Maybe I'll just give up. Posting on DU is making me age before my time.
I've been here for a while, have enjoyed every year(since 2005) but now find my opinion is worthless. I don't try to be antagonistic or
stupid. I just express my opinion. You may not agree but we all are entitled to out thoughts here.
As this day ends, I wonder if I will be able to come back this evening and face the music again. Our individual opinions are torn apart by others with an alternate view, not in a nice way. I know I should just toughen up but it is hard. I respect the members with an alternate opinion. I have never jumped on anyone else,. Your opinion and comments are all appreciated, so many of mine and others are trashed as though our thoughts are useless.
I just don't know how to cope any longer.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I make my posts mean and ugly, so that I am kind and handsome in real life.
As if.
That is part of the problem in this world.
Too many thick-skinned people, and not enough thin-skinned people (aka. bleeding heart types).
Just use ignore liberally (not aimed at those who have differing opinions, but at those who have proven themselves to be arseholes time and time again).
"The heart grows stronger by facing the evils of the world." -- Ludwig van Beethoven (Fidelio)
The best is yet to come.
For my brothers Carl and (Johann) Beethoven
Oh you men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn, or misanthropic, how greatly do you wrong me? You do not know the secret cause which makes me seem that way to you. From childhood on, me heart and soul have been full of the tender feeling of goodwill, and I was ever inclined to accomplish great things. But, think that for six years now I have been hopelessly afflicted, made worse by senseless physicians, from year to year deceived with hopes of improvement, finally compelled to face the prospect of a lasting malady (whose cure will take years or, perhaps, be impossible). Though born with a fiery, active temperament, even susceptible to the diversions of society, I was soon compelled to withdraw myself, to live life alone. If at times I tried to forget all this, oh how harshly I was I flung back by the doubly sad experience of my bad hearing. Yet it was impossible for me to say to people, "Speak louder, shout, for I am deaf." Ah, how could I possibly admit an infirmity in the one sense which ought to be more perfect in me than others, a sense which I once possessed in the highest perfection, a perfection such as few in my profession enjoy or ever have enjoyed.--Oh I cannot do it; therefore forgive me when you see me draw back when I would have gladly mingled with you.
My misfortune is doubly painful to me because I am bound to be misunderstood; for me there can be no relaxation with my fellow men, no refined conversations, no mutual exchange of ideas. I must live almost alone, like one who has been banished; I can mix with society only as much as true necessity demands. If I approach near to people a hot terror seizes upon me, and I fear being exposed to the danger that my condition might be noticed. Thus it has been during the last six months which I have spent in the country. By ordering me to spare my hearing as much as possible, my intelligent doctor almost fell in with my own present frame of mind, though sometimes I ran counter to it by yielding to my desire for companionship. But what a humiliation for me when someone standing next to me heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or someone standing next to me heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or someone heard a shepherd singing and again I heard nothing. Such incidents drove me almost to despair; a little more of that and I would have ended me life -- it was only my art that held me back. Ah, it seemed to me impossible to leave the world until I had brought forth all that I felt was within me. So I endured this wretched existence -- truly wretched for so susceptible a body, which can be thrown by a sudden change from the best condition to the very worst. -- Patience, they say, is what I must now choose for my guide, and I have done so -- I hope my determination will remain firm to endure until it pleases the inexorable Parcae to break the thread. Perhaps I shall get better, perhaps not; I am ready. -- Forced to become a philosopher already in my twenty-eighth year, oh it is not easy, and for the artist much more difficult than for anyone else. 'Divine one, thou seest me inmost soul thou knowest that therein dwells the love of mankind and the desire to do good'. Oh fellow men, when at some point you read this, consider then that you have done me an injustice; someone who has had misfortune man console himself to find a similar case to his, who despite all the limitations of Nature nevertheless did everything within his powers to become accepted among worthy artists and men. 'You, my brothers Carl and (Johann), as soon as I am dead, if Dr. Schmidt is still alive, ask him in my name to describe my malady, and attach this written documentation to his account of my illness so that so far as it possible at least the world may become reconciled to me after my death".
At the same time, I declare you two to be the heirs to my small fortune (if so it can be called); divide it fairly; bear with and help each other. What injury you have done me you know was long ago forgiven. To you, brother Carl, I give special thanks for the attachment you have shown me of late. It is my wish that you may have a better and freer life than I have had. Recommend virtue to your children; it alone, not money, can make them happy. I speak from experience; this was what upheld me in time of misery. Thanks to it and to my art, I did not end my life by suicide -- Farewell and love each other -- I thank all my friends, particularly Prince Lichnowsky's and Professor Schmidt -- I would like the instruments from Prince L. to be preserved by one of you, but not to be the cause of strife between you, and as soon as they can serve you a better purpose, then sell them. How happy I shall be if can still be helpful to you in my grave -- so be it. -- With joy I hasten to meed death. -- If it comes before I have had the chance to develop all my artistic capacities, it will still be coming too soon despite my harsh fate, and I should probably wish it later -- yet even so I should be happy, for would it not free me from a state of endless suffering? -- Come when thou wilt, I shall meed thee bravely. -- Farewell and do not wholly forget me when I am dead; I deserve this from you, for during my lifetime I was thinking of you often and of ways to make you happy -- please be so --
Ludwig van Beethoven
Heiligenstadt,
October 6th, 1802
SOURCE w/details: http://www.all-about-beethoven.com/heiligenstadt_test.html
For some, their only joy is causing others pain. They are sick.
For others, their joy comes in causing others joy. They are healthy.
Please don't leave Paper Roses. The place wouldn't be the same without you.
I've been staying away until after the primaries are over and done. Skinner will put the ban-hammer down on anyone who's not supporting our nominee, and things will get peaceful here again. It will feel nice when we're all on the same side again, won't it?
In the meantime, I suggest taking up crochet. It's a fantastic way to burn stress and you get pretty blankets, shawls, hats, and scarves in the process.
omg I loved Marty Feldman 
Igor: Too late.
it's like saying I miss all the news if I don't check out Fox "News" - F*** THAT!
So I rarely declare my preference, and I certainly don't lord it over others. Especially Skittles, who has a mean kick! 
Or go somewhere else. Give up on the party, on our leadership, the system, etc.
But don't give up on progressivism if you can at all help it. There are still opportunities to make a difference through activism. My generation (Gen X) and the Boomers are used to losing, that's why Bernie seemed like such a long shot. He wasn't, I think if people weren't so scared, he would have this in the bag already.
A change gonna come, a change has to come. The planet will no longer be able to sustain human life at some point and it will force a change. Eventually. I hope the party figures this out sooner rather than later out but I am not hopeful. They are just too locked up in their tunnel vision with blinders on. I am fully prepared to be wrong though.
In the meantime, keep on keeping on.
I hear and say this all the time so it feels like a cliche, but it really isn't
Action is one coping technique, there are several ways but I find that it's harder to cope when you don't take action on something.
Hang in there.
even if a vocal minority disagree with you. Primary Season brings out the worst.
I have my opinions and I don't are who disagrees with them. But then I don't post in the Primaries group - by choice. 
