Troll headache

[LiberalEsto]

Why are a few people being so NASTY on some parts of DU lately?

I used to like the Environment/Energy forum, but now there are a few pro-nuclear people who are outright rude and ugly to people with whom they disagree.

GD-P is a nightmare -- I haven't gone there for months.

And the discussion on the FLDS children is unbelievable -- I can't fathom how a few people who are DU members actually defend raping children.

Thank Goddess for all of you wonderful people here on the Astrology, Spirituality forum! This is a peaceful, loving respite from the ugly that's happening on other parts of DU.

Bless you all!

:loveya:

[Celebration]

1. Well, we have had our moments

Everything seems semi peaceful in the last few days. Interesting because Health hasn't had a vaccine war in about a week or so. Another week of that and it may break a record. Stella suggested cooking for complete solace. Economy has disagreements, but they haven't been unpleasant. I only get to GDP through the greatest page sometimes.

Anyway, I too appreciate all the peaceful, loving people here.

:grouphug:

[stellanoir]

3. Not a lot of rancor in the Gardening group either.

"vaccine war" Yikes.

I too am pleased that things have settled down in here.

:grouphug: indeed

[BlueIris]

2. Well, some trolls get paid to troll. So they're always acting up even when the rest of us

are actually pretty calm.

I think there will be some lingering nastiness between both the Obama myrmidons and the Clinton worshipers for quite some time, so I'm not anticipating a break there anytime soon.

[saracat]

4. Well yesterday I was told I was garbage for being a "feminist" and even considering my rights an

issue while there was a "war" on. Naturally I was told this by a "male" poster! I saw the posts supporting the "child rape" and almost vomited. I do not recognize DU and I am not sure what it means to be a Democrat anymore.I find myself more and more revolted by what I encounter and what I read.I wish these folks were trolls.Unfortunately they are not.

[LiberalEsto]

5. Same thing happened to me in 1970

when folks at my college were planning a strike to protest the Vietnam War. We were listing the issues we wanted to support.
The guys thought it was okay to support the farmworkers' lettuce boycott in addition to opposing the war. But the feminists got chewed out for DARING to insist that womens' rights be included as one of our issues. How dared we insist on our petty little rights when there was a WAR going on?
A whole bunch of us women walked out on that meeting.

Some things never change, and you can always expect that women's issue will land at the bottom of the list unless we assert ourselves.

[southerncrone]

8. I echo your wondering

of "what it means to be a Democrat anymore". Sadly, I feel that with the exception of just a handful of Democratic members of Congress, our party has become the Republican Party of old. This "nastiness" is a prime example of this. Let's face it, we've been Republicaned-up by those who feel we have to play ball like they do, to win elections. Democrats use to "debate intelligently & respectfully".

And the Republican Party of today is now the Racist-Chauvinist-Selfish-Fundie Party. I presently don't feel like we have a REAL Democratic Party like we did in the '60's & '70's, or even the '80's.

Our Progressive views are basically ignored by those in positions to make a difference. If a TRUE Progressive Party were to evolve, I'd quickly jump ship to them.

Agree w/you that unfortunately many of these "attackers" are not trolls, just mean-spirited individuals.

This group is a reprieve, thankfully. Peace to you all.

[Grateful for Hope]

6. The FLDS issue is particularly troubling to me

I am amazed that anyone who makes it apparent by his/her posts that it is ok to rape very young girls/boys is not banned.

[Matariki]

9. That's horrible

I haven't seen those posts - or I've managed to happily ignore them completely.

Is it the same old 'social relativism' crowd (the ones that always pop up in discussions about Islamic fundamentalism)? Or just folks cautioning an 'innocent before proven guilty' approach to the media?

[Grateful for Hope]

10. Not sure what you mean about "social relativism"

as I have my own thoughts about Islamic fundamentalism and it's "reality" and just how much that "reality" has been used to justify illegal wars.

The posts I have seen are of the "good ol' misogyny" variety.

[Matariki]

11. People cite social relativism to excuse things that ought to be considered human rights violations.

For instance the way women are treated in Saudi Arabia. A social relativist will claim we can't judge the way women are treated there by our own culture's standards.

I understand cultural sensitivity, but using it as an excuse for misogyny or other types of human rights abuse just doesn't fly.

[Grateful for Hope]

12. I couldn't agree with you more, Kineta.

And, yes, I think I have seen this excuse used for this particular atrocity.

[rumpel]

7. I'm with you. All I hope is that the attention of DU

by the trolls will be done with after the elections...

I notice in many of the forums there are new names, I do not recognize fighting each other. Familiar names are rare to spot...

I feel sorry for those who are now mods at GDP & GD. It is tabloidaization, childish and no longer a discussion worth reading.

If any of these trolls are proven to be actually paid operatives from any of the campaigns - as my gut tells me - even as a voting reform activist, I am seriously considering not to vote.

As we accelerate in time, karma appears to be instant, too. much will be revealed.