I really, really need to quit DU

[rockymountaindem]

There's no reason to stay here anymore. All the pissing and moaning about Democrats is getting too much for me to handle. I can't remember the last time I got into a good debate around here. I don't care if the people posting it are trolls, paid disruptors, greens or whatever, it's not worth my time. I need to quit.

Unfortunately, I can't break away. Despite the anger I feel a lot of the time, it's too fascinating to just look away. What should I do?

[ProSense]

1. Humor

And there is truth in that:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2514390&mesg_id=2514390

[globalvillage]

2. NGU

We need you.
:grouphug:

[wisteria]

3. I can relate ! I have a hard time dealing with some of these groupie

type people who jump from supporting one person or another based on one position or one stand on an issue. This group mentality thing is just to much sometimes. I am also tired of the get Bush no matter what the cost people. They don't seem to care who they support as long as they despise Bush as much as they do and cheer every effort to get at him.Bush is a lame duck now, we do not have the numbers to impeach him. IMO, we need to move on. I believe that what comes around goes around, Bush will get what he has coming to him- sooner or later. This constant focus on getting Bush is now counterproductive.

[karynnj]

4. Stay in the JK group only

Our debates are respectful - and we all are kind of likely to echo your annoyance. (This is a good time to hide - I really can't understand Feingold's move here. He didn't speak to anyone and 2 days later blasts everyone for not following. Why is some of the media playing along saying no Democrats are backing him ?- setting him up as a maverick. Shouldn't this really annoy the other Senators?

[muse]

5. Not sure I agree.

I'm reading this Kerry board less and less because it has become more about bashing other Dems lately (particularly Hillary, but obviously now Feingold) and less about Kerry. That doesn't make for fun reading. Not a positive experience.

I have real political work here to do in Texas in Congressional district 22 (Tom DeLay's district) to try and get him out of office and all of this piling on of potential 2008 democratic presidential candidates is tedious (to be generous).

[politicasista]

6. delete n/t

[wisteria]

8. I respect your opinion, but feel we have a right to vent

our frustrations with other potential candidates, when it may directly or indirectly affect Senator Kerry in some way. My goal and hope is to see Senator Kerry as President one day, if I just wanted to support all Democrats I wouldn't be here at this forum. I can only speak for myself, when I say, I view all other potential candidates as fair game and open to criticism. You appear to be a bit sensitive about Senator Clinton, I remember another post in which you defended her. That is fine to point out her good points here, we are willing to give a listen. However, don't expect us to hold back on the criticism of her and some of her methods and positions. We never get personal, it is always political.

[karynnj]

10. I don't think we are bashing Feingold

We are commenting on a set of actions with regard to this set of actions. Most of the comments in early threads on this dealt with whether Kerry was on board or not. Later there were more generic comments on whether this action was politically good, the right way to do this or grandstanding.

I think most of us like Feingold. I'm just mystified as to why he seems to be acting like a prima donna on this. It bothers me, because (if Kerry doesn't run) he is my second choice and the accounts that he SAID he consulted with no one and didn't seem to try to get signatures, gave his speech and left rather than debate with Spector, and then one day later bashed ALL the other Democrats troubles me.

Discussing what is happening sticking to what we think is true is NOT bashing. If we were accusing him of things he didn't do or bringing up irrelevent issues (I really don't know any - but I mean things like the stupis S&B ) or saying he had no spine or other body parts, then it would be bashing. I really don't know how we could have political discussions mentioning only Kerry.

A more serious question - to a red stater - do you think Feingold's call for censure helps, hurts or is irrelevent to your district? Like many here, I'm in a blue enough state that I am a poor judge of whether this could hurt. By the way, good luck in what is likely a difficult effort.

[sandnsea]

11. Aw gee

As if it's our fault GD and GDP can't focus on anything except 2008 and whatever excuse to bash Dems. Some of us tried for months to shift the focus to 2006. Guess what, Hillary is the one who pushed the focus back to 2008 with her cross-country Hillary Heist; and now Feingold is doing the same thing. That's reality, like it or not.

I imagine by the end of August, people will start getting focused back on the election. That's just the reality of it all too.

[Mass]

14. There has been a variety of reactions to Feingold's action

all over the blogosphere. While most of us are sympathetic with it, many people have expressed their doubt and their skepticism concerning the way it was done. Skinner has written an excellent diary about that on his home page (I like it as it reflects nearly to the point how I feel, so I may be a little bit superlative about it).

So there is no surprise that it will make a series of discussions here as well.

Good luck with Delay, though. My heart is with you on that one.

[politicasista]

7. I feel the same way

It just really pathetic that when you have a criminal, incompetent, lame duck president with an 36% (who knows, probably lower than that!) approval rating, everyone seems to want hate on the Dems who are holding Blinky accountable and trying to make things better for the party and America.

Nobody cares about issues anymore period.

[rockymountaindem]

13. You're right

Nobody cares about issues. All they see is Bush, and they wrap him up in all their issues. Meanwhile, where we could make headway (stem cell research) and where we have drawn the line (ANWR) get ignored so we can tilt at the windmill of impeachment in a Republican Congress.

Meanwhile they expect our Reps. and Senators to board a sinking ship just to prove their bravery.

I wonder why politicians don't take them seriously, but do listen to moderates with real concerns on issues? Any ideas?

On edit: Thanks for your replies, everyone. I used to come to DU to keep up with things I wouldn't normally hear about, like special state house elections etc., but now I don't know if it's worth it to put up with all this garbage. All this shit going down and people still post "I hate the Dems!!!" threads. Oy.

[ginnyinWI]

17. People love to band together against things

It's just the way people are. And the more they bash, the stronger their feelings get. That's how people at DU get so rabid--they get reinforced.

I stick with this group, and then go to the other forums and mainly just read a few posts that look interesting. I tend to skip past short posts which are usually along the lines of "nya, nya--bphtt!!!!" and read some of the longer posts where the person has something real to say. But I seldom try to argue with any one. They aren't listening, so what's the point. If I can correct a false fact easily, I'll do it, but I don't try to persuade.

I also go to other websites whose content I really respect and appreciate--because DU doesn't have a lot of in-depth discussion. It's mostly a "knee-jerk reaction" forum (except here at JKG, where we do have some wonderful discussions!) :) :) :)

[sandnsea]

9. I tell myself that every day

But the news and editorials posted are the best around, bar none; easy to zip through to keep up with everything. And then somebody always says something so competely outlandish that off I go again.

But I do know exactly what you mean.

[WildEyedLiberal]

12. I wish I knew how to quit you

Please forgive me, I couldn't resist.

I know exactly how you feel. I think if it weren't for this forum and the people I actually care about who post on DU, I'd be long gone.

[JohnKleeb]

15. I left then came back

don't blame you at all for the way you feel honestly, Ive been so politically disillusioned the past 6-9 months since it seems that there are too many damned idiots out there who think they know what they're talking about and don't. People here are all ready to crucify the senate democrats if hte censure doesnt work, first off censure is only a technical motion and second off its only happened once in history and that was 170 years ago. So yeah I dont blame you, it seems that reason and realism don't appeal to people. Theres a thread in GDP right now that says 99.73% of senate democrats support Bush because they havent all declared their support for Feingolds censure, uhhh ok maybe they need time to read it and such, people were all jumping on the Dems are cowards bandwagon and stuff like that when he mentioned it, they dont consider that senators are human beings just like you and me, take Senator Inoyve the poor guy lost his wife, I think thats gonna come first to censuring Bush.

[Pirate Smile]

28. Kleeb! You're back. How have you been and what is going on?

It is good to see you around.

:) :hi:

[Mass]

16. I think I will too - Blind adulation is not for me

whether it comes from Dean's supporters, Kerry's supporters, or Bush's supporters.

[TayTay]

19. Sigh!

Momma said there'd be days like this, Momma said.

I stick around for the ambience and the cool desserts in here. Sometimes the main dish just sucks. (Undercooked and flat as hell.)

Sigh! Today has been 'Take a moron to lunch day' for sure and certain.

[Mass]

20. I saw your posts on GD about Kerry and censure -

This person is a friggin idiot, a troll that does not even disguise his goals. He also posted on a thread concerning Anwr, just to post the same idiocy.

[TayTay]

22. Thanks

Honestly, some people just can't take 'yes' for an answer. Sigh!

[Mass]

23. Apparently, this is an organized campaign

At least three posters saying the same thing.

[paulk]

18. DU has been really stupid lately

I wish I could quit this place, too.

But, there are still some posters on here who's opinion matters to me, so I stick around.

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

on the other hand, sometimes I think DU is turning me into a real asshole. My tolerance for the piss and moaners is absolutely zero anymore.

[WildEyedLiberal]

21. OMG I know

I used to be really civil on GD. The idiots, liars, and disruptors beat that out of me in about six months, though. Now I'm WAY too quick to be a complete dick to people who even start to criticize Kerry or say anything that resembles a typical lefty freep/troll talking point.

[fedupinBushcountry]

31. You can say that again

Some days I cannot believe what I am reading. I say to myself who are these people ?

The one that got me really wondering, was a post that equaled Dems that were not with Feingold as weak , so in turn all Dems can be said to be weak on terrorism. I said WTF ? So steam started coming out of my nostrils and my fingers started typing in so much anger they were tingling, then I thought to myself, why bother, everyone in that thread was agreeing with OP, I would be flamed in no time, so I quickly erased and sat back in wonderment. Who the hell is patrolling this site to let a half cocked post like that be left on this so called democratic underground?

GD has become the circus of unreality. No matter what the topic, it can't go without being attacked in some way. :crazy:

.

[Island Blue]

24. Take some time off, especially from GD / GD-P

My place of employment did me a real solid a month or so ago without even knowing it. They handed down a policy that said using the internets on the job for anything other than work related purposes is grounds for dismissal. Even though I never posted from work, I did check in on DU often. Now that I can only check in at home, I chose to spend most of my DU time here in this group and less time worrying about what the idjits in GD/GD-P are waxing poetic about. It has made me a much saner person already. :)

Now I'm working on resisting the temptation to pour my heart out from time to time here in this group. That's harder for me because I think we all want to be heard (or why would we bother posting?) but I know that since I'm not exactly a wicked smart fountain of political knowledge like so many in this group are, telling my thoughts to my cat would probably be the better option.

[WildEyedLiberal]

25. Oh horsehockey!

Most of what I have to say is crap but I say it anyway. ;) And you decidedly do not post crap.

We want you to post, IB! Or at least I do.

[rockymountaindem]

26. We like you...

You're always welcome to tell your thoughts to me, anyway ;)

[frogmarch]

27. I hear ya

rockymountaindem, because I've felt exactly the same way. Every time I reach the point where I'm thinking, GET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE! well, I get me the hell out of here. Sometimes instead of swearing off DU altogether for a while, I spend time at one of the group forums, like the Science forum or one of the other non-political DU forums. It works for me, and I find that after a few days I can read rabble-rousing, anti-Dem GD or GDP posts again without immediately getting angry. Having said that, my tolerance threshhold isn't what it was when I first joined, and I'm selective in what posts I read. I rarely post in the political forums anymore. I don't often even post here at JK (where I read every day), but that's because I have nothing of substance to add.

I hope you don't leave. We sane DUers need you!

[ray of light]

29. Put your frustration to more local candidates.

Like find a person whose campaign you would like to support--and go for it!!!

Or, instead write letters to the editor or stand in the street with friends and sing protests songs.

You know...you can join the kerry group and give updates but really...take some time to ignore the distraction of d.u. and instead fight the battle locally. It really does help.

I want to refer you to this comment on this thread here:

http://www.democracycellproject.net/blog/archives/2006/03/the_round_up.html#comments

Posted by: sparrow at March 12, 2006 10:06 AM

[TayTay]

30. This is so true.

Local races have all the love and affection of national races with the added bonus that the person you just called a 'no nothing moron who can't add and doesn't care about education and the future of our kids' at that forum on the School Committee might be shopping for groceries next to you at the supermarket the next day. Sigh! (Okay, I have learned how to argue better at home. It was a bit on the painful side there for awhile. Not to mention the fact that my husband told me I wasn't helping and he would appreciate it if I wouldn't alienate his voters, thank you very much. Ahm, I got better.)

I wholeheartedly second Ray's request. You get to meet the most interesting people, you get to stand out in the cold and rain and gather signatures for stuff and you get to actually talk to a nice bunch of folks. This is democracy in action and it's needs all the help it can get.

[ray of light]

32. taytay, the Republicans here saw the response the min. wage

increase was getting, and so they're trying to stop the democrats from using it against them. Either way...the people who win are those fighting for these policies. While the republicans stonewalled, people starved or got kicked out of their homes and so this last minute quick-vote should be used to show how they don't care until the walls keep tumbling down.

Also, we must get people elected from the ground up in order to fix this country. The republicans did it for years, but they had a different fix in mind!