Rant from a DUer who posts a lot: Please think twice about "shooting the messenger."

[DeepModem Mom]

When considering threads and their posters:

1. "Hide" and "ignore" are your friends.

2. If you think it's too early to focus on candidates, polls, etc., or not important, General Discussion POLITICS may not be the forum for you, or you could consider ignoring or hiding these threads.

3. Please understand that sometimes it gets demoralizing to post here and immediately be met with a chorus of profanity aimed at your source, the subject of your post, the results of the poll you posted, the stupidity of the article you posted, etc. Maybe you could express the same view in a way more respectful to the poster.

4. Please remember that everyone who posts a thread has taken from a few minutes to a great deal longer posting that thread. Some do research. Some wade through many articles, or materials, before they find something they think interesting or valuable enough to bring to the attention of DUers. Some edit long articles, carefully choosing parts to include in a post. Some write short, or quite long, pieces or essays.

5. Please consider thinking before you respond to a thread that the poster has gone to this trouble, and is contributing time and effort to DU. Posters expect discussion, disagreement, hot debate -- but after being "shot as a messenger" enough, may decide one day, "To hell with this!"

6. Thanks to the majority of DUers who respond to threads with thoughtful, intelligent, witty, informative comments. You make posting here a joy, an education. and a source of both entertainment and wisdom.

EOR. (End of rant.)

Thanks, all -- and thanks to all who post here.

:)

[IndianaGreen]

1. K&R n/t

:-)

[ClassWarrior]

2. Thanks for your threads, Mom. I'm always glad for your contributions.

:pals:

NGU.

[oasis]

3. Thanks.I agree, posting at DU is a joy. (eom)

[jarab]

4. Very nice post, DMM ..... as usual. (nt)

...O...

[catnhatnh]

5. Well written...

and I would have responded sooner if I had not been busy ranting further along myself...

[Hissyspit]

6. Hear, hear!

And some of us are on dial-up. Posting and editing articles takes even longer.

Shooting the Messenger is the official RIGHT-WINGER past-time.

[hyphenate]

7. As someone who tends to write essays

of length, I agree with you!

I know long pieces aren't everyone's cup of tea, but it's the way I write. I find writing political essays to be more rewarding than working on the several novels and scripts that I used to write, and while I've started a blog recently, it's the earnestness I feel about politics which gives me more satisfaction. If I write even one essay a week, I can feel I'm contributing to discussion of important issues, events and history, and in the long run, that is important to me.

If someone writes something which doesn't agree with common opinion, but is heartfelt and honest, it's up to our own developed sense of tact to either encourage the person to write more, or to (politely) point out the problems or misinterpretations in the post, not barrage the OP with negativity. Some people are actually finding their voice for the first time--isn't it wonderful that they feel comfortable enough at DU to express themselves for the first time? If we (meaning DU) criticize someone constantly, they are going to lose their voice again, and we will all lose that unique POV that they have contributed.

On the other hand, I encourage people to lurk as long as they need to in order to see which other posters are generally disrespectful and that no matter what threads they contribute to, they are smart alecs or assholes regardless.

We're all in this together, though, and we hope that no one feels discouraged enough to leave. (Unless you're a freeper or other idiot from the right, in which case, I will personally show you the door) Keep in mind, though, that some people are as big assholes in real life as they demonstrate on the boards. :P

[MADem]

8. Posts that do nothing but slam a candidate (especially when the poster is an open advocate for

another candidate) are terribly lame. They don't convince anyone to switch sides, and they reflect poorly on the candidate the poster supports, especially if they are rude and crude or resort to tactics like insulting the person's appearance or other personal characteristics.

Constructive criticism shouldn't produce a spate of bullying responses. Honest opinions, temperately expressed, are entirely valid. Meanspirited swipes, unsourced assertions, repetition of cheesy rumors without verifying cites, well, that's a lousy and unfair tactic. And it's so transparent, too.

I have to take small issue with one point. And maybe it's not really issue, it's just a bit of a tweak. There's nothing wrong with noting that it is still early days, and that polls can change. Why? Because it is, and they do. But if you state those things with a goal to END discussion, well, that's a nonstarter. The only way people are going to sort out who they like and who they don't is to discuss the candidates in all their glory. Hopefully, politely. When someone is asserting that their person is gonna go all the way, and everyone else's lousy candidate should just go home, perhaps an "earlly days/polls can change" post is very much in order.

I'm the ultimate undecided voter here, unless Gore gets in. All of the threads on the different candidates are interesting to me. I am not sold on posters who tout their candidates by insulting others, though, while I do find posts that describe the virtues of a particular individual or report on a campaign appearance much more...enlightening, I guess.

[Monkeyman]

9. K&R

[BigBearJohn]

10. K/R!!!!

[snowbear]

11. Say DM Mom...

I hope I'm not on your ignore list..

I mean.. It's not like this, is it:

You --> ... Me --->

I sure hope not!

[DeepModem Mom]

14. Mom has no one on ignore -- might miss something !

;-)

[snowbear]

17. Oh good !!

=whew!=

[Skittles]

12. you want I should kick some ass, DeepModem Mom?

I can, you know :hi:

[ddeclue]

13. On the other hand, so many messengers seem to think we MUST agree with them

and that their candidate walks on water... if they can't stand a little criticism then maybe they need a new hobby..politics is a contact sport.

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

[tblue]

15. Thanks DMM. You are a credit to DU. BTW, I don't hide or ignore anybody.

If I don't like the subject of a post, I just go to the next one.

[DeepModem Mom]

16. Same here. Actually, I should have made clearer that I meant "ignore" by passing on by. nt

[Eurobabe]

18. Hide and ignore are indeed my friends, K & R

Thanks DMM! :hi:

[opihimoimoi]

19. K and R'd

You could never be a Pub....too much goodness....

[Vidar]

20. K&R.

[wildeyed]

21. Excellent post.

In addition to posting so many interesting article and being an invaluable DU'er, you were nice to me when I first got here and had like 10 posts. So thanks for that, too. :hi:

[dapper]

22. Ignore is such a valuable feature!

I've placed people on ignore when I have discovered they argue about the same thing over and over and over and over again. Alas, I also have used ignore on people who often use bad language. (Virgin ears!)

I didn't think it would matter much but wow, what a difference.

Dapper

[babylonsister]

23. Great post, DMM! I concur and might add,

if a post is worthy of a nom, it might also be worthy of a kick so it doesn't sink into obscurity!:evilgrin: :toast: :hi:

[DeepModem Mom]

25. Thank you for making that point!

I thought about including it, but decided I should stay focused. I agree with you wholeheartedly about K-ing as well as R-ing! (Sometimes I give a little self-kick if a thread has three or so recommends and no responses, and sinks off the page. I figure if a thread has 3 or 4 recs, it's good enough for a second chance, even if it's from me!)

[Melissa G]

24. Excellent Rant , Mom... I often post things that I think are newsworthy but I don't agree with

all of the actions or the gist of the full article. But, hey there might be info in it that I think needs to be seen... especially on the Daily Election Reform News thread (volunteers welcome, BTW)

I agree that it is good to be kind to those of us who feel it is our mission to get the word out about stuff.

You are a magnificent source of info! Thanks for all your great work!:yourock: :applause: :kick:

[barb162]

26. Wonderful and thoughtful post. KUDOS!!!

I would add one thing. That the responders read the entire article or post (before attacking after the first sentence).

[DeepModem Mom]

27. I think that's the third point that's been raised in response that I considered including...

in the OP. I opted for focus and brevity -- but thank you for making this point! Not reading the entire post, as you say, is very often the reason a thread is immediately -- and wrongly -- attacked. (Sometimes, in fact, I think only the subject line is read!)

[barb162]

29. It's happened to me many times

Thank you again for the very nice post (I think you should post it in every forum here!)

PS I've been thinking of posting a real zinger aticle on GD...just to watch how many attack after the first sentence or paragraph.

[Labors of Hercules]

28. You are a compliment to us all.

I salute you! :toast:

[DeepModem Mom]

30. Just felt a need to send this around again -- and say thanks to everyone...

who posted such kind responses. I love ya!

:loveya: