I love DU.

[MIButterfly]

I was a lurker for many, many years before I became a member.

I love being among like-minded people. I love that there's something for everyone and it's a safe place to express an opinion. I really care about the wonderful people here. I usually check in several times a day.

What I do not like is when a poster is vitriolic toward another poster. I've seen it happen to others before and I didn't like it. I feel like I was viciously attacked in a response to a post I made earlier. I was told I should "CARE ENOUGH TO PAY ATTENTION!" and that there are "too many dunces not paying attention already" and to "WAKE UP!" I don't even know how to respond to that, so I didn't.

I would ask that people consider their words more carefully. I don't like being lectured or made to feel stupid.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[Brother Buzz]

1. That alert button is your friend

The jury pool is, by and large, in agreement with with you.

[jmbar2]

22. I had no idea what the Alert button was for

Learned something new here tonite on DU. Thanks.

MIButterfly, thanks for posting. For a lot of us, DU is like a daily check on news, and anxiety relief from what is going on in the world. We need not cause more anxiety to others here.

[vapor2]

2. I, too, enjoy expressing my thoughts and reading thoughts of others

Discovered DU by Thom Hartmann. Be sure and read daily posts by Ore.

[malaise]

3. LOL

Thank you for your attention to this matter.😂
Love DU too

[MIButterfly]

4. I thought I'd close with a little levity.

Thank you for taking it in the spirit in which it was intended.

[malaise]

5. Made me laugh

😀

[ancianita]

10. Yah it made me smile. Thanks.

[UTUSN]

6. We haven't lived until *flamed* to pieces!

[SunImp]

7. Unfortunately there are to many posters out there that dehumanize & infantilize other posters for having a different

Opinion. You see them when a Duer expresses concern for what the party is doing or when they disagree with party leadership. It's rich with condescention & twisted strawmaning of the op points. Words & phrases like "tantrum", "loyal", "real world", "sarcasm" etc are overly used to talk down to others. In the Tos it's says it's supposed to be a friendly and welcoming place. These posters are only here to be abusive and feel superior because they can't do it irl really.

[leftstreet]

8. Nice tantrum!

Very nicely stated, and kudos to you

[hlthe2b]

9. I get ya... Not all is probably intentional. Stress seems to impact members in cycles...

and heaven knows there is enough to be stressed out about right now to have most of us on a razor's edge.

But, yes. I think we have all been on the receiving end a time or two and it sucks.

[usonian]

11. All forums get flame wars.

Some topics get people in a frenzy. In earlier times, it seems like slashdot was entirely flame wars and I had to drop it.

Good old Ralph Barbieri used to say "Angels fly because they take themselves lightly."

[calimary]

13. That's a good one!

"Angels fly because they take themselves lightly."

I like that A LOT!

[Niagara]

12. It's unfortunate that we have members here that talk down to others

If you ever need it, there's this wonderful tool on DU that you can utilize called an ignore list.



It's wonderful to utilized. Another DU'er recently commented that their ignore list is the size of the LA phone directory. I laughed out loud as my looks the same way.


Glad to have you here on DU, MIButterfly.

[littlemissmartypants]

14. ❤️ 💐 🪄💫 🦋

[Orrex]

16. There is a contingent pretending that ridiculing fellow DUers is the path to electoral victory

I try to call it out when I see it, and I'm sorry that you were its target.

[BaronChocula]

17. It's like seeing an inconsiderate driver on the road

When someone is weaving in and out of traffic and they cut you off, it feels like you against that driver. Actually it’s that driver against everyone else. Chances are everyone else hates that driver too. As a decent person, you’re in good company.

[Cha]

18. I'll sign on to Loving DU, too! ☮️🌺🌻🕯️🕊️💜

As for that personal attack or any of them.. I wholeheartedly suggest Post # 1 !

Mahalo, MIButterfly 🦋

[markodochartaigh]

19. I'm impressed by the level of civility on DU.

I've been a member for about 8 years now. About a decade before that I joined DU under another name and asked one question. I received several vicious and demeaning answers so after that I moved to DK. After a few years there I was banned, although I still get their fund raising emails. Then I moved to DU. I had one post removed in April '23. I have no idea why, it was a link to a Guardian article that discussed how "small government" Republicans in Texas prevented counties from enacting local anti-fracking laws.
I will say that people on DU seem to be more sparing in their upvotes as compared to some fora on Reddit. I just attribute that to us on DU being older. Still, I upvote a lot. I hope that nobody minds.

[TBF]

20. While not perfect, it's so much better here than Facebook

and similar sites. I can't even read comments on there (like if you go on a politician's page - just constant bickering).

On this site a great idea is to take a break in the lounge from time to time. I've been doing that lately and I find it helps to read the lighter posts.

[summer_in_TX]

21. Sorry for your unpleasant experience in a place you love, MIButterly.

I used to love going to Democracy for America, the online community that became active in support of Howard Dean's candidacy in 2004. But over time, flaming became common. I don't like seeing others treated with contempt so gave up on that site. I suspect many others did too. Free speech without limit turned toxic with anonymity.

DU is infinitely better, although now and again a poster will tend to seem to enjoy being contentious and occasionally one will be a jerk in how they treat others. Having rules and moderators as referees seems to be a major reason DU stays a lovely community.

[NNadir]

23. I can accept being flamed if it's done with wit.

As an oldtimer here, I have more than once pulled out a torch and have been met with responses involving flame throwers.

There's that old maxim, "If you're not angry, you're not paying attention."

There are several features of DU that make it superior to other leftist political websites. One of these is the jury system, accessed by the alert button. DU peers will be called to decide if you have violated the terms of service with respect to personal attacks. The post will be hidden, and the poster will receive in their inbox a notification.

The other is the "ignore list."

If you decide that another DUer is too obnoxious, or disagrees on a point of passion that is important to you implacabably, you can put them on your ignore list accessed at "My Du."

I have a lovely extensive "ignore list" that helps me stay within the terms of service despite my passions, in particular with respect to environmental issues.

In any public space, there are people with whom interaction is simply not worth it.

Best wishes to your gentle soul.

[Clouds Passing]

24. Love your poss MIB 🩵

Love you too