how I avoid ugliness in GD

[LSK]

I rarely feel that I am ganged up on or involved in ugly flamewars in GD. Or anywhere else for that matter. Heres what I think works for me:

1. Dont take the bait

2. It is ok not to have the last word

3. Some topics you know are going to be big flamewars without even clicking on them

4. Go to the lounge and post silly stuff and cool off from time to time

5. Read the greatest threads 1st instead of going right to GD

6. Most importantly, swallow your pride and admit you are wrong once in a while

More people need to try these practices.

I would hope that people can find a way to stay here because there are some really good posts and great information here buried amidst the flamewars.

[Deep13]

1. I avoid ugliness in GD by putting a paper bag over my head. nt

[PDittie]

2. I avoid ugliness in GD by

spray-painting my GD-specific reading glasses so dark I can't see through them.

[bryant69]

3. Ugliness is the human condition

But when I need a break I take a few days off. Usually helps to clear the head.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. I remember the rules

and alert when someone is not following them. If someone is just being a wart, they go on ignore.

[Warpy]

5. When all else fails, use the functions DU has

thoughtfully provided: Ignore when it's somebody who'd baited you before and Alert when it's getting down to personal insults.

Most of the people I've put on Ignore are no longer with us. May they rest in peace.

[Tsiyu]

6. Ugliness is part of the human condition

In DU as in RL, I dive right in and confront ugliness.

My philosophy:

"Prove it." If you make a claim, back it up.

"If you have to call names, you probably lose." When you resort to insult when someone has merely posted a contrary opinion, you are probably not too bright and not too good at debate. This rule is invalid when responding to Freeper trolls, of course.

"If you put everyone on ignore who disagrees with you, you are probably a coward."
I have a scant number of folks on ignore. I enjoy reading the opinions of all members here, even if I disagree with them. Using the Ignore function because someone caught you exaggerating or making claims you can't support with evidence is so childish.

"If they're talking about it on Entertainment Tonight, stay away." I try to stay away from popular media events, and focus more on issues dear to my heart: poverty, The War on SOME Drugs and SOME Users, Vets, stupid Repukes and their stupid ideas and behavior.

You can't escape ugliness, but you don't have to let it bring you down. Stay true to what you believe and have a VERY THICK SKIN. The ugly people on this board can't hurt you if you cultivate a life you can believe in.

[Madspirit]

7. We are not all YOU

Using Ignore is not cowardly at all. It's a personal preference. Some people may not come here to debate at all. That IS their right and it doesn't make them cowards. I try not to put up with anything on-line that I wouldn't put up with in RL. I certainly don't have to voluntarily put up with crap. That's just nonsense. It's not what I'm here for and that is my right and does not make me a coward. I have better things to do. I love a good debate but I have no need to engage trolls. I do it too much already and it makes my stomach hurt and upsets me. My shrink even told me to just not do it. I do not have to volunteer to be upset to not be called a coward. They offer "Ignore" for a reason.
Lee

[Madspirit]

8. I like your post. k&r n/t

[Buzz Clik]

9. Stupidest. Thread. Ever.

Just testing your resolve.

:D

[LSK]

15. .

:hi:

[Bake]

10. Avoid smoking threads!

"Do as I say, not as I do!" Hell, I **love** a good smoking thread flamefest! Complete with "Smoke Nazi" and "Nanny State" name-calling!

:rofl:

Bake

[uppityperson]

11. Good post.

[WI_DEM]

12. Flame Bait!!

just kiddin' :)

[UTUSN]

13. Anatomy of vicious flamers

They are extreme activists of their home group, standing up for their own identity and rights, which is FINE.

But.

They are SCORCHED EARTH-ists. They demand that anybody be totally FOR them or will be consigned to VICIOUS FLAMES.

They are empowered beyond their capacity to handle empowerment. They ignore that everybody at DU except for a relatively small number of disrupters are part of the Democratic coalition---the sometimes LOOSELY allied DIFFERENT groups--each of which has its own #1 agenda item, and whose unity probably shows up down the agendas at around #s 3, 4, and below. For example, strong union members are anti-NAFTA, while there are STRONG Democratic Party members, usually living in the border regions, who are pro-NAFTA, but all can be united about correcting human rights provisions of NAFTA.

First, they attack like bees in swarms. They MOCK and RIDICULE and personally attack. They create a facade of "debate" and "facts"--demanding LINKS for things that are mostly OPINIONS. They post furiously, demanding immediate acquience to their various flames. They claim that any attempt to call a halt is "running away." They call silence, "drive by" and "troll".

Oh, if you Google to provide them with the links they claim to want, it doesn't matter what source you provide: They will call it a wingnut, DLC, freep, mouthpiece. Yes, it doesn't matter that you took the first link in Google. Yes, to one of the groups here, the Associated Press is a wingnut mouthpiece.

As for flamebait threads, a sure sign is that the poster claims to want a discussion or an answer to a contentious question or premise, but they NEVER accept an answer. They never accept multiple posts conclusively discrediting the opening argument and keep rehashing their "sincere" desire for discussion.

As for the o.p.'s #4 about taking a retreat to the Lounge---HAH!!1 The vipers can nest ANYWHERE!!1 I agree with the posters who have said that "ugliness is part of the human condition." It's the same when some of our idealists here reprimand us about "not being like freepers": Human nature includes the nasty side. We are not "better".

[MissMarple]

14. There is ugliness in GD?

:wow: