Why are you here at DU???

[cally]

I come here to have interesting discussions about politics and other issues. I like the feeling of a community, the sense that we all have a similar vision for our country, the ability to discuss hard issues with folks I respect.

I don't come here to fight with others but to try to understand different viewpoints.

I've just spent too much time on the candidate wars. Let's see, I'm a sellout, a neocon, a Republican, an idiot. I've been called all of those. Not because of what I posted, but because I chose a different candidate than many of you. Supporters of other candidates have been called ridiculous names also. I don't believe the name calling is changing anyone's support for a candidate but it sure alienates all of us when we have to come together to support the nominee.

I wish we could have better discussions about the candidates and less hatred.

Shall we have a betting pool about how quick I'm called a name for who I support? Better yet, I will be told that I posted this because I have questions about my candidate. Yep, I do. But I always have concerns about any candidate. I always want to learn more.

[Misinformed01]

1. I came to find a husband. Mission accomplished.

Don't read or post all that much anymore.

[cally]

2. LOL

Congrats!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

25. Bwahahahahaha!

And to post drunk with ME :D

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. You're a sell-out neo-con republican. Did I win the pool?

;-)

[cally]

4. I guess

:eyes:

[Screaming Lord Byron]

9. Sweet! I've never won anything before! What do I win?

It better be good, like a speedboat, or a holiday!

[cally]

11. I changed the rules and didn't tell you

I'm a neocon, Republican after all. :evilgrin: See you had to send a PM first. ;-)

[jimbo fett]

5. To learn from others more knowledgeable about the issues that effect my

life and my country.

[GOPisEvil]

6. I came for the grape kool-aid in the bathtub...

...since the election's all over anyway, since we'll lose anyway, since none of our candidates is worth a crap...might as well drink up.

Just kidding - I came for the donuts.

[KCDem]

8. I came for GOPisEvil!

He's got nice legs. :hi:

[GOPisEvil]

10. Flattery will get you everywhere!

:hi:

[TXlib]

36. Don't be too flattered.

She comes for everybody!

:evilgrin:

[RandomKoolzip]

7. To bash those who don't support my candidate.

Certainly not to learn anything. Learning's for lapdogs!

[salinen]

12. I stay here at du

for the insults. As I always say, only friends call you on your shit, all others are acquaintances.

13. your candidate?

I thought it was your music.
:toast:

[RandomKoolzip]

18. Oh, yeah, that too. But the taste-bashing is just gravy....

Anyone is who isn't for my candidate can EAT A DICK! And all music that isn't Guided BY Voices is PURE SHIT!

Notice that the candidate bashin sentence is much harsher in tone- that's where my priorities lay.

ABK in 2004! Anybody but Koolzip!

[corporatewhore]

14. I came for the yaks

[Kathy in Cambridge]

15. I'm a Freeper Disruptor

I bet you all couldn't figure that out because I pose as a Cambridge librul and I can spell!! I came to all tell you you're going to hell if you vote DemocRAT!!

:evilgrin:

[PVnRT]

16. I just don't get enough mudslinging and vitriol in my daily life

n/t

[Ekova]

17. People here seem to be interested in learning and tired of being lied to.

Also, it's a great way to gauge the grassroots level and the underground opinions of the everyday American. I was (and still am to a certain degree) very concerned about the possibility that the majority of America sides with the Bremers, the Rummies, etc.

Forums like this put me at ease knowing that there are alot of people stateside that haven't bought into the gong show. November 2004 is extremely important for the world at large and if the people here are somewhat representative of the voting public, then perhaps some semblance of sanity and compassion will inject itself back into the equation.

[cally]

21. Welcome to DU

Thanks for the thoughtful response! It's one of the reasons I come here, too.

From the neocon, Republican evil DUer. :-)

[trof]

19. I'm just here for the juice and cookies.

Oh...and the Swedish meatballs.
They're GOOOOOD.

[DuctapeFatwa]

20. The Breaking News Page. I like being able to take advantage

of the collective effort of other people who are constantly checking the wires even when I don't have time to.

[SOteric]

22. I come here for a variety of reasons...

I don't engage in candidate bashing, in fact, I participate little anymore in many of the candidate discussions.

I realise many feel otherwise, but I don't see mean-spirited argument and loyalist behaviours as a means to educating oneself about issues and candidates.

I like getting the news here. I read much even if I don't post to the fracas. I like being apprised of the latest conspiracy theories even if I don't subscribe to most of them.

In every fora including DU, there will be people who one cannot hold a productive debate with. Many simply no longer know anything of actual debate; belligerence has taken it's stead. All that notwithstanding, there are people here who can be reliably counted upon for reasoned and intelligent discourse. There are people here who can disagree with you without assuming you to be the worst kind of person.

I'm not sure how black and white thinking came to be such a pervasive part of our society, but a good portion of why I come to DU is that it is still a haven for those of us who like to see the subtle shades of grey.

I do still prefer a world filled with myriad diverse opinion, - some rigidly held.

[RUexperienced]

23. For the rock and roll threads

Although one of the best was, "The most embarassing combination of items you bought together in the grocery store."

That thread sure let us know what kind of people we are dealing with here on DU. lol

[arcane1]

24. because DU is the web's best site!

I avoid candidate threads like the plague (and BLESS the admins for creating the GD 2004 forum!)


I love the way that so many people share news from so many resources, we here at DU have been ahead of the media, ahead of the pundits, yeah, even ahead of our own elected officials!

:hi:

oh, and because I'm a pinko commie leftist fag, who hates christians and aborts fetuses for sport :evilgrin:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

26. To woo women

[SOteric]

28. And here I thought you were a paid flirt.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

33. Nope..I'm an altruist

:D

[Misinformed01]

31. Ok, I was going to make a really sick joke here

but, Michael would get home, and I would be saying, "oh honey...don't turn on the computer...really...there's nothing on DU tonight..."

Or he would want to watch.

Oh my God...did I write that?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

35. Well I'd tell ya to PM it to me

but I PROMISED myself not to do that ever again! :scared:

[tinrobot]

27. Waffles...

I'm here for the waffles.

[terrya]

29. I came here because of the feeling of community, to be among other liberal

And I've met some nice people along the way.

Now, I just hope I haven't worn out my welcome.

Terry

[101 Proof]

30. I hate Republicans...

and this is a good place for a Democrat to post without hateful remarks from the "Religious Right."

[gator_in_Ontario]

32. It's the first site

I have been addicted to since I first came on the net!

[TXlib]

34. Because I think all neocons are from hell

and we must return them with all due speed.

[pmbryant]

37. Originally...

I came here originally to read about and talk about politics with people who generally shared the same goals as myself. I had been seeking a comfortable place to talk politics ever since the 2000 (s)election, which was just so terribly demoralizing to me.

I found DU via other progressive web sites, and its easy-to-follow discussion format and lack of conservative yahoos finally got me hooked late in 2001. I've been addicted to this place ever since, and now the feeling of community is one reason why I can't imagine leaving this place anytime soon.

I have almost religiously avoided participating in the candidate wars. Being officially 'undecided' helps, but the persistence and prominence of those fights on this board may well be one reason why I remain undecided. That, and the fact that I really do like all of the candidates.

So I feel my energy is better spent on anti-Bush activities (e.g., MoveOn.org) for the time being than on promoting any single candidate, here or elsewhere.

I really, really hope that you and everyone else here don't let any candidate's supporters alienate you from supporting and campaigning for that candidate come general election time, if that candidate becomes the nominee. If that happens, we all lose. :-(

--Peter

[Cleita]

38. I came here because it made me feel that I wasn't crazy

or unpatriotic after all about what I believe politically. Yet, I still find there are those who still have a ways to go to reach me where I am at about social programs, sexual equality and environmentalism.

Unlike DU, I think the candidate bashing, not constructive criticism mind you, but candidate bashing, distracts us from the goals we are trying to reach. The candidate who offers hope, not constant assaults against the other candidates, will be the one with the best chance of defeating Bush.

[corporatewhore]

39. (democratic)Underground network

Anti Flag wrote this great song that describes alternative media
Underground Network
the national media cover clinton/lewinsky while the world's governments sell out millions on the issue of free trade but somewhere in the night -- a force is not asleep ad a massive organization plans to rise up to its feet... IT HAPPENS LIKE THIS... a pirate radio voice transmite into the night and from D.C. to Peking email warns of lost global rights and the hoax the world's leaders, wanted no one to see comes crashing on their heads from grass roots -- striking it down the blows coming for the world's... underground network - alternative communication corporate media can't keep us beat down, brainwashed, enslaved cause of our... underground network - alternative communication they try to blind us but we... stand up and fight! stand up and fight! they try to keep us ignorant but we... stand up and fight! stand up and fight! they want to make our rights away so... stand up and fight fight...! just take a look around the world and you're going to find that nearly all mass media are owned and controlled by a handful of conservative capitalists. we must devise and implement alternative methods of distributing our news, our information, our ideas -- people worldwide working together to make a stand, to tell the truth!

[tigereye]

55. cool one of the guys in Antiflag

is related to people at my son's school - actually I think he went there too. It is great to hear that political punk is still around.

[DemExpat]

40. It has become my virtual home.....

I love the news, sharing excitements, disappointments...

it is a tie to my home country that I can't find at the American Women's Club here (lots of Repub wives....)

It gives a sense of community that I would miss now if I did not have it....

I'm addicted!

DemEx

[corporatewhore]

41. think i am too

[Deja Q]

42. I like to hear others' viewpoints and express my own

I like the feeling of community too. There's far more of that feeling in the lounge than in General Discussion, and I don't mean the flak about candidate bashing. (I'm probably going to avoid GD for a while... :-) )

[KG]

43. cold beer and hot liberal chicks.

plenty of both to be found here! :bounce:

[freeminder]

44. for hope

that there is some sanity left in the US. I came here when the war drums were beating because I couldn't believe my eyes & ears. The I read. Then I read some more. Then my eyes went open... thanks to all DU contributors...

oh and I like caption competitions, and the feel of the lounge.

Where's that comfy sofa ?

[DemExpat]

45. Welcome to DU, freeminder.....

I live just a little bit north of you!

:hi:

:kick:

DemEx

[TrogL]

46. Flame wars and kitten threads

My shrink says I'm a mass of contradictions.

[Wonk]

54. I don't like wars. I'm just here for the flaming kitten threads ;-)

;-)

[populistmom]

47. Because it's the only place I can speak my mind without eyes being rolled

:eyes:

I grew up with very progressive, smart people (especially my dad) and as dysfunctional as they are, I woke up at 30 realizing that the life I have is now void of any intelligent conversation. My life consists of soccer games, Dr. Suess books, and potty chairs. While I love my children, it isn't ALL that I'm about and here I am finding myself in my real life living in a community and with people and persons I don't fit with. I have many aquaintences, but no one ever really wants to hear what I think or feel about this stuff. It's quite disheartening sometimes being me. (But things will change. Somehow, they have to.)

DU brought me back to who I am, to what's inside me. While 90% of my posts end up being here in the lounge, I don't candidate "bash" (maybe not the right world), there are things that are important to me and make me mad or make me stand up and want to say what I think or feel or whatever. Here, I am free to do just that. With no eyes being rolled.

[proud patriot]

48. To make a difference in making the U.S.A. the best country it can be

To protect my sons future .

[rbnyc]

49. Nice post, Cally.

I wish more of us would start acting like the kinds of people we'd like to be.

[GreenPartyVoter]

50. To hang out with other progressives

Why else? :)

[mitchum]

51. to try out material...

and not have to deal with prop comics

[hussar]

52. The free gifts

[leftofthedial]

53. Because no one else will have me

so I'm here instead of the real world even though 35, 974 people have me on Ignore.

[jonnyblitz]

56. Because I am into mental SM and can't stay out of GD 2004

seriously because I found it to be an oasis full of awesome, some what like minded people prior to and during the Iraq invasion and since then I have met some of the best people I could ever want to meet! Simple as that.