Break time

[Mythsaje]

Is it just me, or have things just gotten too spiteful around here? It's like a porcupine convention lately. If it's not the immigration issue, it's the thing with Cynthia McKinney. People are either defensive or offensive, with only a little middle ground on which to stand. Pointing out how savage people are getting, I've noticed, is a great way to attract someone to yap around YOUR heels as well. Who needs THAT?

I like DU. I really do. But people need to calm the hell down and stop debating with the rhetorical equivilant of a baseball bat. Over the past few weeks I've seen more venom here than the six months preceeding them and, frankly, I'm burned out on it.

Maybe it's time I took a break. I need to be promoting my newest project anyway, and getting to writing more fiction. Even posting my positive essays lately has required donning a flame-proof suit and that's something I just don't get. Nearly everyone seems to have an axe to grind and I've got better things to do than provide people with something to attack. If I wanted that, I'd go back to my old boards and bait the Repuglicans some more. At least I wouldn't feel like I'm taking friendly fire.

Maybe we're just seeing an influx of trolls who are trying to stir things up--but I have to say that some of the nastier posts I've seen have come from familiar names, people who should know better. If all of this is symptomatic of the Repuglicans' game plan for this November, I've gotta say--maybe they DO know what they're doing this time around. It's like watching a game of "duck season/rabbit season" or the slow march of the straw man army.

It's pretty bad when a place I've long considered a refuge doesn't feel nearly as welcoming as it used to.

I'll probably get a couple of different kinds of response to this post. Either people will say "I feel the same way," or they'll say "whatsamatter, can't take the heat?"

I don't expect us all to march in lockstep, but I sure as hell expect some level of civility. The minute we abandon civility and respect for one another, we might as well throw in the towel 'cuz we've already lost.

I'm taking a break, but I'll be back.

In the meantime, folks, just take a deep breath, center yourselves, and consider for a moment who the real enemies are.

[Bluebear]

1. I wish you wouldn't.

Take a long break, that is. We need your progressive voice desparately, friend.

[darkmaestro019]

2. I find that

I say dumb things when tired and that my usual habit of getting on and hitting my little list of news/progressive sites sometimes really gets me angry, trapped-feeling, spiteful and mad.

I've said retarded things here before, without thinking them through (and probably will again) or just been too fed up and angry to think anything through. It's information overload. Then someone gets mad at the dumb thing Fed Up Person types, and says something mean back, and then it's a war, suddenly.

It's frustrating. It's difficult, and even now that the tide seems to be turning you STILL feel like YOU are the crazy one for wanting this truth-freedom-fairness stuff, and anyone would get snappy and pissy under these conditions. It's been kind of harsh here lately, yeah, and that just downward-spirals into more and more harshness. Sometimes it comforts me to think: "that which can't go on forever, won't." Sometimes beer helps, too. : )

[CrispyQ]

4. Ditto

It's outrage fatigue. It has consumed us all. It started 5 years ago & it's getting worse. I feel bombarded every frickin' day. I wonder how long before the anger of WE THE PEOPLE reaches critical mass.

[darkmaestro019]

5. too late to edit

sorry about "retarded" that's not nice of me at all. bad habit we've picked up from calling the cats that for certain cat behaviors.

[CrazyForKucinich]

3. When people defend Lieberman on this board...anything is possible.

That's the most outrageous thing I've seen on this board.

Lieberman is pure evil.

[onenote]

6. such a helpful contribution

"Pure" evil....

wow...

onenote

[CrazyForKucinich]

7. You may be shocked by the comment...just as much as I'm shocked...

hearing people support his actions.

As I said...anything is possible on this board.

[onenote]

10. curious

is a member of congress that supports the war and is a neanderthal on the environment, women's issues, gun control, etc. "purer evil" or the same as lieberman in your eyes.

onenote

[CrazyForKucinich]

11. Sure

[onenote]

12. well that clears it up

:sarcasm:

[Minnesota Libra]

8. There may be some trolls but most of the bashing has come...........

....from long time posters you'd thunk would know better.:argh:

The one thing I've discovered recently is that if a DU member disagrees with the "party message" on one issue - just one issue - the words and terms used to bash that member are intentionally vicious and mean.:hide:

If anyone doesn't believe by now that there are just as many "hardliners" spewing the "accepted party message" on the left as on the right, then they haven't been around DU the past two weeks.:nuke: When someone posts a link to FR I've seen the cruel bashing over there but I've never once expected to see it going on here.:puke:

When I first got to DU people claimed everyone from the most liberal of the liberal to the conservative democrat was accepted here. NOT SO!!:spank: Unfortunately, DU is no more accepting of those with an open thinking mind than the :freak: over at FR are.:grr:

[annabanana]

9. I neither "feel the same way" nor do I think you

"can't take the heat".
Yes, there a been a couple of issues this week that have people up in arms.(but there often is) and No, I don't think you should have to suffer the slings and arrows from our compatriots.

I think that everyone needs to "check out" occasionally. The levels of vitriol here are like the tides. Some are troll driven, some are just strongly held, differing opinions. So have a nice break and we'll see you soon!