Forget about spin-off sites from DU. They don't matter.

[MineralMan]

A few disgruntled souls have moved elsewhere and are posting there. Who cares, really. Bringing up a spin-off site here and finding fault with it accomplished nothing other than giving publicity to that other site.

I've been over there a few times, and have recognized some names of posters who used to be here. There have been several such spin-off sites started in the past, too. Most are no longer online at all. Such sites never actually grow much beyond the original posters from here who started them. They don't matter, really.

DU, on the other hand, is still the most active Democratic discussion website on the Internet. It still has the most news, the most discussions, and the most activity. DU is where Democratic discussion happens.

Is someone on another site saying stupid things? OK. That doesn't matter. Has someone on another site shown their true colors after leaving here? OK. That doesn't matter, either.

Real discussion continues to go on right here on DU. That matters.

[Sheepshank]

1. You are correct on so many levels and maybe I'll get there eventually. Just not quite ready yet.

as I'd said on another thread:

Not only do some of those people post here but their "concerns" are pretty transparent.

I myself have been baited, and berated and called some pretty vile names by many of those Busters. I've seen them gang up and swarm in some pretty nasty ways on good, honest and kind DUers. I'm not quite ready to forget and let them go into oblivion.

I'm quite happy to consistently expose the chicken shit, lying, hateful, dots of fly shit on the wall so many of them continue to be. The exposure does feels cathartic in a way. In other ways is a confirmation of why I disliked so many of them while on DU, and why when they make a foray back to DU, I find them extremely untrustworthy and question their motives.

I'm simply not ready to let history repeat itself.

[giftedgirl77]

2. Keep saying the same thing....

It's creepy...

[auntpurl]

3. I agree. nt

[Uben]

4. I dont visit them....

....if I cant get it here, I don't need it. Been that way for 15 yrs and I'm not gonna change now.

[JaneyVee]

5. But they were rightwingers posing as lefty's here on DU.

[Omaha Steve]

19. Tue Nov 9, 2004, 05:03 PM Number of posts, all time: 64,377

I waited for 11 years to suddenly show I'm a right winger on another site?

You might recall back in January another spin-off site called me a scammer about my dementia? It was much discussed on the DU. Do you approve of that attitude from that spin-off site???

It seems scum and villainy is a two way street.

[panader0]

21. Thanks Steve. JPR isn't the only "spin-off" site.

The other one had some vile stuff posted.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

40. I never noticed your affliction...

... not trying to use you as a means to hijack anything. Never noticed it on DU, either. Keep up your good works!

Soo Foo (SD) IThinkThereforeIAM

[Omaha Steve]

42. I'm in no way the DUer I was when I joined, ask any old timer

Thank you for the compliment.

I have a brain MRI and testing around the first of the year to see how much I have degraded since the last time.

OS

[rurallib]

55. No matter what the docs say you are one class act

you will never deteriorate in our eyes.

Couldn't help myself - been reading your posts for a long time and learning from every one.

[geek tragedy]

49. Steve, you're a treasure and we all know it nt

[LexVegas]

22. Not all rightwingers....many are simply woman haters. nt

[treestar]

27. This ^^^

That's the reason. Help us look for them in the future, too.

[Arazi]

65. No way. That site is getting trolled. Probably by DUers imo

Like here it's got a lot of good people, like Omaha Steve. I laughed at first at the attention that place got here, that got me reading it.

Now I'm sure it's getting trolled

[lapucelle]

6. I check it out about once a week

just like I'll check out right wing/conservative sites like Hot Air and Legal Insurrection. I find it useful to see what talking points the other side is employing against our candidate, under the principle that "forewarned is forearmed." I think that knowing what objections/concerns/doubts voters on the fence might have is going to be helpful when I start phone banking for Hillary again in the fall.

But you're absolutely right about not dwelling on or making other sites a topic of focus here.

[BobbyDrake]

7. The problem is the folks with the same usernames there as here. They're using access to DU to push

for Trump in any way, shape, or form they can fit through the Terms of Service.

There's a thread on GD2016 today complaining about a snarky article by Slate about the way Trump eats fried chicken. The OP and at least one other "concerned" DUer are "upset" that the media seems to have a bias against Trump because they report on him accurately.

[bucolic_frolic]

15. Go there and grab your username before others clone it

Just like Yahoo Groups, 2000 and 2004

[BobbyDrake]

18. I'd rather they not have any of my contact information in their database, TBH.

If someone wants to clone me, they can go right ahead, but I've been pro-Clinton since 2008 and the idea of anyone trying to pretend otherwise just makes me laugh.

[bucolic_frolic]

28. You're right

Didn't know they required info. At Yahoo back then you could sign up as
Woody Woodpecker and no one questioned anything

[Hortensis]

8. +1000 to keeping toxic posts and sites away from DU.

Those other sites serve a useful purpose by giving people who are bad fits here a place to gather. Certainly even one visit demonstrates their utility to DU, though I wonder what such environments might be doing to habitues.

In any case, ONLY posts HERE can be a problem.

[cherokeeprogressive]

9. Says the guy posting about the site whose name can't be typed.

[Hissyspit]

23. Says the guy posting about showing "true colors."

[zipplewrath]

10. After the GE

It will be interesting to see both sites after the GE. Over yonder has some more interesting threads, but it is a tad monotonous to dig through the usual complaining. Once the GE is over though, they might get to more issues oriented discussions, although the range of views over there is rather wide. Dunno if they'll be able to stand each other at that point

I'm still waiting to see this place after the GE as well. The monoculture here has gotten a tad narrow and echoey. but that may change once it is about implementation, instead of campaigning. It will get real interesting if the dems take control of the senate. Most folks don't have us taking over the House though. But we'll have a potential lame duck session for an SC appointment, and possibly and attempt to pass TPP in lame duck as well if Biden is to be believed.

[geek tragedy]

17. watching the Republicans go from squabbling to cannibalism after Trump

loses should be very gratifying for those here now. And there'll be actual legislative agenda items worth supporting, if Turtle Man goes back into his Minority Leader shell.

That other place, like their fellow travelers at Breitbart, will be grousing about how Donald Trump rightfully won the election but was robbed by the crooked, evil Democrats.

[zipplewrath]

20. Actually

There will probably be some discussion of how the third party candidates were marginalized by both sides and the media and never got a "fair shake". This, along with some comments about mainstream/establishment control of the whole process.

[geek tragedy]

25. complaining how third parties get the shaft is an evergreen subject matter

blooms every 4 years, at the exact time that the same third parties awaken from their quadrennial hibernation

[David__77]

38. "The monoculture here has gotten a tad narrow and echoey."

To me, it does seem more ideologically narrow now than at any time I've ever posted here over the last 15 years. I imagine that after the election things might significantly change in that respect.

[Demsrule86]

53. I see no difference than 2008.

Some were more invested in a different candidate. As for after the election, I hope it stays the same. This is a Democratic site so while issues need to be discussed. What is the point of attacking other Democrats? Let try to give Hillary Congress instead.

[David__77]

58. OK.

I think there's always been differences of opinion regarding specific personalities, whether, for instance Alan Grayson or Cynthia McKinney (years ago), or groups of Democrats, including "Blue Dogs" and "New Democrats." It's true that 8 years ago I supported Obama in the primary and didn't have the viewpoint of someone whose candidate lost the primary. This time, I voted for Sanders, with significantly less motivation than when I voted for Obama in the 2008 primary.

What seems missing to me, is the magnitude of diversity in opinion/ideology. I don't promise that's the case. Pro-Democratic people can have widely divergent ideologies and still vote for the same candidates.

[Demsrule86]

71. I hear you and when your candidate loses

It is awful. I supported Howard Dean...however, after the primary is over we are all supposed to support the nominee and other Dems. We want to elect Democrats. We fight for our candidate and if they lose, we support the Democrats...especially this year. I think all this 'exchange' of ideas in general which means criticism undermines our elections...particularly midterms. I don't mean here...I mean in general. The GOP will say terrible things about Dems...so if we do so too...what will the end result be? Not a good one. When no one has a good word to say about our party, we lose.

[FSogol]

11. DU rocks. Thanks admins and thanks to all you posters.

GOTV, DU.

[SheriffBob]

12. This is the best website on the internetz

Period.

[Android3.14]

13. By "real" you mean "acceptable"

Let's not fool ourselves that the scope of this site has narrowed considerably, hopefully temporarily. I understand the reasons, though I disagree that the reasons justify the response.

[geek tragedy]

16. The type of discussions people have at Free Republic should not be discussions had at DU. nt

[BlueMTexpat]

14. I agree 100 percent!

Plus DU has EarlG, Skinner and Elad!

They are irreplaceable!

[Politicub]

24. The spin off sites are boring in the way Fox News and

Clarence Thomas are boring, predictable and tired.

[retrowire]

26. exactly. nt

[closeupready]

29. Finally agree with you on something.

Happy to K&R. Small talk has a place - THE LOUNGE. Not in GD.

[demwing]

30. Who cares? Clearly, you do

Enough so that it spurred the creation of this thread.

[GoCubsGo]

39. Nope. He's just sick of the constant "Have you read what they're saying over there?" posts.

As are a lot of us. It's just shit-stirring, and we'd rather see an end to it than gossip about it.

[demwing]

41. So let's create a thread

About the topic we'd like to ignore?

OK

[GoCubsGo]

45. If starting a thread that points out how childish all the fingerpointing is,

causes some introspection from those who have been doing it, enough so that they stop it, I don't see the problem.

[demwing]

47. So complaining is ok

As long as the complaint has your approval.

Got it.

[GoCubsGo]

50. So, shit-stirring is okay

As long as you can make snarky comments at those who wish for it to stop.

Got it.

[demwing]

57. This isn't shit stirring, it's calling out hypocrisy

you and the op are complaining about threads that complain about other sites, but while their complaints don't matter, yours somehow do.

In this thread at least, I'm not the one stirring shit

[TheBlackAdder]

46. We should always keep abreast of events, since the Reps will obfuscate or co-opt using false info.

[Hekate]

31. Kick and heartily Rec

[DemonGoddess]

32. K&R!

[redgreenandblue]

33. Well, I have active accounts on both DU and JPR.

Either site has a time and place, imo.

Streisand effect kick.

[liberal N proud]

34. There was a period during the primaries that I worried that DU was in trouble

I visited a couple of the spin-offs but never got in the groove, never liked the style and most of all never liked the attitudes in general.

DU just works, there is discussion and as long as everyone can discuss without taking it to a personal level, then we have some pretty meaningful discussions albeit elevated at times.

I became addicted ,if you call it that, to this a long time ago.

[redgreenandblue]

35. The usenet threading style with branching is simply superior to single branch threading.

The new JPR site is better than the old one, or than most of the other "DU spin-off sites" in this regard.

[63splitwindow]

36. From what I've seen, anyone feeling the need to spin-off from here..

is someone I would just find irritating. While knowing opposing views is important, I have paid enough of those dues elsewhere to last for a while.

[lark]

37. I'm very grateful for DU.

It was such a light in the spreading deep dark days of early 2000 when the SCOTUS broke our constitution to put the R in the WH, regardless of the fact that he actually lost. I was in such deep depression, especially living in redneck No. FL. It seemed like the US had gone completely nuts and few were with me. I discovered DU and a community of like thinkers, progressives, leftists and idealists. I've been coming here ever since. I work 50+ hrs. a week, so don't have a whole lot of time to spare, but still love this site. I even love it during the contentious days of the primary, but like it a lot better once we have our candidate settled.

[Leith]

43. I'm a Poster in Good Standing Here and 2 Other Sites

I don't post here often because I by the time I get to a thread, my opinion has been said by others already. So I try to DURec a lot.

I post a lot at the pig wrestling site because I've belonged to similar forums before and I'm used to it. Besides, I like putting the reichwingers in their place with facts, especially when they deny it. They don't realize that they are not my target audience - the undecideds are.

I registered at JPR, posted a couple times, and never really got into it. Sanders was my preference, with HRC such a close second that it was within the margin of error. Now that they have veered into Mordor-like territory, I won't be back except to see if they get any better.

I like the people here. I like keeping up on big news stories and the ones that don't get the headlines. There is so much here to like that I can't quit ya!

[TheBlackAdder]

44. Nope. Now, any new ones might just be a Republican ruse.

[socialist_n_TN]

48. I've been here about 5 or 6 years now and it's become...........

MUCH more "Democratic" than "Underground" over the last few years. And it's not just because of the primaries and the election. IMO, it started when DU took the lead on reporting about the workers' uprising in Wisconsin in 2011. That got noticed and a plan was put into place to co-opt that energy. Of course DU was, at that time, still more "Underground" than "Democratic". The dynamic was reformist left to radical with a few Classic Reds thrown in and they were the ones who fueled that reporting, rather than the MSM or the classic Dems.

Since then it has gradually moved right into a "cheerleader" status for the Party, no matter the party positions, and the "Underground" part has just about been forgotten/abandoned.

[StraightRazor]

51. They matter if you want to get any information on what OUR candidate for the POTUS is doing...

but if you're cool just discussing Trump's every move then this is your place for the time being for sure.

[Squinch]

52. Nah. I read the other one. I find it fascinating to watch them post here and then go there

and say completely different things.

[Demsrule86]

54. Me too.

[betsuni]

62. So do I. But when members went and formed pro-HRC sites, they didn't change at all.

It was just a matter of speaking more freely without being alerted, but same personality, same opinions. I know who has my trust and respect, and it's not the two-faces.

[Squinch]

66. It is kind of amazing. You see a poster over there talking about how Hillary can, pardon

my quotation, fuck herself, and they're never going to vote for her. Then you come over here and they are talking about how they just want unity and wish people would stop being mean to them.

The most interesting thing I see over there is a weird quirk a lot of them have. It's very prevalent and strange: they use feminine pronouns incorrectly to refer to her, and it is clear from the context that this is supposed to be some kind of insult. For example, "The primary was stolen by SHE." Or "Her is awful."

On that site, feminine pronouns are insults! It is so weird, but it is also SO telling.

[betsuni]

68. Yes, I noticed the "She" thing!

I thought maybe one of their leaders started it and rest followed. Weirdos.

[seaglass]

69. Lol. Yeah I'm waiting a week or two for that poster to change his mind again. I think they use

"Her" from #I'mWithHer because she is like Voldemort and they are afraid to say her name? So ridiculous.

[Squinch]

70. They use "she" also as in "I am not voting for SHE."

Because, you know, "she" is really an insult. To them.

And yes. I am awed by the power of their convictions that change every ten minutes.

[seaglass]

56. I am thankful that many of the DUers who made this site miserable for the past year are now

at that other site and are either flagged for review, PPR'd or have refused to agree to the new TOS here.

You are right, it doesn't make any sense to spend time reading them over at another site when they have nothing of value to say.

[Rex]

59. I really don't care what another site says, unless I am an active poster on that site.

Signed up at JPR during our Epic DU thread, sometimes I fuck around with the trolls at DI. I forget about JPR unless someone brings it up here.

I have noticed there are a few folks at DI that completely obsess over DU and everything we post here.

[Person 2713]

60. There are a plethora of naysayers about the Democratic Party & the multiple growing movements

working within the party for change and justice. DU discusses many of the issues some want to pretend don't exist. Plenty naysayers around without searching for them is my own opinion that's just me.
Keep our eyes on the road to the WH and senate direct and steady and provide a participating site to compliment the win.
If we get too emotionally distracted by what is on the sidelines on either side it can only weaken the DU energy.
I am actually happy to see continuous disruptors fade on out of the forums I check like LBN
I am glad they found their happy place also somewhere else . Good on them
I had the entire primary forums and candidate forums here on ignore blocked until after CA finished
I have a lot on ignore so don't probably see the down and dirty and I'm sure some posters ignore me, but like you said it is so big, and active a site, to me it can endure where other pop up ones can not .

[NanceGreggs]

61. I think it matters quite a bit ...

... in that many JPR posters also post here, which means they are part of the jury pool, and can act as hosts and/or be part of the MIRT team.

I think DUers have a right to be aware of who might be deciding what gets hidden here, who gets PPR'd, etc.

Given the vehement anti-Democratic Party/anti-HRC stance as expressed by many on JPR who also post here, it is rather like Freepers being allowed to judge what should and shouldn't be said on a pro-Democratic site.

"Has someone on another site shown their true colors after leaving here? OK. That doesn't matter, either."

What about those who have shown their true colours and haven't left here? For the above reasons, I think that does matter.

In addition, I believe that for many, reading JPR has offered great insight into how easily one can pose as a True Progressive (TM) on a political website such as DU, when in fact they have been furthering an agenda that has nothing to do with being a progressive at all. Forewarned is forearmed.

Over the many years I have been at DU, there have always been references to what is being posted on FR and other sites. JPR is in no way entitled to special treatment in that regard. Besides, some of their comments - especially the conspiracy theories - are just too laughable not to share.

[bravenak]

63. +1

[betsuni]

64. +2

[Squinch]

67. Exactly! It has been a real eye opener for me.