation and road rage. Share info, not rage!!
It's extremely important to share what we can about the track record and veracity of the many dem candidates but ad hominum attacks serve the power structure's need to DIVIDE AND CONQUER.

Still, we mustn't settle for the desperately mindless group-think of UNITED WE STAND.

We don't want to unite behind someone who will be ineffective or a trojan horse for the amoral fascist power structure.
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KittyWampus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:20 PM
Response to Original message
8. Amen, You've Got A Witness!
Welcome Home Will!
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:21 PM
Original message
Thanks
:)
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ShaneGR Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:21 PM
Response to Original message
9. They need to have a separate forum for bashing threads
Honestly, why not have a forum called "Primary Central"?????
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salin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:22 PM
Response to Reply #9
13. wouldn't that be... Politics and Campaigns?
oh wait... we do have a forum for that...
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catzies Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:02 AM
Response to Reply #13
65. Why oh why oh why isn't all the carrying-on carried on in P&C forum?
:shrug: Someone tell me, please.
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Room101 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:21 PM
Response to Original message
10. All of the above
I have yet to get involved in the Flame wars, and don't plan to.
William that's a lot of traveling :toast:
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frank frankly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:22 PM
Response to Original message
11. a lot of A + B (dickheads are cowards), and more recently, D and more D
Edited on Sun Sep-28-03 11:22 PM by frank frankly
I think when people engage in B, it usually reads that way, at least at first before the flames begin.

on the P.S., I am focusing on the end of BushCo right now, and happily accepting any words from any of the candidates to that end.

and on that note, I would like to thank you for your travels and persistence in bringing the truth out.

Thanks!
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eileen_d Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:22 PM
Response to Original message
12. You even hate Lieberman?
Kidding - it's just really fun to ding Joe.

I managed to keep my head up and out of the flames today, although I've certainly been a shit slinger in the past. But it's funny - I'm not even mad or annoyed at the people who are doing it anymore. (I used to post under another ID, so I'm not a newbie) It's so old to me I know that it's gotta get old to everyone else eventually.
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starscape Donating Member (206 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:25 PM
Response to Original message
16. Your post makes me optimistic...
Because it makes me think that perhaps what happens on this board is not indicative of democrats everywhere.

BTW let me know next time you're in Austin, I'd love to come hear you speak!

-ss
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:27 PM
Response to Reply #16
20. DU is not America
I've put 40,000 miles on my boots to find that out, and I am very very very optimistic because of it.
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JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:29 PM
Response to Reply #20
22. Will lol it would be cool if you spoke at my school
but you see nudge dems are hard to come around here, especially progressive and enlightened ones like yourself.
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:39 PM
Response to Reply #22
32. I'd love to
:)
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JohnKleeb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:45 PM
Response to Reply #32
38. Thanks
But this school is full of wingers. It would be impossible and I dont have the influence. I am not that popular but if you could, WOW man that would be the next best thing to happen to this town after voting democratic, me getting my license, me getting a girlfriend, etc lol Will it would be great.
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Terwilliger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 01:04 PM
Response to Reply #20
101. I see...so DU is not America and you're happy about that
just exactly why are you here?
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 01:08 PM
Response to Reply #101
103. You think DU *is* America?
Where do you live?
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Terwilliger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 01:44 PM
Response to Reply #103
105. I think DU is a veritable cross-section of the left
but people are too busy trying to move us back to the right

Fact of the matter is, everybody in the country could vote for Kucinich, Moseley-Braun, even more left-leaning candidates like Dean, Kerry, Gephardt, if we were'nt so afraid of being called "liberal"

The folks you've met with., Will, don't have a forum like this where they can dig into an issue and dig-in deep. You're meeting with people who barely preceive the general Democrat/Republican lifelong schism and base their notions of what's what on that alone.

Another thing...just because DU is slanted to the left (by the people who participate here) does that mean we're NOT part of America? Or just not the part that Democrats care about?

OH! I forgot...the Dem leadership thinks we're just going to vote for them because there's no other choice for us. Check.
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 05:44 PM
Response to Reply #105
109. You make a lot of assumptions
The people I speak to are VERY informed about everything I go to talk about.

Also, a "cross-section of the left" isn't America, either.
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Terwilliger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 06:06 PM
Response to Reply #109
111. well, it's nice to know everyone is caught up
so you think the 7 in 10 Americans that believed Saddam was associated with 9/11 were all non-Democrats?

A cross-section of the left is supposed to be the Democratic party. I'm seeing more and more that that is not the case.
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LearnedHand Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:26 PM
Response to Original message
18. "crazed shit-slinging monkey fuckheadedness"???
ROTFLMAO!! What a perfect description.

In all fairness -- freeper trolls aside -- I wonder if it's because people are "mad as hell" and they're "not going to take it anymore"?


And I think people are scared; I know I am. I see democracy washing out from under my feet like sand in the surf, and it scares the hell out of me.

Now I'm not going to flame some candidate or the candidate's supporters, but I wonder if the fear and anger causes people to overreact? We know no one ELSE on the planet is listening to us, we're being more and more marginalized by people who look scarily like Nazis, and more of our lives are being eaten away just by trying to get to the end of the month before we get to the end of the paycheck.

No excuse for rotten behavior, evenso. But I'm just speculating. :shrug:
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Wonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:33 PM
Response to Reply #18
27. re: "crazed shit-slinging monkeys", for those who haven't seen this before
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joanski01 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 11:49 AM
Response to Reply #27
98. Great, Wonk.
Now all I need is some shit. That's me, except for the actual shit. I suppose I could start saving all of my kitties' turds to sling. Man, my TV screen would be all covered with shit spots.
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starscape Donating Member (206 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:35 PM
Response to Reply #18
28. another observation.. re: message board culture
in my somewhat limited experience on message boards, I've observed something. It seems that people don't come to message boards to agree on things. Honestly, I've been on some very benign, spirituality-type message boards that have erupted into ridiculous fights for no reason. I think that people just seem to be looking for something to be passionate about, or if they are already passionate about a subject, they find the internet to be the perfect outlet.

I am not excusing this behavior, in fact, it really irritates me. Especially here, where I kind of thought I had found like-minded people, and in some cases I have, but more often than not I've seen some eye-brow raising shit talking! LOL

I realize we need to examine, to criticize, to discuss. No argument. Between that and flaming can be a fine line, I guess I'm still learning to recognize that line myself.
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charlie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:38 PM
Response to Reply #28
31. A-Yup
DU is hardly unique. Plug your grandma into the Knit-one Perl-two Knitting Board and she'll come back singed inside of a week.
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KittyWampus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 08:04 AM
Response to Reply #31
79. "Plug Your Grandma"
That is funny mostly because of the visuals but also because it's true!
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Old and In the Way Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:30 PM
Response to Original message
23. "D" of course!
And any reasonable Democrat can see that there are some who are a little too focused on the smear and not nearly as interested in discussing the attributes of his/her choice.

I propose that we start responding to these destructive posts by choosing an appropriate acronym:

ADP - Ant-Democratic Post Don't argue with these clowns, just type ADP and move on. If a couple dozen posters did this (or some other better short phrase/acronym), maybe people would start to get the message.....
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:32 PM
Response to Reply #23
25. I prefer
"aaahhhhhh duuuuuhhh pzzzzzzzcheeeeeeeezzzzzz"

But that's just me.

:)
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Kool Kitty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:31 PM
Response to Original message
24. Very well said.
Isn't the point of the upcoming election to beat Bush? Isn't it important that we bring in new democrats? What's the problem with Clark? He says he's a democrat, he speaks like a democrat, let's give him time to get a message out there and see what comes of it. The reason that I bring up Wesley Clark is that I would think that democrats would be thrilled to have a new party member. I think it's great. I'll take any old ex-repubs or ex-whatevers to boost party membership. I certainly didn't mind when Jeffords declared himself independent. At least he isn't a republican anymore. I think that's a good thing. (This may not be the most coherent message, but it's the best that I can do.) I feel that if the repubs have one strength, it's that they all stick together. (They may have a few minor skirmishes, but basically they are all on the same page.) I'm not saying that we should mirror everything that they do, but a little togetherness might be helpful for us. It seems like people think that if Clark is elected, he going to move into the White House and take a right turn, change parties and rehire Ashcroft. I don't think that would happen.

Every one of these candidates are worthy. Every one of them is capable of speaking for us. But, more important than this is the fact that we are all democrats. We can agree to disagree, wait and see who comes out of this on top, and take it from there. The bottom line is beating Bush, and we shouldn't lose sight of that.
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KaraokeKarlton Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:33 PM
Response to Original message
26. It's like that old Breck Shampoo commercial...
You have a small number of skid marks on here who have made it their mission to trash one candidate. The supporters of the candidates under attack by these few skid marks get fed up and retaliate by bashing the candidates of the skid mark trashing their candidate. Then it spreads (like that Breck commercial) until it fills up the whole fucking screen. The only solution is for the admins to wipe those skid marks off the face of DU so people stop reacting to them and it quits spreading like a bad case of the clap. I will say this much...the instigators have mastered what they do because they manage to get usually reasonable and sane people to act like crazed diabolical maniacs. I fear it's going to get much worse before it gets better.
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Lugnut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:36 PM
Response to Original message
29. Amen!
:) And my answer is....all the above.
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phegger Donating Member (190 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:41 PM
Response to Original message
33. I'd say none of the above...
But it does seem like there's some kind of group hysteria that takes over sometimes--kind of like the daycare abuse witchhunt that went on about a decade(?) ago. I don't mind people being ideologues, or even angry ideologues, but their wild leaps of logic (or illogic) and sweeping accusations make it impossible to engage them at all. I find it frustrating as hell. Oh well...it's a free country. So far.

Thanks for the reminder that there is some sanity beyond the world of DU. I've been trying to make myself believe that, and it's good to have it confirmed.

Amen brother!


-ph :crazy:
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sistersofmercy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:41 PM
Response to Original message
34. AMEN!
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Loyal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:50 PM
Response to Original message
46. Amen, brother
Keep telling it like it is, I'm listening.
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ZenLefty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:53 PM
Response to Original message
49. Another reason - message boards are not like real life
Let me preface this by stating that this is the first post I have made in the GD forum since longer than I can remember. I thought I had absconded with it entirely; leave it to Will to drag me back in.

DU is the first and, to date, only message board I participate in. I've lurked around on other boards of my various interests, and they all seem to have something in common. Some people like to flame. They like to disagree vehemently, even on light subjects. I think there are just people who enjoy being rude to others; the idea of anonymously bashing someone for scant reason must be empowering to them. Or something. Shit, even in the DU Lounge, a discussion on the Beatles can flame broil your burger to well-done in 10 posts or less.

But this isn't real life. The kinds of things said on this board are not spoken eye to eye. About a year or two ago, a freeper sent me a PM calling me all sorts of vile names. I would bet dollars to donuts he wouldn't have the backbone to say what he said to my face. I dunno, maybe we have some unspoken rules of civility when we speak in person with others, rules that are ignored when the lights go out and no one can see our face.

So I think it's more likely to be (a) or (b), than (c) or (d). :shrug:
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:56 PM
Response to Reply #49
54. Heh. Those unspoken rules of civility
Chapter 1, page 1, paragraph 1, sentence 1:

"Probably a good idea to avoid saying shit that might earn you a punch in the face."

Chapter 1, page 1, paragraph 1, sentence 2:

"Unless you enjoy getting punched in the face."

Chapter 1, page 1, paragraph 1, sentence 3:

"It's hard to punch someone in the face on an internet forum."

:)
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ZenLefty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:59 PM
Response to Reply #54
58. Dammit! You spoke the unspoken rules.
Now I must punch you in the face. ;-)
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:00 AM
Response to Reply #58
59. TRY ME
Come on, come on, I'll fight'cha with my eyes closed, I'll fight'cha with one hand tied behind my back...

:)
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ZenLefty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:05 AM
Response to Reply #59
67. Five for Fighting
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:07 AM
Response to Reply #67
68. D'oh
Drat. I hate the Box. :)
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imax2268 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-28-03 11:53 PM
Response to Original message
50. I think
we have freeper's lurking around DU...

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Dogmudgeon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:02 AM
Response to Original message
63. "C" is for Catharsis
And it's a kind of intellectualized catharsis.

I'm sure you've seen the depth of public frustration and anxiety in your audiences. DU is a kind of asylum, and the crazed-monkey-poo-flinging that goes on here is safe, and has its benefits.

For one, it keeps the poo-flinging confined to those who really want to fling poo.

Second, it allows intraparty conflicts and controversies to be resolved at full blood heat, but with enough "privacy" to avoid really dividing the house. (There's enough of the appearance of a divided house as it is.) I don't doubt that even the most enraged partisans will eventually pull together in the struggle to evict Bush from the White House.

Third, it gives ample opportunity to present The Big Picture, an opportunity you've used well in the past few weeks. The message of solidarity is fairly new to the left in the post-WWII world, and "we" really need to hear it, with as much repetition as its proponants (i.e., you) can bear. The right has no real divisions on the basics, and is able to act with almost superhuman unity on common issues.

I often feel like I'm going through a particularly loathsome stretch myself (and loathsome is an understatement), but I know where my loyalties lie. Even if you hate my ass with an intensity unknown outside of the WWF, I've got your back. And I can make the same statement about anybody with whom I've sparred here, for whatever reason. With as much damage as (a few particular) Greens caused me in 2000, I still point up Ralph Nader's contributions to America. Because as much as I'd like to kick Ralph's ass, I'd gladly let bygones be bygones if it meant retaking the Republic.

Don't let it get to you. The high-pressure outgassing is a positive sign ... a sign of Life Renew'd. The great Democratic Tongue had been frozen to the Metal Pole of a frigid Reality in the Winter of America's History; freshly Rip'd free, and Treated to the warm Cup of Cocoa that Activism hath served, it doth hurt like a Muthafukka.

The next time they ask you who you support, and you say "all of them", and the roof is raised ... know that you're giving a voice to the hopes of tens of millions of Americans, and hundreds of millions of people throughout the world who love America.

And before it's over, we will raise the roof of the world.

--bkl
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:03 AM
Response to Reply #63
66. I agree wholeheartedly, but
I have this cool perspective from being all over the place, and I'd hate like hell for DUers to think this kind of bullshit is standard operating procedure out in the flesh world.

It ain't.
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MaryBear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:08 AM
Response to Original message
69. The DU'ers I've met
Edited on Mon Sep-29-03 12:10 AM by GrandmaBear
have been delightful, passionate, strongly opinionated, articulate, and caring individuals. They are not a match with the unpleasant, rude posters I sometimes read. I wonder, Will... do the nasty DU'ers show their faces? Have you met them?



edited for typo
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:10 AM
Response to Reply #69
72. Not a single solitary one
Edited on Mon Sep-29-03 12:11 AM by WilliamPitt
and the odds are I've passed through their neighborhoods recently.

P.S. I agree wholeheartedly. Every single DUer I have met has been amazing.
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:08 AM
Response to Original message
71. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:12 AM
Response to Reply #71
73. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:28 AM
Response to Reply #73
77. Drat
I thought I was being clever.

:)
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ronzo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:30 AM
Response to Reply #77
78. Such a thin line....
eom
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MaryBear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:14 AM
Response to Reply #71
74. Nuh uh, Buzzz.
Edited on Mon Sep-29-03 12:17 AM by GrandmaBear
I didn't read a direct attack on anyone. Why are you doing it now? Cut it out, please.


Edited for clarity in title.
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ronzo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:26 AM
Response to Reply #74
76. yoink.
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markses Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 12:18 AM
Response to Original message
75. Not only do you get an amen
You also get a woop woop.

Now, the real question is, can you bounce wit me bounce wit me.
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 08:23 AM
Response to Original message
80. Just an early morning
kick
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Squibbie Donating Member (95 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 08:46 AM
Response to Reply #80
85. Amen, Brother Will!
Edited on Mon Sep-29-03 08:49 AM by lshles
Who'd have known? I am cute and I voted for Al Gore.

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Ruby Newsbee Donating Member (47 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 08:31 AM
Response to Original message
81. bashing candidates vs bashing posters
you take the cake, bud. Bulletin boards promote thought, conviction and emotion. People say things they wouldn't say to someone else's face. You'd never say what you said in this post to anyone here directly to their face, unless you're a rude and obnoxious person. All you managed to do is point out that you can discern between meetings with people and thoughts on a bulletin board.

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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 08:40 AM
Response to Reply #81
83. Then I guess I'm a rude and obnoxious person
because I've had this conversation in ten different cities in the last couple months. Alas, poor asshole me.
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Ruby Newsbee Donating Member (47 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 08:44 AM
Response to Reply #83
84. you aren't bragging are you?
lol. I've had this similar conversation in at least 30 cities across country.

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phillybri Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 08:34 AM
Response to Original message
82. B. People say a lot when no one is actually there to call them on it....
Awesome post, Will....
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 08:51 AM
Response to Original message
86. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 08:58 AM
Response to Reply #86
87. Oh boy, here we go again.
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blondeatlast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 09:11 AM
Response to Original message
88. Amen, indeed, brother.
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mcar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 10:48 AM
Response to Original message
89. Amen, brother Will
I'd guess a, b, c, d. I've been a lurker here for some time and an infrequent poster. I am so sick of the flame wars that I don't visit as much as I did. DU used to be a haven for many of us. There'd be disagreements and flame wars but we were all united against Bushco.

Now it's full of juvenile and petty candidate bashing threads.
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Padraig18 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 10:51 AM
Response to Original message
90. A, B & D!
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Lurking Dem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 11:03 AM
Response to Original message
92. crazed shit-slinging monkey fuckheadedness
From a pure literary perspective, that was an incredibly beautiful (and astute) turn of phrase.
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RetroLounge Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 11:36 AM
Response to Original message
94. crazed shit-slinging monkey fuckheadedness
What if everyone who is sick of bashing thread, just posted this phrase in very one?

"crazed shit-slinging monkey fuckheadedness"

Just post it and leave.

Would they get the message?

Would the post be deleted?

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MrPrax Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 11:46 AM
Response to Original message
96. Was Flaming on DU
as bad or better/same during the 2000 Democratic Presidential primary campaign?

heh
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joanski01 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 11:52 AM
Response to Reply #96
99. DU wasn't in
existence then. It came into existence after the monkey's inauguration.
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JanMichael Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 01:29 PM
Response to Original message
104. Yup,"crazed shit-slinging monkey fuckheadedness", sums them up.
And I also agree that I'm getting a distasteful opinion of a couple of candidates because of their goat fucker flame bait supporters here.

Sad, isn't it?
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WilliamPitt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 05:16 PM
Response to Original message
106. One last kick before the rules kick in
:)
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neuvocat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 05:30 PM
Response to Original message
107. You go from bashing Dean and Clark supporters
now you bash people for doing the same thing.

Amazing.
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DinahMoeHum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-29-03 06:03 PM
Response to Original message
110. Don't look at me, pal. I don't get involved in pissing contests. . .
or flame wars.

Looks like we've got the Nothing-But-The-Best-For-The-Oppressed Syndrome in full epidemic here.


:kick:
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