For purposes of achieving a political objective, is DU activity pointless?

[closeupready]

Serious question. Because someone recently mentioned some amount of time, like half an hour, as the maximum which anyone who is really serious about achieving something political should be spending on DU, and that they should be spending the rest of the time at their local dem organization, writing letters, etc.

Everyone is entitled to their point of view, but my own is different. I think that being able to discuss the issues here with others helps prepare you for those moments in real life when your voice really counts, almost like an investment. When you are confronted with, say, a Christian fundie, isn't it best to be prepared to say, "no, you're wrong, and here's why" and you can pull from your discussions here rather than argue on the fly? Not everybody can be Norma Rae. Not everybody can be Karen Silkwood. (loved those films, by the way) Not everybody wants to get that deep into political matters.

Naturally, traditional forms of political activism are still effective, and should be encouraged. I just think that DU has a place at the table, too, in differing amounts for different people.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. DU is great. It's a rallying point, an education tool, a welcome mat

for disaffected voters from other parties....

Life would not be the same without ya, DU! :yourock:

[wildhorses]

2. DU seems to be

tolerant, intriguing and addicting
but, remember this is coming from a newbie

[MuseRider]

5. From an oldie,

that does not change.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. *g* No, it certainly does not.

[MuseRider]

11. GPV

:hi:

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Right back atcha

:hi:

[mestup]

4. Agree. Important educational tool. Especially for lurkers.

Besides, the most "activism" the average Republican voter took part in was by casting a vote.

[MuseRider]

3. I agree with you

I have learned how to deal with all of those things because of DU. It has given me the courage to speak out as well. It is educational and the very best place for news of all kinds and a great source of friends all over the world. I do not feel it is a waste of time at all. I am sitting here reading DU while I compose my thoughts for a letter dealing with bylaws for a state wide political organization I am involved in the start up of. This site has been invaluable to me, especially being in a Red State where news is about football, Big Brother and Sean Hannity.

Edit for spelling

[expatriot]

6. A couple of counter-points.

First of all, if you (the general you, not you you) spend all your time on DU you aren't coming across many of the "enemy" except for the troll who comes here with such a thick flame suit that you will very rarely if ever affect him/her.

Secondly, there is a point when you are preparing your argument to the point of overkill when it comes to the speaking with the "less informed" eighty-five percent of America.

I do not think DU should be seen as a SUBSTITUTE for political outreach. I just thought of an analogy: It's like if we were all batteries and DU is the recharger. Yes, DU is critical to our ability to be effective and such but if we were on DU all the time, we wouldn't be reaching out much.

Of course that analogy breaks down, because there is a lot of "online activism" that can be done and if it is organized and directed by an online community such as DU it can be very effective. And in that way DU is like a map. But sitting in your home looking at a map only prepares you for the journey.

Okay enough metaphors.

[northamericancitizen]

12. Well articulated. Thanks expatriot. nt

[beingthere]

7. DU can also get the word out

Du is also a tool if we use the ability of the Internet to spread what we find here outward to receptive (or non-receptive also) people and sites outside of DU itself, where info is needed, and change can be made, one grain of sand (one grain of truth) at a time.

[WilliamPitt]

9. This is a think tank, not an organizational platform

Though many projects have begun here, and done well from here, the chaos and signal-to-noise ratio (not to mention disruptions) make it hard.

This is a think tank, a cauldron of ideas and opinions and thoughts. At a minimum, it is a whetstone upon which to sharpen your arguments.

[Binka]

10. Why Are You Positing A Negative? Serious Question?

Not worth the effort. 'Nuff said.

[Splatter Phoenix]

15. Not everyone CAN influence things....

I am a near-eighteen year old, but until such time, I am bound here in my home with my parents, unable to do so much as vote. But coming here I feel safe...I feel better.

I don't feel constantly under attack and made to feel "Wrong", here.

[Scoots]

14. In Red States

It is especially helpful for those in red states/areas who need to remember we're not alone.

Speaking from personal experience, it can get very tiring seeing "US out of UN," "Abortion stops a beating heart," and "W stands for women" bumper stickers on the back of every SUV.

And when you hear about protestors being put in the hospital by pro-war thugs, or some jackass red neck in a truck the size of Texas saying:
--Clinton hates Jesus
--we should kill anyone who doesn't accept Jesus' message of peace and love
--if poor people were true Christians they wouldn't be on welfare
--that outsourcing will create more jobs
--if black people were as smart as they claim to be they'd move out of the inner city so their kids could go to better schools
--video games, homosexuality, minorities, and pornography kills people. Guns don't.

....and so on. I could go on for hours about the crap I've seen/heard. Either way, I think of DU (and blogs like crooksandliars.com) as an oasis of sanity.

[MuseRider]

17. Welcome

to DU fellow Red Stater. :hi:

It can be difficult but DU has been keeping me sane for the most part for 3 years now.

[Scoots]

19. Thanks

Thank you. DU is also the friendliest forum I've seen by far. It seems that every post I've made has been responded to by someone welcoming me. That sort of kindness is very rare on the net.

[Mairead]

16. If you're unclear on the concept, DU might help.

Or not. It depends on what you're open to thinking about. If you want to feel reinforced in your idea that having a D-label majority is the only thing that matters, then this is a good place for you to be. But if you have a sort of vague idea that there are more important political goals than that, then you're probably in trouble. DU is not big on issue-oriented politics. Point issues, yes, issue politics, no.

And if you want to actually accomplish something--i.e., make actual changes in how things work in the USA--then you have to have a lot of faith in the power of talking if you want to feel okay about hanging out here.

[lectrobyte]

18. Pointless? From a certain perspective, I suppose all human

activity is pointless. But I'd like to think that maybe some of the letters I've been inspired to write to my representatives and my local paper help do something, and that wouldn't have happened otherwise. I'm not quite sure what you are trying to get at, since you seem to be responding to some other post or comments I've not seen, but if someone thinks DU activity is pointless, I'd want to ask 1) What they are doing here then, don't they have more pointed things to do? and 2) OK, what's your real agenda?

[OregonBlue]

20. DU is great. I live in a very rural area and travel internationally

a lot in my work. DU keeps me informed. It inspires me to write to Congress people, write letters to editors and gives me good talking points when talking with my redneck neighbors. Especially when I'm overseas. Don't get any real news except DU.