Thinking of donating, but something is stopping me....

[HardWorkingDem]

I'm getting very offended at how some of those with high post numbers treat those with lower post numbers and how often disloyalty innuendos are tossed at people who offer any criticism toward the Dem party. For the past several years I have come to believe that the best way to improve is to constantly examine what is going wrong or how things can be improved and to go from there. And if something on our side needs criticism and examination, then so be it. This is not to say that I believe in harmful self-cannibalization the Democratic community.

I don't know what the average age of DU posters is, but this is especially offensive because I am a lifelong Dem with unwavering support when it comes to Democratic beliefs and causes.

I am leaning toward making a donation, but the constant pointing out of low post numbers and integrity innuendos is getting old. And to be frank, I'd rather read someone with a few hundred meaningful posts than follow someone with 1,000 posts of "kick" or "nt".

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. Here's my problem though. You stated the problem then added to

it by making allusions to the average age of a DU poster. My age is 35. I take everyone at face (not post count) value. If a person has ten posts and 9 of them are disruptive, one cannot blame the red flags.

Make a donation...or don't. It's your decision. Don't base it on the behavior of others. You only add to the problem.

Good luck and belated welcome to DU. :hi:

[SixStrings]

2. Agree 100%

It seems your opinion is is only as good as your post count. How in the hell does someone get over a 1000 posts anyway? Does anybody work or have a life?

[K-W]

8. Thats a massive exageration.

As for your childish attack on people who frequent DU...

[SixStrings]

16. Thanks for the proving the above...nt

[K-W]

20. My post has nothing to do with the above.

But thanks for trying to divert attention from your own words.

[expatriot]

30. So we're suppose to use kid gloves on low post counts?

When you make such a sweeping generalization and thow bombs at all DUers with over a 1000 posts? Um, it's not that hard. Especially when you have been a member for a long time.


Do you have any examples to this discrimination against people with low post counts?

[Mizmoon]

9. donating helps

And it only takes some time to raise your count so concentrate on that. Soon you'll be a 1000+ poster too.

[sui generis]

19. Here's how:

I have two systems in front of me now - 17 windows open on one and four on the other. Only one of them is DU.

I close down anything I'm not working in, including DU.

That leaves the remaining 21 windows open for real work, $$ work, home work, work work, DU work, other work, some more work, and keeping up with the news.

Multitasking.

Over the years it has made me brilliant, wise, benign, powerful, malicious, benevolent, cranky, saintly, occasionally incoherent, and oh, don't forget sarcastic! Mostly incoherent and sarcastic.

Try it instead of knocking it - it's not as hard as it sounds.

:hi:

[nookiemonster]

24. It can be done.

It took me 14 months, because of a job and a "life".

:silly:

[ScreamingMeemie]

32. I have a wonderful life...that includes not judging others by either

high or low post count. You? :shrug:

[Vickers]

3. So don't contribute. I mean, I wish everybody WOULD, but hey.

I originally contributed so I could do author searches, so that I could help weed out disruptive freepers.

I don't treat folks with low post numbers any differently than folks with high post numbers...I've only been here 1.5 years myself, and I'm not even a lifelong Dem!

:P

[Al-CIAda]

4. nt.

'kick'

[NMDemDist2]

5. the behavior you mention is strictly against DU Rules

" Do not publicly accuse another member of this message board of being a disruptor, conservative, Republican, FReeper, or troll, or do not otherwise imply they are not welcome on Democratic Underground. If you think someone is a disruptor, click the "Alert" link below their post to let the moderators know.

Do not draw negative attention to the fact that someone is new, has a low post count, or recently became a member of Democratic Underground. Do not insinuate that because someone is new, they are a troll or disruptor.".......

" Constructive criticism of Democrats or the Democratic Party is permitted. When doing so, please keep in mind that most of our members come to this website in order to get a break from the constant attacks in the media against our candidates and our values. Highly inflammatory or divisive attacks that echo the tone or substance of our political opponents are not welcome here.

You are not permitted to use this message board to work for the defeat of the Democratic Party nominee for any political office. If you wish to work for the defeat of any Democratic candidate in any General Election, then you are welcome to use someone else's bandwidth on some other website. "

If you notice such behavior, please click the "Alert" button so the moderators can take the appropriate action.

Thank you.

[K-W]

6. The Dem party is critisized non stop on this forum.

So Im not sure what you are talking about with that issue.

[sui generis]

7. don't let the postcards from the edge keep you from enjoying the middle

they are always going to be there and they are always going to be annoyed at everything that isn't out there with them.

Heck, I'm out there myself on Tuesdays before coffee and all day Friday. ;)

[Skinner]

10. That behavior is not permitted.

Our rules are very clear that picking on new people or making an issue of someone's post count is not permitted. When someone does that to you, I strongly suggest that you click the alert link so the moderators can be made aware of it. They will remove such posts if they know about them.

We don't expect anyone to donate if they are not happy with Democratic Underground. Donating is entirely voluntary.

I understand that many people hold me accountable for the behavior of other people on my website -- While it is not always fair, it is understandable since I am the administrator. But I hope people will at least keep two things in mind:

1) My position on the appropriateness of this behavior is clear. It is spelled out in the rules.

2) This is a huge website, and we get over 20,000 new messages posted every day. It is simply not possible to catch every inappropriate post in a timely manner.

Skinner
DU Admin

[kentuck]

11. I am constantly looking for newbies....

who can contribute. It doesn't matter how many posts you have...just look at mine! :)

[Stephanie]

12. Who's twisting your arm?

You're under no obligation to donate - you can use DU for free if you like.

[KyndCulture]

13. it took a year for me to reach 1000 posts on DU

and no one has ever been mean to me because of my post count. EVER. I think that is a sad exageration.

[alarcojon]

23. Similar story here

I have never had trouble of the sort the OP describes, nor have I ever felt like I couldn't express criticism of the Democratic party.

[ultraist]

31. Same here! In fact, people were very friendly and welcoming to me

[Old Vet]

14. Relax, There are more who dont care about the #s...............

But rather the message. Try not to get caught in that rut, I get tons of good information and alot of laughs from many of the posters, I dont even notice how many they have.

[ClassWarrior]

15. I don't think anyone here has a problem with criticism and debate...

The problem is trolls who trash our side and try to disguise it as criticism and debate.

NGU.

[spacelady]

17. I agree that some of what you are saying occurs, but since

the good vibes and good information overwhelmingly outweighs the occasional negative, I will be donating today.

[zalinda]

18. There are only certain ones who

throw their weight around. Just expect it, it happens in all walks of life. Ignore them and they'll leave you alone. They have strong opinions and think that theirs is the only one's who matter. But, there are also higher numbers who are very rational, so it balances itself out in the end.

zalinda

PS And, yeah, some of them have no life but this.

[merh]

21. You have to understand, the "outside" forces have been trying

their best to be disruptive over the last couple of weeks because Cindy Sheehan and the energy her efforts has provided scares the heck out of the "other side".

Everyone is leary of the new posters as many come here just to be disruptive. They always have and they always will be, that is just the way it is. You have to prove yourself to DU, not the other way around. This is a community of involved, caring people and most don't have the time or patience to put up with the silliness of the hateful right. If you want to belong, then make that effort, if you don't, then don't.

Donate or don't donate, that is up to you. But judgmental, silly posts about the community without knowing the community or understanding the reasons behind the "distrust" seems to be a rather juvenile way to seek understanding and acceptance. IMHO (In my honest opinion.)

Welcome to DU - try to get along and you just might get along. We don't have group think, but we do try to be respectful. :hi:

[movie_girl99]

22. i agree to a certain extent

it has taken me a year to get to 900+. I have seen a few people get to 1000 in weeks or months by posting "you rock" or "great post" and yeah it bugged me but donating not only supports this site which is incredibly informative but it allows you to use the search option which is awesome.

[lukasahero]

25. I see the welcoming committe has come out to greet you. ;)

"So do or don't, we don't care". Nice way to encourage the new guy folks. :eyes:

Hey HardWorkingDem, welcome to DU. I would encourage you to donate if you feel the overall mission of the board is something you support. Posters are individuals and Skinner et al can't "make" everybody behave courteously all the time.

Re: picking on low post counts, you'd think we'd learn by now to ignore the count since we've been burned by a few high-count posters here recently. Post content matters, post count is irrelevent.

I would suggest you acquire a pretty thick skin though especially if you feel strongly about things. Think of it this way, the someone who's slamming you probably feels just as strongly about their position as you do of yours. I think that passion is part of what makes us liberals. :hi:

[Stephanie]

28. HardWorkingDem says he is attacked due to his low post count

But he gives no examples. I sincerely doubt that it is his post count that is lining people up against him, but more likely it is something he said.

[ultraist]

26. I've donated to help keep this site going

My donation really had nothing to do with other posters. I appreciate the fact that Skinner has a lot of costs and time invested in keeping this site going and he's done an excellent job!

Although, he generously offers use of this site for free, he also depends on our donations to cover costs.

BTW, with 75,000+ people posting, I expect there to be many posts I don't agree with!

[expatriot]

27. My response:

First of all, let me welcome you to DU and tell you that DU is an amazing place with tens of thousands of users that is only defined by the composite contributions of those tens of thousands of users. I hope you decide to contribute to the upkeep of such an awesome place.


On the low post count thing, I don't necessarily see it but then I again I may not notice it. If it does exist, I guess you can see it as an "initiation thing" and realize the unfortunate reality of an ongoing and sometimes highly sophisticated "troll war" that DU is engaged in with freerepublic.com.


As to your second point, IMO there is a fine line between being critical of the Democratic Party and making "baseball bat to the knees" comments whose only purpose is to undermine the party.

For example (now of course this is only my opinion and I am not trying to claim it is DU policy, etc.), while I think it is perfectly legitimate to engage in debate about whether the DLC has too much influence in the DP amoong the leadership and what alternatives to the DLC is out there, it is quite another to make sweeping, bomb-throwing comments to the effect of "DLCers are Republicans in Democrat's clothing and if they don't leave the party, I am going to. I am going to join the Greens!" I think healthy debates about the role the DLC has within the party and health discussion about its alternatives is essential and central to the ongoing discussions that DU should be having, I just get my back up when it turns into (which I have also seen) "If the Democratic Party doesn't adopt a progressive platform I am leaving the party!"

As for the average age of a DU, it is in their late 40's believe it or not with the mode age group being in their 50's. (I did an infamous poll a few months back with like I forget how many votes. like 600 or so.

[1gobluedem]

29. I donated before I even joined DU...

...my sister had told me about it and I got such joy from reading the Top Ten Idiots that the minute she told me DU was fundraising, I sent a check.

I joined about six months later. I've been on DU for almost two years and don't have 1000 posts yet but no one has ever tried to make me feel inferior because of it. I firmly believe that if there is something that makes you go to DU every day or even every week then you derive some benefit and you should contribute to that unless you absolutely cannot afford it. Our donations keep this vital site active and running smoothly. So what if you don't agree with every single thing. Who does?

Long live DU. My donation is coming!

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

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

[Moderator]

34. Locking.....

A question has been asked and answered.
If a member feels he/she is being harassed
because of his/her post count, that
person should click the alert button
and the moderators will take care of
the situation.

A friendly reminder to all...

If you think a new person is a disruptor,
please do not confront him/her publicly
because this is a rule violation. Please
use the alert feature to notify the
moderators.


Thank you.