Hi, I'm new here!

[Wickerman]

Just wanted to pop in and say hi! I've lurked around, was here a long time ago watching and then drifted away and didn't get back. Have been on some other boards. Awhile ago on Kilbourn, I think it was, I saw the Mr Show guy in a tank and he was wearing a Democratic Underground T-shirt. Did anyone see that? Its been a few weeks ago and it was a re-run. Anyway, the .com was squiggled out and I thought this site was a .org. Anyway, here I am, there are a lot of areasw in this place - where is the best place to hang?

[LearnedHand]

1. Hi, Luna! Welcome to DU!

:hi:

Best area depends on what you're interested in and how thick your skin is. Definitely keep up with Latest Breaking News, and definitely read the essays and Auntie Pinko you see when you log on. And, if you're feeling brave, plunge into General Discussion. Bring your towel, though, and don't panic.

[Wickerman]

8. I love Auntie Pinko

I had a friend who sent me links to her column. General Discussion sounds scary :scared:

thanks!!!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. Welcome!

:hi:

[Pert_UK]

3. Well abandon all hope if you enter Justice/Public Safety!

The gun debates in there are deeply frustrating...

Keep an eye on Latest Breaking News and Editorials (which carries some really interesting info that doesn't quite qualify as being new news, if you see what I mean).

Be prepared to defend yourself if you post on an Israel/Palestine thread or guns.

And have fun!

Welcome!

:hi:

P.

[Wickerman]

9. I'll avoid guns

Like my namesake I am all hat and no cattle!

thanks!

[DoNotRefill]

17. C'mon, Pert....

While there's a fair amount of "Your side sucks!" in J/PS, there's also a small amount of rational discussion from people with differing viewpoints. That can be interesting. Besides, I've seen some people put forth opinions that I wouldn't have expected from them based upon their posts in other areas.

J/PS can be irritating....but it can also be educational if you ignore the "Nyah, Nyah, Nyah!" posts.

[Pert_UK]

18. Indeed. There is a small amount of rational discussion....

It's just that it sometimes gets a bit too frustrating.

Even in the middle of a reasonable debate you suddenly find yourself attacked by nonsense.

But I agree, there are some intelligent and informed posters on there.....with STRONG viewpoints.

P.

[Wickerman]

27. I don't really understand the gun debate

We have a gazillion more gun related deaths than the rest of the world combined, a ton of accidential shootings, and the whole issue is treated like a 2 ton blue elephant crowded into the closet with us - we ignore it.

[DoNotRefill]

42. Pretty simple, actually...

there are around 80,000,000 legal gun owners in the US. By definition, they're all able to vote. How many people voted in the last Presidential election total? In 2000, there were around 101,405,100 votes cast for President. If only one out of every 8 gun owners vote, that's close to 10% of the total. That's a LOT of votes.

[Wickerman]

43. Some awesome numbers

I wish all 80 million gun owners would actively work to make sure their own guns are secure so they can't be stolen or picked up by a kid in their house. Show me a candidate who is willing to meaningfully take that on and I would vote for her/him.

[roguevalley]

4. hi honey.

welcome back. I would croak without this place.

[Wickerman]

10. Thanks RV

Looks like a great community

[liberalmuse]

5. Welcome to our lair...

:) I hang out on the porch, which means refreshing the browser every so often in 'The Latest'. Unfortunately I lose track of a lot of threads this way, but I like knowing the latest, and I tend to get lost. It's nice to see new faces here!

[Wickerman]

12. The porch

I like that. I was just trying that and realized I didn't know what subject I was in...

Thanks for the welcome!

[MoonAndSun]

6. Hi lunabush...

:hi:

LBN is a must for the most up to date stuff going on in the world, and The Meeting Room has topics that go much slower then the General Discussion board. But try all of them to see what you like.

[Wickerman]

13. The Meeting Room? I haven't ventured down there yet

thanks!

[Rick Myers]

7. Welcome aboard!!!

I didn't see that show, but that's very cool!

DU is now getting exposure on IEAmerica (radio network) with some material based on the weekly Top 10 Conservative Idiots!!!

General Discussion and The Lounge get the most traffic, Public Safety is pretty wild (gun discussions) and I/P covers the Middle East, so it's pretty hot in there!!!

Look around... Hope you have fun!!!

Rick

[Wickerman]

14. Thanks Rick!

Gun discussions are out of my league and the Middle East isn't anything I think I can solve (a little pun can be inserted that its a 2,000+ year old problem and Bush thinks he can solve it with a hand drawn map...) - I appreciate your advice.

BTW - Love the top 10 Conservative Idiots - same friend as above has sent me that!

[XanaDUer]

11. Welcome!

:hi:

[Wickerman]

15. Thanks!

[SmileyBoy]

16. Welcome aboard the USS Democratic Underground!!!

I'm your lowly toilet-scouring boy, northwest!!! :hi:

[Wickerman]

21. Whoa, you clean the toilets?

How long do you have to be here to be promoted to THAT job?

:)

[SmileyBoy]

38. A couple years or so...

Hopefully some day I'll be the guy who mops the deck!!! But that's probably wishful thinking....:-)

[Wickerman]

40. We all gotta have our dreams!

I just hope I'm considered for your job when you get bumped up.

[DoNotRefill]

19. Welcome!!!

Jump right in!!! Pick an area of interest, or even an area where you just want to learn more!! Whatever interests you, it's here somewhere!!! :)

All knowledge is contained within DU Fandom!!!

[newyawker99]

20. Hi lunabush!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Wickerman]

22. Thanks newyawker99

Love your quote. Camus is one of my favorite authors - the Stranger is one of the most haunting stories I have ever read - you made a great quote choice on that one.
:toast:

[ronnykmarshall]

23. Ahh the bella luna!

[Wickerman]

25. Haaa!

I like that, I was kinda going for the

:crazy: Shrub as opposed to the beautiful moon, but I like that kinder gentler approach RonnyK!

[buddhamama]

24. Welcome !

the underground is lucky to have you.
if you want to hang The Lounge is best for that.

if you have any other questions don't be afraid to ask. :hi:

[Wickerman]

26. Thanks BuddhaM

Everyone has been great so far and I have had questions answered well, very friendly - I am gonna have to venture out into the General Discussion area soon enough, though...
:evilgrin: forgive me - I am having fun learning these smilies..

[buddhamama]

28. if you are heading to GD

i'd recommend that you don a flame retardent suit first.
its a bit heated in there today.

come back to The Lounge when you need a break; it's a great refuge.

this is my new favorite smilie :hug:

[matcom]

29. HHHEEEELLLLLLLOOOOOOOOO!

glad to have you around!

:hi:

don't mind my ass, he always walks that way :D

[Wickerman]

30. Nice ass!

Man, er, I mean that in a manly way,e r, ah, nevermind

:think:

[short bus president]

31. Hi LB!

Welcome to the Lounge - this is the place I recommend for relaxation after LBN drives you to the verge of insanity with all the bad news, or the GD flame wars push you to grab a machete and start hacking people. BTW - how long do YOU think it's appropriate to fish around in a bag of chips with your hand before taking whatever handful you can grab and resolving to come back for more later if the first proves unsatisfactory?

[Wickerman]

32. Great Question!

I had to give it some thought, but then realized its a moot point. I got some damn big hands, so I fish around long enough to grab as much as I want, crush everything to fit and anything left are the crumbs for the rest of you. It is about me, after all.

:evilgrin:

[short bus president]

33. very well - you passed

And big hands, huh? I know some ladies around here who would LOVE to meet you. Be sure to look us up in the Grotto this evening, if you're around, and are not too easily scared by out-of-control kinky sex perverts. ;-)

[Wickerman]

34. I'll wear latex

sounds safer than GD, at any rate.

thanks SBP - great graphic, btw

[short bus president]

35. thanks, man

I'm sure I'll be seein' you around - this Lounge is fairly addictive.

[LuLu550]

36. LuLu sez

:hi:

[Wickerman]

37. Hi Back

:hi:

[Breezy du Nord]

39. Hola!

Welcome! :hi:

:toast:

[Wickerman]

41. Hey!!

I was just reading your Pep Rally posts. I rmember they sucked long ago, too. My favorite time was when the old fossil who used to coach in the 40's came back as guest icon and during his rousing speech he started ripping on all the guys who didn't play football. Really uncalled for, nasty stuff. Some of the rougher kids started yelling back at him - it turned very ugly very quickly. He was a tad senile, I guess - they never asked him back. The field is still named after him, though.

thanks for the hola!

[opihimoimoi]

44. Aloha from the Pond, sending pineapples and poi

Come, we go eat manapua and ma tai soo

[Wickerman]

45. mmmmm!!

Thanks for the delivery, thats a mighty fine Pineapple. Can you tell me what Poi is? I have wondered a long time and the internet jsut confused me more? I used to like a Band called Poi Dog Pondering. I wnat to go to the islands, though - soon.
:hi: