Do you ever moderate your opinions when posting here?

[el_bryanto]

Or think to yourself, "I'd better not post that or I'll get in trouble."

And just to keep it interesting let's separate by Moderate/Leftist - I realize those are inexact terms, but they are the best I can do. If you consider yourself more progressive or liberal than much of the board than post as a leftist, if you consider yourself more centrist go moderate.

Bryant

[Jackpine Radical]

1. I don't think I particularly moderate my opinions.

I sometimes edit the words with which I express them.

Many people will not believe this, but I would be even more intemperate if I didn't occasionally delete and rephrase things before posting.

[cliffordu]

2. Nope.

[On the Road]

3. Well, If the Early Votes Hold Up

it indicates that "moderates" are moderating their positions more than "leftists." That is not completely unexpected, but it is an interesting finding.

[H2O Man]

4. Other.

I sometimes try to express things in a manner that is unlikely to be deleted. But I try to be honest, without being too offensive.

[Jokerman]

5. Hell No!

I moderate my opinions enough around coworkers, neighbors, family and friends.

DU is where I come when I can no longer hold my tongue.

[Marrah_G]

6. Other: I am moderate on some issues, far left on others and I moderate my posts every day

No- I don't feel I can ever really speak freely on DU.

[cali]

7. I don't always post what I'm thinking, but it's largely because

there are some things I think are better left unsaid.

[Andy823]

8. Good point Cali.

Sometimes I type out a reply, but then think better of it because I feel it just isn't worth it because so many times instead of a debate about something, it turns to name calling and heated arguments, and like you I feel it's just not worth it.

[JitterbugPerfume]

18. good call Cali

some things are better unsaid

[onehandle]

9. I say 99% of what I am thinking.

Which is why I am so popular here.

I used to moderate myself more, but lost my patience last year.

I consider myself fiscally moderate and socially liberal (like our President) but those definitions are hard to nail down after years of right-wing idiots labeling everyone and their dog.

[rateyes]

10. WTF kind of bullshit question is this??

I'm always goddamned fucking moderate in what I fucking post. Hell, I'm absolfuckinglutely the most self-moderating poster on this motherfucking site. I rarely fucking speak exactly what I'm thinking.

:evilgrin:

[No.23]

11. As long as posts are being deleted by the Mods, you can be sure...

hat some form of moderation is being practiced by some posters.

Whether consciously or unconsciously.

Isn't that the intended purpose of that practice?

[KittyWampus]

12. I've pretty much stopped attempting an informed discussion on Philsophy of Science. It's futile

but pretty much every other subject, I'm perfectly happy to bang heads. :)

BTW, when I HAVE tried to engage in an informed discussion of Philosophy of Science, there are often a few long time DU'ers who email me saying it's a waste of time.

[guitar man]

13. No

I may stop and think about the words I want to use to express those opinions since some of my colloquialisms I've used over the years might not be appropriate for this forum, and I'm trying to learn not to be such a "boor" in my old age. :D

But no, if I think something and feel like posting it, I certainly will. I don't care if my viewpoint on a particular issue makes someone here think of me as not "liberal or progressive" enough. I have always said, if my personal beliefs make me a liberal, so be it. My beliefs may define my ideology as perceived by others, but I will not have my beliefs dictated to me in order to fall in line with some groupthink, left, right or otherwise.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. Yes, for several reasons

I know in certain forums and on certain threads in GD there is no point in posting my point of view, because it will be attacked, belittled, and flamed. My words aren't going to change opinions and will only feed those who like to attack, so why bother?

[rrneck]

15. I'm Leftist and I never censor myself

But I try to show common courtesy and respect for others opinions.

[Echo In Light]

16. Lefties are typically alienated in the US. which is fine by this leftist

[el_bryanto]

20. Why is that fine with you?

I find it annoying myself; even if I don't agree with them.

Bryant

[Echo In Light]

24. Even if you don't agree with who?

It's fine by me, meaning, I give less than a shit if others dislike my leftist views.

[el_bryanto]

25. I am a moderate

I don't agree with leftists on a variety of issues, but i think it's a national disgrace that the most extreme right wing views are espoused (see for example Ann Coulter) without comment, while very few liberals, let alone leftists, are permitted to express their views.

Bryant

[Echo In Light]

31. Understood, and agreed. The only difference in my take on it is that, given the predominant social..

...structures, I'm not at all surprised by how that pans out, and how many follow suit and police the herd. Disappointed, yes. But not at all surprised.

[WildEyedLiberal]

32. Agreed

I'm fairly left/liberal compared to the population of the US at large, but rather more "moderate" when it comes to DU. I may not agree with a lot of things the self-described 'far left' says, but it's absolutely ridiculous how their ideas are dismissed out of hand as "kooky" while the most batshit, extreme, neofascist radical right-wing crap is regularly given voice in mainstream media outlets (see: Michael Weiner, Glenn Beck, Rushbo, Hannity, Coulter, etc).

[leftstreet]

17. CHAVEZ / NADER 2012

Bring it

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. Dressed in Pink!! LOL

[bigtree]

38. Sheehan|Zinn

[Javaman]

21. Nice post, Hitler. nt

[el_bryanto]

26. Just remember it's Alphonse Hitler, not Adolf Hitler - totally different. n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

22. Of course.

The site has rules and I try my best to abide by them.

The fact that I'm here and have 10k+ posts suggests that I agree more often than not.

When I do present a view which is within the rules but outside the prevailing view, I try to write as precisely as possible to give fewer opportunities for people to construct straw men from them.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

23. There are times when I want to say certain things, but it's not my place to say them...

....so I just leave it unsaid.

There are certain things that certain groups of people have to work out on their own. Not my place to interfere.

[ACTION BASTARD]

27. I watch what I say so I participate a lot less. The sensative Nazi types around here kill all the

fun of this place. This place is less joyful than the Free Republic. I mostly read and just move on.

I sometimes wonder why I bothered to sign up and instead lurk like I've been doing for over 3 years.

[bridgit]

28. I refer to it as 'positioning', and that is oft times important in that others...

sometimes many others simply have no respect *for* the opinions of others whatever they are even if they may ultimately agree with them, or they have little clue, or are stuck in one gear or in a rut and can't wench themselves out; so that, so-as-to, I endeavor to 'moderate others' and their preference' for dragging matters so far afield they're no longer recognizable or no where near where the starting point was = yes. I "moderate", especially in response to argumentative, uncivilized harranging...life's too short for that imo

Couple years back now I started even using "imo" or alternately "imo of course"...just so people know :kick:

[tech3149]

29. I guess it qualifies as moderating my opinion

I try and remember the old saying "engage brain before shooting off mouth". Then there is always " It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt".

[BuyingThyme]

30. No

doubt!

[WildEyedLiberal]

33. Depends. If it's something I am personally passionate about, no

I will say what I think even if 99% of DU disagrees.

However, there are other issues about which I have disagreed - even strongly - with the obvious prevailing DU opinion, but I don't voice my dissent, because quite frankly, it's not something I feel strongly enough about to make myself a DU pariah over. Not that the opinion of me on DU really matters that much, but when I *do* want to make a point that's important to me, I'd like to at least know that some posters will take me seriously, and respect my opinion, rather than just discarding it immediately because I have a "bad reputation" based on a flamewar that I didn't really care that much about to begin with.

So, the moral of the story is - discretion is the better part of valor. It really pays to know when to fight and when to just keep your mouth shut, turn off the browser and walk away.

[MindPilot]

34. Oh hell yes! If anyone thinks anything I post is out of line...

you should see some of the shit I backspace over!

[EFerrari]

35. I was just going to post that.

LOL. It's like that "writing an angry letter but don't send it" thingy.

[cynatnite]

36. Some of the things I'd like to say at times aren't fit anywhere. n/t

[Jack_DeLeon]

37. I hold some opinions that dont jive with this site's ownership...

so I dont post them here.