In all honesty...does DU "tombstone" strictly on ideology?

[Atman]

I just had a "discussion" online with a righty who claims DU is no different then Freep.com; that mere ideology will get you banned, not just bad behavior like flaming, threats, etc.

I said DU doesn't do that, but the problem is, when a freeper responds to crit about Bush, he can't seem to do so without hatred and vitriol, and that is what brings on the tombstone, not the idealogy behind it.

[NMDemDist2]

1. from the FAQ

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/faq.html#why-banned

Why was I banned?

People get banned from DU for many different reasons. The four most common reasons people are banned are: 1) They are conservative, 2) They are uncivil or disruptive, 3) They repeatedly break the rules, or 3) They have been previously banned under a different username.

[charlie]

2. It's in the rules

"...if you are generally supportive of conservative ideals, please do not register to post, as you will likely be banned."

[Atman]

7. Okay, so I can admit when I'm wrong!

Here is my response to the OP...

===

Straight from the DU FAQ page...

"...if you are generally supportive of conservative ideals, please do not register to post, as you will likely be banned."

I still say, though, that that is because conservatives are generally ill-mannered boors. DU just considers it pre-emptive tombstoning, since we KNOW the conservatives will say something hateful given an open forum.

[charlie]

15. There have been exceptions

DU has always readily bounced the Republican-supporter flavor of conservative. But we also have a few longtime self-described Libertarian members -- they aren't, strictly speaking, conservatives of course, but their staunchly tiny-govt-is-the-only-legit-govt views are more closely allied to the (purported) conservative view than ours.

[Bunny]

3. Re-read the rules. Of course we ban strictly on ideology.

Why would you have it any other way? There are plenty of asinine sites you can go to and *debate* those fools. We don't need them here.

[KyndCulture]

16. exactly... I've been a member on many of those site.

Hell, I was Randi's admin for a year... I cannot stand the trolls anymore, it's counterproductive, it is nothing but the same bullshit over and over and over again and it detracts from what HAS to be done right now...

DU is the only place I feel like we get anything done. I don't have time to be bothered with the bastard trolls anymore, there's work to be done!

[LTR]

4. freep.com?

That's the Detroit Free Press. Not sure if they ban anyone.

I assume you're referring to Freakpublic.

You can read the rules of DU here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html

They have their sites, I think it's fair that we have ours.

[JimmyJazz]

5. This is a Private Message board for democrats and other

progressives. What is so difficult about that? READ THE RULES!

[Cocoa]

6. DU does not claim to welcome right wingers

which is a good thing, imo.

and freep.com is the Detroit Free Press's website. :-)

[Eloriel]

8. Yeah, as others explained. You got a problem with that?

Why should WE be the only ones who aren't allowed to reserve a place exclusively for ourselves?

[Atman]

10. No problem at all. I enjoy it, in fact!

I just was asking about the actual policy was. I wasn't aware it was even addressed like that in the FAQ. I've been posting here so long, the only Q I FA is "what's the justification for war without WMD?"

Again, no problem. Happy happy joy joy. Just asking!

[AuntPatsy]

9. If your attempting to make DU look hypocritical, your failing miserably

one of the reasons many join is so we don't have to be subjected to the sick insane ugliness of the extreme right's downright ludicrous ideologies....

As another poster said, it's in the rules, why you would ask such a question is really self defeating..

[Atman]

14. WOW! The hostility, just for asking a question!

Sheesh. Honestly guys, I didn't expect people to be upset at me just for asking! It's not like I'm a newb here or anything. I just got in a discussion with a right-winger and *gasp* I wanted to have my facts straight before I claimed something as a fact.

As OP said..."you got a problem with that?" Why the hell would you get so defensive, with another DUer no less? Lighten the eff up already!

[Sgent]

11. Conversely

If you are generally a progressive, you can be as far right as you want on a given issue -- gun control for example. Many people on the board are NRA members, and are proud Democrats and progressives.

[The Night Owl]

12. The right wingers who moan about DU policies are insecure...

DU couldn't be more clear about the fact that DU is for progressives and yet the right wingers constantly moan about not being allowed to post here. Wah!

My guess is that the right wingers who moan about DU policies are insecure about the inconsistent policies on right wing forums, which claim to be open to debate, but never are.

If I had a dime for every right wing sewer I got kicked out of for trying to have a civil debate, I would be filthy rich.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

13. They're just upset because we have a sanctuary

It frustrates them that they can't track mud on our nice clean carpets.

[Old and In the Way]

17. I think we are wrong to ban Conservatives.

If one wants to limit government in your private life, or be fiscally responsible, or against wars for corporate profit...I can live with those conservative values.

It's not the conservative ideology that is grating or a problem...it's the knee-jerk Bushbots or RNC operatives who would love to overrun a place where they can't buy or control the message. Bush Republicans is not conservative....it's a criminal conspiracy masquerading as a political party.

[JimmyJazz]

20. Then feel free to go to another forum that allows that. This is a

private website for democrats and other progressives. If you don't think the spirited debate here is enough, this thing does have a door, you know.

[necso]

18. I would say that

DU is pretty tolerant about who can participate in discussions here.

But generally * supporters don't really discuss, they repeat talking points -- which will get you kicked here (...eventually ...in some cases). And this is reasonable. For while we have to debunk the bullshit publicly, letting this board be overwhelmed by endless repetitions of the same (or similar) talking points and debunkings would be to let the neocons run it. Moreover, there is little point, generally, in letting the neocons practice and sharpen their talking points here.

Besides, I see (judging by their assertions and arguments) Libertarians, Greens, Socialists, "moderates", "conservatives", "free-traders", "monetarists", supporters of this person or that (sometimes an unpopular person), trolls, etc, post here regularly (over time).

However, if you are the sort of person who gets easily riled up and/or who doesn't follow rules, and you come here posting in uncareful language and/or expecting to have hollow arguments, bogus assertions or neocon (etc) talking points "win the day", then your days (and perhaps minutes) are generally numbered.

And trolls are prey -- which is only natural.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[distantearlywarning]

21. I have said a few conservative things in my time here.

But to my knowledge nobody has ever reported me or threatened me or anything like that. I've never even been accused of being a freeper.

I think it's because I try to back up the things I say with a little logic. And also because it should be apparent that I strongly support a lot of liberal values too. And probably also because I don't use a lot of vitriol or call names.

The people I've seen tombstoned sound like somebody at Free Republic is telling them what to say through an earpiece. And they never back up their statements with anything substantial when they're questioned (unlike a lot of the people here who believe in the 2nd amendment, just for an example). They just call names and keep repeating their lines over and over again. It's a dead giveaway.

[mixedview]

22. I'm an independent, a moderate libertarian

I tend to lean left on social issues, and right on economic issues.

I like to hear all viewpoints.

IMO, conservative sites and liberal ones like this one should set up a "no holds barred" section, where people of all political beliefs can duke it out.

Because open discussion (even if heated and ugly at first) is the first step towards understanding each other as human beings, and not just cardboard cutout stereotypes.

[The Magistrate]

23. Locking

Asked and answered....