Will you stop donating to DU if admins don't start cleaning up the hate?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

Poll question: Will you stop donating to DU if admins don't start cleaning up the hate?

A lot of us are dismayed over the fact that anti-Obama and anti-Democratic trolls have been handed over the keys to the kingdom. The fact of the matter is that it is the admins that are not taking action appropriate to making this a pro-Democratic website. And you know the saying - you vote with your wallet.

Given that we are all donors here (we have to be to post here), how long will you keep giving money to a site that does not share your goals?

[graywarrior]

1. If you stop giving donations, you will be limited to just GD, GDP & the Lounge

You won't be able to come here. Correct me if I am wrong.

[Dappleganger]

4. And that doesn't seem fair in the least...

"Donate or be attacked, it's your choice!"

:(

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

5. That is true.

And unless this place cleans up, I won't be posting anywhere on DU once my star runs out.

[Arkana]

22. Same here.

And I'm just gonna leave quietly--no "GOODBYE, CRUEL WORLD" thread for me.

[ginnyinWI]

53. me too. n/t

[NYC_SKP]

47. What's the minimum donation for full access? One dollar?

Five?

:shrug:

[graywarrior]

49. Don't know, but $5 seems reasonable

[NYC_SKP]

55. I'll spend 5 bucks just to kick your oversized....

....thread that will never die!

:hug:

[NYC_SKP]

56. Delete.

posted in wrong spot.

That's what I get for jacuzzi tub posting...

[graywarrior]

61. Thanks, dude!

[goclark]

67. What is the minimum donation

?

I ask because since we have been run out of the main forums and can only be welcomed in the BO Forum, that should mean that we could donate about $1 :shrug:

All we will be able to do is read and not post to the Main forums - right?

That is what we are doing now unless we want to be called names etc.

Unless I missed something and please believe me I LOVE THE BO Forum, we are 2nd class citizens.

[azmouse]

2. I still don't know what I'll do.

I want to hope that the BS will stop but it's been going on too long to think it'll end any time soon. No donation for that.

I want to continue to post here in the BOG where many wonderful people have congregated. Donation needed.

[ginnyinWI]

54. it won't stop until they find another person to dump on.

They always need an object to scorn and ridicule. When I first joined right after the 2004 election it was John Kerry. He was responsible for everything! I was in the JK group a with fellow members who were suffering after the electoral defeat. We were persecuted in the main boards just as Obama supporters are now, or perhaps worse!

So JK was the "goat" at DU all through 2005 and 2006, until we finally regained control of Congress and the next Presidential election season was heating up. Everything was Kerry's fault because he "let" them steal the election, etc. "If only" Dean or Kucinich or "fill-in-the-blank" had been given a chance!!

During this last primary season the big item was the war between the Hillary supporters and the Obama supporters--who could forget that time? After Obama was inaugurated there was a temporary lull as everyone waited for their own personal miracle to occur. Then the s--t-storm started in again, and here we are today.

Bottom line: certain people love to get mad and love to shout other people down and bully them. It's safe and easy to do this on a board like this, so they do it with gusto. If Obama were to miraculously fulfill all of their desires, and that would be difficult since they don't really want them all to be fulfilled (what's the fun in that--nothing to complain about) they would just find someone else to hate.

Too bad they can't focus more on the actual powers that cause the real harm in this country--Big Pharma, Big Oil, Big Agricultre, etc.

[Dappleganger]

3. Well I just donated recently

but if it doesn't get cleaned up, if the admins don't take a stand in a more positive direction then not only will that be the end of donations that'll put an end to any participation here, period.

[rebel with a cause]

20. I have to say that I am with you.

I don't donate much money so it will hurt no one when I leave, but the few dollars I do give will go somewhere else and so will I.

[NJmaverick]

6. I will not stop giving, but I am going to greatly reduce my donations

instead giving the money to entities that support Democratic causes. I used to consider this the same as donating to the DNC or Democratic candidates, but not anymore.

This subject to change though, as I am still holding out hope (which is fading fast) that there will be efforts made to restore the Democratic to DU and not let it become the Nader/Green/anti-Dem Underground.

[JohnnyLib2]

7. +1

I think the reality is that "cleaning up" can only go so far and for periods of time.

Anonymity rules.

Or, as a long-ago P.E. teacher put it: "there will always be dirty fighters. You don't have to be one."

[Peacetrain]

8. Seriously.. I will not contribute or post in a forum that looks more like a site for what I consider

the other side.

That is just the truth. If they cannot at least bring some balance into the mix, I cannot in good conscience support a sight that will be dedicated to bringing down the Democratic Party.. I am a Democrat and old line liberal. I am not a Socialist, Communist, Progressive, Green , or anything in between.

I love give and take and am open to hearing all points of views.. but when it gets to the point that my view is not respected, then no there is no way I will be here.

I think the administration, understands that also. I have been pretty up front with who and what I am. Things and sites change with time, and this might not be a sight for me if it continues to be so anti Democratic party.

I am just being honest.

[monmouth]

11. I was amazed the other day to read a poster "I absolutely loathe the man"

when asked if they would be watching POTUS on TV. Another long-time, I guess well respected DUer does nothing but post negative after negative post. It's disgusting. Why would a person who "loathes" the Pres. even want to be here?

[NJmaverick]

12. Did you alert on the post?

as I said in another post, we need to be sure the moderators and admins are fully aware of the situation.

[monmouth]

13. Oh yes, I did.....n/t

[rebel with a cause]

18. I alert but evidently the moderators feel differently

about the post than I do. I don't know what I should say about the post, I feel like they should know that things are inappropriate, flame bait and anti-Obama/Democratic party. :shrug:

[Peacetrain]

15. That is what just floors me... I certainly do not like every Democrat..

But I am about the bigger picture, and not whether one Democrat has disappointed me, or there is something about them I find offensive.. If they are keeping the principles of the Democratic party.. whether I like them personally or not is irrelevant. I would not go out and bash them while they are actively in office and thus give the other side cannon fodder.. just because of my personal likes or dislikes.

Like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

[Fire1]

17. Agree. It's beginning to look like a socialists and/or solely

progressive website and as I understand the rules "progressives" ARE welcome here. So, what do you do?:shrug:

[Peacetrain]

21. Well we should "all" be able to post our points of view...

That is my point I guess.. I am not going to be relegated to the BOG.. to express my points of view. I love having this place to come back to and air out.. as others have their own forums.. (I am also on the Iowa forum) But if I feel I cannot post in the General Rooms, then it does not work for me

I am hoping that some balance will come back into the mix. This is a big honking site. I would love to stay here..

But you know, it might just be the cycle of a site I have been on the internuts long enough to witness, that a site can start out with a wider variety of individuals..but it starts to narrow its focus and it becomes a them vs us in a very short period of time.

That old I'm a hoosier, your a hoosier kind of thing..(Vonnegut)

I am sure this babysitting the madness must drive these administrators bonkers also. They set up a wonderful site for all..but they have to work 24/7 just to try and keep it in balance.

My hat is off to them for being able to do it for so long.

And I have kept contributing because of their hard work.. But in the end.. it just may not be the fit for me.

But that is just ME.. :)..

[Fire1]

23. Oh I totally understand. It's sad that one has to be relegated to

a corner to avoid craziness. If that's the case, we're essentially paying for the priviledge of having a 'corner' and that's stupid.
I'm still pondering if it's worth it.

[AspenRose]

40. What you said.

This is getting old.

[still_one]

9. I don't know yet /nt

[RoyGBiv]

10. Depends ...

The admins need to come forward and actually say something to reassert the focus of this forum.

That won't end any of this, but it will let all of us know where they stand and where they wish this site to go. That will at least allow us to make better informed decisions.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

16. I, for one, would appreciate even that.

But I'm not holding my breath.

[Fire1]

14. Well, that's the exact opposite of what I'm "hearing." You've

got the 'other' faction saying the SUPPORTERS have been handed the keys to the kingdom! Personally, I expect controversey and opposition on selected policies and legislation but as my beloved mother used to say, "it's not WHAT you say, it's HOW you say it!"
I'm still thinking about future donations.

[Number23]

31. Child, look at what the "other faction" consists of -- fools, haters and big fat PROUD racists

Like one of my old journalism coaches told me waaayyy back in the day, "ALWAYS consider the source" and the sources for much of the "other faction" couldn't tell their asses from a hole in the ground.

[Fire1]

33. Touche!! "Consider the source." Indeed. n/t

[WheelWalker]

19. The DU community is much more than merely a presidential politics forum -

I'm not a single issue kind of guy.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

25. I've never been, either. That said...

this is not just a single issue - GDP and GD cover every issue. Though there are niches on DU that are safe, such as this one, the entire point of the ENTIRE site is supposed to be to support Democrats. And that's precisely where it's falling apart at the seams.

[WheelWalker]

26. In that context, I couldn't agree with you more. However, DU remains

a useful platform for me and at this point I'm not considering withholding my financial support (limited as that is).

[dcsmart]

24. i will keep contributing. i think DU is a worthwhile community.

[treestar]

27. I picked the last

I'd really rather be on a board for Democrats. It's no better than posting with freepers at this point. In fact, some of the debates are practically the same! If they stick to policy they are different, but when they are on the style or the way to do things - they are saying the same things!

[cliffordu]

28. I'm coming up on two years pretty soon -

might be a nice time to get back to real life.

[WheelWalker]

29. Take some time off this summer for Cycle Oregon.

[DevonRex]

30. Oh yes, we came on as Obama Operatives right about the same time, right?

:rofl:

Seriously, though, if DU prefers to be controlled by another board with a completely different mission than that which is stated here, then it's just not for me. I believe my star expires in February so I'll have to make a decision then.

[cliffordu]

35. BUSTED!!!!!

That photo of Jimmy Paige is a dead give away...

:rofl:

[DevonRex]

38. Damn!

I've been found out. :evilgrin:

[Number23]

32. Good grief! You've been here ONE MONTH longer than I and have me by 15 THOUSAND posts!

Does that mean I need to catch up or that you need to slow down??? :)
:thumbsup:

[cliffordu]

36. I need to get a life. Mostly.

:patriot:

[Hekate]

34. Other--> I just don't know. Some nights DU just makes me sad. I mean, who the hell...

... starts an OP quoting an interview that says “But once he became president…Obama became a murderer and a terrorist, because the US has a machine that spans the globe, that has the capacity to kill, and Obama has kept it set on kill. He could have flipped the switch and turned it off…but he chose not to do so” ...

To which the OP adds, "Agree or disagree, an excellent interview" -- which reminds me all too much of the headers to RW spam I get.

And then, when hotly challenged, claims that he's just trying to get a good conversation going at DU. I admit to having been a bit intemperate in my challenge; I called the interviewee an asshole.

The "good conversation" he started ends up (as far as I can tell) splitting along the lines of defending Obama by calling the interviewee names, attacking Obama for being a murderer and terrorist who actually in real life has the ability to flip a switch, or attacking the defenders of Obama by demanding to know when "stop the killing" has become a "hate Obama" statement at DU. The OP, meanwhile, faults one and all for not following the link and listening to the entire interview that was begun with the paragraph he quoted.

"Dismay" hardly begins to describe my feelings.

A lot of the really vile ones are already on my Ignore list, but more rise up to take their place every day.

As worried as I am for the fate of my country and the Obama administration (which are macro-worries), I am also concerned for the fate of DU, which started out as a haven from the Bush juggernaut and has, since Obama was elected President, devolved into something else entirely.

I have continued to donate, and in fact during the first or second quarter last year I sponsored 5 starless DUers in a moment of sentiment that transcended the infighting and troll-invasion here. When I see these people's names pop up I am still glad I did because I think they are contributing well, though I wonder how long they themselves will continue to stick around.

Sadly,

Hekate

[ginnyinWI]

57. DU, like a lot of things, has gotten corrupted as it has aged,

like a new religion or a new political party--starts out idealistic and sincere but eventually--we know the rest. It's had its rise; now it's probably in its decline.

[Cha]

37. I'm not setting a time limit..

but, having a wait and see attitude.. and who knows what the heck will happen & when?

I have to add that I'm actually incredulous at what has happened since it's breaking the rules..I always thought we had the rules on our side.

Fortunately for our country.. the long whine threads are not indicative of what's happening in our country.

I want to see President Obama and our country succeed with everything I have and I do know I'll never give up helping him do that.

Bless his heart.

[greenbird]

39. I'm hanging on to your line:

"not indicative of what's happening in our country", Cha. Most people I talk to, including some conservatives, have positive things to say about our president.

[Cha]

41. I'm fortunate to have family

and friends who think President Obama is doing a fantastic job in spite of what they inherited from the abusive bush and cheney..not to mention the attacks from the corporatemedia and the hyserical blogs who are more interested in their coffers than helping the country.

[Adelante]

42. My star dies at the Valentine's fundraiser

That's when I plan to decide.

[Tarheel_Dem]

43. I saw the way things were headed before the last fundraiser. I had planned..

to let my star expire. Some anonymous DU'er bought me a star. I'm pretty sure I knew who it was, and I don't think he even bothers to post here anymore. If he did, he'd surely be part of the BOG. My star expires in May. We'll see what happens.

What hurts my feelings most, is the fact that through it all, most of the posters on this forum stuck out those horrible primaries. We doubled, tripled, and even quadrupled our usual donations to keep the place afloat. And I feel that I've been delivered the biggest slap in the face. I'd like to feel as good about DU as I did when I first found the place. I have no problem supporting causes that I feel serve my needs, but I'm not a Green, or a Ron Paul enthusiast, so I don't choose to spend my hard earned dollars that way.

Like others, I'm waiting for the Admins to address this issue, and I'll make my decision at that time. Could we start a group on Facebook, or some other social site?

[Lindsey]

45. I had the same thought, Tarheel_Dem. As I said in another post

this is truly no longer a Democratic site. I made a donation for my sister just last week only so that she could post here. That will be my last contribution. There is a thread floating around here somewhere that does list some pro-Obama sites so I'll check some of them out. And yes, I think we could start another group that truly supports our Democratic President.

[Tarheel_Dem]

46. Agreed. 1000%.

I'm at the point where I'm just about ready to let the Greens & Libertarians have at it. I've said it before, but Skinner should make a statement about what's happening here, or he should consider changing the name so that we know where we stand.

[ginnyinWI]

58. I would love to use another site.

Facebook would work. My star expires in February.

[Tarheel_Dem]

66. Sounds like a plan to me. As far as implementation, I am the least tekkie...

person on the planet. But I'd be willing to support the effort in any other way I possibly can.

[Kaleva]

44. DU, as political sites go, is pretty good.

I'm not going to say that unless this site is cleaned up, I won't donate again in the future. Sure, some threads here get me riled up enough where I go outside to smoke a cigarette in order to calm down so I don't write a reply that gets me tombstoned but that happened at the Dean forum, The WP On Politics forum, and the Kerry forum.

DU has a short memory and the outrage of the day will be long forgotten in short order. It does seem to me that the uproar in GD and GDP over the health care bills in Congress has died down a bit and once it's passed by Congress and signed by Obama, the issue will be sidelined and replaced by another hot topic.

[Kaleva]

48. DU is under attack. Has been for sometime and will always be attacked.

Every so often I drop in on a couple of sites where troublemakers I knew quite well years ago hang out just to see what they are up to. Same old shit. Continuing their crusade against forums and sites they believe to be neo-con fronts and that includes DU. While some of the expressed angst against Obama here is genuine, some of it is coordinated from outside sites in an effort to disrupt the forum. Just finished reading a thread where a recently tombstoned member of DU was talking with his buddies about his run here, how long it lasted and what he accomplished (stirring up shit). He'll be back I'm sure.

The goal of these folks is to drive folks such as you who are upset with the Obama bashing here out of DU. I'm not guessing as they actually say that in their posts. For those thinking about not donating to DU, I ask that you think it over more as doing such gives them a small victory.

These people call themselves true Democrats but in truth they are the left wing version of right wing fanatics.

[DevonRex]

50. Bottom line for me: If they do not TS the haters who come HERE to harrass us

then I'm gone for good. At that point the site isn't worth donating to, or WORTHY of my money. A slap on the wrist for those trolls only encourages every damned asshole to do it once. And since we have one of those assholes here every night, I'd say this is an organized effort.

[Cha]

51. That would be one sure way to

keep them from obsessing to the point of trying to post in the BOG.

Then that would free up some mods' valuble time.

[DevonRex]

60. I agree.

Obsession is a good word for it. You'd think they might have a more productive way to spend their time. Guess not, though, huh?

[Cha]

52. Even at least removing the names would send

a message.

[Cha]

63. Well at least the latest stalker

was deleted completely out of the thread he was disrupting.

[NYC_SKP]

59. OK. The next time there's a DU Fundraising Drive, maybe we should try to send a message...

...minimum donations (or nada) along with PMs to each of the three main mods: Skinner, Elad, EarlG, letting them know how we feel.

:patriot:

[politicasista]

62. Thinking about it, but that's far off

Have been more of lurker/reader than poster, though post occasionally.

There are more fun things to do, like listen to music or watch sports. It's like a zoo and circus rolled into one. It's not just President Obama, but every Dem that doesn't meed the required liberal, progressive litmus test.

The star expires this Spring, and all this Anti-Obama, Anti-Dem garbage makes it more difficult to renew.

[get the red out]

64. The groups make it tough

I have met some wonderful folks I would have never had the privilege of encountering in the DU Groups, but at this point those are the only thing worth anything to me on DU. I might keep donating the minimum necessary to stay active in the groups for a while, but I would imaging that those will start thinning out if something doesn't improve in the current overall situation. Then I would have no reason to donate or even come to DU at all.

The liberal message boards that I relied on for so long for moral support in the political arena are almost dead to me now. Not much more helpful than the brain-washed conservatives that surround me in daily life.

[berni_mccoy]

65. I can't give up yet. I will continue to donate and support DU.