Some simple posting 101 tips:P
The topic wars in GD of late have gotten me thinking a lot of people have forgotten some posting 101 rules that would alleviate some of the drama we see here. I myself am guilty of not following these so I'm not really blaming anyone.
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If you read a post that really bothers you, gets you mad and makes you want to post something snarky in response, first go through these steps.
1. STOP. Don't post the snarky reply yet. Relax and wait for your gut reaction to subside first.
2. Reread the post and try to deconstruct it and find out EXACTLY what is bothering you about it. Is it something specific they said, do you feel personally insulted, do you feel your beliefs are under attack?
3. If it's some specific belief you think they are espousing that you don't agree with try to put down in words exactly what you think they believe. For example perhaps you think they are saying they hate hippies. Gather evidence from their OP that seems to support this belief. Don't be afraid to scrap it if you can't find enough evidence, maybe the OP really is saying something different.
4. If you feel personally insulted, ask yourself why. Does it seem likely that the poster meant personal insult? It's more likely that the poster is posting strong feelings about something that you feel sensitive about. This doesn't mean that you don't have a right to feel sensitive about it, or that because you do that you should feel guilty about your position. The poster could be completely mistaken about their point of view and you could be entirely in the right. This still doesn't mean necessarily that personal insult was intended.
5. If you feel your beliefs are under attack, ask yourself if it's an entirely bad thing that they are. It's difficult to question ones own world view but important that we be able to do so. Even if you can't bring yourself to agree with the poster try to play devils advocate and see if you can see things from their perspective. This means doing so WITHOUT placing yourself in the roll of the stereotype your gut reaction has placed them in. Example, if it seems to be an anti environmental post don't place yourself in the shoes of the walmart or Exxon exec greedily destroying the environment for profit. Instead pretend that persons view are your OWN and try to see how you would come to that view point.
6. After doing the above try to compose a reply that leaves out as much accusation as possible. Leave out strong emotional wording such as "hate". In your reply leave ample room for your own misinterpretation. If you believe the poster is saying they hate hippies don't come out and just say "why do you hate hippies so much, what did they ever do to you". Instead ask something like "I could be wrong but you seem to be saying that XXX, for the following reasons YYY".
You'd be surprised how often you find that you and the OP share more in common that you initially thought. You may never come to agree with the OP but you may have avoided starting a flame war and realize they weren't quite as radical as you thought. And if it turns out they are just as radical and hate filled as you thought, you have given the OP even more opportunity to dig their own grave so to speak, and you doge getting mired down in the muck.
Just my 2 cents.
= new reply since forum marked as read
... you just keep repeating the phrase over and over. Perhaps it's a subliminal thing, but it seems like you really do hate hippies on some level. 
* Before posting in LBN do a search to make sure the topic/news hasn't already been posted - a search doesn't take long and it will help to make sure an OP isn't locked due to being a dupe.
* Check out the Statement of Purpose for each main forum - they are not all the same,
each of the forums has a main page with an 'About This Forum' button
Latest Breaking News (LBN): http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=about&forum=1014
General Discussion (GD): http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=about&forum=1002
Politics2014: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=about&forum=1251
Video & Multimedia: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=about&forum=1017
Good Reads: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=about&forum=1016
DU Lounge: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=about&forum=1018
* Check out the DU Community Standards page: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards
* Check out the DU Terms of Service page: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=termsofservice
* If your bottle is empty or you've run out of beer in the fridge - then it probably time to turn off the computer and go to bed
I've made that mistake in the LBN forum a couple of times actually, cause I just wanted to get my story posted and the turnover is so fast. 
it was hilarious when the baiter was obvious and completely exposed.
TAKE YOUR 2 CENTS AND SHOVE THEM UP YOUR ***!
edit- ps I hate you 
Am I doing it right? 
