Maybe it's my perception, but participation on DU seems way down lately

I am sure it's the bad news everywhere. I'm even spending less time here than usual. Seeing that food isn't getting to the survivors in Japan has disturbed me today. A lot.

:hi:

No complaints here.

People are mowing, planting, raking, fishing, and repairing. Hard to stay indoors on the puter with so much to do!

After rain all day, we're getting an ice storm tonight. Enjoy your gardening - I'm jealous! :hi:

Frankly, the lines have been drawn and redrawn and
then colored over in crayon, magic marker, highlighter, and
pens and there simply isn't anything much new to say about
anything any more that hasn't been said a Brazillion times
already.

We can discuss the latest Obama cave-in but how different
will the discussion be from the last twenty such discussions?

We can discuss Global Climate Change but the same folks
as usual will simply make the same points about how great/
how awful CFLs/nuclear power plants/electric cars/SUVs are.

We can discuss how ineffectual Democratic politicians and
positions and policies are, but what's new there?

We can discuss the wars, but what will discussion achieve?

In fact, on all of these topics, what will more talk achieve?
No one's going to shift their positions, no new "recruits to the
cause" will be obtained, no moneys raised.

Frankly, I'm at the point where I'll do what I can in the real
world and, otherwise just watch it all play out.

Tesha

:rofl:

We have another snowstorm coming this week.

It snowed a few inches overnight in the NY/NJ area. Right now it's foggy and gloomy. They said that it will snow another couple of inches overnight.

Besides, around here most people live in apts. We got none of the lovely things you mentioned.

:(

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According to http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/democraticunderground.com#">Alexa, aside from a huge peak hit in January, it's about the same.

And, even more active when DU is split.

In January, Congress passed DADT and the controversial 'tax cuts for the rich'.

I love DU & my participation here has increased my knowledge & awareness by so much. But, it's also where I read all the whacked out ideas & policies the right wing has. I can only read a few stories about keeping people on public assistance from carrying cash & defunding programs that help women & children & all their other attacks on the poor & middle class, before my outrage meter has reached it's limit.

I fear our 'leaders' & a good share of our citizens are out of their fucking minds. DU keeps me sane & insane at the same time. ;)

That said, I mentioned something about Egypt to my friends a week before the media picked it up. It's been that way since I started coming here. You hear about it on DU first & then a few days later, the media finally reports on it.

I woke up at 3:34 this morning and then started thinking about politics and couldn't sleep. that is not a good sign.

a third military action, an administration that does NOTHING about gas prices or jobs needed by the middle class. A president who pushes to further corporate inroads into other companies and bails out huge banks so they can foreclose on more people....

Despair is rampant in the US. We've been screwed by both sides. The worst part, we were sold a bill of goods about *hope and change* and then got shat on by the one promising it.

if that means anything. I read less here, comment less because of all the negativity. Also there are those who know it all which says shut your mouth because us know it alls control the conversation here but most of all it is the negative that bothers me. I guess it is Obama's fault for everything that is what is projected here.

There is no problem solving here, not much positive to talk about - this is almost becoming a hate place. Let's see if we can top the next negative comment attitude. There appears to be a joy to see who can top who.

Yes, you all have the right to say what you want but sometimes the constant negative turns people off. Just saying and giving my personal observation. I am responding.

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but there is not differing views allowed or an openness in conversing. so i pretty much just stay out of the political stuff. which is unfornate. though last couple days i have put .2 in a little more than normal. not discussion though

And people are replying.

But point blank? I'm tired of seeing that woman from up in Alaska's name in the Presidential discussion forum. I'm tired of "Obama should be impeached threads". I'm tired of people who I'm beginning to think are not REALLY on the left but throw out these comments to try and 'sway' us the way "those people" swayed people against Carter in 1980. From the Presidential Primary shit to the Impeach Obama schtick (which is just effing ridiculous and the r-word) I'm just not typing much these days.

I like to spend time on DU when big political events are taking place, but maybe as others said people are busy doing spring time things now.

I don't think DU is THAT much slower than normal though.

I realized I had developed an addiction. An addiction to news. I was not only watching either television or radio every waking hour, but also spending hours online looking for the latest breaking disaster, video, opinion, ...... and the majority of time online was here on DU, an excellent news and opinion source. But I really have many things I have to do, many things I enjoy doing, but....I found myself opening up my laptop anytime I got within 4 feet of it. So......I decided to quit, cold, at least my online time (other than e-mail), and reduce the television. I lasted two days. The "mail" emblem is so close to "home" where all my "favorite posts" blast from the page so temptingly!!! So, I decided quitting cold was not realistic, and now I check my favorite sources only twice a day.

So Teshy, CrispyQ, and Donnachaidh, you have totally summarized my feelings. I'm just worn out with anger, awe, despair, and pessimism. I have to look to my gardening projects, my home repair projects, my grandchildren, music, and other life events which bring me joy. I may be slightly behind in behind the headline news, but hopefully leading a more useful life, with normal blood pressure, and teeth unclinched!!!

This is till my fav site (those few outsiders that break down the door don't bother me -I just ignore). I'll be back, but hopefully less. And maybe others feel this way too.

not that you and i cant agree to disagree, lol

going off another thread. just using you.

Of agreeing to disagree. You and I have had our spats, and I've had plenty with DainBramaged, but I feel there is a mutual respect we show each other that is missing with some posters. I'm still going to disagree, but I feel no need to draw blood:)

lol, i know. and i hope you always know, even disagreeing

i luv ya.

We've both been around a while... and I think our core values are very similar. The Devil is always in the damn details:D

Many of them just got sick of the abuse that masquerades as dissent. Too often, conversation on these boards deteriorates into ganging-up and piling on. Innuendo frequently replaces information. My ignore list has grown; I don't have the time to try to figure out who's loudly trying to make a valid point or who's unable to resist an opportunity to be an asshole just for kicks. It's a shame, really. Many of those who have gone elsewhere took good input with them -- and it shows.


=

I have learned to weather those storms. I enjoy DU too much. And have some GOOD friends because of the DU.

That you would have fed to the lions in days past... ;)

:hug: :hug: :hug:

It has never been so HUGH! :D

Funny thing about that is, my TrollDar is getting better all the time... my iggie list gets new pizzas all the time... it's a concrete collection now.

I see about 25% get granite cookies each month so it's easy to cull the gonners and reduce the size.....

years of attacks/lies/smears towards Democrats will tend to drive away democrats from a supposedly democratic supporting site.

That's how I feel about it most of the time. What a sad, sad situation.

with new posts and replies. Right now it is 3 minutes or a few moments ago that is.