I know that a lot of us are extremely stressed over current events, but...

[Stonepounder]

DU is supposed to be a welcoming place for Democrats/Liberals/Progressives and the like. If often see a comment in response to another comment or OP from someone with a very low number of posts saying "Welcome to DU".

But lately I've seen what I consider to be many more angry/nasty posts that feel to me to be bumping up against the 'no flaming' rule when someone who is a relative newcomer breaks one of the 'unwritten' rules that 'we' have established. Newcomers can't just intuit these 'rules' they have to learn them over time.

For example, if someone posts an OP in LBN that is sourced from a questionable source, seems to me that it is much more helpful to gently point out the error rather than telling them that the source is 'some right-wing bullshit source and the admin should take it down'.

(See, 'we' know what OP and LBN mean but a newbie has to ask or figure out that OP is 'Original Poster' and LBN is 'Late Breaking News'.)

So, give other posters a break and be nice to them. A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down, a spoonful of vinegar makes newbies not want to come back.

Just my Very Humble Opinion.

[ProudLib72]

1. Agreed

However, it's increasingly difficult to know who is a troll and who simply doesn't know the rules.

[canetoad]

2. Yeppers

Civility costs nothing.

[JI7]

3. i disagree, DU isn't the only political place with people who are aware of politics

i know there are some cases where someone might post something and not know about the source. but it has nothing to do with how long they have been posting on DU.

if they are coming to a political website and posting articles i assume they should have some awareness.

[Stonepounder]

4. Sure they should. But I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt.

And if it is an untrustworthy site my personal opinion still stands. We can still be polite rather than screaming at them.

[HipChick]

5. Concern noted...

However, site has been over run with trolls of late..

[Arazi]

6. Thanks for this eom

[True Dough]

7. Sounds entirely reasonable, Stonepounder

I'm glad you gave this gentle reminder. Hopefully it will be heeded in the spirit it was intended.

[I-Miss-Mass]

8. Your Very Humble Opinion is spot-on

I am one of those newbies who will not be posting...just go back to perusing site occasionally

[Stonepounder]

10. Please don't 'not post'

Be aware that there is an "alert" button on every post and on every comment made to a post. One of the written rules on DU is 'no flaming'. DU strongly requests civility. If you (or anyone else) hits the alert button they are asked what they are alerting. The alert is anonymous. It then goes to a 'jury' of randomly selected DU members who are asked if they think the alerted post/comment 'breaks the rule'. If a majority of of the jury thinks the rule was broken the post is removed and the poster notified.

So, post away. All opinions welcome. Really.

[calimary]

14. Welcome to DU, I-Miss-Mass!

I'm with Stonepounder. Please do reconsider. Your opinions count! Hopefully you'll change your mind about not weighing in.

Sometimes we get the vapors around here. trump has a way of bringing out the worst in people. My husband made an observation about how tense and upset he feels - most of the time. I feel like a hostage in a very strange country I no longer recognize. Everybody I know is on edge. Because of him.

That lying phony-ass SOB brings out the worst in people. But look at it this way - he also provides us with an opportunity to sharpen our skills and our wits against him, and work to get him IMPEACHED and REMOVED. The silver lining to that is that Dems are more fired up than I've seen in a very long time.

[nini]

9. That depends on a lot of things

What was the subject matter?
What is the overall tone if the OP and any replies by that person?
How many posts. 5 or 100?


Too many trolls and I've got no patience for disruptors. Im tired of giving the benefit of the doubt if my troll-dar goes off.

[denbot]

11. The backlash is due to trolls.

There have been so many, after a while certain posting tendencies are quite recognizable and people respond in kind.

[zentrum]

12. Yes--Agreed.

Have seen newcomers treated very roughly sometimes. I think it drives them off.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Excellent point! There are a lot of people out there who are as freaked out as we are... :(

All of us were new here once...

And don't forget, MIRT is always here if you need them - not only to monitor likely disruptors who sign up, but receives notifications when these posts are removed by a jury. Don't be afraid to alert or contact MIRT if you see something worrisome...