Why do I see all of these 1000+ posters with no star

[Speed8098]

I am seeing too many 1000+ posters who haven't donated to DU.

Why?

I am a victim of the * administration in the form of being jobless, but I still manage a $5.00 or $10.00 donation to keep this excellent forum alive. I would think that all of you newbies that somehow manage to get 1000+ posts in a very short time would love to donate.

Can one of you please explain why you haven't taken the opportunity to support DU?

[DEMActivist]

1. Not that it's any of your business

but some people find that star insulting and degrading.

Some people donate without making themselves known.

[Speed8098]

6. Please explain

I don't understand why you would be ashamed to show that you support DU.

How exactly is it "insulting and degrading?"

I ask because, I've seen some pretty suspicious posts coming from SOME of the people I'm talking about.

Remember, this is just MY opinion. I'm entitled to is as you are entitled to yours, but it seems to me, if you like the service provided, you should be willing to support it.

[IndianaGreen]

2. What do you care?

The internet should be free. I personally think that the stars can be viewed as an elitist thing.

We had rightwingers that had stars next to their names and they were banned once they disclosed their true nature. It means nothing!

[LWolf]

3. To each his/her own way of support.

Some posters keep their donations anonymous. Many actually donate to other posters who haven't been able to afford a donation, so that they get their star for a quarter.

I am glad that I can find a few dollars to support a site that I use. I would never want to restrict the discussion to those who can afford to pay.

[mrbill]

4. this thread need to head south to ask the administrators....

why is none of your business.

[mhr]

5. Unemployed for 39 Months, Every Dime Matters, OK?

eom

[reprobate]

7. Thanks for the reminder. Time to contribute again.

[izzie]

8. I feel bad as I can give so little yet I get a star.

I would like to give more to all.

[stewert]

9. What a Stupid Question.......

I own and run www.oreilly-sucks.com.

I can not even afford to pay my bandwidth costs, let alone donate to any other websites.

I am disabled and flat broke, I don't even have $5, let alone $10. I live with my retired
father who supports us 100 percent. And he can barely afford to pay the bills, sometimes
he runs out of money before the month is over.

I can not work because of my disability, yet Soc. Sec. denied my disability claim. They used
their doctors report to deny me, and ignored my testimony and my doctors report in their
decision. I even talked to Senator Durbin and he tried to get my disability claim approved.

My father will pay for something if it is an emergency, otherwise he refuses to pay for anything
I do on the internet.

I am on a 4 year old gateway computer that he bought me with the money he got when my
mother passed away in december of 1998. I get a few small donations to help me pay for my
bandwidth, but just when I was getting some money saved my monitor took a shit on me. Then
I had to spend $140 for a new monitor, this barely left me with enough money to pay my bandwidth
for 6 months.

I have to save every dime I get just in case my hits explode and I need more bandwidth. On top
of that my web host makes people buy bandwidth 6 months at a time.

If some great American sends me $10 or $20 (my average donation amount) I have to save every
penny of to pay for bandwidth. And I have to save it in case a computer problem happens, like
when my monitor went out.

I also have to pay my monthly ISP cost, and my domain name cost.

Most of the time I do not have the money to pay any or all of these expenses, then I have to get
my father to pay it. But he only pays it if I do not have any money. And he refuses to ever pay for
my bandwidth. I do not even have a bank account, or a credit card, so my father has to cash my
donation checks for me.

Frankly I am lucky he pays any of my internet expenses, he can barely afford his monthly bills, yet
he still helps me out if I need it. If he ever cuts me off totally, I will not be able to keep the website
online. Between the few small donations I get, and my fathers help. I barely stay online, and the
website barely stays online.

I am offended that you would assume we can all donate to internet websites, I have to keep every
penny I get, and it still don't cover my expenses 100 percent.

Whenever O'Dummy says or does something stupid, my website gets flooded with hits. Sometimes
I run out of bandwidth, but I can not afford to buy anymore because I am broke. This keeps me
from expanding the website, and trying to make it better.

I did buy a DU.com t-shirt once, so technically I have donated, but I did not get a star for it.

In closing, mind your own business. I wrote this to show you why I have not donated to DU.com.

But I am offended that you would dare to ask us people with over 1000 postings why we have
not donated.

I could give you more details but you don't deserve it.

[Speed8098]

14. Thank you Stewart

I appreciate your situation, as I too have no income. I am sorry if you are offended, that is not my intention.

My intention is to out the subtle disrubtors who go to the lounge and pad their post count so they can pretend to be someone they are not.

I am PROUD to be a member of this site, and I am sick and tired of disruptors posting their trivial drivel in the guise of a serious post.

We are in a very dangerous place with this administration at the helm and I want to change drivers. I would hope that is the goal of
EVERYONE here.

Again, my intention is not to offend those not able to donate. It is to get rid of the pretenders.

[blondeatlast]

10. It doesn't bother me, but if it bothers you, donate in one of their names.

[jus_the_facts]

11. I had a star untill a couple weeks ago...

....had it for a year after donating last fall and you only get to keep it for a year and I've not been able to donate again so now I'm without one....sorry you're offended by it but there just isn't any way for me to give again at this point in time....believe me I'm as dissapointed as you are about it but I have NO job...not even any prospects. :cry:

on edit...the last year went by so fast...a good thing when you're thinking in terms of (*)'s tenure....not so good in this regard *sigh* x(

[robbedvoter]

12. Yes. Limited income and a candidate to support.

No room for more than one. Priorities.

[Maddy McCall]

13. Good for you...some people don't have an extra 5$ or $10...

but they are still welcome here under the big Democratic tent. That's the beauty of our party, unlike the Republican party--we welcome all people and realize that one's worth is NOT MEASURED by the amount of funds one donates.

How dare you ask such a question and make insinuations that people with over 1000 without stars are somehow dishonorable and not to be trusted. You are purposefully embarrassing DUers, and that is really crappy, whether you have a star or not--and classless, in my opinion.

[stewert]

15. Hey SPEED8098 !

Since you have all this money, how come you have not donated to www.oreilly-sucks.com ?

Have you donated to every democratic website on the net, or just DU.com ?

I would like to know why you have not donated to my website !

[Speed8098]

20. Ok, you asked

Since you have all this money, how come you have not donated to www.oreilly-sucks.com ?


I think your website is stupid and I only visited once when someone linked to it from here. Why do I care what an obvious idiot like Bill O'Reilly says. He is meaningless and everyone knows it.

Have you donated to every democratic website on the net, or just DU.com ?

Just DU. I don't post on any other Democratic website.

I would like to know why you have not donated to my website !

See my first response. O'reilly is an idiot whom I couldn't care less about.

[trotsky]

16. Please, call off the dogs, everyone.

I am reasonably sure this is just a case of someone posting before thinking things through.

It is very true that not everyone can afford to donate, and as another poster mentioned, we Democrats want everyone to feel included - especially those whom society treats like shit because they are disabled, out of work, or just a victim of circumstance.

Speed, maybe you can post an apology/clarification and we can clear this all up.

[Speed8098]

21. You're correct and I apologise

I am only trying to root out the posters who have come here and disguised themselves as Democrats in order to disrupt our debates over reall issues.

I am extremely sorry if I have offended anyone but the disruptors I have targeted.

[Noordam]

17. I have been out of work 30 months, and only gave $5

at the last fund raiser because of the number thing going on. Wish I could have given more but Bush has hurt my income.

[salmonhorse]

18. That would be because 'they'...

...have not yet made a contribution ~

[Township75]

19. I am not at 1k yet, but when I do hit it..

I likely will not have a star either. Why?

Well, because college kids are poor...because I spend 95% of my time in the J/PS Forum where people get tombstoned fast (usually justifiably) and a few others.

Don't take this the wrong way, but do you argue that those who don't have a job and don't pay taxes deserve an ear full from those that do? They get to enjoy the benefits of the country without paying for it, right? How would that be different than using DU and not paying for it?

[G_j]

22. I would love to donate

if I could. I am jobless and in major debt with medical and other bills. Of course I hope this changes. I'd donate in a flash if I could.

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. I am locking this thread.

Please direct any questions to the Ask the Administrator forum.

Thank You,
MrsGrumpy
DU Moderator