Is it hot in here, or is it just me?

Yikes.

I've been mostly gone today, and came in to find more than a few supernova threads cooking here. People talking about leaving the country, getting bagged on for it, and then a blazing row back and forth. Another thread to ask liveoaktx to come back, and all the reminders of the ugliness that caused her unfortunate departure. Another fight here, another fight there, etc.

This is not a call-out thread. Repeat, not a call-out thread. I cast no aspersions toward any opinion expressed in the brawls lately. Just pointing out that it's getting hot in here. Again.

I've often compared asking for calm and order in this joint to yelling at a thunderstorm. Good luck, have fun, all you're gonna get is wet. I am, in particular, someone of absolutely no standing when it comes to this particular issue. If I had a dime for every snarky retort I've fired off, every fight I've started or gotten into...well, I'd have a lot of dimes, anyway.

So I'm just writing to remind you that you are all patriots. Most, if not all of you, have seethed lo these last five (yeah, it's been five) years. Most, if not all of you, have put your time and money and effort where your mouth is. You know who you are, you know what you've done, and if you look around, you'll see that you're surrounded on all sides by people just like you whenever you come here.

I'm also writing to remind you of an axiom I try, and sometimes succeed, to live by. If you find yourself bellowing in rage at someone who agrees with 95% of what you agree with, one of you might be a zealot, and a zealot cannot be convinced of anything they don't already believe. If you're not the zealot, a deep breath and some distance between you and the keyboard for a time do wonders. If you are the zealot, rock on. Ain't no one can stop you, anyway.

You're all patriots, wherever you are and whatever you do. Sure as hell you're not alone. So Happy Patriots Day from your friends in Boston.

:toast:

too much judging going on for my taste.

Could you post a warning for those of us that don't care about the warm 'n fuzzy Pitt, and would prefer your rants from hell?

Thanks

tell you to go fuck yourself. ;)

FUCK YOU..

Strong letter to follow...

:D :D :D :D :D

crap.

I don't feel like playing nice or getting along anymore. I am sick to fucking shit of fake ass liberals...and no, I don't mean you.

on a jet plane" rant a few months ago????

Why yes - I do believe that was you. Told me to stay and fight...

Today you must be smokin sumpin, all mellow and shit.

:hippie:

:P

Ciao...

Stress does that.

She worked so hard to deliver all that great video - when did she split?

for details.

Couldn't resist.

:toast:

Got a lil out of control. :P

Wouldn't it be stranger if there weren't flame wars?

I don't know you that well but my observation is that in a previous life you were probably a stage actor.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=951290&mesg_id=951290

:)

I need a barometer.

I think it's just Monday after a very boring weekend. Some folks have some pent up emotions after 2 days of watching boring bunnies, boiled eggs and Charleton Heston.

:)

Me? Hell I can't leave -- I don't enough money.

I am going to jump on board and say here publicly *hell yeah I'll fight*
but if someone has a villa somewhere in some quaint town anywhere foreign that they need caretakers for... please PM me ;)

That was a joke (sort of lol)

member so pissed they would leave(I don't blame them for being pissed just pick your battles with worthy opponents) to LETTING disruptors knock good veterans of the board off kilter, I wish I was in a position to be a voice in the darkness. But until then, I'll just keep shedding my clothes...

nastiness and then making a big exit than an increase in the nastiness itself.

But then I am biased.:evilgrin:

Saaaaaaay, listen Will........if ya need help with your titles....let me know. :*

I won't be leaving, but I don't care who does. I will never tell someone to love it or leave it, I will never call someone a coward for moving away to better their situation. I will become a raging bitch with you if you move away and then forget your brothers and sisters that are still back here fighting the good fight. You can help from abroad, if nothing else by educating people in your new country that not all Americans are bushholes and we want better for our country and the world. There's my 1 and 3/4 cents!

mud or insults in either direction. I'm not going anywhere, but there are some days I wish I could and there are some days when I want to go to DC and fight these theives who are stealing our future. Some days I feel stupid for not leaving.

You'll feel cooler.

Woah Nelley

& you've factored in the chilling effect on DU of "cheapens the discourse for everyone"? Considered how many cooler heads give up and go away, get bored and quit posting?

I haven't seen the fights you're referring to and have learned to (mostly) avoid them.

Recent shakedowns-- the (non) response to Katrina, the ridiculous free-for-all mayhem on International Women's Day, the uniformed attacks on Cynthia McKinney, the recurring (and male-dominated) mega-threads on the ever-popular subjects of abortion and rape, for example-- repeat old patterns and bad habits and don't really get anywhere. In addition to a (still) surprising amound of sexism and bigotry, there is a lot of uninformed opinion as well as major confusion about what a liberal or progressive, or even a Democrat, is. The serial abusers and trolls know who they are-- although many times, DUers do not seem to...... and it's really hard to tell sometimes the intentional mindfuckers from the merely uninformed.

All I'm saying is those who know better than to "ask for calm and order" by "yelling at a thunderstorm" may just go away quietly (or loudly). :evilgrin: There's no reason not to honor the concept of mutual respect and learn to communicate better, IF WE ARE HERE TO ACTUALLY DO/DU SOMETHING BESIDES CARP.

The question becomes, what is the nature of a forum? Is it intended to "discuss" and actually GET SOMEWHERE or more of an "opinion" board to blow off steam and jockey for position?

:bounce:

You talk of respect, peace, communication and being wiser to attempt to get somewhere rather than blowing off steam and jockeying for position. Yet you used your post to jockey your position and ask for provocation by attempting to bring to the forefront the flame-war extremist threads the days after the SD ban, calling those that legitimately questioned Mckinney as uniformed, calling out men as if they are beneath you, and calling those who have disagreed with you either trolls or uninformed. That probably is not the best olive branch I've seen towards the ideals and concepts put forth in your post. I agree with those ideals completely, but will admit I don't live by them 100% of the time. But regardless, I still sit here wondering how many other DU'ers would also be wondering about the sincerity of those above words given the context in which they were written.

:)

I said "they know who they are." I thought you would.

I guess you've answered the question. I never can put TO and PDA together with this WP.

:cry:

The one who posted something above deleted it, because he realized he was replying to the wrong post.

:evilfrown:

"The serial abusers and trolls know who they are-- although many times, DUers do not seem to...... and it's really hard to tell sometimes the intentional mindfuckers from the merely uninformed."

responded to the context of my post though. I didn't mindfuck anything, as you so eloquently put it. I was very straightforward and responded to the context of your post that raised some red flags to me. Rather than just offering attacks as a response, I would rather see you respond to my points raised if they are off the mark. I posted what I genuinely felt about your post, but you have every right to respond back with legitimate counterargument as to why my words didn't hold water or why I misread the post completely, or why certain questions I had raised were illegitimate. If they were, then I would welcome being corrected on them if I had in fact misread your intent. Unfortunately, there has been nothing provided in response further to show me that anything I wrote was off the mark. I still would welcome a reply on the merits of what had been written. If I was wrong I was wrong. But it would require a bit of clarity on my points raised for me to believe that, is all.

only human. Besides, it's hard to get along with over 80,000 people at the same time.:shrug:

Good read as always, and I found much wisdom in the zealot section :)

Cheers to you my good man and fellow patriot.

:toast:

to remember this is a message board and people find it much easier to be confrontational when it isn't face to face.

I have learned the hard way to choose carefully what I share on a message board and to always be prepared for being slammed by those who disagree. If I can't handle the heat I stay out of the kitchen.

Happy Patriots Day too you, too.

However, I do wish the Boston's had not beat the Seattle's in the bottom of the 9th inning this morning! x(

:)

I've just learned to actually start reading them and am amazed at how good some of them are. I saw Will's sig yesterday and realized I really gotta start payin attention to them more. Yours is creative as hell though. Is it yours or borrowed?

"I don’t know. I was too busy talking to Bignose.”

”I think it was ‘Blessed are the cheesemakers.’”

”Ah, what’s so special about the cheesemakers?”

”Well, obviously, it’s not meant to be taken literally. It refers to any manufacturers of dairy products.”


Sorry had to do it. :shrug:

are accumulating post counts but are not really nice people. My ignore list has been increasing by leaps and bounds in the last few weeks and now it's showing a pattern. The ignores only seem to pop up on certain on divisive, wedge issues threads. So I think I'm on to something.

Thanks I think I will have a beer.

:beer:

Blessed are the peacemakers...

(((come back!!!)))

:cry: