I'm not going into GD for a very long time

[curse10]

It just makes me want to puke every time I go in there.

The sad thing is, is that it also makes me think twice about becoming a democrat. When I was involved with my local socialist party we never pulled the shit that goes on in GD. Even though we didn't have a chance in hell to win, we at least got behind our candidate without infighting.

I've been accosted more than once for who I support. People I once respected on this board are people I wouldn't give the time of day now. I won't even bother to read their posts in the lounge.

I just hope DU is an oddity and this is not a nationwide democrat problem. Because if it is, then we have no chance in winning back the white house in 2004.

[GOPisEvil]

1. I go over there...but I am VERY selective about what I read.

I stay out of all that candidate bullshit.

:hi:

[arwalden]

12. The Candidate Bullshit Disturbs Me Too...

... I try not to look at those threads, but I'm not always successful. It's like trying NOT to look at a car accident.

In their hearts, I'm sure they all mean well... but I think the ferocity of some will end up causing more hurt feelings and resentment that will linger.

Where's Pollyanna when you need her?

-- Allen

[eyesroll]

2. I think it's more of an Internet thing than just a DU thing

Some people believe that the cloak of anonymity gives them license to be jerks.

DU seems to be a magnet for this type of behavior recently. I don't know if it's because we're all just so frustrated at the condition this country's in, or if it's just genuine nastiness.

At least in my area, local Democratic gatherings can result in vigorous debate, but I've never seen name-calling, fight-picking or any other bad behavior.

[Kolesar]

8. Good point about the Internet. They don't have to look you in the eye.

I recommend using the ignore feature. I only have two users on ignore. I must admit that the signal-to-noise ratio in GD is so low that I cannot tune it in. I take a quick look at one of the threads and then leave. Politics/Campaigns is not much better.

[vi5]

3. It's a variety of factors I think....

Not the least of which is the fact that the internet has emboldened every half-witted yahoo in the country to think to themselves that everyone in the world wants to hear what THEY have to say and those that don't can be yelled at and insulted because it's faceless.

Factor in the fact that a lot of younger, immature people are actually more computer savvy than a lot of older folks and you get the aforementioned false courage coupled with an immature know it all attitude and it's a deadly combination.

It's hard not to take it seriously but ultimatley that's what we need to do.

[meegbear]

4. Don't leave GD ...

stand up to them. I refuse to let "THEM" take over this board.

[salin]

17. lol

perfect example of the problem. There is a "THEM" and they try to take "US" over. :eyes: Worse yet, each group seems to claim stake to this same exact thing - whooooooboy place the blame elsewhere - throw a stone in the mirror so one can't see the reflection and let the fight continue. :shrug:

[Japhy_Ryder]

5. Go into some of the issues forums

Much better chance of getting into a real conversation about an issue, rather than the flame wars of GD

[bowens43]

6. As Will Rogers once said.....

"We don't belong to an organized political party, we're Democrats."

Right now everyone is passionate about their favorite candidate. When a nominee is selected we, for the most part, will be as passionate in
supporting the nominee. I would much rather see the dialog (although it occasionally goes over the edge) that I see here, then blind agreement or no dialog. You say in the socialist party you got behind your candidate without infighting, so will we ,when we have a candidate.

There is a difference between the primaries and the general election.

[blm]

7. For me, I just feel the need to counter the falsehoods

that have been spread with such impunity. So many stories have been planted about Kerry for over 30 years by GOP operatives, that many younger people accept the characterizations of him without an inkling that they are rooted in the Nixon White House.

Many newsrooms still approach any Kerry story with the angle of "phony" that was planted over 30 years ago by Donald Segretti, and cultivated by his proteges, Atwater and Rove. Alot of the young people here and those who are new to politics have no idea what lies behind many of the negative portrayals of Kerry.

[GalleryGod]

10. Agree. Little Donny Segretti keeps on ticking.

Tricky's Dead;Mitchell's in Hell's Boneyard, so is his Drunk,Druggie wife, Martha;Haldeman? Gone! BUT- the old USC "Ratfuckers":evilfrown:
keep on rolling.

[NashVegas]

9. GD Is Crawling With ..

Professional disruptors

Professional victims

Single-issue posters AND OF COURSE THEY ARE RIGHT!!!!!!

People who need to make it all about mememememememe

and other assorted freaks.

Sure it's been building for awhile, IMO, it's only recently that the signal: noise ratio's gotten out of hand. I haven't gone in there for almost a week and feel pretty good about it.

I spent a lot of time in a web-based game with 40-60k players, heavily social and political with alliances and everything. The experience taught me to recognize an organized and/or purposeful disruption when I see it. If I were a mod I'd be the biggest and most ruthless Nazi GD ever saw.

[SoCalDem]

20. I pretty much stay away too..

Between all the candidate stuff and the conspiracy stuff, it makes my head hurt..:)

It would be nice if there was a daily thread there for each candidate and only supporters could reply.. Everyone would be so comfy in their own little world, that the rest of us could actually concentrate on stuff that's going on NOW...

Each candidate has his/her own little band of supporters, and that's great, but the back and forth nastiness is uncalled for..

Maybe once a candidate has been chosen, things will calm down and we can focus again..:)

Here's hoping :)

I think lots of people have just quit posting because it's too frustrating:(

[ArkDem]

11. If you go by the total number of votes

cast for president in 2000, DU represents around .0003 % of the electorate.

[arwalden]

13. Regarding Your Kerry Banner Graphic...

Those early pictures barely look like him at all. Here's who I see at first glance.

Opey Taylor
Gomer Pyle
John Davidson
Bobby Sherman
John Kerry

[Wickerman]

14. It sounds wild over there

I have perused the threads and it does seem pretty wicked. I am not certain I get it. This is pretty much all Deomcrats here, right? We all want to get Bushy out of office I am certain. Why so much vitriol? I guess you guys ask each other that all the time, but its strange to see everyone beatign up on each other because soemone supports the wrong Democrat pre-primary

edit - cool, I got the html to work

[Cheswick2.0]

16. we are a tough bunch

we're just practicing

[Wickerman]

26. Bwaa haa haa

loved your sig line! Yeah, I can't wait until the campaign!

[salin]

15. Even beyond the tone

which is undoubtedly more grating, to me, than ten hands running their finger nails - simultaneously - down a chalkboard, is the total attention to the candidate threads - be it the "halelluah about my candidate" or the "taunt, taunt, taunt to x candidates fans". Some substance threads drop even faster than they did before.

How are we to be able to effectively use issues convince nonvoters and voters about the dangers of bushco and the advantages of progressive candidates (local, federal, as well as presidential), if we stop paying attention to what bushco and the GOP is doing policy wise.

Do we forget that this (mis)administration has a three year record of mounting multiple fronts on our system? Right now - for example - they just lifted the ban on selling PCB poisoned land, they have rewritten polluting laws, they are pushing hard for their Cheney-energy bill that gives BILLIONS to the energy industry (more debt, anyone?) while trying to change overtime laws, relax pension requirements, further allow media consolidation.... and a gazillion other things.

Just a little attention to the ill being done today, in balance with the fight to prevent more ill being done in the next four years, is important. Can't fight what you don't see. Can't turn into a campaign issue what we don't notice.

*sigh*

It is so much more fun to reprint an item trashing Clark from a disreputable site (example of the taunting thread), or to declare the race over before the first primary/caucus vote is taken (example of the halellujah thread), and to take up arms/snide comments and basic sniping on those threads. :(

[FlaGranny]

19. The constrast between Democrats

and Republicans is striking in this regard. The Republican bosses pick their man and the Republican masses take up the banner. For some reason, Democrats are cut from a different cloth. We think we need to pick our candidate or at least have a hand in deciding who it is. We really are a diverse lot and we really do fight a lot more amongst ourselves than the Republicans do. I like to think it is because we are independent enough to not want to be told what to think.

But, I'm with some of the rest of you - I no longer even read any thread with a candidate's name in it. Even if it starts out informatively, it will always end up with useless taunts and bashing. I don't need that middle school behavior.

[salin]

23. So you have clearly spent

time in a middle school as an adult (as have I) - yep pretty familiar behavior ;-)

[FlaGranny]

24. I haven't spent much time

in a middle school, only long enough for teacher conferences and stuff and the usual parent activities and when my kids were middle schoolers, they had friends. That was plenty enough to know what middle schoolers are like. ;-)

Kids are so nice up until they are about 12 years old, then they turn into monsters until they are about 15. Then they start to settle down into more normal human beings after that. I think they blame it on "hormones." May we have too many hormones around here. ;-)

[Blue_Chill]

18. What the hell did you expect?

The candidates are battling for the nomination and their supporters are out there fighting for their guy. This is healthy behavior if you ask me.

The real disgusting stuff will happen after the Dem is picked and people start running to third parties.

[ulysses]

21. I'm probably

someone's idea of what's wrong with GD - but I do so love that forum...:7

Don't like it? Just ignore it.

[Forkboy]

22. The reason you were able to get behind your candidate

without the infighting is because,as you say,you didn't have chance in hell to win.Right now most people feel their candidate does have a chance to win so you're seeing a healthy,if at times ugly,battle to do so.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

25. If the reasonable people stay out of GD, it will only be more unreasonable

Sometimes you have to fight for unity.