I think DU is collectively shooting itself in the head right now.

[Danger Mouse]

Dear lord, I have never seen flame wars this horrible. It makes the primary wars look cute and cuddly. :scared:

[SeattleGirl]

1. No kidding. I have to stay away from those forums.

My blood pressure goes through the roof, just seeing the vitriol and hatred over there.

[Danger Mouse]

2. It's not all one sided, either.

I tried a nuanced, thought-provoking post that actually got polite, thought-provoking responses, but predictably a child had to come in and tell me I had trouble making moral decisions. :rofl:

[SeattleGirl]

14. I posted an answer in response to a question someone had

(they weren't asking me specifically, just asking), and when they read it, they responded, "What's your point?" :snarl: :growl: :gnashing of teeth:

Sheesh. My point was just to offer an answer to a question.

:crazy:

[jonnyblitz]

15. it's not rocket science what stance one should take on bigotry,

:crazy:

[Danger Mouse]

18. whose bigotry? warren's did i say i supported him?

[Name removed]

20. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RetroLounge]

42. Here here...

Nuance doesn't come into it.

bigotry in any form needs to be fought.

RL

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I'm staying out of this one altogether.

No matter what you say, somebody will kick your ass. Think I'll stay here in the Loungs. :scared:

[bluesbassman]

4. *Shakes head slowly*

We're the "progressives" again, right? :(

[Danger Mouse]

8. I have no idea what I am anymore, but I don't belong among that rabble...

[Zomby Woof]

5. Primaries of '04 were the worst

This too, shall pass...

[Danger Mouse]

7. It gets worse than THAT?

:scared: i can't even imagine...

[Zomby Woof]

11. I am still scarred, lol

Skinner had to implement an experiment called "The Daily Democrat" in which he picked one primary candidate per day, and if we chose to post in the thread, we were REQUIRED to post something positive about the candidate.

Violators were immediately banned without parole or any chance of reinstatement (not one was ever restored, unless they sneaked back in as a sockpuppet).

I admit I contributed my fair share of fisticuffs in those days, but I was smart enough to obey the Daily Democrat rules. I liked the exercise of finding something positive (and sincere) to say about someone with whom I disagreed.

'08 had its moments, and even approached that fever pitch quite often. I admit this week has been volatile, but I am confident we will survive this. I think similar eruptions will occur when Obama has to make tough decisions about Iraq, the budget, and other major issues.

[Odin2005]

83. Oh God, I was still a lurker then, But I remember the vitriol clearly.

Fellow Deaniacs were constantly getting into fights with moderates like Wyld. and Mr. Benchley.

[JimWis]

6. I agree. There is some nasty crap going on in some of these

forums. Total hatred for Obama in some of the stuff I read. Wow.

[madinmaryland]

9. There was the meltdown after the 2004 election, that Skinner shutdown after

a couple of days.

re: "teh gays caused the loss in the election"

[PVnRT]

12. The same kind of thing is happening now

"Why won't the gays just quit whining about stuff?"

[madinmaryland]

21. I think he's got to come out and make that statement again.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. My dear Elrond Hubbard...

I am trying to improve the level of discourse a bit with my thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8002161

I doubt it's helping much, though...

It's mostly people who agree with me who are there...

*sigh*

[Danger Mouse]

13. Your efforts are always appreciated...

so of course I will have a look.
:hi:

[graywarrior]

16. I expect to log on and see blood across my monitor very soon

[ghostsofgiants]

17. Rational political discussion is definitely not why I come to DU.

I stay the fuck out of GD and GDP at all costs, for the sake of my own sanity.

[Danger Mouse]

19. Good choice. i curse whoever got me involved in that insanity in the first place.

Wait, it was me? :banghead:

[DarkTirade]

22. Well that's why I come to the lounge...

:)

[ghostsofgiants]

23. Yeah, the lounge doesn't have that giant flaming stick up its ass, so...

You might be able to get some decent discussion here from time to time. No shortage of choadbaggery to be found here either, so best to avoid politics altogether, haha.

[Danger Mouse]

24. That's not true. We just have a giant flaming stick up our ass about stuff like pit bulls.

[DarkTirade]

25. Ironic, but very true.

Honestly, I didn't come here for political discussion so much as just to keep abreast of the news since I don't watch TV. And the news filters down to the other forums anyway, so no need to go to GD or GD-P.

[WildEyedLiberal]

30. "Choadbaggery"

Let's just add that to the lexicon right now. :thumbsup:

[ghostsofgiants]

32. Haha, please do! It's a word that I feel definitely needs more widespead use.

:D

[CreekDog]

33. no it doesn't!

:spank:

[fizzgig]

50. choadbaggery

i am stealing that one

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Redneck Socialist]

26. LOL! What did you expect?

The only thing holding DU together was mutual hatred of bush. With that going away we have nothing left to do but fight amongst ourselves.

[SarahB]

27. You know what? That's why we ARE better than the Republicans!

We are NOT group thought drones. We are people who seek to MAKE THINGS BETTER. Being a liberal and progressive means tolerance and progress. Suppression of thought and discourse (even messy) is not a good plan. We must be the best people we can be. It means being strong, not being weak. I'm not afraid of conflict because I have no agenda beyond justice and human rights.

[mopinko]

28. i feel homeless.

i feel like a 3 year old whose parents are lighting the furniture on fire.

[WildEyedLiberal]

29. When is DU ever not shooting itself in the head?

:shrug:

This place makes monkey houses look like calm and refined bastions of civilization.

[Yukari Yakumo]

31. Oh, that's nothing...

...compared to when I called Cindy Sheehan out on being nothing more than a attention whore. You should've seen the furor that caused.

This was about one month before she posted her GBCW post on Daily Kos (and then even Kos got tired of her antics and kicked her out.)

[XemaSab]

34. Allow me to sum it up:

If you aren't as outraged as *I* am, you're a flaming bigot and you should be shot at dawn.

And the onus is on you to prove you're not a bigot by demonstrating your outrage. :eyes:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

41. if excuse picking a bigot, you are aiding and abetting. no one expects you to be as outraged

as the ones who suffer because of people like warren. however pretending that this makes for a good decision is bullshit.

[XemaSab]

52. Oh, I think it's a bad idea

I'm disappointed in Obama for picking Warren, but I'm not OUTRAGED, and it seems like people who are less than OUTRAGED are getting attacked as bigots.

I feel sorry for Warren that he's ignorant, but maybe he'll learn. The tide is going strongly towards civil rights, and if he doesn't learn he will be left behind.

[Danger Mouse]

57. I can sum it up even better:

Person A: FUCK YOU!!!

Person B: NO, FUCK YOU!!!

Person A: NOOOO, FUCK YOU!!!!

Person B: OH YEAH? WELL FUCK YOU!!!

Person C: FUCK BOTH OF YOU!!!

[undeterred]

61. Exactly.

No thanks to the onus.

[Eurobabe]

35. IMHO

DU always need something to bitch about. I've seen that phenom since I joined in 2003. It's never going to change.

[Pirate Smile]

88. I know. Now that Democrats control Congress and the White House some people are going to treat them

like the enemy.

I used to think Dems got "nuance" but I'm questioning that now. :) Is that too nuanced? I'm sorry - the world is black or white/good or bad with no shades of Gray, damnit. You are either with us or against us! I swear I've heard that before.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

36. Not to mention the Caroline Kennedy insanity

Which I avoid, as I don't have a horse in that race.

Is she the single most qualified individual? Probably not. But when does that ever stop anyone? How many reps can we say are truly the most qualified in their state? But I'm sure she'd do just fine. I certainly don't think it will be the end of the universe whether she's picked or if another Dem gets it.

Why people want to come to blows over it is beyond me.

[swag]

37. Probably. But who cares?

[Jamastiene]

38. No, we shoot ourselves in the foot during our infamous Circular Firing Squads.

You must have missed a few days or missed the final exam or the memo or something.

That's the first thing they teach us in Democrat School; aim for the foot, so, the Republicans can take a mile. Why do you think we walk they way we do? Our feet hurt from shooting each other under a HUGE, moldy old tent on cloudy days when we can't see so great. Hell, it's practically a national pastime for us.

If Democrats shot ourselves in the head when we disagree, we would all have been dead a LONG time ago.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

40. do you know the things rick warren says about gay people? comparing them to pedophiles

and saying that gay marriage will increase incest and pedophilia?

why is anyone surprised at the outrage?

[RetroLounge]

43. Because it doesn't affect them DIRECTLY...

This asshat Warren shouldn't even be invited to the inaugeration, let alone invoking his bigotted cloud-being.

RL

[La Lioness Priyanka]

44. thank you retro. i truly adore you even if i dont often say it. nt

[Danger Mouse]

56. yes, i do, but the outrage is not productive, because all it's producing

is people tearing each other down.
can't you see that?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

60. so you're saying we shouldnt spoil your party?

[Danger Mouse]

65. ugh. that's not what i'm saying at all.

see? immediately you draw a conclusion that i'm saying something insulting to you, and you're ready for a fight.
what i'm SAYING is that the current status of DU is not healthy. people are very defensive, and it leads to arguments and flamewars amongst people who are essentially on the same side. how is that good for anybody? does it make people feel better if they take out their frustrations on someone they think is insulting them?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

66. yeah we are defensive because a lot of you have defending the choice of a homophobe

to give the inaugural speech of a historic election. imagine that.

[Danger Mouse]

67. when did i ever defend it?

what the fuck is with this hostility towards me?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

68. this entire thread makes it seem as though we are making a big deal out of nothing

thats the hostility.

[Danger Mouse]

69. you're reading something into it that isn't there.

i was talking about the hostility people have towards each other. the epic flame wars. i find it ugly and discouraging.
and i find your tone in this thread discouraging. i'm on your side, yet you're in here ready for a fight. if you weren't sure of my intent, why not just ask?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

70. i did and instead of clarifying you insulted me. nt

[Danger Mouse]

71. i didn't insult you, or i didn't intend to.

'can't you see that?' wasn't meant to condescend, it was more of an admonishment.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

77. an admonishment to stand up for my rights is condescencion. cant YOU see that?

[Danger Mouse]

86. what i was saying is that...

the state of du at the time was not healthy.
but whatever.
i've said my piece, and i'm done with it.

[ElboRuum]

91. The wheels on the bus go round and round.

The only way to win this game is not to play.

[Fire Walk With Me]

64. I'm very disappointed to learn this about Warren.

Not knowing a thing about him or his church, I read The Purpose-Driven Life about half-way through, and enjoyed it. I didn't see any of that bigotry in the book, or I would have thrown it out. More and more bigots are being called out, so change is obviously in the air!

This of course leads to one of the best DUzys of the week: If Warren turns out to be a closet homosexual, they'll re-name his book The Penis-Driven Life.

[notesdev]

85. What's surprising are the attacks on Obama

He hasn't even stepped into the office yet and he's being savaged by... Democrats? WTF?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

87. maybe he shouldnt have picked a homophobe. nt

[Tommy_Carcetti]

45. The DU Lounge is like the Panic Room of the website.

So....what's everybody's opinion on the Canadian prog-rock band Rush?

[TZ]

46. two thumbs up

I've been playing a double CD of theirs for a couple of weeks straight in my car.
Not nearly sick of them yet!:)

[madinmaryland]

48. Why do you have to keep bringing Rush Limbaugh up?

There hasn't been a good "rush" war in teh lounge recently!

[CreekDog]

58. They still suck

:shrug:

[DS1]

47. People lost focus after the election, and now the stupid fuck attention whores have risen from their

collective slumber. And I hate all of them.

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Danger Mouse]

55. Oh man.

:rofl:

[SOteric]

76. WTF?

Where the hell did that come from?

:shrug:

[JackBeck]

89. I wonder if we were to compare lists, there would be some similarities.

I've was labeled a mole infiltrator by some of them. And then the PM Koffee Klatch Klub kicked into high gear, to spread the word that I was officially persona non grata.

Of course, I've got my own suspicions as to why this occurred.

[MorningGlow]

49. I have sworn off GD and GDP for the duration

What happened to "Things will calm down once the election's over?" That calm period lasted all of...what...a week? Gah!

I'm definitely hiding out here and in a few smaller forums exclusively. Sometimes I peek at the feeding frenzy in GD and GDP but I never wade in. It's dangerous in there! :scared:

On the bright side, I'm finding I'm not wasting nearly as much time on DU, which means I'm actually doing my freelance work! (...Well, when I'm not watching bootleg eps of the new British season of Top Gear, that is...)

[rcrush]

51. Damn I clicked on this and saw it was bringing teh serious.

I come in here to avoid the serious! Hide thread!

[TK421]

54. Link please..otherwise I can only assume you are posting RW talking points

from RW rags....

alerted...


:popcorn:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

59. GD:RW

General Discussion: Rick Warren.

There.

I did my part. What's the frequency, Skinner?

:rofl:

[AlCzervik]

62. i don't but then again i can get married and no one questions how i live.

[Lex]

73. .

:hug:

[Political Tiger]

63. I've never done this before

But I've decided to start putting all the ones who feel compelled to do nothing but sling insults on ignore, at least until or if things calm down a bit. There are some people who think that if don't agree with them 100% then you are not worthy of any type of civility.

I enjoy a good, spirited debate, but just slinging insults and nasty one liners gets old real quick!

[TreasonousBastard]

72. And, I see you brought it into the Lounge...

from the looks of a few posts here. (Or you were followed here.)

I thought the Lounge was only allowed to draw blood over things food or child related. On a good day we'll kill each other over overweight parents with obnoxious kids in an airplane.

But never politics.

[Zomby Woof]

74. Those parents would be thinner

If they avoided The Olive Garden.


:hide:

[TreasonousBastard]

75. It's all those Tater Tots and Velveeta they...

bought at Wal-Mart.

[SOteric]

78. Or if maybe

they used bran flakes instead of corn flakes on their fried chicken.

I'm jus' sayin'

[Dr. Strange]

79. So in other words...

you hate parents who use corn flakes. Very nice. Very progressive.

insert the Holy Eye-Rolling Smiley of the Self-Righteous: :eyes:

[Zomby Woof]

81. I coat mine with Durkee Fried Onions

And feed them to children who run around screaming in restaurants humming Laura Branigan tunes.

[skygazer]

80. I think a lot of people got their hopes up that the promise of change meant immediate and major

change.

I haven't posted in any of those threads but I do understand the anger and heartbreak of people who have had to endure the ups and downs that the gay community has endured this year. California's passage of Prop 8 (and the passage of other laws like it elsewhere) has made it very clear that the fight for equal rights is nowhere near over.

There are now 18,000 couples in California who face the possibility of their marriage being invalidated. I can't imagine what that must feel like. It's easy for me to see how those people feel betrayed by Obama's choice of Warren to deliver the invocation.

There are a lot of people who were counting on something besides politics as usual which is what this choice smacks of. It's disappointing and there are a whole bunch of people who have more to lose by it than I do. I feel for them, and wish Obama had chosen differently. I do think it's insensitive. :(

[Odin2005]

82. I vowed to myself I would stay out of the Warren BS, but then got the urge to respon to some...

ridiculous fallacious reasoning and got sucked in to the morass. :(

[JitterbugPerfume]

84. I stay away from it

because you can not win

[datasuspect]

90. yeah

you can't make up shit better than this.