How do feel about life on DU these days?

[Jackeens]

Poll question: How do feel about life on DU these days?

Just curious about the general DU mood these days - maybe we can leave the heated debate for other threads, just choose your poll poison for this one?

[NYC_SKP]

1. I'll stay if you'll stay.

It's a tough crowd lately, but the great members here make it worth staying.

:toast:

[Jackeens]

8. Hey NYC_SKP

Will luv ya forever :toast:

[Lil Missy]

2. Other - Life does not revolve around DU. n/t

[bridgit]

9. Yep, it's all about that too n/t

[IndianaGreen]

21. Other - we have important elections coming up in November

The public spectacle of a corrupt Congress will hurt our GOTV efforts for my congressperson worthy of reelection. I am particularly concerned about the attitude that since he is in a blue district (it really is a blueish purple district), that he can be reelected on a walk. This over confidence is what led to our incumbent Democratic mayor to lose what had been an easy reelection to a total moron. Low turnout did him in!

[havocmom]

3. I'm stayin'

there are still a few people I want to annoy the crap out of.

[noamnety]

4. Other

discouraged by a lack of overall critical thinking and the increasing tendency to mangle facts to fit talking points.

("Other" because that's not related to being on one side or the other of the Obama as hero/villain debate - it's often seen in threads completely unrelated to him or the presidency.)

[PufPuf23]

5. I recommended thread.

I have found you an inspiration but have disappointment in the Obama policy direction in several areas.

Staying the course but not liking the specific directions now.

[bigwillq]

6. It's fine.

DU is DU. It is what it is. It's still a great place to come for information. To laugh, and yell and scream and vent. It's a discussion board with a ton of members with different opinions. Of course there's going to be some tension, but when hasn't there been?

[Jamastiene]

It's fine. I like it when it is ALIVE.

Sure, it's heated right now, but at least it is ALIVE. At other times, it's almost dead around here. That's boring as all hell. Things are happening right now. We just don't all agree on how to go about things. That's all. It'll calm down later. Then, I'll be bored again. :P

[ruggerson]

7. If I had feelings

I might be able to answer that.

[Jackeens]

12. I'm a bit numbed by it all too, ruggerson

:hi:

[GoneOffShore]

10. Same as it's always been - Pearl clutchers, concern trolls....

Members of the Church of Our Lady of the Perpetually Outraged..... They're all here along with the undercover freeps, the sock puppets, the cynics, the woo peddlers and the conspiracy nuts. Plus a generous helping of regular folks who need a break from "real life". Just a typical day on the 'Net.

BTW, SIWOTI and I have to fix it.

[bigwillq]

11. Hey Jackeens

I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your contribution to this board. I like your photo threads. :) :hi:

[Jackeens]

13. ....

Ya auld sweetie ya! PM'ed you.

[bigwillq]

14. I didn't get a PM.

:(

[Jackeens]

16. Oh yes you did...err, I hope!

[bigwillq]

19. Got it and responded!!

:)

[OffWithTheirHeads]

15. I'm just really tired of the thread pirates.

you could post a thread saying Santa wears a red suit and, inevitably, someone will log on and tell you why you're wrong. It just gets old and my ignore list just gets longer.

[bigwillq]

20. Ah, the magic of a discussion board!

:);) Someone disagrees on a discussion board? Shocker! :P

[OffWithTheirHeads]

30. See what I mean? Civil disagreement is constructive.

Ad hominum attacks and just being an asshole for the sake of being an asshole is, well...Republican

[TexasObserver]

17. It's fine

GD is the most contentious forum at DU. When argumentative, opinionated people congregate to talk about politics in a free wheeling format, there will be blood. Watching our own party leaders weaken and bend isn't pretty. There's much to concern the progressive wing. But it's not unexpected. I'm disappointed in the president, but not disappointed in the DU response (well, except for an occasional thread that gets recommended for who knows what good reason).

I just don't think arguing over differences is that big a deal. We have rules and we all press those rules. Overall, we are allowed to freely express displeasure with Democratic leaders and each other.

[LoZoccolo]

18. Not good, but hoping for a

cull cull cull cull cull cull cull cull cull cull a la 2002 to make this place productive and Democratic again.

[Starry Messenger]

22. Your join date says 2003...

???

[LoZoccolo]

24. Yeah it was before my time here.

I read a copy of the announcement elsewhere. I don't know if you can search that far back. But it was a brave action. It probably couldn't be done now without an uproar and subsequent disruption of funding; that's what I fear. I also fear that we've reached the point where Democratic activists - ones that don't make shit statements - will just skip this place and find somewhere else to participate, or there won't be a Democratic board at all. Which sucks because I think the Internet is good for spreading news and coordinating, stuff that leads to action. I'm actually afraid that it's been happening for years. If you pick random user IDs and plug them into the profile URL to look up random DUers, you'll see most of them have less than 100 posts. I think people see that not much outside of complaining and worrying happens here and move on.

[Starry Messenger]

29. This board isn't an arm of the Democratic party.

I think the problem at this board is that the owners of DU are trying to do the same thing as the Democratic Party--that is support the Party and also give some lip service to left wing ideals. The two are actually mutually exclusive on a number of points so there are bound to be clashes. We're in an interesting place in history. I don't think anyone makes "shit statements", as I think that is vitriolic and uncivil. I don't know what the future is going to be for DU posters but I don't think people should be banned for trying to pull the party to the left by dint of schooling passers-by on what that might mean.

[me b zola]

23. Other: frustrated

I believe that the division between progressives on this board is weakening our voice. We are diluting our own power base by these ridiculous battles among ourselves.

The common way that the division is articulated here is that it is the left vs Obama supporters. I don't believe that I am the only one who considers themselves a part of the left who is also an Obama supporter. I don't call names or attack those that I disagree with how they go about attempting to get Obama to move more toward progressive policies or appointments, and I wish that more would consider the records of those of us on both sides of the battles before hurling insults.

Frustrated.

[LooseWilly]

25. A clash of cheerleaders and critics--> Let the Carnage Begin!! I hate you all !!

That would be my "Other"/ blank in-filling.

I'd say the board is filled with people who are either "happy as punch" to have a Democrat in the White House... so happy in fact that they take any hint of criticism, even if only of policy, as a personal attack (or even downright racism) upon the President and Democrats in general (Hallowed be Their Name). And, "on the other side", those who supported Democrats for policy reasons only... and find themselves shocked and dismayed that even the rather moderated policy positions staked out by Obama in the campaign seem to be easily dismissed in the name of "political victory"... as if a victory of voting plurality once one has changed the position being voted upon to largely mirror the interests of the "other side" can be chalked up as a victory simply because the vote numbers in the final tally look good in a photo.

The clash is invigorating. The hatred fuels my inveterate soul. The soul rending barbs make me smile. The virtual sound of the words of those who have lobotomized themselves in support of the party line is truly gigglacious.

The important thing to watch, from an amusement standpoint, is just how virulently political surrenderism to the "lesser evil" will be argued, to be sure that no real discussion of any concepts so "Underground" as taking a chance on possible loss on the basis of ideals, and possible strategies so that such a stand may not actually result in a loss... are shouted down... in the name of "pragmatic reality" which is supposedly not an interchangeable term with "status quo".



Or maybe you shouldn't've included "Other" in your poll... and given me the opportunity/invitation to "explain". ("I hate you too..." :+ )

[ismnotwasm]

26. High tension period

One that was predictable-- as unpleasant as it is--I can't say I'm surprised. I never hang out long enough to get pissed off, but I do check in every day.

It's still a good place for information and opinion, and I think it will settle down a bit.

[andym]

27. Seems to be calmer than during the primaries.

With opposition to the Bush administration no longer available to unite DU, disagreements are bound to occur.

[haele]

28. Been here a long time. There's a lot more people here now -

so the voices tend to get a bit more strident than they were in my salad days, but we had some pretty nasty personal conflicts and idiotology (oops, ideology) fights even back in 2001.

It was just easier to make people sit down and play nice - er- nicer, at least - back then. We also had a "common enemy" which is something we don't have anymore.
This is a normal evolution; nastiness tends to be exponential, affected by frustration and numbers. The more frustrated people you have posting, the nastier the conversation tends to be.

I cut my teeth on USENET; I'm just too old anymore to care about personal crusades in forums. There's always been cliques and stalkers - and if someone wants to be an asshole, that's them showing their ass off to anyone who cares to look in on that thread. The Ignore feature can be your friend, but it can also keep you from reading the occasional good post that "your enemy" might contribute.
I accept if I feed the perceived trolls, I run the risk that when I leave the thread, the nasty smells that result from that feeding may linger on me for a while.
:shrug:

DU is pretty much as it always is. Volatile, cantankerous, generous, caring - emotional. A place to vent. So yes, it's going to seem harsh and angry - and unless there is something that occurs to focus the collective attention, the closest "real world" example is the Mad Hatter's Teacup ride. (Which should have been an E-ticket)

Haele

[struggle4progress]

31. It's always been a wild mix of brilliant, idiotic, generous, asinine, well-balanced,

mentally ill, progressive, trollish, neer-do-wells

[BlueJazz]

32. I take everything here with a grain of salt...even myself.

[HughMoran]

33. Grain of pepper here

:)

[bigwillq]

34. Grain of cayenne pepper

Crushed flakes of it!
I am hot and spicy!! :rofl:

[invictus]

35. There are too many neo-cons here. I am staying to make sure these assholes don't take over.

[NightWatcher]

36. When GD gets too crazy come to the Lounge for kitteh pics and other silliness