Thinking of pulling the plug on my John Conyers postings

[paineinthearse]

Getting responses is like pulling teeth. It it were not for a handful of "regulars' they would sink into oblivion.

I am at a loss to understand why the one consistant Democratic leader in the areas of Guckert, Election reform, DSM, media, Rove, Cindy, etc etc etc garners relatively little DU response. I've been posting, on average, one per day in the GDP forum, with a pointing link in the JC group.

Take for example the latest, where he is calling for our input on the patriot act. Posted yesterday, it elicited just one reply, and that was from a freeper - see Conyers: PATRIOT Act Abuses - Let me know your thoughts http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2003018&mesg_id=2003018

Same goes with the JC forum. Indended for discussion of this man's works, it has become a repository of links only - see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=340 With so little traffic, it is at risk of being dropped: "Also, a few of the DU Groups do not get very much traffic. In the next week or so, we will go through the Groups and decide which ones should be removed." See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=announcement&id=172

If this post gets any positive replies and/or the JC group sees some traffic, I will resume Sunday or Monday. Until then, go to www.johnconyers.com

Have a good weekend, I'm going canoeing.

[NoFederales]

1. Don't quit; I cannot possibly get around to responding to everything, but

I read, particularly your posts.

NoFederales

[MADem]

40. Yup, and it is summertime as well

Hang in there, things will pick up as the weather gets cooler.

Also, get dramatic with your subject lines, that always helps!

[calimary]

57. Same here, my friend. Don't quit! I'm in much the same boat just now

that NoFederales is in. Don't give up. It's appreciated. And it NEEDS to be kept in front of people's minds. We're just lucky we have vigilant people like you here on these many crucial issues. I keep the Conyers reminder in my sig line, too.

[LaurenG]

2. I think we have been concentrating on Cindy

Don't give up on us. We'll need the info and input. I wish I was going canoeing, enjoy. Until Monday.

[paineinthearse]

6. It's not Cindy, lack of response has been a problem for months.

GDP posts sink and only a handful of dedicated supporters manage to eventually find them.

[sniffa]

8. it's the poster, not the content

[LaurenG]

9. Well I don't know then

Thanks for telling us though. I was unaware. Educate me so I'll know where to look.

[ellenfl]

3. i was not aware that there was a separate forum.

i haven't mastered navigating this place yet. that said, fewer forums might be a good thing. i only have time to look at 'latest' and 'greatest' right now with an ocassional foray into 'florida'.

i have another forum (orchids, not political) and mucho emails from various progressive sites to wade through in my spare time. it's hard to keep up sometimes when you work.

please point me to it so i can add it to my 'favorites'. tia

ellen fl

[paineinthearse]

7. Here is a sample of JC's work, from the first page of the group

The man is prolific, his work deserves a wider audience. I don't know exaxtly what the admins mean by amount of traffic, but our posting frequency is approximately 1 or 2/day, which I would define as "light", thus at risk of losing the forum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=340

Audio - JC interviewed by Harpers' - What Went Wrong in Ohio? paineinthears... Thu Aug-11-05 05:03 PM 0

Keep DU's John Conyers group open paineinthears... Thu Aug-11-05 03:08 PM 0

Congressional support growing for Cindy paineinthears... Thu Aug-11-05 11:03 AM 0

Audio - Rep. Conyers on the Ed Schultz radio show paineinthears... Tue Aug-09-05 06:48 PM 0
Support Cindy paineinthears... Tue Aug-09-05 05:55 PM 0

Why Won't Scooter Libby Grant Judith Miller a Personal Waiver? paineinthears... Tue Aug-09-05 12:06 AM 0

New Confirmation that Libby was a Source for Miller paineinthears... Mon Aug-08-05 05:20 PM 1

Congressman Conyers on Miller and Libby post: understanding... Mon Aug-08-05 04:18 PM 0
more bleak news for * paineinthears... Sun Aug-07-05 10:10 AM 0

Rep. Lee introduces resolution of inquiry on Downing Street Memo paineinthears... Thu Aug-04-05 02:18 PM 0

Coingate: Special Counsel Request paineinthears... Tue Aug-02-05 06:45 PM 0

Fixed intelligence paineinthears... Mon Aug-01-05 02:38 PM 1

JC to * - no pardons for Plame leakers paineinthears... Mon Aug-01-05 11:44 AM 0

Jounralist source protection law paineinthears... Mon Aug-01-05 11:40 AM 0

Coingate paineinthears... Mon Aug-01-05 11:27 AM 2

Conyers: Latest on Downing Street; Help Me Revise and Update the DSM Chron MelissaB Sun Jul-31-05 05:00 PM 0

HJC(d) rovegate efforts summary paineinthears... Tue Jul-26-05 05:33 PM 0
10 week gap paineinthears... Tue Jul-26-05 04:44 PM 0

7/23 conference call audio links paineinthears... Mon Jul-25-05 06:27 PM 0

Will * pardon Rove? paineinthears... Mon Jul-25-05 05:24 PM 0

Conyers supporters, please weigh in on my thread Hippo_Tron Wed Jul-20-05 08:49 AM 1

Don't be distracted paineinthears... Wed Jul-20-05 08:47 AM 0
7/18: 7/24 house party update paineinthears... Mon Jul-18-05 11:44 PM 0

From "SCOOP": Wake Up America! What Went Wrong In Ohio – A Summary autorank Mon Jul-18-05 11:05 PM 1

The Nixon White House Would Blush paineinthears... Mon Jul-18-05 10:59 PM 0

Rovegate and DSM Continue to Converge paineinthears... Mon Jul-18-05 07:16 PM 0

Cheney vs McClellan (in their own words) paineinthears... Mon Jul-11-05 07:34 PM 0

What's Fair Game? New Rove revelations paineinthears... Mon Jul-11-05 07:04 PM 0

Conyers on Rove, 2003 paineinthears... Mon Jul-11-05 07:00 PM 0

London Bombings paineinthears... Fri Jul-08-05 08:02 AM 0

Netanyahu warned before bombing tulsakatz Thu Jul-07-05 02:24 PM 3

Transcript of the Downing Street Minutes Hearing avail in searchable pdf paineinthears... Wed Jul-06-05 10:25 AM 0

JC's letter to *: Rove should explain or resign paineinthears... Wed Jul-06-05 12:11 AM 0

DSM Town Hall meetings July 23 paineinthears... Fri Jul-01-05 01:53 AM 1

[kansasblue]

11. i agree...

I just drop in to 'duscussion forums" and look at what's current.

I don't visit each forum. I got a bunch.

[Ninga]

4. Please do NOT give up! I can only speak for myself, but I am

so overwhelmed with all of the choices on the internet that I am sure I am missing important contributions.

I appreciate your diligence in keep all of us up to date with John Conyers and his wonderful work and dedication to issues other Democrat's give little or no attention.

Enjoy your canoeing........but come back!

[jojo54]

5. Hey paint, don't give up the ship.

I'm not logged on all the time and don't see some of your posts. We all like to be kept up to date. so keep posting.

Now. if we could just get some of these representatives to go stand vigil with Cindy for an hour or so.......

[PurgedVoter]

14. Separate groups for the most part kill a subject.

Put something in a group and it helps to focus the subject. It also kills the circulation. No response means no original article in the long run. If we put Cindy in her own group we will kill the movement in a week. If someone doesn't know about John, they will never learn, he's hidden in a group. If you post in a general area and then have a duplicate link in a group, that would allow focus and general attention. If you really want to kill a group, start with poetry, it is dead dead dead.

[paineinthearse]

16. If someone doesn't know about John, they will never learn, he's hidden in

The practice is to

1. Post in GDP, usually with a title beginning with "John Conyers:..."

2. A "pointer" post is made in the JC group, with a link to GDP.

All one needs to do is go to the JC group, open the ones they have not read, click the link and read (and hopefully comment).

[PurgedVoter]

45. Thanks, will do! NT

[second edition]

10. Don't assume because they're aren't any posts

people aren't reading them.

[lumpy]

27. I read most relevent posts

but don't always post a reply. If it will help I will post a reply to indicate the post was read.

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. I think there are a lot of people reading but not posting a comment.

Please don't give up these JC posts.

Recommended with gratitude for your threads. It's a lot of effort, and it's important. You have consistently kept DU informed of new developments from Conyers as well as from several other key people so we have not missed key new announcements.

[corkhead]

13. Woah!!

I have been reading your posts since I started coming to DU. I had been a lurker for about a year before I started posting. I only recently was able to nominate. I have been taking for granted that I would continue to see his material on DU. It is greatly appreciated, please don't stop.

for every one like me, there must be 10 who probably feel the same way but haven't said so...

Keep 'em coming

:patriot:

[AmBlue]

17. Welcome to DU corkhead

:hi:

And PITA, now that you've smacked me upside the head, I will start paying better attention. Thanks, and don't quit.

[faithnotgreed]

29. good post corkhead - were glad youre here

[paineinthearse]

15. DU mechanics

When a post receives a reply, the date/time stamp is reset it goes back to the top of the heap as the "most recent".

When posts do not receive a reply, they sink and sink and sink.

I never assumed people do not read the JC posts, but be honest, how often do you go to page 2, 3, 4 or beyond searching for them?

[corkhead]

33. good point.

I'll send a kick now and then from now on.

...like this one

[bananas]

56. it would be nice if there was a "most read" sort order

[cally]

18. Wait, wait, wait

Folks read them. I read most and appreciate them. I've posted this before but I often don't post in threads I read. I don't have much to ad. If I see it sinking, then I will kick it. Otherwise, I don't post. I assume others do the same.

I appreciate the Conyer's news. I was going to get to meet him in two weeks but life interfered and I have to give my spot away. He's my hero. He's fought so long. He has such wisdom and perseverence. I know how frustrating it is to not get replies. I rarely get replies to my threads. Sometimes, my most innocuous posts get many replies. I can't figure out what gets folks attention.

[quaoar]

19. I think it depends on when you post a thread

I have started threads sometimes that get just a few responses and fall off the front page. Then, a few hours later someone else starts the exact same thread and it gets 30 responses.

I think it depends a lot on who is around and logged in when you post a thread. You might try posting it at a different time of day. Just a thought.

[nascarblue]

20. Futility

I think the problem is that Conyer's has been blackballed by the media courtesy of the Bush elite. This is no fault of his of course. We can blame the media and the growing group of spineless democrats.

Hasn't anyone else noticed these days that we have a pack of neocons hiding as democrats? i.e. Pryor, Feinstein, Lieberman, Clinton, Biden, etc. The government has moved so far to the right, that what is considered 'centrist' these days is more rightwing than Nixon was.

If COnyer's were just to grab a hold of an issue that he can get institutional support for, I'm afraid he will keep being left out of the loop. An issue that has Greenpeace or the AARP behind him. Not just the rabble rousers.

[ailsagirl]

21. Please don't pull the plug!!!

[electropop]

22. No! We love Conyers!

I have been advocating a Boxer/Conyers ticket in '08. I have read and enjoyed your posts; I hope I have responded, and will try to do more of that in the future.

:woohoo:

[Marnieworld]

23. kicking

Have fun canoeing. You've earned it.

[Toots]

24. A lot don't reply but yet read every one you post

DU used to have a feature that showed how many viewed each post and how many replied. It kept causing problems but it was neat while it lasted. It would be a reasuring feature for you I am certain. Conyers needs to be heard as far and wide as possible so don't stop posting. "That is an Order" :-) and here is a big :thumbsup: for you and your previous posts.

[pat_k]

25. Ask Cindy to connect her questions to questions in Conyer's May 5th letter

We must be creative in getting attention for Conyers work.

For example, do you know anyone close to Cindy? Ask her to tie her questions for Bush to the questions Congressman Conyers (joined by 88 members of Congress and more than 560,000 citizens) demanded answers to on May 5th.

For example, Cindy could expand her key message as follows:

I want to know what my son died for. I am asking the same questions Americans across this country are asking. On May 5, eighty-eight members of Congress and more than half-a-million concerned citizens joined Congressman John Conyers to demand answers to vital questions about this war. Three months later we are all still waiting for answers.

She could also expand the talking points she hits in interviews to tie in demands for an an Impeachment inquiry. For example:

Americans are asking whether the President has committed impeachable offenses; they are asking whether it is a High Crime to "fix the facts" and terrorize the nation with the threat of a mushroom cloud; they are asking whether it is a high crime to use threats of annihilation to coerce the nation into launching a criminal war of aggression.

[ClassWarrior]

26. Go look at the "Postcards for Cindy" thread in GD...

It's only over 100 because RetroLounge and I have been kicking it religiously. Don't let lack of responses discourage you. If the message is a good one that needs to get out - and I think anything from Rep. Conyers qualifies for that - rest assured that there are exponentially more people reading it than kicking it.

NGU.

[faithnotgreed]

28. support those who support us

its a needed kick in the pants

this man should never want for support
he is pretty much the only one consistently taking the brave steps of writing blogging asking and meeting

step up people

thank you paine
and thank you mr conyers

[AuntPatsy]

30. Don't ever doubt that what you post is heard and needed, please.

Its what they want you know, for you to tire of your activism believing that your issues are not being taken seriously, I promise you they are.

Don't give them what they want, then all your past efforts will be wasted..

[understandinglife]

31. Don't stop, please. Many, many more folk read DU posts than respond.

I've learned that by the types of messages I receive through other venues. Keep the information flowing; you are providing a much needed service to all of us. And, whenever I need to find something about Congressman Conyers, the first place I check is the Conyers group listings.


Thank you!

Peace.

[katinmn]

32. Don't give up! We all have times when our posts sink.

Sometimes threads we start are ignored and then someone else will post the same thread the next day and it gets 50 hits or more.

Happens to everybody. It's timing.

I love JC and appreciate your continuing efforts to bring his efforts to the forefront. I confess that I don't post to every thread anymore. Sometimes I just read and nominate.

I do think it's a good idea to take the afternoon off and go canoeing, though. Hard-working activists such as yourself need to take some time to re-charge.:hi:

This is how I like to do it. See you on Sunday PITA!

[Karenina]

34. Please DON'T

I read regularly and don't always kick. Promise to be better about that! :hi::loveya::hi:

[rumpel]

35. In solidarity w JC

[Alizaryn]

36. I read his board daily HOWEVER

After he implemented the technical changes there I have not been able to leave comments! Maybe others are having the same problem? I might be doing something wrong too, I finally gave up.

[Catrina]

37. Alizaryn

I signed up for his blog in the beginning, but like you, I have been unable to make comments since the changes also. I did get an email saying that my registration was complete, but when I try to log on, I get a message that I cannot post under the name I am using. I thought maybe someone else had the same name.

Maybe we should let him know this ~ I just gave up but continued to read ~ in fact I was among those who suggested he go to a registering system ~ ironic, now I can't get in! :-)

PITA, please do not give up ~ I read everything that is related to Conyers but don't always post as I am on dialup and it is extremely slow at times. But I will make the effort to acknowledge having read your posts.

Imo, Rep. Conyers is one of our greatest ~ he is amazing in that he is on every important issue as soon as he can get there ~ I love that man ~ and I so appreciate your posts, PITA ~ it's the least we could do, considering his tireless work on our behalf, to take a few minutes to acknowledge the work he does ~ thank you too for your efforts. Have fun canoeing ~ :-)

[paineinthearse]

39. Try again

I had the same problem after the technical change, but was able to post there today.

[Alizaryn]

47. Great! I just tried to re-register, hope it works.

If it does I will post something in regards to this situation having affected 3 of us (that I know of) from DU. Maybe they will leave a message on the homepage letting people know that there WAS a problem but it has been repaired?

[paineinthearse]

66. there was a couple weeks ago.

Originally anybody could post, so the site got a lot of spam from freepers. They added the registration feature which caused posting problems, then posted a message saying the posting problem had been fixed.

If problem persists, email the webmaster.

[sendero]

38. Please consider..

... that some posts get read but not necessarily replied to.

I like hearing what Conyers is up to, I keep hoping more Dems will follow his lead. But I don't necessarily have anything to add, so I don't reply.

This points up a "flaw" in the way this (and almost all) bulletin board works. Replies cause an increase in popularity but not views.

It would be technically pretty easy to remedy that, but it would use up server "bandwidth" to do the calculations, so it will probably never happen.

In the future, I will try to add some kind of reply, even if it is just a "kick" or "bump" to keep good threads alive.

[tk2kewl]

41. Don't!

I read them. I don't respond too often but JC is one of the most important elements of our opposition to these bastards and I always want to hear what he has to say.

[Griffy]

42. I changed my avatar for JC.. I been to hearings in DC ..

and he has 110% of my support! We cant respond to everything everyday, but I check his website several times a week, we are here.. we dont always write... but we are reading and watching, so please dont stop! We need you, we are all doing our part!

Be the Media!!

[NoFederales]

44. Absolutely, be the media!

NoFederales

[Dr Fate]

43. I'll help you keep them kicked from now on.

Dont stop posting your great info.

[ScamUSA.Com]

46. *sniff* "noones replying to my threads" *sniff*

gimme a break canoe boy

[Beam Me Up]

50. Your imature reply says nothing good about you, you know.

:eyes:

[ScamUSA.Com]

51. lol I know.

it was actually kind of a joke

[Beam Me Up]

48. I'm sorry paineinthearse! I'm just overwhelemed with so many things to

read here at DU and so much stuff that has to be done in my life. Like many people here, I think, we have a hard time keeping up with it all. Please don't assume that we aren't interested or don't read -- but clearly we can't read everything.

Thanks for posting the JC information!

BMU

[Vinca]

49. I've decided you can't get in a snit if people don't respond on this board

Why? Because there are so many people here and so many posts it moves F-A-S-T. That's both a good and a bad thing. Mostly good. Keep posting. If nothing else it's cathartic and there's always the odd chance a person in a position to cause change might be moved by your post.

[goodhue]

52. Don't stop

It is sad fact that positive posts sink, and that flamebait rises. Still one must not stop posting great content like your Conyers posts.

[slay]

53. I try to post whenever I see a good John Conyers thread- He's done so much

in standing up for us all in the name of freedom, justice, and fairness. But I know what you mean. I posted to this EXCELLENT Conyers thread you started yesterday even though it only got 5 responses --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=388649&mesg_id=388649 Kinda sad. :(

*edited for better clarity

[Lerkfish]

54. people don't respond to my threads a lot, too, BUT what you're doing

is vitally important. Don't stop.

[Eloriel]

55. Don't quit -- here's the deal

I'm on DU less than I used to be (sorta), but even when I'm here for HOURS in a day, I still miss it most of the time, but when I do see it I value it greatly (and will try to make a point of posting in it to say that hereafter).

I'm on, I've got 3 or 4 DU windows open, I'm posting and posting, and posting some more... and I still miss it.

Don't give up, it's like talking to a parade here, ya know?

[jillan]

58. PITA - I LOVE your post about Conyers!

I don't have time to go to every board that I want to go onto.

That's why I enjoy being on DU, because people post from all different blogs.

John Conyers is awesome. I always read your posts, even if I don't reply.

And I appreciate that you keep us informed on what the #1 democrat is doing now, because he is always on top of everything.

This is for you :hug:
so don't stop posting DAMMIT!

[Dinger]

59. Don't Go

It does suck when John Conyers has done so much - thanks to him, a lot of the shit in Ohio has been in the media - Anybody read "What Went Wrong In Ohio"? Aesome, just awesome, just like my hero, John Conyers.

[zulchzulu]

60. Keep us posted...your efforts are noticed and noted

With everything going on these days, it is just absolutely overwhelming sometimes between life outside of DU and catching up on DU.

[symbolman]

61. You have to post "Is COnyers GAY?"

"Did COnyers EAT A LIVE BABY?", etc, etc..

SO many "Look at me!" posts actually that actual news gets crowded out.. in a way it reminds me that the Media is part of the human condition, that we are creatures that want STIMULATION and are willing to eat junk food and fill up with JUNK info..

Fat, Salt and Lies seem to sell really well..

I've been working on Video, to get the word out so that people who want them can play them over and over and SHARE what Conyers has discovered or called panels over..

Been sick the past couple of days, but am very close to finishing off the "Rove's War" Dvd which will combine, Conyers June 16th DSMemos, Wexler's hearing, DSM town hall stuff, etc.. all into one big video that will lay it all on the line so that anyone can "get it" because it's such an intensely complex web of lies and deceit..

Like in my flash works I like to take complex subjects that are overarching and important and make them digestable :)

Hopefully when I launch the DVD we'll get some more info going on with one of my Heroes in DC..

Keep the posts coming, let's all give them a kick when we see them?

Thanks paine

[KoKo]

62. I didn't know there was a seprate Conyers Forum here...sorry...but

I understand some of your concern. I think it's hard for many folks to see Conyers, Waxman constantly writing letters to Chimp and having them ignored...and holding hearings and being pushed into basment of Capitol and fighting for us by releasing info on "Raw Story" when the Media who should take the lead for Conyers and our FIGHTERS in the Dem Party like Washington Post and New York Times ignore EVERYTHING the Black Caucus, and Waxman, Boxer and the few others who support us activists on the Left ignore everything they say or do.

Newcomers to DU want to see more action. They gravitate to the newest story and figure that if something isn't the "Lead Article" every day then it's hard to understand why it's worth a bother. Some of us who have been here awhile try our best to keep up with it all, but it's hard to keep up that fight to keep kicking articles and posting about Conyers, Waxman, and the others when the life cycle of a news story or article about their efforts is about two days at max.

Also it's Summer and some are away, and Cindy Sheehan and other stories about Chimp are breaking fast and hard.

It's just too much info hitting us all at once. But, going canoeing is probably good. I wish to hell I could get away from all of it...it would be healthy..:-(.

Anyway, thanks for posting the reminder that we should be paying more attention to those who are working so hard for us. Not sure what we can add by going onto Conyers Blog or posting in the Forum here on DU....but you make a point that we have maybe been "slackers" on this.

I hope we can do better.

[KoKo]

63. BTW: Just because you don't see responses doesn't mean that

"WE" are not reading. I've read probably all your posts...I'm here alot...and there are a HUGE amount of Lurkers. Not everyone can keep up fervor...but what's posted here gets passed everywhere and inspires many that you or I would never realize or know about.

Getting answers on DU can be discouraging at times...but the inspiration isn't ignored. At least that's been my experience, for what it's worth.

[democracy1st]

64. Keep up the good work

Don't quit we love John Conyers working on getting more people involved in his website/movement as we speak.

[DemReadingDU]

65. I'm a reader of the Conyers forum

and other forums, but I don't post much, anywhere. The Conyers forum is another place for me to read about Conyers and the things he is working on. Please don't quit, maybe this reminder will help generate more traffic to the Conyers forum. I do appreciate your time and effort involved in keeping up the forum. Thank you!