I am genuinely curious about why some DUers find it necessary to

[senseandsensibility]

scold others for what they post about. They don't find errors or disagree, just say basically that such posts are a waste of time in their opinion. So why are they "wasting" time replying? They are so much more productively employed than the rest of us, apparently, so shouldn't they be posting about all their productive ideas?

Seriously, I see many threads on DU that don't interest me at all. I even roll my eyes at some of them.

You know what I do? I scroll right by. It's really not difficult. And I don't have anyone on ignore. If I need to reply to express disagreement I try to be at least
minimally respectful.

These are stressful times . Posters have different perspective and ideas about
how to spur change or convince others. Everyone should be able to have their say without being scolded.

[UTUSN]

1. "scroll right by" - that's IT! Me too. Don't know why it's important to leave poopoo behind!

[senseandsensibility]

2. Kind of like the old song

"walk on by" by the great Dionne Warwick. At least that's what went through my mind as I was typing, and now I have an earworm!

[speak easy]

16. ...

[senseandsensibility]

17. Thanks!

Great version, but I'll skip listening to it for now because I've already got an earworm going.

[orleans]

38. so funny - first thing that came to mind was "walk on by"

i thought i'll post a video then i thought i'd post the version by the stranglers which perhaps you don't know.

i loved this version during the punk era

i still have a white vinyl 45 (with the small center hole that plays like at 33) and sometimes i still put it in my jukebox.


short version

wonderful longer version (that sounds great in the jukebox)

[senseandsensibility]

46. Thanks, now I've really got that song stuck

in my head. Wasn't as "rough" as I expected.

[PatSeg]

114. Yes, that song popped in my head as well

Very appropriate.

[yardwork]

3. And it's ok to disagree with one another!

I've learned a lot from DUers over the years, including posters with whom I had profound disagreements. We rarely disagree about everything. It's really wonderful to discover common cause with somebody.

Also, we don't know what others are going through. Unlike a physical neighborhood, we don't hear about the losses, the grief, the stress. Some of us face significant economic insecurities. Many of us are dealing with health care issues, especially as we age. We've lost children, partners, parents, animal companions, beloved friends and relatives. Lots of times people don't ever mention this on DU, or they mention it in passing years after the loss.

Kindness, tolerance, decency, patience, forgiveness, generosity of spirit - I see President Biden model all these traits. He's someone to emulate. Right now, inspired by your OP, I'm making a commitment to try harder to be a kinder DUer.

[senseandsensibility]

4. I have never known you to be unkind

yardwork. But you're right, we can all improve. I'm working on that too.

[yardwork]

5. Thank you! You've clearly missed some posts, for which I'm grateful!

[senseandsensibility]

9. Put up or shut up!

You're one of the nicest posters on here and you know it!

[yardwork]

11. Awwwww.... coming from you that is a HUGE compliment!!!

Thank you!

[MineralMan]

96. Ha! Just so.

[getagrip_already]

6. Have you not been to the department of arguments? They can settle this!

?si=0eyFwQOyGCd_2w5j

[BidenRocks]

35. Wrong department!

No it's not!
Yes it is!
Great stuff!

[democrank]

7. Thanks for posting this.

In some respects, DU is like real life. There are some folks I’m anxious to hear from and some folks I’m not.

[babylonsister]

42. Ha! Ain't that the truth! But the ones

I like to hear from are never far. Like you, for instance.

[FHRRK]

8. Usually insecurity

Think tRump and his inherited wealth. His worthless ass wouldn’t get past managing a Dairy Queen. Yet him and others need to constantly try to impress, can’t STFU. So when something occurs that goes against a narrative previously pushed, they rush out and attack.

[Generic Brad]

10. But..but...but...what if someone posts something on the internet I disagree with?

If I say nothing, who will educate them? It is my duty to school them!!!! (isn't it?)

[yardwork]

12. Reminds me of a very old cartoon.

Come to bed.

I can't. Somebody is wrong on the internet.

[Lifeafter70]

30. Lol

I remember that cartoon. It still makes me laugh cause it hits close to home. I joined originally in 2007 and had a few disagreements during that time. Lost my account durring the big hack. When I rejoined I decided to keep scrolling. Like you said we don't know what's going on or what problems some posters are facing. We might disagree but we are all on the same team.

[Pinback]

37. Ha! Great one from XKCD by Randall Munroe

[yardwork]

39. That's it! That's me!

[Pinback]

48. It pains me to admit

that I can identify.

I try to be more like this:

[yardwork]

55. Be like Bill!

What would become of DU if we're all like Bill, though?!

[ShazzieB]

47. One of my favorites!

[sheshe2]

99. Lol I always loved that one.

[docgee]

13. Some people aren't happy unless they are complaining about something.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

32. That is so true

Like spreading around their misery.

[mwb970]

81. I guess it's just me, but....

Isn't the post you are responding to "complaining about something"? Just asking.

[tom_kelly]

14. I remember posting a week before the election in 2016

I had gone through a car wash in Boca Raton and the attendant was conducting a customer poll of who they were going to vote for. He told me that Trump was way ahead (I don't remember the numbers). In Boca? I thought. I'd see this guy and small talked with him every week so I knew he wasn't a whacko.

I posted about it on DU and got clobbered. It surprised me.

[senseandsensibility]

15. Do they conduct polls in car washes in FLA all the time?

Or was this an unusual occurance?

[tom_kelly]

20. It was impromptu by the manager of the joint

[yardwork]

58. My primary care physician told me she knew he'd win.

Most of her patients were saying they would vote for him. She hates Trump. (We get along very well.) She said it was all about guns. Hillary was going to take their guns.

[Beartracks]

94. The whole "You're trying to depress turnout!!" routine.

Say anything about the Republican being ahead, and you're clearly going to depress Democratic turnout since us malleable Dems are so easily convinced to not bother voting.

Say anything about the Democrat being ahead, and you're clearly going to depress Democratic turnout since us malleable Dems are so easily convinced our votes aren't going to be needed.

[clouds]

18. Honestly, DU is a fraternity of sorts

I kind of stopped posting here before I even started.

DU is similar to my freshman year at University of Oregon with Delta Upsilon.
It’s nice to know what the OG’s are thinking here. it’s like a sane news aggregator. Minus the daily news posts.
I agree with most of the DU message, but I don’t really want to hang out with them. They can be brutal. Some people spend way too much time here.

Empathy goes a long way to convincing, and instilling in people what they already know.

[malaise]

19. Great post

Rec

[Evolve Dammit]

21. Amen.

[et tu]

24. i agree, sad but true nt

[Think. Again.]

31. I've suspected that on more than one occasion.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

33. Not the ones that come to my mind

[oldsoftie]

44. Nope. This site weeds them out faster than any site I've ever seen.

[Cha]

89. Excuse me.. What are you even talking about "Paid"..

who is "Paid" and who is "Paying" for What?

This doesn't make any sense to me.. could you clarify?

TY

[sheshe2]

97. Good question, Cha.🤔

I will wait right here to see if you get an answer.

[Cha]

98. Waiting right there with

You, she 🇺🇸💙🌊🕯️🕊️

[sheshe2]

100. We wait...

[Malmsy]

110. When a Reich Winger accuses me of being a "PAID SOROS TROLL" when I make an uncomfortable point

it shows they've imploded under the weight of their own anxiety.

[sheshe2]

111. ❤️❤️❤️

[Malmsy]

109. Looks like you're not going to get an answer to that.

Can't imagine why.

[TwilightZone]

51. Nope.

This place is actually quite adept at weeding out the riff raff.

Some of the scolders, to coin a word, have been here for a very long time.

[Hekate]

69. Keep a close eye on low-count posters and call on MIRT when your Spidey-sense tingles...

In my case, some of them just make my teeth itch. I check on their join-date and golly, some have been asleep (or something) since 2015, while others joined 3 days ago and have already powered through 80 posts on their way to the magic 100.

So I check to see who’s on MIRT and drop a private message to one of them with name and link to post — they are invariably courteous, sometimes saying they already have a file opened up and sometimes saying it looks like they should open one.

You’ve been here since the Bush administration, I’m pretty sure (isn’t “Laura” a reference to Laura Bush? ) . You know all this. You also know there’s no paid staff to do what we are empowered to do. Use the Alert button for posters who made it past 100 posts if you think they’re trolling — the infestations come in waves.

[Oopsie Daisy]

87. So when you say "(Look who's on there! ( MIRT; BTW)" are you *

* insinuating that MIRT is incompetent, or that MIRT is corrupt, or that MIRT has been "infiltrated" in some way that their mission has been compromised?

Perhaps I'm wrong and I hope you'll clarify. But otherwise, it sounds like quite a bold accusation (and insult, too.)

[Cha]

88. Wow.. Thanks for Standing UP for MIRT!

Of which I am a Member.. and I can tell you it's a dedicated group to Finding the Malicious Intruders! And there are many.

Making DU a Safe place!

[Oopsie Daisy]

103. I've seen you around, but I did not know you are on MIRT. Good work everyone!

[Cha]

107. Behind the scenes.. Silent

Ninjas doing Democracy's Work!

Mahalo, Oo;sey Daisey.. I've seen your Good Work around for Democracy!

[Maraya1969]

77. Paid? Who's paying them?

[betsuni]

84. Well, Democratic Party supporters in 2016 were accused of being paid by David Brock (I was!) but

now probably everybody's paid by Soros.

[nolabear]

23. So you're scolding people about scolding people?

I kid. I kid.

[senseandsensibility]

27. Well, yeah

I guess.

[Sky Jewels]

25. Why would you even post something like this?!

I kid, I kid ...

Honestly the posts that piss me off are the ones that have zero context, like: "Can you believe what that guy just said on TV?! It's outrageous!"

[Orrex]

28. I can also do without ""So and So FTW"

If I wanted a vapid retweet, I'd latch onto Elon's trainwreck of a platform.

[yardwork]

57. I LIKE those posts! It's like a mini-mystery.

We have to figure out what's going on. Like an Agatha Christie.

[Sky Jewels]

59. ...

[yardwork]

60. ....

Seriously, I was watching a show last night and missed the Hur report. I tuned into DU very late and was like, WTF just happened. Who's this "her" they're talking about? Why's everybody so upset?

I quickly found out and, naturally, hurled myself into the upset mob. FOMO.

[Orrex]

26. Can I rec this thread 500 times?

[senseandsensibility]

45. Fine by me

but I'm not the boss of DU.

[Skittles]

29. just curious but

why can't you just ignore those "some DUers"

[Staph]

34. I've been here for 19 years.

I would post more and respond to posts more, but I got tired of defending my home state of West Virginia. I used to get a smart ass remark every time I said something about politics or people or even the history of West Virginia. I ignored some of them, but I finally decided to lurk.

I wonder how many others have made the same decision?

[senseandsensibility]

36. I'm sorry that happened

Dem voters in red states have a special kind of courage.

[Blaukraut]

40. You probably mean Dem voters in red states

We spoiled brats up in the blue states don't need any sort of courage to go with what's the mainstream.

[senseandsensibility]

41. Yikes

Fixed it.

[TwilightZone]

49. I feel ya.

Texas resident here. 47% of the state voted for Biden, but you'd never know that on DU. Here, we're all a bunch of sexist, racist, gun-nut hicks who want Texas to secede.

It does get tiresome, but I try to educate whenever possible. I entirely understand, though.

[yardwork]

54. If it's any consolation, an entire generation has decided Ohio doesn't exist.

My own kids gleefully repeat internet jokes and send me memes about the non-existence of Ohio. It's my home state, where I was born. If it doesn't exist what am I?!

I love West Virginia. Beautiful state. I have a story about being rescued in WV. I was about 19, traveling south through WV back to college after winter break, carpooling with someone I'd met on the ride board. We ran out of gas just south of Charleston. (It was the energy crisis; gas stations closed on Sunday. We planned poorly.) It was getting dark and starting to snow. (I swear I'm not making this up.) My ride sharer had just adopted a stray kitten and we were worried about what would happen to the little cat.

We started walking along the edge of I-77. There was a steep embankment with a trailer community below. A young blond man called up to us, "Did you run out of gas?" Nodding like it was a regular occurrence he said, "Well, come on down. We'll help you."

His wife put us in an ancient station wagon, along with several of her little kids. She said she'd drive us to their neighborhood gas station, "that stays open for us. They'll sell you gas."

And they did. And we were saved. The family refused to take any money - not that we had much anyway, but still.

We only got lost a few more times on that trip, helped along by the weed we were smoking and the fact that we only had old paper road maps not GPS and cell phones and all this stuff kids these days have while they're making fun of Ohio!!!

I wish I could repay those people. If you have any thoughts let me know.

[Dear_Prudence]

65. Love WV

Just returned from a week long conference in WV. I was Calamity Jane all week, and everyone helped me out. I've always loved WV (caving when I was young), but the kindness (now that I am old) really renewed my faith in community.

[Skittles]

78. at work there's an oncall group in WV

they crack me up - they just get to the point without being mean or condescending, very refreshing

[Blue Dawn]

108. At least you're not from Tennessee.

I am.

(Both of our states are sure to be maligned...LOL! Sadly, at times deservedly so.)

[highplainsdem]

43. +1,000,000

[BaronChocula]

50. I have a stock reply for one member in particular who fits this description

TITLE: Maybe this post just isn't for you
BODY: And that's fine with me.

[senseandsensibility]

113. Perfect answer

Polite and to the point. Do you mind if I borrow it?

[BaronChocula]

115. Please, please, please do!

Consider it public domain

[redqueen]

52. This is why the good admins blessed us with the trash button

That way we don't even have to keep scrolling past it as it keeps being kicked. Just trash it and voila!

[ShazzieB]

75. I keep forgetting we can do that!

It just never occurs to me. Sheesh.

Thanks for the reminder.

[Martin68]

53. Repeating misinformation, posting discredited conspiracy theories, gratuitous insults of opinions are all valid reasons

to “scold” someone for a nasty, uninmformed, or misleading post. The alternative is to report a violation of the site’s terms, which is the nuclear option in my opinion. I’d rather try to communicate directly before I report a violation.

[Orrex]

61. A great deal of the scolding is driven by the scolder's opinions

Rather than by objective, verifiable fact. And over time it has become clear that the scolders take pride in mocking, belittling, and condescending to their fellow DUers, and that this motivates them far more strongly than any imagined love of truth.

Despite their repeated claims to the contrary, the scolders have clearly appointed themselves gatekeepers, and they work to silence those opinions that don't align with the scolders' views.

If we're lucky, we'll see one or two of them materialize to scold me for this very post. Stay tuned!

[dpibel]

63. I don't think the OP's talking about that

I could be wrong, but I read the OP as being about the people who like to scold others for posting things that are, for instance, just not simply talked about by those who keep their pinkies out when sipping tea.

[Martin68]

83. Maybe a few examples would have made the intention of the post clearer. I'm not really sure what "scold" meant

in this context.

[senseandsensibility]

91. Specifically I am talking about posters

who do not dispute any facts in the OP or provide any alternative opinions. They just say complaining about this is a waste of time. I thought I explained it in my OP but I guess it wasn't clear enough.

[Martin68]

112. Thanks for the clarification. I guess I'be been fortunate not to receive any comments of that kind so far.

[SarahD]

56. Everything interests me.

Well, not everything, but many posts others consider a waste of time. I suspect some of the "why are you wasting our time with this" objections stem from disagreement with the opinions or positions of the poster. Countering arguments requires effort. It's much easier to say, "Stop wasting our time with this irrelevant dreck.'

[DemocraticPatriot]

62. Some of us think we are smarter than everyone else,

and some of us may feel that *emotion* from time to time,
but realize it is not true....

Lately it seems that too many here feel the need to also denigrate the intelligence of another poster,
because they disagree with them on an issue

(and I have certainly been guilty of that a few times, myself),
rather than make their own argument on logic alone.

At such times, we are forgetting that we are all on the same side for our end goal---
which on this site is electing more Democrats, and preserving our historic democracy!

So we should not be fighting amongst ourselves so much,
or not with so much venom when these disagreements arise....

S&S, you are among my favorite posters here---
(although I might have one time disagreed with something you might have posted, OMG!!!
but I don't really recall anything in particular, lol)

Also kudos on the username--- the latest film is a favorite of mine,
and I did undertake to read the original novel)

[senseandsensibility]

93. Thank you so much for the compliment

DP! As for my username, when I joined DU 20ish years ago I was heavily into English literature. Still love it, but I've branched out quite a bit. The thing about great works of literature though is that they teach you something about the human experience from a different point of view. And I really believe that the ability to appreciate that is what makes us progressives. Also Jane Austen wrote from a female point of view which was very unusual for her time.

[dalton99a]

64. People don't have time to read every post and respond to every post. Besides, the Internet can only hold so much

Therefore, everyone has to be very careful about what to post on here

When in doubt, ask the hall monitor

[JustAnotherGen]

67. I just hit trash button

Problem solved!

[LiberalLovinLug]

68. Well said.

[betsuni]

70. Maybe a habit of those with lots of confidence who think everybody listens to them.

It wouldn't occur to the non-confident to scold because nobody pays any attention and they'd probably get mocked right to their face instead of more behind the back mocking.

[dchill]

72. Boom! You may now drop the mic!

[Trueblue Texan]

73. I've often wondered the same...

…I know it’s said that trying to get Democrats to agree on anything is like trying to herd cats—we are an independent bunch, but it does seem some folks in our midst don’t like to pass up a chance to be rude. They are not helping our cause…but then, maybe that’s why those folks are here.

[moniss]

74. Sometimes I find

myself perhaps responding to something I disagree with because I'm looking to engage. Not for a bad purpose but to actually explore the subject with the other DUer and maybe learn an aspect of a subject or how it affects people that I hadn't thought of. I try not to be, usually successfully, drawn into circular argument. I try to abide by the rules of conduct.

[Oopsie Daisy]

76. What's the purpose of this post? Should people only reply to those posts they agree with *

* and "scroll by" those that they do not agree with? Or that people with differing points of view should treat everyone like delicate flowers and emotional children when offering a different opinion or correcting their mistakes. People who want to live in a world like that do not need a political discussion forum. If they need that type of shield, all they truly need is a word processor and no internet connection... and a mirror. They can type until their heart's content, then sit back and admire their clever pearls of wisdom, and never have to worry about anyone telling them that they're wrong, or misguided, or foolish, or promoting dangerous ideas, or being unfair, or being cruel, or being unreasonable, or being naive, or being unrealistic, or being immature, or being racist, or being classist, or being misogynistic, or being disloyal, or being obsessive. Next, they can glance over at themselves and admire their own reflection as their face is gently illuminated by the computer screen that displays their own, unchallenged, words of wisdom.

Nobody reply to this, please. I need to go polish my mirror and look at myself.

[OldBaldy1701E]

79. Because some people HAVE to be correct.

Others just love to be disruptive or mean-spirited. Human beings... what are ya gonna do?

[mwb970]

80. So, you are scolding others for what they post about, right?

Just asking.

[samnsara]

82. very true...this is why i dont start a discussion any more...

[tavernier]

85. You make way too much sense.

See what I did there?

[senseandsensibility]

101. Yup

I try to live up to my user name occasionally just to throw people off.

[XanaDUer2]

86. Exactly

Its a message board.

[lindysalsagal]

90. It's important to remember that this is the place newbies start when looking into politics.

They shouldn't be scolded for getting involved, and those of us who are long-term experts need to welcome them and help it all make sense. This is not simple stuff. Democracy is messy. They made a whole musical about it.

[senseandsensibility]

92. Lol

True!

[MineralMan]

95. Some DUers Have Always Done That.

It is what they do here.

[pwb]

102. I have a lot of people on ignore. Mostly

ones who I think post too much.

[Marcus IM]

104. I sometime post about my experiences in Cuba, and about the US sanctions. My family lives there. Struggling.

More often than not I get a barrage of posts from the same small group of posters insinuating that my family deserves to struggle and suffer because it's Cuba, and followed by some Cold War rhetoric and wiki links attempting to tell me what I should be thinking - no matter what my lyin' eyes see, no matter what my personal experiences are.

It didn't used to be that way.

[Patton French]

105. What a waste of time.

Just joking…

[RussellCattle]

106. I was going to comment on this post, but then decided to scroll past. Oh, wait.......

[bif]

116. I've said this several times that...

you could post the word "the" and it would turn into a cat fight. There are some folks here who just love to leave nasty comments. Sometimes I think Im in the wrong forum. Sounds like a bunch of thumpers at times.