A plea for some civility in here

[Jonte_1979]

As you may or may not have noticed, there have been plenty of deleted posts in this forum lately. This is unfortunate.

The tone in here has gotten really bad in the past eight or so months and, sadly, it only seems to be getting worse.

This forum was not intended as a free-for-all slugfest. Just bacause the rules for starting a discussion in here are a bit less strict than in General Discussion, does not mean that posting blatant flame bait and the calling out of other posters is permissable. Just because somebody says something unflattering about your preferred candidate does not give you the right to call that person "a big poopy head". If you find that one of your posts have been deleted it is usually for a good reason. Don't expect to get a personal message from the moderators every time one of your posts get yanked, because we simply don't have the time for that.

In closing, I want urge you all to please read and re-read these rules: http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html

Let's work together to make this forum a friendlier place for all!

Thanks for reading this!

Sincerely,

Jonathan Andrén -
DU Moderator

[Jonte_1979]

1. Kick

:kick:

[Jonte_1979]

2. Kick

:kick:

[Punkingal]

3. Kick.

:kick:

[DannyRed]

4. Good luck.

This board has become disgusting, childish, and really really divisive.

I think it should be closed for a week.

The level of dispiriting rancor, bile, vitriol, backstabbing, spinning, lying, gotcha, and other forms of political suicide is nearly deafening.

If we lose the upcoming election, I hope that some on this board take a good, long, sorrowful look at the archives as they contemplate the next four years of Bush.

[1monster]

6. I have to admit that I spend loads less time reading DU than in the past

two and a half years since I first discovered it...

I have been greatly disappointed in some folks whose posts I used to look for in the past.

[Punkingal]

5. Kick

:kick:

[Punkingal]

7. kick

:kick:

[quinnox]

8. my two cents

I read this board a lot, and I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary than what I have seen in the past. Sure, there have been a few ultra-flame bait threads posted but that isn't unusual, and they were locked anyways.

I always try to be civil, but I really haven't noticed a lack of civility myself. Maybe some are more thin-skinned than I am, *shrug*.

[blm]

15. Personal insults should be verboten...on any forum.

Flamebait in P&C is pretty silly.

I like that some of the longtime posters in rival camps are pretty good at teasing each other without being too mean. A sense of humor helps.

[DrFunkenstein]

9. Remember The Days Of Dean/Kerry/Kucinich Peace Threads?

It's amazing what polarization can accomplish in a few short months.

[goobergunch]

10. Hear, hear.

I always try to use this board for non-Presidential race discussions. However, it's getting harder and harder to do that now with all the flame-fests.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

11. Thank you.

Well, at least, "experience herding cats" might look good on your resume...

[TahitiNut]

14. It's not as obscure as you might think.

[Punkingal]

12. kick

:kick:

[Punkingal]

13. kick

:kick:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. Perhaps we could even go beyond civility - to mutual respect.

Isn't that one of our core values? Respect for diversity? Not just diversity in skin color or ethnic backgrounds, but diverse beliefs, opinions and viewpoints. That is our greatest strength. That is how we can beat the Republicans. By being the party where YOUR views can have a seat at the table. Being the party that can be tolerant of differences of opinion. A party of consensus not command.

Maybe I'm writing and asking too much...

[Padraig18]

17. You're not asking too much.

But what you are asking means people with divergent views on some issues--- people who also call themselves Democrats--- will be at the same table not simply for purposes of listening, but for purposes of speaking and voting as well.

[burr]

18. well stated...but civility is a two-way street.

I admire peacemakers and all who take the civil approach to politics. But I and others do not participate on this forum to be diplomats. We participate in this forum so we can present our political views directly and clearly, and so that we can read the views of other Democrats..allowing us to compare our views.

This allows us to become educated on other views held by online Democrats, it allows us to have a dialogue about the importance of these views on the future, and yes..it does allow for conflict between Democrats on the defining principles of our party. I try to stick to the issues being debated, but personal insults or name calling are things that I grow tired alerting the moderators about..

I realize moderators have a great deal of responsibility on their plates. But an individual cannot post if this person knows that personal insults against him or her will be ignored, but fair responses to these personal insults will likely be deleted.

In closing...you can choose to be as undiplomatic as you wish, but so can we.

[panther]

21. Precisely

Everyone may have differing opinions, or beliefs, but that's no reason to be hateful. No one is served well by it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. kick

:kick:

[CWebster]

20. Take a glance down the attack threads,

almost exclusively targeting Dean and look at some of the names posted here on this thread demanding courtesy and respect - as if they were the models of civility.

LOL!

If you criticize Dean for a legitimate purpose, no problem, but when you look to pile on and sling mud only to prop up your favorite, don't be surprised when the arrows come back.

[Padraig18]

22. Thank you!

To many here, 'civility' is defined as 'shut up when we pile on Dean'.

[unfrigginreal]

23. Nail meet head!

targeting Dean and look at some of the names posted here on this thread demanding courtesy and respect - as if they were the models of civility.

Too funny!