a question for the more vocal DU activists-How do you do it?

[w8liftinglady]

I have been attacked mercilessly in the opinion pages of my paper this last week.How do you develop that thick skin?

[ogneopasno]

1. Always remind yourself that you're right.

[TBF]

2. You can't take it personally my dear, I've moved around a lot

and met many types of people through the years. Often the ones who are the most narrow-minded have either (a) never been exposed to much or (b) have so much money they don't care. It speaks highly of you that you do care about others. Take care, you're not alone.

[SteppingRazor]

3. I almost always have more positive feedback than negative.

So, you take the good with the bad, and the bad doesn't seem so awful.

Besides, who cares what right-wing troglodytes think? If they're angry with you, you're probably doing something right. From the right quarters, anger and outrage is a badge of honor. Wear it with pride.

[napoleon_in_rags]

4. Truth in Metaphor...

"How do you develop that thick skin?"

I know how you develop thick skin on the bottom of your feet: You walk around outside alot, taking the pain. Eventually it doesn't hurt anymore because the calloused skin grows. I'm not a super DU activist, but I'm wondering if the same principle doesn't apply.... :)

[liberal N proud]

5. If you are getting attacked you are probably hitting a nerve

The righties really get agitated when they are being called out and like the old school bully they strike out.

[panader0]

6. Where you live and the sheer number of your excellent LTTEs

may have a bit to do with it. As far as the criticism goes, consider the source.........

[niyad]

7. I cannot speak for anyone else, but, at least in my case, it's because I have NEVER given a rat's

ass what anybody else has thought of me--particularly the stupid, ignorant and bigoted. have gotten death threats for my pro-choice work, for my work for women's rights, for standing against bigotry when I was in the south.

my answer to the morans who tried to insult me by calling me various names "in order for me to be upset by what you have said, two things would have to be true. first, I would have to regard the labels you are using as an insult. second, I would actually have to CARE about your opinion. trust me, neither of those situations obtains"

THAT generally leaves them scratching their heads (or whatever), trying to figure out whether I was insulting them or not.

pace

[Uben]

13. You don't care what they think of you?

Bwahahaha! I feel exactly the same. I take that crap they give me and shove it right back down their throat, all the while explaining in detail just how friggin stupid they are and how they are wrong. Ever notice how they can't seem to come up with any facts to base their assertions on? And, if they do, nine times out of ten, they are lying, and I call them on that too! I get few arguments face to face anymore. They usually attack in a medium where you can't respond immediately so they look like they know what they are talking about. I make every effort to embarass anyone who calls me out on politics. I've been reading DU for going on 8 yrs now...daily, so I keep up pretty good. They use talking points, I use facts....they lose everytime!

I don't give a rat's ass what they think of me. In fact, I hope they make an effort to avoid me because I don't particularly care for their company either!

[EFerrari]

8. Just remember, there are many more people here who love and support you.

We win!

:hi:

[blm]

9. I remind myself that I spent more time dancing in the 80s than I did countering the fascist agenda

and that is exactly how the fascists got by for so long - an inattentive electorate unconcerned with the weakening of our democracy.

Wear the attacks as a badge of honor. You deserve the badge.

[angrycarpenter]

10. Don't be hurt, be proud.

If your LTTE was without merit it would be ignored. Know that you have forced someone to defend their selfish hateful attitude and thereby showing them for what they are. The more virulent the reply the greater your victory.

[Downtown Hound]

11. If they're attacking you, you're doing something right!

That's what I always tell myself. And I've found it to be true time and again. The first trick is to get angry, and let yourself feel the anger. Then the second trick is to learn to channel the anger and not let it consume you. Learn to hold it, but not let it take control. It's takes discipline and it takes work, but anger can be a powerful ally when dealing with these idiots.

The third is to simply not give up. When you do that, they win. It's not an easy path, but it definitely has its rewards. And you'll find that when they appear, all of the shit you had to deal with in getting them pales to the sense of satisfaction you get from knowing that you fought those bastards and fought them well.

Back in 2003 I did a lot of protesting and saw a lot of shit go down. It all seemed so hopeless back then. Like none of it mattered and it was all for nothing. We failed to stop the Iraq War, failed to save all those people form dying, and failed to defeat Bush in 2004. But now, I look back on those days and feel nothing but pride. I will go to my grave knowing that I played my part in helping defeat the most criminal regime in modern American history. That made all of the trials and tribulations over the past eight years worthwhile.

You never know when the rewards will come. But you don't do it for the reward. You do it because it's the right thing to do. The rewards are just the cherry on top. But I can tell you that when that cherry comes, it is one sweet tasting cherry indeed.

[Joey Liberal]

12. Keep up the good work! nt