After reading GD

[Reciprocity]

I have come to the realization I'm not a Liberal.

I have been a member for some time, and yes we have had stretches of discontent in GD but nothing like what has been going on for the last month or two. Having a debate about an issue is one thing, but venting your spleen on members with opposing views is quiet another. Folks are falling all over themselves to prove who is the most liberal. It is not enough that we are all (supposedly) democrats. Oh no, you have to be a certain kind of democrat otherwise your a freeper or worse if you can believe it. The baiting is out of control long time members are leaving. I look around and think are these the kind of people I would want to have coffee with? Hell no, they scare me.

[XemaSab]

1. Why do you hate America?

:sarcasm:

Seriesly, if you let the flamers take over the site, they win.

If you try to keep the tone of the place series, others will follow.

[LSK]

2. is the baiting coming from new members?

DU is growing a lot, maybe we are getting a different type of crowd with new members? We are almost at 90,000 members, you are bound to find people who disagree with you.

[underpants]

3. Oh see there you go spewing your neo-con right wing kool-aid around

:yoiks:

[LSK]

4. Donald Rumsfeld

...

[Reciprocity]

5. For the first time

I'm afraid to post on some issues as I know what will happen. I don't want to have to have to refute the blanket statements about my character because of how I see a certain subject. It's not worth it.
Some are new members I take that with a grain of salt,but lots of the threads start out with generalities about gender race or location.

[msatty99]

6. Hear ya'

I posted an entry with the temerity to suggest that "v for vendetta" was not the greatest
movie ever made, would not save democracy and perhaps was a tad childish (capes and masks and
spinning knives) I got
ATTACKED like I was some kind of right wing neo con freeper who wants to
turn back the clock on civil rights.

I wasn't 'kewl' enough for some...my motives were suspect... etc., JUST BECAUSE
I DIDN"T LIKE A FRICKIN MOVIE!!!!

Made me wonder.

[LNM]

7. I've always been afraid to post in GD

I've lurked since late 2002, joined in 2004, but because of my low post-count I only post "safe" replies in GD. It's scary over there.

[Orrex]

8. They should post a list

of the criteria necessary to be a "real" Liberal. I'm in GD all the time, and I'm routinely accused of shilling for some villainous group or another, all because I disagree with the OP or because I try to maintain a habit of critical thinking.

[JohnKleeb]

9. Actually you are more liberal than they are

Liberal is definded in the dictionary as open minded meanwhile they seem to be engaged is high self-righteousness and hyperbole to prove their points. The thing that made the Democratic party so powerful form FDR's second election until the election in 1968 was its big tent and a big tent party is the best party when you can get a diversity of debate. They scare me too because they in my opinion make liberals look batshit.

[Reciprocity]

10. Thanks for the encouragement y'all.

It's made me step back and think if I'm not a liberal. I know I'm a democrat no second guessing there. But this liberal mind set, I'm not so sure of anymore, if the views of some of our members are the guideline.

[KitchenWitch]

11. I know what you mean

And some of it has spilled over into the lounge on occasion. Very sad.

I thought we were the big tent party.