When you had a low post count on DU, where you descriminated against?

[K-W]

Poll question: When you had a low post count on DU, where you descriminated against?

This issue seems to pop up at a decent interval and there is always a discussion of how big a problem this is on DU. So I am wondering if we cant get a snapshot of how big a problem this has been.

Edited biased question.

[Hugin]

1. One reaps what one sows around here.

That's pretty much the rule.

It doesn't get any easier with a high post count, either.

[K-W]

6. I think without a doubt content is biggest issue, not post count.

The problem comes in when there is a conflict over content that involves post count discrepencies.

[Enraged_Ape]

28. I completely agree: Asininity is as asininity does

If you post something that goes anywhere near a traditional liberal sacred cow on this board, you will be hammered regardless of how many posts you have. It might be worse for those with sub-thousand post counts, but I never had any problem whatsoever. And I'm one of the biggest, most obnoxious jerks I know, so go figure.

[Hugin]

34. I always check the joining date before I start throwing the F-word around.

I also will do a search on the author's user name before I do
an alert.

[gkhouston]

35. I usually watch their posts for a bit

sometimes they are genuinely clueless, and not actual trolls.

[tnlefty]

78. Perhaps, but I was jumped on for stating something unflattering

about Zell Miller before it was okay to mention anything negative about supposed "Dem" senators.

Just sayin'.

[blm]

46. I came here to spread the word about the Left Behind books being funded

and influenced by RevMoon,

See, alot of people had no idea at the time that Tim LaHaye and RevMoon had a nearly 30 year alliance.

And since Moon is so strongly allied with BushInc, I thought the rise of these books were intended to have political consequences.

I have been proven right. The Left Behinders are Bush's base that he uses as his footsoldiers by manipulating their beliefs into fueling his fascist agenda.

Some treated me as a nutcase, while others were glad for the info. There weren't too many trolls at the time, and NO troll dares attempt to out the cozy relationships between Moon, LaHaye and Bush.

[Hugin]

48. That's something I didn't know.

Now I do... Thanks blm.

[SteppingRazor]

2. I noticed no reaction when it was me, but...

I've seen both positive and negative since then when I see other people with low post counts speak up. Some people will make sure to say "Welcome to DU." At the same time, people who disagree with a long-term poster's pet cause will be screamed at as freeper trolls. Just depends who is replying to the OP.

[ET Awful]

3. I was welcomed with no problems at all as far as I recall.

Of course, I wasn't making hundreds of one word posts as quickly as possible to up my post count and was actually attempting to say something coherent, unlike some newcomers of late.

[Journeyman]

36. When I had a low post count so did everyone else, so no . . .

I didn't face too many problems over post counts.

People posting one word responses to up their counts isn't something new. When I started, people had a childish aversion to being in the 700s -- it was called the 700 Club and there were any number of idiotic "praise the Lord" and get me past this milestone. There were contests to see who could get through those 100 posts the fastest. One guy did it in something under an hour.

[patdem]

39. I agree I probably have had 100 posts with n/t.....n/t

lol

I agree when I find someone who posts something that is suspicious and I do an author search, I have often found they post very short comments for the first 20-30 posts...then they are overtaken and say something untoward. They usually end up telling on themselves. Like the 'beauty' who refuses to say anything negative about bush*!

lol

[Lerkfish]

4. FWIW, its was partly my own fault, but

I asked a dumb question when I first showed up and royally reamed and accused of being a freeper, which, at that time I didn't even know what a freeper was. Then I compounded my problem by asking what a freeper was, which further convinced them I was one.

shrug....I didn't know what else to do so I just hung in there. Been here a while now and still ask dumb questions once in a while, but my post count is higher so the accusations are lower.

I've been on both ends, though, I've found myself jumping on low count post people that I "thought" was a freeper troll. So I'm guilty of it as well.

It wouldn't be a problem if there weren't so MANY trolls that come here, so that it is hard to tell. Luckily the mods are good at ferreting them out.

[NewInNewJ.]

5. I have a low count

and haven't had a problem. Have been very happy here. I had personally rather read others post, then to post myself.

[Hugin]

14. Belated welcome to DU!

:)

[jsamuel]

7. #2, but that was because some of my first posts were suspicious

I didn't know it at the time, but I was spreading info that didn't need to get spread.

[KyndCulture]

8. I've been treated badly - when I was an ass and deserved it! LOL

one too many rum and cokes and posting.... other than that, heck no... DU is awesome!!!

[wellstone dem]

55. nothing better than

a rum and coke and DU on the computer.

[Maru Kitteh]

9. Except for the usual PETA bashers everybody was very nice to me

when my post count was very low and provided me with lots of encouragement.

[expatriot]

18. Welcome to DU, Veganistan!!!!! You rock!

First time I've come across you in the forums and since you still have a post count <1000, I can bid you welcome! Love your avatar and your screen name!

[Maru Kitteh]

61. And I love your kitties with the aluminum helments!

How very responsible of and kind of you, makins sure they were protected.:tinfoilhat: :thumbsup:

[Hugin]

45. Well, don't look now!

You're almost at that 1000 post level!

Good job and welcome to DU!

[Maru Kitteh]

60. Thanks :-) n//t

[LeftyMom]

10. I didn't have any problems

but I knew there's a bit of suspicion about newbies, so I kept out of the more contentious threads. I did feel like I needed to minimize issues where I disagreed with the DU norm for a while, which kinda sucks but really you have to join a community before you differentiate yourself and find your place in it. That's just human nature I guess.

[Stirk]

11. I notice no difference.

[Spazito]

12. I was welcomed right away which was very much appreciated

and never felt I was being discriminated against in any way when my post count was low.

[displacedtexan]

13. I was welcomed and made to feel valuable.

Maybe it was because I didn't post things like, "What's wrong with all of the democrats?"

[johnnie]

15. I was treated well

I first thought that no one paid attention to people with low counts, but as time went on I realized that not all your posts get replies.
To anyone new, don't sweat it yet. Most people here with "high" counts don't treat others bad because of low counts. Not all your threads and posts will be replied to and even if you have 10,000 posts, people might still disagree with what you say.
Hang in there and don't think too much about it. Just post and read.

[stillcool]

16. no...but a remedy would be....

for people to read BEFORE they post.

[NoEvilTony]

17. Nope. Been here since near the beginning...

... and have probably the lowest post count of someone who has been around three years :o) I keep getting re-welcomed, though. That's always nice!

Tony

[gkhouston]

33. so do you keep an ultra-low count by rarely posting

or you keep changing your handle just to keep getting the basket of welcome-to-DU muffins? :-)

[patdem]

51. Welcome to DU..you only come in here to get a hand waive anyway

:hi:

You must have a very satisfying life if you only need to be waived to 10 times a year!

:hi:

[NoEvilTony]

59. Just don't have much to add :-)

Everyone here pretty much says it for me. And much better than I could too.

Nope, haven't changed my name once. Been the same since the day I registered.

And life is satisfying, my only source of anger and discontent is this messed up administration. And it's a biggie. I do what I can up here in redneck Idaho to make people aware of what a nightmare this president and his administration are. I get a lot of my talking points from DU. This site reminds me that while I may be in conservative hell where I live, I am not alone in this country!

And I am grateful for that.

[faithnotgreed]

73. right on and well said - and since i never got to welcome you 3 yrs ago

since i wasnt here then

much belated welcome tonyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

oh
and no need to respond
i wouldnt want to cause your post count to hit 50~
ha

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. I may well have been but mostly I remember people coming down

on me for my user name.

[jim3775]

20. I was afraid that I would be...

so I bit my tongue if I had criticism of a dem leader or if I disagreed with an established poster.

I suppose I still have a low post count compared to the other people on here.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

21. i have had no problems what so ever.

registered here during the run-up to the iraq war.

[Walt Starr]

22. BAck in the day when I had a low post count

so did everybody else, Skinner included.

Of course, that was back in early 2001 when DU first started.

[expatriot]

29. I always wondered how the first people found DU and how long it took

for it become a real active board.

I came in February, I think, of 2002. I had been a troll on FR for years at that point and all of a sudden they started accusing me of being from DU. I knew I had to find out what this DU was so I asked them and they told me and I never looked back (well, now and again I look back but not to the extent I did back then).

[Dora]

23. I had a few "welcome" waves

I joined a yearish ago, so maybe things were different then.

First I was embarassed because of my low post count. Now I'm embarassed because it's over 1000.

[Montauk6]

24. I got some welcomes which was nice

[expatriot]

25. been a long time but I remember being made to feel welcome

I think there were only 10,000 people registered at the time maybe less I can't remember.

[Avalux]

26. This seems to be the topic of the day.

General rule of thumb - if someone with a low post count posts something questionable, use the alert and let the mods handle it.

There's no reason to discriminate against a new member if they're following the DU rules and I don't think DUers pick on folks just because they have a low post count. If there's a question though, alert.

[seabeyond]

27. some disagrees with me with llow posts, someone disagrees

with me now with lots of posts. some are jerks, some call me traitor, freeper, not on our side, whatever.

i have found it happens either low or large posts

yes at 20 posts and a comment like, abortion murder.... people jump on it

of late, there have been some that flat out say, dont agree with me.....you bad, you one of them.

silly and ignore. but no it isnt nice. yet,....internet and i have no control over another. just dont take personallly. i have consistantly seen a majority doesNT do this. i will take the majority, ignore the individual

no personal

[onyourleft]

30. I don't post often enough to find out.

I've been here a long time, but very seldom post. That wasn't an option in the poll. :)

[charlie]

31. Nah

Everyone was supremely cool.

[enlightenment]

32. My post count is still low

because I don't talk very much. I'm the same way in person. I was a member for more than a year before I posted, partially because I don't talk much and partially because it was pretty scary to see posts that suggested that low posters should refrain from stating their opinion on things until they had a higher count -- generally after a low poster was flamed for some real or perceived infraction.

I understand that there are rules that are supposed to prevent that kind of nastiness and in truth I haven't seen much of it lately, AND I am well aware that those who do slam low posters are in the minority here at DU. Honestly, what frightened me more was the well-meaning "watch what you say until you have proved yourself" posts. I understand the intent, but man, are those off-putting.

All in all -- my impression is that 99.9 percent of DU'ers are intelligent, courteous, and generous with both their time and their knowledge. I've learned a great deal here, enjoy my time perusing the posts, and would be bereft without DU.

My two cents.

on edit: spell check is only as smart as the person checking.

[Horse with no Name]

37. I think it truly depends on what you are posting

Yesterday I spotted 3 freeps. It wasn't hard and they have all been taken out as disruptors.
I only alerted on one.
Content of posting is important, we all post something from time to time that someone suspects of not being progressive, however, if you look at the pattern, you can pretty much see which ones really are progressive or not.
I've read some pretty profound stuff from people with fewer than 10 posts.
I've never seen folks pick on those people because their message is liberal.
However, with Cindy Sheehan being on the forefront, and we KNOW that the freeps have their sites on us--I think that being diligent and stopping someone before they cause too much trouble (remember Andy fundraising fiasco), is something we have a responsibility to each other to do.

[Jensen]

38. I love DU!

People here have been friendly, full of good suggestions and info!
This is home, no other blog is like DU!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[devilgrrl]

40. I was invited here by a DUer and knew a few others...

I was vouched for. So no, I wasn't treated suspiciously.

[graywarrior]

41. I'm still discriminated against after being here 3 years.

Kidding.

Lots of people with few posts have been here a long time. They're probably more mentally stable than those of us who shoot our mouths off every minute of every day here-and that includes ME.

My philosophy is, when you entire into a new group, the sickest ones usually approach you first. The cool people lay back for awhile before saying anything.

Just sayin.

[ET Awful]

44. That's only because you have that poor tortured duck in your sig

:evilgrin:

[Hugin]

52. That duck continues to crack me up!

Every time I see it.

:)

[smartvoter]

42. I had two people call me a Freeper for taking a position they didn't like,

but the majority (extreme majority) of DU was great.

[devilgrrl]

53. I've been accused too... by freepers who were later outed

Everyone of them tombstoned :evilgrin:

[goodboy]

43. nope. (nt)

[H2O Man]

47. In the beginning

people were polite. In general, my posts were ignored; those with the higher numbers, and who seemed like the recognized "leaders" (for lack of a better term), encouraged me to begin starting my own threads. Then one evening, someone named "shraby" started a thread on the Plame case, and a few other people began to take note of what I had to say.

Some of the people I have the most respect for on DU include a number of folks I have had strong disagreements with. They are not people that I consider "friends," and I'm sure they don't consider me a friend, either. But I don't hesitate to post on their threads, ad look forward to their comments on mine.

Hopefully, DU is not all about being a popularity contest. If a new DUer has a point to make, and feels strongly about it, negative responses should not matter. A healthy exchange of ideas and opinions is a good thing.

[hootinholler]

82. Yep, those are the ingredients of

A strong consensus.

-Hoot

[mourningdove92]

49. Only once. And that was due to a poor decision on my part.

My rw brother had made an accusation and I came here to get info to refute.

I WAS serious, but as we all know, that is a typical troll ploy. I was accused, defended myself, accepted apoligies, then NEVER DID ANYTHING THAT STUPID AGAIN.

[ultraist]

50. I voted "positive" because many welcomed me

[jzodda]

54. I noticed no difference at all

From post 1 to post 200+ or whatever I am at now

Its the context of posts that matter anyway not the post count. I have seen people set off a huge discussion with their first post, and thats great!

Who cares about post count anyway? What does it have to do with thoughtful discussion?

[Pobeka]

56. I'm *still* discriminated against.

:P

[ComerPerro]

57. No. I was welcomed. Especially by NSMA. But, I was a timid poster

when I first started. So I would always censor myself, and wouldn't say anything too controversial because I was conscious of my low post count and didn't want to look like a pathetic troll.

[emdee]

58. I've had nothing but positive experiences here....

I used to post on a mixed board of Dems and Reps and believe me Reps can get mean. One even tracked down the personal info of a relative of mine and tried to make her lose her job.

HERE as long as you disagree respectfully, disagreement is ok. Even if you disagree in a hateful manner, you might be called something unpleasant but I don't think anyone will go after you personally.

The Right gets very personal out of spite. The Left is respectful of choice in all areas - not just one.

Sure, I've had posts to dwindle away with few answers - that's to be expected on boards that move so fast and furious. Especially in light of something so big as Cindy's plight.

The best thing to do is just hang in there. The more you're known, the easier it gets. It took me MONTHS to even get to 100 posts. But the last 100 came in just a week or so.

The folks here are talented and knowledgeable and friendly.

emdee

[unhappycamper]

62. I had a few snarky responses in the beginning,

but then again, I didn't know the lay of the land. My bad. IMHO, this is a damn good community that treat newbies with respect. (One thing I learned quickly is that spell check is your friend.)

[Generator]

63. I still act poorly, so who knows?

Thank you and I'll be here all week, and don't forget to treat your moderators well.


(for a real answer-no..or I wouldn't have made it to where I am today)

[hootinholler]

64. I was welcomed as a freeper troll.

:rofl:

-Hoot

[Emit]

65. Was? I still feel I am

And I've NEVER ever received one of those little waver "hello" and "welcome to DU" guys. Oh well, no biggy.

It's cool. It hasn't kept me from coming back.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

66. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

Better late than never. :)

[Emit]

69. Thanks! Yay! My first.

But, like I said, it didn't matter. I love DU and come here frequently, with or without the hello's! Thanks again!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

72. You're welcome :)

I peeked at your profile and noticed you joined not long after the election. We were all in shock then and that may attribute to the fact that you weren't properly welcomed. Those were some dark days for most of us.

[Emit]

75. Funny you should mention that

This post made me think back to joining DU, and I was gonna' add that I had joined just after the (s)election (actually, I had been coming around before the date on my profile) 'cause DU was really doing some great stuff on the election fraud threads. I followed it religiously, everyday--despite the fact that it became quite a burden on my family--and I passed that info on to other places and people. My SO thought I was manic!

I didn't actually venture out into the other discussion areas until January, after the petition to challenge the Electoral College vote in Ohio occurred. Now, I still visit, a little less often, but my SO/family have become accustomed to my time spent, and we've all adjusted.

Just can't seem to not check in with you guys at some point during any given week! BTW, I just printed out my donation form. For all the time I've spent here, and for all the info I gather here, I will be sending some money DU's way this round.

[gollygee]

67. I had a negative reaction, but I think it's fair and natural

People build up trust over time. I understood and didn't take it personally.

[omega minimo]

68. Jest fer bad speling

B-)

[fishnfla]

70. being relatively moderate+low post count= some snark

but I had lurked for awhile, I knew the ropes. There seemed to be more contrarians back then....

[Cats Against Frist]

71. I get treated the same-a-bouts as when I had a low post count,

so it's hard for me to say if there's a difference. Since I'm a left-wing libertarian, and wasn't an Andy fan, some people think I'm a freeper. I can even explain my philosophy, plain as day, which is further left than the Democratic Party, the Greens, the Naderites and most progressives (although the only difference between me, and a run-of-the-mill progressive, is that I'm a minarchist -- I believe most of the same things, but, on a smaller scale, and I'm against Marxism), and people still think I'm a "conservative," or a Republican, or whatever, not knowing that I worked and wrote for a socialist magazine, lived in Sweden as a guest of some SAP members, and, before that, was a life-long Democrat (and still vote Dem), who, at nine years old, had a giant picture of Michael Dukakis, on her wall.

I think it's kind of funny. I'm also not really that nice, and I'm not into touchy-feely causes, identity politics or anything woo-woo, and I'm a post-modernist rationalist, so that alienates a lot of authoritarians and idealists. I also like a good argument, and to play devil's advocate. And, let's face it, I'm a little crazy.

I think it's definitely content, and not post count that gets you treated a certain way. The people who PM me, and support me, in arguments, sometimes, are, often times devil's advocate types, and libertarian-leaners, or people who I recognize as getting attacked a lot -- not because their ideas are freeper-ish, at all, but are skeptical, not locksteppish, controversial or they just like to stir the pot -- kind of like Mopaul, William Pitt et. al., but in a different way -- but nothing too disruptive. I think it adds a lot to the board, and makes people think. But, not everyone wants to.

I think that, overall, people here are relatively courteous, but, display the same rate of defensiveness, exclusion, irrationality, clique-ishness and irritability as the rest of the planet, and I feel that most lower post count people, and those who are a bit more controversial are treated with kid gloves, a bit. I actually think that people with higher post counts, who have a tendency toward being controversial, or sensational are more likely to be discriminated against, than newbies -- unless the newbie is an obvious freeper. And I'm not talking about myself, because I don't feel particularly discriminated against, at all -- but there are people who have been here longer than me, who show up at controversial threads, with controversial opinions, and it always seems like there are quite a few people who show up to rib them.

[tamtam]

74. Yes it happened to me when I first started posting

A couple of months ago I noticed someone calling someone else out because of their low post count. The person doing the calling out basically told someone else they had no right to disagree with them because they had a low post count.

For the most part I see most DU'ers welcome those of us with low post counts and they tend to be kind. There are some Du'ers who like to toss around the post count issue and I think this is juvenile. For those that like to pick on others with low post counts, I just ignore them. I've seen plenty of offensive, rude, no good post from those with huge post counts. I don't take stock in post counts or donation stars.

If you can communicate and disagree with someone like an adult then I'm down with you. We all tend to have a little freeper anxiety but some take it too far. I also think some use freeper anxiety as an excuse to be jerks.

[tibbir]

76. I was greeted by several people when I posted with low counts.

I tried to be careful about saying anything that could be construed as "freeper-ish." I never experienced any negative treatment when my count was uber low.

[Canuckistanian]

77. If you're a newbie to anything, you get two reactions...

1. You're treated with a certain amount of disdain by some because you're an unknown with no track record. And you're not yet part of the clan.

2. You're welcomed by most, who are glad to see more like-minded people.

I have no problem with anybody at DU, most have been welcoming and helpful, and my post count didn't affect anything.

[VTMechEngr]

79. I was an early donor

So I never had a problem. Haven't seen a freeper troll with a star.

[WMliberal]

80. I was welcomed warmly.

I don't even look at someone's post-count unless they say something freepy. If it's over a hundred, then I figure they're either a moderate or I read too much into what they said.

I don't equate high post count with high DU loyalty.

[Chovexani]

81. OMFG, "discriminated against"?!

Somebody call the waaaambulance!

God, it's a fucking message board on the Internet for christsake. Some perspective, please.

[Warren DeMontague]

83. I was welcomed pretty well- it could be the name

but I do tend to think that often people cast a jaundiced eye towards folks with very low post counts, and there are obvious reasons for that which we all know and don't need to be re-hashed.

Interestingly enough, the only time my post count ever really came up was when I was around 600 or so, and I was ancillarily involved in a rather large DU-wide fracas.. Apparently someone or other felt I wasn't particularly entitled to my opinion on this issue (which I shant rehash, but my position hasn't changed) because I hadn't hit 1000 yet.

But overall, I think people's sincerity or lack thereof tends to stand on its own regardless of post count, as does the merit (or lack thereof) of their ideas..