General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat's to love about DU, and what's not to love ?
GOOD:
** Many great and brilliant people here. It's a treasure trove of knowledge in one place
NOT SO MUCH:
** If people want to talk about something you don't want to talk about, or give an opposite opinion (even if it's against a Dem), wish people would just ignore if it bothers them so much. Why not save time, flames, and keystrokes ?
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Large swaths of topics that are now in the do not post/participate category, including one that is like breaking or something currently.
Echo chambers are not good.. But I am not going to stop anybody.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)But discussion on certain subjects will just go south.
Been here long enough.
No harm, some of that (read the latest breaking nooz for example) just goes on my blog, if I feel like it. Mostly it is discussed in private, in the flesh, with close friends.
retread
(3,763 posts)Would love to peruse this non-official list.
But then again, you could write one yourself and it would be "non-official" wouldn't it?
Barack_America
(28,876 posts)One wonders.
Coincidentally, this too would by my #1 dislike about DU.
It used to be the lack of transparency behind post moderation and banning, but that has improved considerably with the new system.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)between forces in the shadows.
But mostly, yes.
As to the new system here... it is still in my highly disliked category and I have been very clear about it. To the point of loving Addblock.
On the down side, if WW III goes the way that Einstein said... you know, to paraphrase, "I do not know what WW III will look like but WW IV will be fought with sticks and stones," I don't think we will be able to discuss it in GD... it will be a technical matter.
EmeraldCityGrl
(4,310 posts)But I'm relatively new around here so...
leftstreet
(36,112 posts)Lasher
(27,636 posts)They didn't run me off. So far.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)when we had them, but they did serve a useful purpose toward promoting civil and open free speech that jury doesn't seem to equal.
leftstreet
(36,112 posts)Bring them back!
MadrasT
(7,237 posts)Now I miss them too.
(And yeah, I miss the Mods too.)
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Viva_La_Revolution
(28,791 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)They closed their offices, they let go their employees, said goodbye to their titular head, and boxed up and sold their papers--they're stored at Clinton's library.
People use "DLC" for "not as left as I think they should be" or "Doesn't agree with my POV" but it's a lazy conceit.
The DLC is but a memory.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Leadership_Council
leftstreet
(36,112 posts)They don't need to have a shop
MADem
(135,425 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Check my avatar!
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)They really don't mix that well with liberal/progressive politics and yet there seems to be an unending stream of them who want to Weewee in the Cheerios or they can't stand the flavor.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)open-minded, easy going, and "live and let live" types. In fact, don't think I know a single one, who in person, would say the things said here if you disagreed on a particular issue.
richmwill
(1,326 posts)There's good and bad.
Good- If any important news breaks, you'll read about it here first. Also, the general camaraderie and caring nature. If someone has a bad incident in their life and they choose to vent it out here, people come and give them support.
Bad- My one pet peeve, people who refuse to let disagreements and arguments die out. Those who incessantly post in an attempt to draw the other person back into the argument.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)get the last word in.
richmwill
(1,326 posts)Also sort of like the annoying cousin who starts right-wing political arguments at holiday dinners, using as their sole proof for their argument "I KNOW it's true- because Rush said it's true!!!!". Consider yourself lucky if you don't have any of them around, haha.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)have pretty much shunned me. Like, because of me only, Obama won. I have been kind and not said a single word, but I want them so much to see the light.
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)so I can read the source, see who wrote it and get some background.
I am forever amazed at how quickly some of the members can pull up an article, link or reference to provide background information from the archives that can help us better understand the sequence of events and/or why we should be concerned/not concerned about a situation.
I realize Google is my friend, but Democratic Underground is my family consisting of intelligent and caring individuals (with the occasional daffy uncle someone let out of the attic for a while). DU is where I go for information. How sad the Republicans don't have the same available to them.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)that Dems and Prez and staff read DU....but I truly think they should at least scan through everyday. I can't even count the number of times that I knew more than whoever was speaking on TV, or a newscaster, etc. It is frustrating - but feels good to say "That's not true." and be able to know you can proved it.
ProudProgressiveNow
(6,129 posts)Turborama
(22,109 posts)That made me laugh out loud, I'm still laughing!
Thank you for the hilarious imagery!
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)patrice
(47,992 posts)Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,505 posts)now on! See what I did there?
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)blown jury. Then, if you get more than X "Asshole-y" Remark votes, you get on a temporary list that all can see. If you are nice for a month, you get to get off.
Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,505 posts)I would never get off that list
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)patrice
(47,992 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)that scans for key words, and sends an alert. There is no other explanation, for example, when the words "election fraud" are written, how people pounce within seconds to say "bullshit"
patrice
(47,992 posts)Small differences do matter.
I have had that very thing happen to me on this board more than just a couple of times.
People need to know that nuance is nothing to be ashamed or afraid of.
If we want what calls itself "the Right" to understand and apply this fact, we, and whoever it is that calls themselves "the Left" these days, MUST model it ourselves.
One way "the Left" could do that is with something more authentic than the most perfunctory and superficial token "appreciation" for PO and, sorry, I refuse to work with those who can't do that. I'm just NOT a saint. I KNOW what I'm doing and I'd appreciate the respect I accord to others in recognizing that.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)patrice
(47,992 posts)I've done Administrative Assistant positions; you see A LOT that would be different if people valued "small" more.
patrice
(47,992 posts)s-cubed
(1,385 posts)Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)HuckleB
(35,773 posts)Over time, I find the discussions less enjoyable, but some still surprise me with wonder.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Raine
(30,540 posts)you're down and helpful advice when you need it, all you have to do is ask.
Not to love ... some peope are self-righteous, elitist, snobby and put others down for not being as "pure" as they are.