NYT: liberal blogosphere...bunch of "crackpots" ; DU place to hate Bu$h

[luaptifer]

What’s this in the ( liberal?! ) NY Times?

Filed under: General— ross @ 11:58 pm

http://www.itaffectsyou.org/blog/index.php?p=305

The NY Times is running a piece on the blogosphere's reaction to the tsunami, and it starts out by painting the liberal blogosphere as a bunch of "crackpots." As their example, they refer to Democratic Underground as a blog which they describe as "an online gathering place for people who hate the Bush administration." Um, no. DU may have a blog, but it is primarily a discussion forum. While to many that may fall under the category of nitpicking, the Times description is more misleading. It is accurate to say most DU participants do not like the Bush administration, but it is their belief in various progressive, American ideas which drives their participation. To describe it as they do makes it easier to hang the label of "crackpot," which seems to the their intent from the start.

The article goes on to imply the general reaction of the left blogosphere was to blame Bush himself for the tsunami rather than criticizing him for his bungled response. While it would not be difficult to find people who feel that way on DU or elsewhere, it's entirely misleading to imply that was the general feeling.

While acknowledging that many of the blogs placed links to charities, they quickly added the following:

But the blogosphere's tendency toward crackpot theorizing and political smack down could not be suppressed for long.

"It's so much of what they feed on, so much of what they are," said James Surowiecki, the author of "Wisdom of Crowds."

The article turns a bit more sober after this point, but the mischaracterization at the outset are inexcusable.

[roenyc]

1. nice

they didn't bother to post the freeper stuff though about how its good the islamofacist (whatever they say) are dead. they had some disgusting crap on their site. guess thats OK.

alright. this is an attack to discredit this sight. and its bad IMO. wonder if Rush will pick it up. have to check drudge.

letters should go out to the times.

damn i hate the press.

[Ian David]

2. Duplicate thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2896632

However, I'm cross-posting my messages from the other thread here, too, because I tend to fall in love with my own words and feel compelled to share them more than I probably should.

---
Some of us tried to warn you:

If you say stupid things, like, "The earthquake and tsunami were caused by oil drilling," THEN WE WILL BE RIDICULED AND OUR SERIOUS IDEAS DISCREDITED!!!

To the handful of cooks who wear the tinfoil hats:

Thanks for nothing.

You have done us a TERRIBLE disservice.

Just because there are REAL conspiracies does NOT mean ALL conspiracies are real.

Please promote your UFO and Tesla Weapon theories elsewhere!



A mind should only be so open that your brains do not fall out.

Will the RATIONAL DUers please write to the NYT editors!?


We have to make sure we tell them that there are fringe kooks in EVERY group, both on the left AND on the right.

DU is no different than any other forum.

Please point the NYT to some of the kookier Freeper posts. Ask why they didn't give THOSE posts equal consideration.


Why Smart People Believe Weird Things


If a bunch of suspicious people who distrust the government and mostly support one another tell you that you're being stupid, then it would be a VERY good idea to more critically examine your "facts."

We are your friends. If we tell you you're being a kook, it is out of tough-love. Please try to trust us at least a little.

In addition to "The Demon Haunted World," by Carl Sagan, people should also read "Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time," by Dr. Michael Shermer (with a foreward by Dr. Stephen J. Gould.).

It includes a chapter called, "Why Smart People Believe Weird Things (Chapter 18, p. 279) only in the 2nd edition published in 2002.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805070893/ref=sib_rdr_dp/103-3131873-5009409

I should give people the benefit of the doubt. Just because someone believes stupid things does not mean they are stupid. It often just means they are mis-informed.

Please, get informed.

These times are too complex and dangerous to be running around with a brain filled by other people's nonsense.

[zeemike]

3. just remember

That if we are mentioned by the NYT it means we have some power that they fear.
DU is a communication device that has some strength in it's numbers, and it does tend to distribute information (Just like the NYT does)

But let's not be so hard on ourself, they can pick out any negatives no matter how well we try to police ourselves. We must remember that words and the manipulating of them, is what they do best.
By far and away the people here are rational, and we should not be worried what our competitors have to say against us.

[DeepGreen]

4. I will repost mine,,,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2896632&mesg_id=2896782

We are not robots, we are not ignorant, we are not ass holes !

We are a community of over 60K. I see DU
as a mix of emotions, thoughts, releases,
as would be seen in any community, including
a business, newspaper, school, etc..
There are those that post serious, contemplative
articles. Those that talk, and those that don't.
There are humorous, sarcastic, religious, thoughtful,
political, scientific,,, posts.

We are one community with similar political beliefs.
We feel stress, anger, joy, sorrow. We help each
other. We kid each other. We argue. We console.
We ask questions. We explore possibilities. We
unite under common causes. We are tolerant. We
believe in the freedom of every individual no matter
what race, religious beliefs, culture,,.

So, there is a release of stress, a humorous post,
or a flame of disagreement in a serious thread.
I am sure this does not also happen in the Ivory
Halls of the NYT !

Because we are who we are, reporters/writers
can find a treasure of postings to ridicule
and create articles that will be read.
What they aren't seeing or writing about is
the real DU. Maybe they feel that writing about
us and what we truly represent would be harmful
to their job.

[wishlist]

5. I believe some RWingers have intentionally posed on DU as crackpots

Ever since the election, there seems to have been a huge invasion of new posters- some who seem to be trying to win converts to moderate sounding conservatism plus quite a few who must be having fun (and/or carrying out a RW agenda) at DU expense by posing as radical Dems making over-the-top statements that do not seem to be attempts at sarcastic humor, but prove fodder for critics of Democrats.

[luaptifer]

6. i've taken to try and scope the freeple with some degree of regularity

to see what's going on there, what polls they're freeping, etc.

in fact, i discovered a link that THEY pointed out as to how to keep up with things 'needing to be freeped'. check out this topic i started on cgcs re that issue:
http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/index.php?showtopic=12300&hl=
----

Activists on this forum should bookmark this page to keep in sight just which polls the freepers are freeping.


QUOTE

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=freep

As some here know, I've been trying to keep my eye on freerepublic.com simply to stay in touch with which issues they're acting upon. Following a post by searchingforsanity today, I (am still doing so) attempted to find the signal on freerepublic.com that allowed them to succeed in having CNN's poll show that 90% of Americans thought Gore should concede. I've yet to find that post but one of the freepers directed another to this link in order to know which polls should be 'freeped':

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=freep

this is the freeper post showing me how to look for freep-targets:
see response 19 http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/840999/posts

To: *FREEP!
Find lots more threads with polls at the link below.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/involved?group=138

19 posted on 02/11/2003 2:54:16 PM PST by Libertarianize the GOP (Ideas have consequences)



that quote is from a thread discussing the need to freep a CNN poll (feb. 2003) on my model system, did saddam collaborate with al qaeda.


QUOTE
CNN Poll
http://209.157.64.200/^http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/wolf.blitzer.reports/

Posted on 02/11/2003 2:19:58 PM PST by SirFishalot

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...

1 posted on 02/11/2003 2:19:58 PM PST by SirFishalot
< Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies >



http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/840999/posts

i quoted here the entirety of the post made by sirfishalot who gave no other indication of what the post is about so you can be sure its sole aim was to draw the activist freepers-of-polls.

as much as a group we may believe in fairness, etc., it's insane to ignore that others believe as strongly simply in winning. i hated to admit it when i finally drew this conclusion but a substantial portion of our nation is satisfied with being a member of the flock of sheeple. others are satisfied with using that to their own advantage so manipulation of public opinion is just another tool in the toolbox.

we must be aware when this is going on and take measures to counter its effect. BOOKMARK this link and refer to it often. alert others here when you know something is up.

http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/index.php?showtopic=12300&hl=

-----

here's the freep targets for the last couple days:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=freep



Articles indexed to freep (in order of time indexed.)

Freep Poll ('05 to be better or worse?)

Posted by Tribune7
On News/Activism 01/02/2005 9:49:10 AM PST · 12 replies · 261+ views

County Press ^
Will 2005 be better than 2004? Yes No About The Same



Share your opinion in the T.A.R. poll

Posted by B4Ranch
On General/Chat 01/02/2005 4:22:43 AM PST · 19 replies · 174+ views

TheAmericanResistance.com ^ | December 26, 2004 | Fred Elbel
Share your opinion in the T.A.R. poll The American Resistance Foundation will share the results of this poll with each member of the 109th Congress in January, 2005. (See Congressional immigration voting scores). For them, the next election is less than two years away. Please help us to make your voice heard and vote. 1. Are you aware of the 1986 amnesty for illegal aliens? Yes No 2. President Bush has proposed another amnesty for the more than 20 million illegal aliens currently in our nation. Do you believe this amnesty would help secure our borders and discourage more...



Freep this Seattle Times Poll!

Posted by P-Chan Penny
On General/Chat 12/30/2004 9:38:35 AM PST · 7 replies · 125+ views

The Seattle Times ^ | Dec. 30, 2004 | Ralph Thomas
Please click here to vote on whether or not there should be a recount in the Washington State Governor's Race. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com



Re-Vote for Rossi: Please freep this online poll

Posted by junker
On News/Activism 12/29/2004 11:08:12 PM PST · 11 replies · 326+ views

The Seattle Times ^ | 12/29/2004 | David Ammons
Should we vote again? Republican Dino Rossi is now calling for a new election. Should we vote again?



POLL.....Should voters in Washington, the STATE RE-vote for Governor

Posted by goodnesswins
On News/Activism 12/29/2004 7:48:51 PM PST · 118 replies · 1,482+ views

Seattle Times ^ | 12/29/04 | unknown
Here's a POLL they're running in Seattle area about RE-VOTING for our Governor.....our Governor Elect has done the honorable thing (after winning 2 out of the 3 counts) - suggested we RE-VOTE.....to the Dems. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com

---------------

so they do come to DU, for sure. i thought i saw a thread of complaints fairly recently indicating skinner'd done something to lock them out, but i didn't find it on a brief search.

they could be here messing with things.

but hey, tinfoil fits me pretty well sometimes too! with these CONs in office, you really don't have to use imagination to travel very far.

remember the $hrub's fantasy: there will be no casualties. who needs tinfoil for that one?!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

7. It would not have been so bad had Nixon shut down the NYT.