I wish you all good luck and goodbye.

[Chainfire]

I am a bit disheartened by the attacks on post that are not in lock-step with the general views of the members. I find that the effective censorship of dissenting opinions to be neither Democratic nor progressive. To equate unpopular views with spouting right-wing trolling just does not set well. While, I realize that my exit will not break a lot of hearts, I want you to know that the person who left was, and will remain a life-long yellow dog Democrat who is leaving over perceived intolerance by his fellow liberals.

I have certainly enjoyed my time here and some of the lively discussions, and wish the forum well.

[FoxNewsSucks]

1. That "general view" is not nearly as broadly general as they would like us to think.

It does get annoying.

[zuul]

2. Well, I hope you don't leave.

Try putting the negative folks on 'ignore.' Makes the DU experience much more pleasant.

[mitch96]

8. +1 also block key words or phrases.. works for me!!nt

[SheltieLover]

16. Absolutely!

[GreenEyedLefty]

64. This was life changing

I discovered this nifty feature after an embarrassingly long time here

[ck4829]

3. I have been called "trash", a "no different than a fascist", a "communist", an "extremist"...

I was disappointed and had the same thought as you, then I realized that was me making waves.

We need more wave-makers in American politics, and even here on this forum. Especially here.

[anarch]

17. I am definitely several of those things

and an "authoritarian" to boot. Whatever, liberals...I guess, sort of like 3/4 Anakin Skywalker said to his old martial arts teacher, "I am what you made me."

[Handler]

72. Make waves

[LoisB]

4. I understand but implore you to stay and stand your ground. You have every right to voice your

opinion(s).

[Demovictory9]

9. plus 1

[lpbk2713]

5. In the final analysis it's an internet message board.

It doesn't judge your quality as a human being.

Best of luck however you decide.

[blm]

7. True words.

✌🏽

[pwb]

6. Sometimes the words we use invite attack by

the fringes of our party. I own guns, believe in God, and marriage. Do you know how many times I have been hammered by our progressive and liberal fringes? They don't even want me as a Democrat. Hope you come back. Usually when I am judged here badly by a jury I deserve it.

[beaglelover]

22. "I own guns, believe in God, and marriage." Does this mean you don't agree with marriage equality?

[pwb]

25. I don't have to explain my beliefs to anyone.

.

[beaglelover]

26. Who asked you to explain? Your response answered my question.

If you are a democrat, you are the first democrat I've ever met who does not believe in marriage equality.

[pwb]

28. Says you.

Read it as you want.

[beaglelover]

32. I will as will others. Happy Pride Month!!

[pwb]

33. It is PTSD awareness month too.

Let us all celebrate.

[gay texan]

37. Happy pride month!!!

[demmiblue]

51. Happy Pride to all our LGBTQ DUers and their loved ones!

[beaglelover]

66. Thank you, demmiblue!!

[beaglelover]

71. Happy pride month to you as well, gay texan!

[Sympthsical]

10. If you're getting blowback, it just means you're thinking for yourself

It's the nature of social media where group mentality reigns.

One of the great things about being me is (and they are legion), I never care what the internet thinks about anything.

If someone's the 29th person to express the exact same opinion, I generally know something's being concealed underneath worth exploring. Or at least poking.

I am a giant fan of poking.

The world needs more pokers.

[BlackSkimmer]

53. ...

[MarineCombatEngineer]

61. +100.

[Faux pas]

11. ...

Ignore can be your new best friend. You don't have to go

[emulatorloo]

12. We all get posts hidden now and again. Depends on the jury. Stick around, this is a great board.

I disagreed with your post, but people disagree w each other here all the time. Kinda of what makes the place interesting

[Scrivener7]

13. Oh, crap! Don't go!

[Nevilledog]

14. I get stuff hidden for right wing talking point crap. Appeal it and move on.

Your voice is appreciated by me and many others.

Don't leave, just take a breather.

[CrispyQ]

15. I agree with much of what you write & hope you don't leave.

There is a contingent on DU who think that any criticism of the Democratic Party is bashing. Some even call it trolling, but the truth is, trying to shut down opinions that one disagrees with by calling you a troll, is more anti-democratic than criticizing the party.

Stick around. This election is so critical. The one thing we all have in common is we want more dems elected.

[brooklynite]

18. I have never been in lockstep with the General views here...

…and I have never felt censored.

[SheltieLover]

19. I hope you choose to stay!

Use ignore. Take a break!

[ZonkerHarris]

20. You can take your sanctimonious diatribe with you when you leave

[Scrivener7]

24. Ever notice how some posters use every single post to attack others or make fun of them?

It's interesting...

[SunImp]

56. Some people just don't know how to be friendly

[Peregrine Took]

52. +++ Holier than thou. n/t

[BlackSkimmer]

57. Oh my.

My, my, my.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

62. ....

[Just A Box Of Rain]

21. I'm new but I'm contemplating walking for precisely the same reason.

This is the first place (ever) in my entire life when I've had to endure suggestions that I'm a right-winger or a captive of FOX News merely for holding positions that are clearly in the liberal Democratic mainstream.

Something is amiss here.

[bif]

23. You can't imagine how many people I have on Ignore!

It makes my time spent on here quite a bit more enjoyable!

[RussBLib]

31. that way, you do not see a lot of posts

I had not realized that having a person on Ignore means I don't see any of their OP's. I had thought I would not see any of their responses.

Turns out a momentary squabble was not a true indicator of their positions.

[shrike3]

41. Same here. n/t

[XanaDUer2]

47. Ignore and trash thread are gifts nt

[malaise]

27. I will miss you big time

I hope you have a rethink.

[walkingman]

29. The problem is the politics of compromise.

We have developed into a society where everyone looks for affirmation and not information. But the question becomes....where else can you go to discuss with like-minded people....certainly not my neighbors here in Texas.

Thank goodness for Democratic Underground.

[Big Blue Marble]

30. If your choice to leave is based on attacks, don't go.

DU seemingly often turns on its own. It is actually is only a few who attack you.
I have been attacked on several occasions, for saying things that offended someone.
It will happen with so many here. And I have never thought to leave; DU is too valuable
to me.

It is so easy to scream at people ominously. At the time, it stings, but that will pass. And do not
take it personally. I assure you that there are DU'ers here who would agree with you
whatever your opinion. If the attackers are really being obnoxious, put them on ignore and move
on otherwise just consider the source.

Self-righteous is a bitch, but there is a lot of it in left wing circles just ls like everywhere else.
Stick around and do not worry about people trolling you.

[totodeinhere]

34. I agree that there is a lot of "group think" around here.

Some people are just so sure that they and only they are right that any deviation from that line to them is unacceptable. We usually see this type of inflexibility on both extremes of the political spectrum.

[SunImp]

49. +1

[usajumpedtheshark]

35. Sometimes all your post needs is some time. Remember the back and forth after Jan 6

when some suggested that Trump and his Republican toadies deserved to be immediately arrested and put on trial?

[Doc Sportello]

36. This happens too often on here

The jury system is used by some as a vigilante "justice" system to suppress or get rid of those who say things they don't agree with, but are in no way "bashing" or violating the TOS. Even Democrats make mistakes or take positions that are proven wrong in the long term. Pointing out facts is not bashing. Sometimes self-criticism is good for a party or group. We don't want to become like repubs.

[SunImp]

39. +1

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

38. I agree 100%, this place is a shithole of herd mentality these days, I hate it

[IcyPeas]

40. there's an abundance of crap going on in the world right now.

it's maddening.

But I would say please take a break -- but do not go.

I opted out of the jury system here.

[shrike3]

42. I've enjoyed your posts.

I don't post that often or get very involved in discussions; I'm mostly here for information.

Sorry you feel the board is not worth your input anymore. Good luck, godspeed.

[Demsrule86]

43. You can often talk to like minded people and ignore the rest.

Come back when ready...

[H2O Man]

44. One option could be

to just step away for a bit. And to try to limit who and what you respond to here. Just a suggestion.

[XanaDUer2]

45. My friend here just left

She was being accused of ridiculous things and imo, mobbed.

[Torchlight]

46. I'll agree there's sniping,

but if it's anything like high school (and I think it is) that sniping is probably born out of a personal bitterness.

A trick I use in my daily life (I'm guessing they'd apply to internet sites as well): separate the chaff from the wheat, invest nothing into the chaff and allow those conceits zero consideration.

I was told I'd miss a lot of the juicy tantrums by using the ignore feature on seven or eight conspicuous annoyances, but to me that's a really good feature. Going back to reevaluate those choices since has convinced me I made the correct choice for me.

[Silent3]

48. There are asses who act like they'll win a prize if they spot supposed "intruders" and call them out

They apparently think trolls and Russian bots (which probably do, occasionally, pass through here) are the only possible explanation for differences in opinion.

Or, that if you have a real, honest difference in opinion, you don't deserve to be treated better than a troll or a bot anyway.

Then there are the Sunshine Police, who believe anything but upbeat and encouraging posts are going to destroy (perhaps intentionally!) Democrats chances in the next elections.

It's tiresome. But at least I consider DU somewhat better these days in this regard. If you were around before the "Jackpine Radicals" took off to make their own hellhole elsewhere, you'd know what I mean.

[SunImp]

50. +1

[CrispyQ]

59. The Sunshine Police.

Love that! Gonna steal it!

[Kaleva]

54. I've read your posts and think you are an asset to DU. Hope you reconsidr

[BlackSkimmer]

55. Sorry to hear this.

Though I’m not a fan of GBCW posts, I hate to see someone who feels they have to leave because they don’t post with the narrative.

I know others who’ve left, for the same reason. Longtime posters who didn’t announce their departure. If we all go, then the place will become the echo chamber that some seem to prefer.

I hope you rethink. Or take a break and come back. I do that all the time.

[Voltaire2]

58. GBCW!

Oh stick around. You got one hide, it happens.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

60. In all my years as a Marine,

I've learned to not give a fuck what others think of me, it has no bearing on my life, in real life and the internet.

Don't give up and leave, the hell what others think of you.

[Pyryck]

63. OP - please stay, stand your ground, type out your opinions and share them

Don't turn your back and walk away silently or quietly into the night because it got too difficult or challenging to wade thru the jungle of thoughts, the forest of opinions, the fields of discussions.

Don't give up, give in or get disheartened.

I stood my watch, trying to protect you, me and every other American so that we ALL have the right to engage and discuss and share our opinions while exercising our Constitutional rights.

Please don't just thank veterans or police or firefighters or ems for our service. Honor our service by exercising what we all sought to protect, fought and died for, served and stood watch over - your right to freely voice your opinions in typed word or verbalized.

Please?

Your voice matters. Your vote matters. Your life matters. Through out the course of your life, you WILL touch other lives whether you know it, realize it or not.

[AngryOldDem]

65. Coming to that conclusion myself.

For different reasons.

[Hotler]

67. Unwritten rule of DU, must have (or helps to have) thick skin to play in GD.

Don't go, everybody here has been pissed or discouraged at one time. Take a breather and come back.

[ripcord]

68. It can be a little daunting

Especially having a post removed that is factual but some people just don't want to see. Keep at it and you will learn to get your point across without upsetting the pearl clutchers.

[progressoid]

69. Yeah...

I'm not sure what caused your decision but it's true there are a contingent of people who would prefer we all toe the line.

[themaguffin]

70. How about some context? What post?