ok, anyone else find the nicknames and deliberate misspellings ("Rmoney, Munster") just a

[quinnox]

a tiny bit juvenile? To me, it does. I know, I know, not exactly of monumental importance, just a pet peeve of mine, but it is what it is. I now bring you back to your normal scheduled threads.

[NightWatcher]

1. Zombie eyed granny starver!!!

Yes, they are very juvenile, but very descriptive and useful.

I likes em

[Tom Ripley]

2. Of course they are juvenile, but that doesn't mean that they are not amusing

[Autumn]

3. Very juvenile. I prefer to call them low life fucking bastards,

and that's when I'm in a good mood. When I really hate them I call them worse names.

[quinnox]

5. that kind of namecalling with those curse words, I can respect n/t

[calimary]

102. Well, if it fits...

[ProSense]

4. Well, Rmoney

is running a "juvenile" campaign.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021126432

[BlueStreak]

6. Yes. We should avoid that temptation

Last edited Tue Aug 14, 2012, 03:05 PM - Edit history (1)

I advise my right wing friends that I will not read anything that has any of the following examples of childishness and/or bad faith:

- Pictures that deliberately distort Obama's appearance (making him look like a clown, witch doctor, or whatever)

- References to his middle name in a way that is clearly intended to be an epithet

- Deliberate misspellings of his name

- Derogatory nicknames

- Ad hominem attacks

If you want me to read what you have to say about president Obama, then follow these rules, and address him with the respect he deserves, otherwise the email goes straight into the trash bin. And if you violate these rules consistently, then I mark your email as a junk address.

That actually works in many cases. It is like teaching a child the limits. You don't throw food. You don't say swear words. You don't interrupt others -- wait your turn. You don't cut in line. etc.

BUT...

If we insist on these rules, we must live by them too. How many of us routinely referred to President Bush as a chimp, for example?

I realize "Rmoney" is almost irresistible. But it should be sufficient to see it occasionally in a cartoon. We should not do that in our normal criticism of the man. Criticize his policies and criticize his propensity to deceive and conceal. That is all fair game, and will keep us quite busy.

[PatSeg]

15. That is how I feel

I will openly and freely criticize them and when they do or say something outrageous, I might swear at them, but I don't want to be the liberal version of what I've seen on the right.

I like to think we are more intelligent and better educated than most of those on the right, and I try to reflect that in anything I post on a public forum.

[reflection]

24. Agree.

I admit to cursing on occasion, but try to stay away from the deliberate misspellings and such. Around here (TN) for some reason, half the people I have the misfortune to deal with insist on calling my President "Obamma" and "Obummer." I don't even understand the first one, can't tell what the intended insult is supposed to be. But it's beyond annoying.

[Freddie]

30. "Obummer", "Barry"

When I see those "cute" nicknames it's an instant cue and I don't read any further, and I suppose the other side does the same.
However I'm partial to Mittens, sounds like a puppy or a child's teddy bear.
Ryan is too vile for any cutesy names.

[PatSeg]

73. My sister referred to the president as "Barry" once

and it just reeked of sarcasm and hatred.

I have to say I like with Al Sharpton calls Romney "Willard", though I still call him "Romney" or "Mitt".

[Freddie]

77. Willard, like the rat

I suspect he hates that--more the better!

[BumRushDaShow]

115. Actually Ben was the rat

Willard was the crazy dude who befriended the rats.

[PatSeg]

39. I remember a lot of things that were said by

the left during eight years of Bush and sometimes I said them as well. It didn't take long for the extremists on the right to pick them up and use them against our candidates. The one that comes to mind the most was "I want my country back". I know I said it and now hearing righties say it, I have decided to use my words more carefully.

I think it serves us best to maintain the high road whenever possible.

[BlueStreak]

64. We can take the high road and still evicerate them

I completely agree with your post, and I readily admit I have been guilty.

Name calling, pictorial distortions, and empty sloganeering are symptoms of a weak argument.

We can address Romney and Ryan with respect and at the same time shred their policies. For example, I believe there is a very good chance that Ryan committed felonies with insider trading during the financial meltdown. I see nothing wrong with making that accusation, as there is substantial evidence to support that. Likewise, there is plenty of evidence in Romney's background that her was personally involved with tax fraud schemes, and that this is a primary reason for maintaining obsessive secrecy with his tax returns. Those are not ad honinem attacks. They are observations and opinions based on facts that are not contested.

Likewise, I see no problem with short-and-sweet summations of their policies, such as "The Ryan plan is designed to kill Medicare and Social Security." It is true, even if they want to argue it isn't. We can support that headline with a very strong argument.

Hard-hitting is not the same thing as name calling.

[PatSeg]

71. You said almost exactly what I was thinking

I have no problem with the occasional humor, but repeatedly using the "empty sloganeering" and name calling implies we don't have valid reasons to oppose them.

Yep, I am all for Hard-hitting though!

[BanTheGOP]

85. I disagree, at least here in DU. Here's why.

The fact that DU is not open to anyone but democrats and progressives means we don't have to cater toward "civil" discussion with "political opponents," most of whom I hold an intense, passionate hatred of their very being on this planet. And I will NEVER give the "respect" of refering to rMoney as a human being, a "'friend' across the aisle", or anything that remotely resembles civil discourse. rLyin' is the same way.

If we were discussing our issues with independents who needed persuading or were ignorant but not combative, THEN I not only see your point, I would emphasize it. That is key. Even then, though, I won't change the spelling of rMoney; I won't use more disparaging names.

[BlueStreak]

90. Well, OK, but it doesn't hurt to practice "ruthless civility" here

before we use it on others.

It really comes down to this. What is your objective?

1) To vent your frustration?

2) To make the other guys mad?

3) To persuade others that our views have merits?

It seems tome there is only one productive objective in that list, and the only way to accomplish that objective is with civility. Firm civility. Adamant civility. Ruthless civility.


#1 and #2 are easy, but completely unproductive, and frankly, pretty tedious at times, even among friends.
It is not so easy to do #3, so I strongly encourage people to practice that continuously, even here in DU.

[datasuspect]

92. asspig fuckface republicans only understand a fist in their fucking jaw

fuck 'em, they are traitors.

[BlueStreak]

95. Some are, but some are approachable

and I would suggest we can't approach very many of them if we start the conversation with insults.

[Tunkamerica]

101. so sez you, but I would posit that Rmoney, which I've never typed till just now, is

a harmless (not obscene, or derogatory) moniker that underlines the truth about himself and his candidacy. Repetition of the name keeps the facts of his Ridiculous wealth and his dedication to growing that and his friends' wealth at the expense of less fortunate/ruthless at the forefront of the mind.

Also, there are several more reasons why people might use the name.

4) Because they think it's humorous.

5) Because they think it's factual.

6) Because they think it might be effective in changing someone's mind that might be reading their comment.

7) Because they like to be part of the cool crowd.

8) Because they legitimately typed it incorrectly.
etc...

[BlueStreak]

104. Fine, but don't kid yourself re: 6)

If you are talking to a Romney supporter, you are not ever going to change his mind by addressing his man with an insulting name.

If you are not interested in getting more people on our side, then have at it, but please do it in private, because there are many of us out there trying to win over people who genuinely think that Romney is the better choice. It will help us if "our peeps" aren't seen as doing nothing but hurling insults, even if they seem harmless. What seems harmless to us may be just enough to drive an undecided away.

[Tunkamerica]

107. And if the name was Rhonkey I'd agree but this is well within civil discourse

[BlueStreak]

108. It isn't a question of civility. It is unproductive

If the goal is to be cute or snarky, I agree the misspellings are only a 2 on the 10-point incivility scale.

But you are not going to influence anybody from the other side by deliberately insulting a person they have regard for.

[HangOnKids]

109. Rmoney people are not worth talking to

Anyone who believes in or trusts Rmoney is a fool, who the fuck wants to influence them? They are not going to "come to our side" anytime soon, so why not just shove their asshole candidate in their face?
It is the best thing to do.

[BlueStreak]

113. Then we aren't going to win this election

Elections are all about persuading people to come to your side.

There are certainly some turds out there that aren't worth talking to . But there are many, even people who strongly align with the Tea Party, who can be brought along. The Ryan/Romney team is utterly disingenuous. They are providing no information about their plans. They are talking in circles about everything. And at the end of the day, nobody can be certain what they might do in office. I guarantee you there are many people who are leaning towards Ryan/Romney that already have some serious doubts, and with better information they will vote for Obama.

If your idea of political "activism" is to be a keyboard warrior spending your days on DemocraticUnderground (for Free Republic, for that matter) just agreeing with those you already agree with, you aren't helping very much. Everyone should set a goal of educating 20 Ryan/Romney supporters between now and election day.

And you can't do that my opening the conversation with an insult -- even a mild one.

[HangOnKids]

116. If your idea of political "activism" is to be a keyboard warrior spending your days on DU

Hey Blue welcome to ignore! Thanks for the laughs and go play in traffic. Really.

[ProSense]

7. Oops, forgot one

Worst. Candidate. Ever: Romney Dubs Obama’s Attacks ‘Obamaloney’
http://sync.democraticunderground.com/10021088588

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. An asshole by any other name would still smell like an asshole.

[lunatica]

9. You pesky munster nazi!

[Angry Dragon]

10. I use Willard

the other choice I have is Glove Romney

[FSogol]

11. Your concern is noted.

Actually, this is one of the few times, I agree with you. Childish, but funny, and ok in small doses, imo.

[treestar]

12. No, I love them

I think they are fun.

[hifiguy]

13. Munster is being correctly spelled.

I prefer to call the other liar Mittwit.

[reflection]

25. I have actually used Mittwit.

And I'm not proud of myself for it... I should know better than to stoop. This OP is a good reminder to check myself with respect to how I communicate.

[progressivebydesign]

14. not something I'd get my panties in a bunch over. DU has been rather tame with it...

I use an Rmoney once in a while, depending on my mood and what I'm saying. It's humor.. it's letting off steam.

Mostly I've come to call them RYAN/*romney. which is more apt.

[HopeHoops]

16. No.

[snooper2]

17. Dude, you picked a handle that is the name of an IT company that makes mobile apps

and cloud based software integration for communications and delivery of services




We can call him Mittens and you'll be okay

[CBGLuthier]

18. Since I have a last name that can be turned into either an insect or a sexual innuendo

I tend to not be fond of such things but I do kind of like RMoney as it is just so damned apt from the bigass R at the beginning to the money at the end.

[bongbong]

19. Corporations are people

So, yeah, I see how Flip-Flopper would hate being called "Etch-A-Sketch" since that is a trademarked name, and he might get sued if he uses it.

[gkhouston]

20. I'm tired of Munster, as that reflects his personal appearance.

Temperamentally, Ryan is much more like Eddie Haskell than Eddie Munster.

Me, I plan on using "zombie-eyed granny starver" a lot.

[2pooped2pop]

37. perhaps so

but if u choose the Munster haircut, ya gots to take the Munster name.

though "zombie-eyed granny starver" does have more appeal. It is too long so I am going to have to shorten it to Zegs, which unfortunately doesn't have the immediate association factor that "zombie-eyed granny starver" does.

[gkhouston]

46. I like Zegs! It would rock if that started circulating, and the media was wondering

what was up with the "Zegs" nickname.

[2pooped2pop]

48. yes, that would be pretty cool

[lilly ludebummer]

21. Mean-spirited, vicious, makes progressives look bad...

Yup.

I swear to Gawd, I wonder about some of the good progressives ( ) on here...I wonder how they interact with people in their everyday lives...Especially those who differ in viewpoints.

[Ikonoklast]

26. Please, do tell us more.

I wonder that myself, sometimes.








Oh, wait, you're being serious.

[datasuspect]

44. YOU LIE

[AtomicKitten]

47. gone so soon ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=288668&sub=trans

[Iggo]

53. We think it's funny when you guys call us mean.

We really do. Thanks for the laugh.

[SammyWinstonJack]

61. Not nearly as mean-spirited, vicious as the policies put forth by the little munster himself.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

105. Awww

[redqueen]

22. Me.

I find it as silly as people saying "Obummer".

[Ikonoklast]

23. I prefer "Weird Willard", but do use "Rmoney" on occasion.

So, I can be a bit juvenile.

Guilty as charged.

What else ya got?

[ecstatic]

41. Nice one! "Weird Willard"

Anyway, OP. Consider me guilty as charged.

Besides, Willard really is weird and he's all about making money! I think people should be reminded of that at every opportunity.

[AtomicKitten]

27. How about Job Cremator, Bain in the Ass, Flip Flopney, and the UK's American Borart?

[Rob H.]

87. "Flip Flopney"?

Consider that stolen--love it.

[AtomicKitten]

98. use it wisely grasshopper

loud and often

[BumRushDaShow]

28. You have to blame EarlG

[2pooped2pop]

29. I like them and some do it so it won't show up in name brand search n/t

[TheKentuckian]

31. Possibly but Jimmy crack corn...

[Curtland1015]

32. Maybe a bit. But it's FINE.

We aren't a news organization. We're a chat board where all the members share the same (basic) point of view.

We're among "friends". I think that gives us a little leeway to be informal when discussing things.

[RedStateLiberal]

50. +1

That's the point I wanted to make.

And, it's just fun to be silly sometimes. It helps me blow off steam. Politics is so damn serious that if I can't have that release I'd go crazy. Why should I be held to a higher standard than Jon Stewart or Steven Colbert on an internet forum?

Also, it's hard to show respect to someone who blatantly lies all the time and has truly horrible ideas for our country. Even spelling Rmoney's name correctly gives him too much respect for me.

[Kalidurga]

33. It is juvenile and I think it is great...

I think it is ok and fun to use those terms here. Except for Munster I don't like that one, a good man might be smeared here. Ryan is wants to have seniors die as quickly as possible so they aren't a burden on the budget, giving him a cutesy name like Munster kinda irks me. Oh well, to each their own, I prefer zombie eyed granny killer because it is so descriptive. That being said, when I talk to conservatives I avoid calling their animal abusing, grandma killing, insider trading, cop impersonating, wackadoodle politicians names that are disrespectful. Because really when it comes down to it, are there any names out their that adequately cover how horrible these two people are?

[grntuscarora]

34. the Rmoney misspelling is brilliant.

It humorously sums up what this election is about, Imo.

[Raffi Ella]

72. I agree.

Rmoney defines him perfectly.

[Warren Stupidity]

35. yes I agree, not juvenile enough

messaging isn't sophisticated, it is juvenile, it is about talking to the emotional brain, not the rational brain.

rMoney rLyan 2012.

[Lint Head]

36. It feels good and I'll always be a teenager.

I like Granny Killers myself.

[MineralMan]

38. I don't use them, but I'm not upset if others do.

In the grand scheme, it doesn't mean anything. It has no influence on the election, so I just don't care very much. I'll continue to use actual names, though.

[MrScorpio]

40. Lighten up, Francis. nt

[Javaman]

49. +1 nt

[UTUSN]

42. Neh. It's opposition on all fronts, all levels, high/low, no stone unturned.

We have boundaries enough of acceptability, so this is within bounds. It's sometimes funny and therefore leavens GD for those who think it's too dull/serious or depressing.

[datasuspect]

43. nope

[unblock]

45. actually, it's more than a tiny bit juvenile. politics ain't beanbag!

the idea is, while you don't want to live in the gutter, you certainly don't want to cede that front to the opposition.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

51. Yes, but it's fun to do it anyhow.

However, I prefer Robme and Ruin.

I'm a little disappointed Mittens didn't pick Tim Pawlenty so we could use Robme Plenty.

[Amonester]

52. Not me. I like to use Rayn/Robmehood.

It's shorter than the PC alternative, and it describes these dangerous life-long felons perfectly.

Purity is a losing cause, although it shouldn't be. Everybody should stay young forever also.

[sinkingfeeling]

54. No. I think it's a bit of rare harmles fun.

[jeff47]

55. Yes - there's plenty of actual crap to attack them for

Intentional misspellings like "Rmoney" only gets across that you don't like the person. Might be cathartic, but isn't helpful otherwise.

Instead, call Ryan the Zombie-eyed granny starver. That makes a policy statement while calling him names.

[Booster]

56. I can tell you that it has pissed off more than a couple of Repugs I know so I'm using it.

[scheming daemons]

57. i bet you have no problem with Obummer, zero, Obamanation, etc.

Thanks for your concern, yada yada.

[intheflow]

58. Rmoney rises to the category of political satire/commentary, imo.

Munster is just an insult to fictional monsters everywhere.

[Egalitarian Thug]

59. Some people take internet message boards way too seriously. n/t

[riderinthestorm]

60. I don't usually but Rmoney reminds me every.single.time. I type it that way about his tax evasion

his Bain Capital jobs killing, his greed and the Mormon Church's funding of opposition to Prop 8 in CA....

But overall, I don't use the derogatory nicknames even with W, Limbaugh etc. To be honest, I don't think Rmoney is offensive at all. Not like some of the nicks used on the right - Rmoney is very, very mild.

[Chiyo-chichi]

62. Your first two sentences are discordant.

You begin by asking whether anyone else finds the deliberate misspellings juvenile. "To me, it does" is discordant. You might have just said "I do."

Grammar.

Just a pet peeve of mine.

I've been on DU eight years and this is my first Grammar Police post. See what you made me do?

Rmoney/Eddie Munster 2012!

[quinnox]

76. I agree

I thought it didn't sound right when I wrote it, and thanks for the correction.

[lonestarnot]

63. I don't. Just don't patronize the thread. To each his own.

[backscatter712]

65. Ridicule is a powerful political weapon.

Why get in the ring with one hand tied behind your back?

[backscatter712]

66. I don't think he looks like Eddie Munster.

Ryan looks like Carter Burke from Aliens!



He acts like him too!

[Le Taz Hot]

67. Yes.

It makes us look like idiots.

[ZenLefty]

68. I too find it a little annoying, though I'm guilty of not capitalizing their names.

I don't think republicans deserve the honorific. It's not worth the effort of my pinky muscles to hit the shift key when spelling out romney. It's my small act of rebellion.

[loyalsister]

110. I do exactly the same

The misspellings and nicknames seem to me to be unsuccessful attempts to be clever. They kind of grate on my nerves, but to each his\her own.

[grantcart]

69. worse than juvenile is the fact that after the 10th time it is boring.

[quinnox]

79. agreed, that too n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

70. Quite juvenile and adds nothing to the discourse

However there are those that seem to enjoy it, and every so often I do see a sample that makes me chuckle

[ProSense]

74. My favorite is still

Romneyhood
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1084531

Lit up twitter!

[quinnox]

80. that is much better

than the others, because it has some real wit to it.

[99Forever]

75. Well golly gee whiz. How about these instead?

Asshole 1

and Asshole 2.


That better for your delicate "pet peeve" sensibilities ?

[Bake]

78. Sorry, the DU spell-checker changes it to Rmoney every time I type it!

Bake

[quinnox]

81. lol

[JoePhilly]

82. Use them on sites where OBUMMER and OBLABLA are the best the right wing can come up with.

Drives them crazy because you are taking their silly attack and sending it right back. If you want to agitate the RW, which can be fun, simply look at what they think is funny (like these silly names), and turn it around ... they get very very angry, which is hilarious.

[TDale313]

83. Can I say...

Yes, but still admit I've used Rmoney on occasion?

[quinnox]

86. of course

[madokie]

84. Not at all, thank you

[MNBrewer]

88. I do like Rmoney, but yes, on the whole I agree.

It's like Nobama, for example.

[Fozzledick]

89. No, but I do find this a tiny bit juvenile.

[WinkyDink]

96. EVERY election somebody abuses my poor Alfred!

[On the Road]

91. I'm Kind of Used to It by Now

Occasionally it's clever, like Mitt Rmoney and Pual Rayn. But usually not, and not more than once per person.

I think people would do themselves a favor by using people's real names, since some people adopt Stephen Fry's attitude about those who intentionally misspell others' names for amusement: "You have nothing to learn from such a person."

And if your audience is not already on your side, it significantly weakens your case. Do you automatically turn off your ears when you see a comment beginning "Hillary KKKlinton..."? I sure do. Better to think of an angle that might actually strike a chord and make them think.

[onethatcares]

93. I for one

am so glad the right wing always refers to the POTUS with the correct spelling of his name and never inpugns on his race or anything. You're right, we should cease and desist immediately.

[eShirl]

94. "Wolf In Sheep's Clothing" & "Wolf Boy"

(romney sheep) (Eddie Munster)

[JoeyT]

97. It's a lot juvenile, and that's perfectly fine.

People are blowing off steam among friends. Rmoney is pretty tame compared to what right wingers call our guy in public. You'd be horrified to hear what they say about him when they're amongst friends.

And we're not dragging ourselves down to their level, either. I've *never* seen anything on this board approach it.

It's juvenile harmless fun. I don't object to it for the same reason I don't object to meme pictures or joke threads on here. When you're constantly reading outrageous stuff, it helps to have some silly to break it up and bring the blood pressure back down.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

99. I think mitt likes to misspell it too,why don't you complain to him?

[joshcryer]

100. No, Rmoney in particular is a very accurate designation.

[just1voice]

103. Guess you don't like "repuke", "GOPig" or "Puke" either, too bad

I never call the (R)epukes anything else as they don't deserve polite conversation as they are vile members of our society.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

106. Somewhat.

Although I will admit Rmoney is a bit clever in terms of being an apt anagram. So I'll let that one slide. But Munster? Meh.

I tend to avoid juvenile nicknames for politicians, but I do make two exceptions for a pair of my state's most notorious politicos.

For Allen West, I add &quot R-Crazytown)" to the end of his title, since that's essentially where he's coming from in terms of most of his statements.

For Rick Scott, I call him "Governor McFraudy" given his past business experience of running Columbia HCA and the massive investigation of Medicare fraud that went on under his tenure.

[slackmaster]

111. Not only is that kind of crap juvenile, it has a tendency to backfire

So does portraying a person as some other species, and other such tripe.

[magical thyme]

112. but it really is ouRmoney that he's hoarding in the Cayman's

and Her Royal Haughtiness Empress Ann really does come across as incredibly haughty and entitled (in its truly perjorative sense). Aside from that, yes. But I do it anyway.

[mfcorey1]

114. Nope!