Is it worth it?

[ccpup]

I'm talking about continued support of Democratic Underground.

More and more I see the Obama people attack the Clinton people, everyone basically attack Hillary, the Progressives attack the Moderates and everyone attack everyone else. And more and more it feels like I'm right back in middle school with warring factions and people telling others they disagree with to "shut the f*ck up".

Then I realize that I, without fail, actually financially give to this site. To in some small way help it exist. But is it right to donate only to come away from an hour on DU with a sick feeling in your stomach and completely confused as to how supposedly progressive Dems who believe in Civil Rights and treating people fairly can then turn and be so godd*mn mean spirited when it comes to supporting "their" candidate?

I would never want to restrict anyone's Freedom of Speech. It's more the -- oh boy, I'm stepping in it now -- maturity level I sometimes worry about.

Has anyone felt the same or is it just me? I don't know. I'm open to thoughts and opinions, though.

[babylonsister]

1. Sure it is. I'm here to read and post new news that you'll most likely

not find in many other places. I do stay away (pretty much) from candidate threads as I'm undecided and don't feel the need to get involved in them. Plus, that keeps my blood pressure down. :)

[solara]

5. Yep. I agree. I wouldn't be aware of anything relevant if I didn't have DU

I just don't participate in the arguments found on the candidate threads...the only thing I am sure of right now is that I want a Democratic President. There haven't even been any debates yet. :shrug: So, yeah, I think it is a good thing to support DU.


INVESTIGATE IMPEACH INDICT INCARCERATE :patriot:

[BOSSHOG]

2. Never gave it a thought

I pony up a few bucks to DU every now and then. I think its an excellent service and head and shoulders (technically) over other boards. I "hear" what you say about the chit chat relative to candidates but I just click away, hang out in the garden or sports section. Penney for Penney I get much more out of DU then all my other news sources combined. However, I appreciate your views.

[AndyA]

3. A lot of people here are very quick to attack others.

Almost as if others have no right to an opposing opinion.

Makes it hard to have a discussion when people belittle you because you don't see things their way 100%. So, we close our minds and start shutting doors and windows. Instead of an opportunity to learn something, you walk away shaking your head because someone feels the need to turn to insults.

The Democratic Party and its supporters have a good deal of ground to cover, but infighting and insulting others because they aren't liberal enough, or too liberal, or whatever is silly.

I walk away from threads all the time because people who don't agree with me feel it's OK to be insulting. So, they lose the opportunity to show me why I'm wrong, and convince me to look at it from their point of view, because I've shut them out due to the insults.

Just like * and Iran, if you slam the door in their face, the chance of agreeing on anything is pretty much nil.

[BoneDaddy]

4. Nah

I want a place where we argue, sometimes passionately, sometimes off the wall. I don't want a room full of yes men or women. I like diversity of thought, even crazy fundamentalist thinking. I learn from others and hopefully they learn from me. I gain perspective and insight from where they sit.

Conflict is part of life. I threw out the PC new age concept of conflict= bad or unenlightened. Conflict forces us to figure ourselves and this world out...struggle is not fun at times, but it is necessary.

If I allow myself to be so thin skinned or come here to get my belonging needs met I will walk away feeling wounded. Don't take this site too seriously and it is a reminder that even liberals have alot to work on, myself included.
Peace and have a tall glass of wine

[AtomicKitten]

6. Nail on head.

It is disheartening. I find myself spending less and less time here.

[stillcool]

7. I donate to DU because I use DU...

alot. The information/education/understanding this site has provided me is much more valuable than the pittance I can afford to donate. However there are times, when I need to stay away. Like when the entire board seems nothing but an echo chamber for corporate media.

[AlCzervik]

8. it'll be better after the primaries i swear and really this place is full of information

it's mind blowing, lbn is just about the best place on the interwebs to get news from all over the world.

[Igel]

9. Many DUers are partisans.

"Partisan" has a few meanings, and in some cases they all seem to apply. Just as DU has its shares of tin-foilers, so it has bomb-throwing partisans. "Ignore" can be your friend, if you have trouble dealing with blow-ups and wads of aluminum foil scattered about. "Hide thread" is even more useful; it disdains not people, but inanimate topics.

I avoid candidate threads; I have no use for them. I usually take a day 3-5 days before the election to decide who/what I'm voting for. Then, the day before the election, I throw out my decision and re-decide, and especially like when I reach the same decision.

But until then, I read position statements and ruminate quietly to myself. And avoid threads in which candidate X's outrageous/ignorant/over-the-top/boring/insane/etc./etc. supporters are likely to make me think less of candidate X.

[ccpup]

10. your thoughts and experiences

have been immensely helpful and you've offered some great suggestions I'll consider and probably end up integrating into my DU experience. And my financial support -- based entirely on the access one gets to news they wouldn't get elsewhere -- will, of course, continue.

Now, I'm off to take a walk in the rain here in NYC, go play with my dogs and have something to eat.

Thank you, again, all of you for replying.

[cooolandrew]

11. I haven't actually bashed anyone for supporting Hillary she just hasn't been consistant as others.