need to belittle them.

to recover, to try to get Democrats elected, to try to change things for the better in whatever way people could, to discuss policy and to hope that the USA was truly beyond the effects of W's colossal set of screw-ups, and to experience many other things.

I won't evaluate the successes or the failures of all of this, but - to extend your apt words - it has all been a siege - well beyond disagreements between posters on this board. People have to be tired at some point.

rw and our own depressing feelings. Sometimes we just need to move on to something different. Still activism but different.

DU once was a source of democratic discussion coupled with actual friendship... A safe haven to sincerely process political issues and events with the desire to understand and try to make a difference. You missed the party.

n.t

The 2008 primaries

The Lounge Clique wars

Chicken

vicious here.

We were invoved , driven and passionate. We all hated *bush/cheney and the GOP...and wanted change. Today, the trust of a newby is extremely low...We rarely welcome them under suspicious of being a troll.

Yes, I remain find of DU inspire of the change.

People do this sort of thing all the time on comic book discussion forums. They do it to get attention from other members.

Universal behavior, I've found.

I have never been on a forum that didn't have some of it. Football, pro wrestling, cartoons. Though DU is still a great place to be. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I came back after a year-plus. And I left - without any announcement - largely because of someone who announced their departure today.

and they don't all do it to get attention. I have found many of them to be thoughtful posters and I consider myself to be a thoughtful poster. They have done you no wrong. Don't be so dismissive.

I was talking about the comic book forums I frequent outside this website.

And the people who announce they're leaving those sites want others to fawn all over them and tell them how much they're needed when, in fact, the world will keep on turning without them around.

"Thoughtful"? That's putting it mildly. Like other "thoughtful posters", I, and I'm sure many others, have learned much from you.
I come here to learn. So thanks.

posts that I found enlightening, in areas where I needed enlightening.

It is important that we have such voices here...

But you are kind to include me and I am very happy to know this...

And there's a glaring example on the front page at this very moment.

and then other people wonder where they went, or even worry about health issues, or whatever. So, a post to let people know one is leaving can be helpful in that regard.

To each his own, I guess.

about. They usually have lots of people that will be concerned if they just stopped posting and disappeared. Are the ill? Did they die? When they post a goodbye, there is no wondering about it later.

I, however, am very concerned about Prosense's disappearance. Is she ill? Is she dead? Was she promoted? Hard to know since she simply vanished.

When I read that a long time poster is leaving I am glad that they let us know. Often we find out that the reason someone has not posted is that they have a serious illness or that they have died. This is just me and the farewell messages do not bother me.

Not that I miss either one. I'm just curious what the straw was since both posters got berated a lot and they seemed to handle it graciously.

They got a new job that doesn't leave them much time. It was announced in the North Carolina forum.

Just that real life thing got in the way.

much posting.

break.

of little status symbols we can elect to enable on our profile pages that let's people that would be concerned about us know what our status is without having to announce it to the entire board?

Such as:

Red = Left DU permanently

Orange = On a break, will be back between X - XX number of days.

Green = Active in the last 7 days

Grey = Recuperating from illness, expect to be back in or around X number of days.

Black = Serious Illness & Hospitalization, if I don't check in within X number of days, I have passed on.

For all the other statuses except Red & Black, we can assume something went wrong suddenly if the member fails to return within the specified time frame.

I know you mean well and your idea has a lot of merit. But I just got the giggles, thinking about what other little symbols we could have.

My own experience is one of memory issues, as in "whadaya mean I already posted that an hour ago? Where did I do that?"

It's helpful when someone else on DU knows the story on the missing DUer or when a family member knows enough to post a notice about the DU member's status. It's wonderful they take the time and effort and caring to do so...

Yea, I suppose there could be a status color for "I'm here way too much and I'm never leaving"...:snicker:

Anyway, status indicators would only be an added option for members who wanted to indicate their goodbye (and other statuses) with less public fanfare...There could even be an option to leave your farewell message only on your profile page so those members who were close enough to you to wonder on your whereabouts and seek out your status could find the information you left.

Of course, there are times when an update from a family member is necessary and welcome.

I won't say any more but I like the status bars that you posted. Seems right to me. It's just that some of us could go cloud cuckoo land on you and folks would like to know what happened...I guess there's no status indicator for that...

I see your point and ...some things are better off left to the imagination.

already.

People could leave a message under their "About Me" heading.

Or they could even change their signature line to reflect their changed status.

Both are visible when you view another member's profile tab.



I guess I can also be included in the count of those who don't understand the whole GBCW Swan Song thing, having also seen it in action on a few other discussion groups.

"I'M LEAVING AND NEVER COMING BACK!!!!"

um, yeah. Until a week later when they're back again like nothing ever happened. Meanwhile, all the person's "friends" are sobbing and begging him not to go away. Didn't matter how many times it happened, either. People would get sucked into the drama.

As for myself, I have no illusions about such an action on my part. Very few would care, whether I announced it or not. It's OK, though. Really.

So if I were to leave DU, that's what I would do. A short sentence or two on my profile page and that's it. Those who cared would find it.

I understand the goodbye posts better. We've both been here a long time. Dating back to when it felt a little more like a community (though there was diversity of thought and lots of sniping then, as well.)

Why post a goodbye? From observation...

It is the combination of wanting to let people with whom you communicate regularly to know that you aren't going to be here (and give an avenue for contact), usually due to sheer frustration (to your point) abut wanting to say (literally) goodbye. In bigtree's post, he left a strong call to arms, written 8 years ago and reposted for others to read.

I don't begrudge people that.

YMMV

No idea what GBCW means - but it felt like it dripped with dismissiveness. Cute - looked it up. Mocking both the poster, and depressed folks who view suicide as an option.

I really, really hope you didn't take it as it was addressing you since I'm 100% agree with your post (therefore - the very serious - ) I apologize deeply if that was the cause, and it's a reminder again that sarcasm doesn't really come over well.

GBCW - 'Good Bye Cruel World.' That's what the OP's addressing.

I was just commenting on the snarky comments reflecting that which showed up today I read this as you intended. All is good.

Peace.

I do miss the old meet up days. It brought smaller human communities together that were then shared and flowed into helping bring a bit of human-ness to our interactions on the board.

I was heartbroken to learn of the loss of a friend/Duer who I met in the early years, but who I hadn't seen in person. I would have anything to have had that "loss" be in a goodbye post rather than losing the battle of life.** RIP Raindog! **

I think as a community - in many ways we have lost our sense of generosity of spirit towards others.

As always - crossing paths with you is like finding a sister-in-arms (per synchronicity of views.)

Best,

salin

I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but I have had the pleasure of meeting wonderful DUers over the years.

I'm so glad you still find your way back here, salin. Yours is a voice that brings both wisdom and thoughtfulness. you're a true DU treasure.

When I signed up here in 2002, there did seem to be much more of a community atmosphere to the forum. That’s not to say that we didn’t have our share of flare-ups and periods of divisiveness but there seemed to be much more of a camaraderie and feeling of mutual goodwill among members than is evident today. I wonder if that’s because DU has now become so big or whether it’s because the political environment has changed or both.

When I came to the United States in 2003, I will never forget the friendship and kindness that so many members of DU showed to me by opening their homes and their hearts to me (not least of all you, who gave me such a wonderful time and many fond and cherished memories of my time spent with you when I stayed with you and visited your city during that trip, for which I will be eternally grateful). I will also never forget the wonderful members of DU I met during the various meet-ups in San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis and elsewhere and my eternal regret is that I’ve lost touch with most of them and don’t even know whether a lot of them still visit DU. I think a lot of the success that I had in forming the bonds and friendships that allowed me to experience all that back then would be much more difficult on DU today. It’s just not the same place, although I do acknowledge that the many new and wonderful members that have signed up since that time and this is no way intended to denigrate them. I miss those days

I would have wanted to know if a long time DU member left abruptly. I have only been a member for a couple of years, but I have been coming here forever. I enjoy the posts of the long time members the most. Some of the newer ones not so much. It has become very contentious here, must like society in general. I've been baited more than once, and took the bait. No use arguing with some folks on these boards.

I do agree that DU used to seem more like a community than it does now.

FFS

this place seriously. Just a Message Board. Yeah, right.

They are the first ones to talk about a meet up and how They Love to Meet Duers.

Who do they think they are fooling with this shit.

"When you announce your intention to leave, it seems like you're taking DU too personally..."

Does that not also apply to the responses trivializing the announcements, both direct and indirect?

Every time someone announces their departure, someone else starts a complaints thread about it. Every time.
I don't see the difference really.

if not more so.

i should have kept my mouth shut. I'm not being snarky, you really are right. Most of the time, I read without commenting. But in a moment of weakness, I reacted out of exasperation …

in the Header Post. People say goodbye. Is how they say goodbye have to be under some progressive profile?

we should start a pool on how long they will be gone.

My wager is one or both back before we're carving pumpkins

Count me in! I love to gamble!

The only difference is the amount of time it takes to come back.

I never had a "goodbye" thread in any of my comic book forums.

always come back. I was gone for more than a year but I only realized how much I missed the place and so many here when I came back.

One in particular has "left" more than once.

Can't take those threads seriously, they always come back. Even the banned ones are still with us.

DUck DUck Goose!

Whatevs. I can typing!

On edit: On a serious note, if you define this board to be just something not to be taken serious, then why should I take your posts serious? I'm just here for the smilies, anyway.

Perhaps people who leave want their friends to know they're leaving. Perhaps they hope that someone who has insulted or hurt them to be sorry. Perhaps they are talking to themselves in a way, trying to make a clean break from a compelling experience that they know is upsetting to them. If you left a neighborhood that had become a place you'd no longer want to live what's "unhealthy" about being sad and reminiscing about how much you'd loved it and saying goodbye to your good neighbors?

You do not know these people. You don't know what they get out of being here, you don't know what their lives are like, either in the flesh or in their minds and feelings. People have varying needs, varying sensitivities, varying desires. Respecting that fact and letting each one come and go in whatever manner they feel best about seems far more "healthy" to me than telling them that they're "too" anything.

I think it's pretty damned selfish to demand that no one talk about their decision to leave

Man, the stuff people can get on a high horse about.

I get a stiff neck looking up at all the high horses around here!

Does it make you uncomfortable? Are you afraid of wasting type? Is it just unbearable to see people expressing their feelings? Did someone promise you there would be no goodbyes?

Everybody doesn't have the same needs you have.

i'm sorry, just wanted to express an opinion. Like everyone else.

The cold indifference in the OP is part of the reason why people leave.

Du has been around since 2001 and has gone through several changes. Next year will be hard because it will be mainly about the 2016 elections.

I remember reading DU in 2007 and the first half of 2008 and it had its hard moments but Nov 2008 came and there was happiness here.

I remember 2004 was not as hard but it had its moments.

The point is things here have changed and there is no denying that but we can all in our own way try to make it a better place.

I was 22 when I saw a man walking in a crowd protesting in 2001 Bush's inauguration with a sign that said Democratic Underground. As long as it is still here I will read it.

You must have observed well. I just signed up when I first heard of DU and participated right away. But that's just me.

I posted to 2005. I lost interest and forgot my password.

For years I thought of signing up again but I chose not to because my access to the internet for several years were on and off and life took me in many directions.

In 2012 I bought a new computer and decided to start a new account on here, facebook, and twitter.

Shortly after the 2012 election I found an old book where I wrote my password and seriously thought about dumping this account and resstart the old.

But by that point I had 3000 posts or so and I decided to stick eith this one.

I made one post with my old account to my new account to see if it still worked. It was a smiley face.

My old account has not been used since. I do not alert with it, pm, or post with it.

My old name wax hrhjustin.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=107671


So yes I have been here from 2001.

I didn't know. I'm just careful. There are a lot of posters talking about the old times just signed up rather recently. I guess we just missed each others, then.

But DU has been a part of my life since 2001.

Btw I just sent this to skinner.

I told two other members before but I am glad to let others know.

My reply? This reply? Or the reply you made to me telling me that you signed up in 2001?

You're getting me confused here.

I should have done it in 2012 but didn't.

You signed up with a new account on DU3. You shouldn't even need to tell that. It's perfectly fine. You even can have multiple accounts here, no worries. Nobody cares.

Nighty night from overseas.

His Royal Highness to His Royal Majesty?

The king is dead, long live the king!

Seems pretty reasonable to me.

a public rebuke of the DU community with the unspoken inference that the poster leaving is now too good for most everybody here. People can't be expected to respond positively when they open a thread that is basically a "You all suck now" farewell.

I saw one today, and it didn't seem that way, though I was on the way to work at the time and didn't get to read it carefully before it was deleted.

People criticize politicians relentlessly, externalize all social ills and refuse to turn that critical eye on themselves. And then they wonder why injustice prevails.

We're talking about exiting a message board gracefully.

It seems a bit self serving when a person decides to leave DU, suddenly the board is condemned as beneath their presence almost every time.

Then again it never was.

to get here

I think I've been here since 2004. I was mostly in the background reading and watching, hardly ever posting. There certainly was a community but really I didn't feel part of it. While newcomers were welcomed it was just like real life when you entered like a stepchild and never felt you were part of the real "family."

But throughout the last ten years, there were always the pro and anti Clintonians. I learned what DLC meant on DU. There were arguments and confrontations and accusations and even dishonor. Remember all the uproar with Bev (I think) and the black box voting thing. It was like holy soap opera time lol.

I really love when DUers take the time to post about their own lives and experiences. I love the laughs. I love sharing the outrage (even when I don't post to it). I love the caring and the sharing, the helping out those in dire need. I also loved seeing so many creative, talented DU'ers move ahead, like NanceGregg, and Brad Blog and Will Pitt. I know there are more but this brain is old and memory does fail me at times.

I would never dream of not visiting here every day. I really can't understand those who choose to leave this respite created for us.

Through good and bad you all truly are my sunshine.

I think people announce they're leaving to have a better chance that people who might want to keep in contact with them will mail or message them to get a further point of contact. The last message board I was a fixture on, when I announced I was pretty much out the door, I had 8 or 10 requests for my email so folks could keep in touch if need be.

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Which is odd, because temps haven't been that bad this summer, they shouldn't be that badly stressed.

out on it but I wish they wouldn't quit.

I have developed an unhealthy relationship with … a discussion board ...

would you marry Me DU??


I promise to love, honor and Cherish... But...Its gotta be a Shinto wedding... and

I do want the WEDDING SHOWER.... prior to the wedding... Can someone set that up?? Please?

I will need lots and lots of China Plates.. oh!! and those lovely tiki wood chop sticks... Crystal

glasses would be lovely... ARGHHH!! Need to get my hair done... Do I need a wedding planner?

Are those silly?? ....A caterer... Chinese food works for me... or Thai... WHAT works for you

Honey??

but please... ONE agreement?? No pit-bulls.. We gotta have a Kitty!!!

Kitties make everything better.

I am also tired of the pouting. Lots of people take a break from DU for a few days or a few weeks or even a few months. Or even permanently. But most of them lack the ego it takes to be convinced that their leaving should be some kind of sign that the community has lost its way.

And Boomers can't stand to think they might go and no one would notice.

what kind of stereotype bullshit is that?

And boy does he have our number! Everyone nor after WWII up til the 70s is exZACTLY alike! Can't tell us apart without Boomer-sniffing dogs.

WTF

nice.

Seriously, you can't believe that. A cohort of people from 1948 to 1964, and we all fit in the same neat box ? Amazing.

I rarely "make speaks" if you will, but I'm here everyday without fail. It keeps me informed and relatively
in tune with a lot that's going on....I appreciate the hell out of it, and I love what a lot of folks have to say
about solutions, and calling out BS...If Babylon Sister, Cha, Cal. Peggy post...I'm all over it, same goes for
some of the guys on here, oh hell; you know who they are, they all speak from the heart, and want good
things for all people....got a lot of love and respect for you guys!
The only time I have a hard time on here is when people get pissy with each other.....make your point, and
let someone else speak without being a dick about it please....we're supposed to be the good guys and the
ones with the open hearts and minds......

YEE HAW