On the bright side, I'm so well informed from reading DU

[East Coast Pirate]

I'm sometimes shocked by how little some people know about issues that we who post to DU take for granted. A half hour of CNN does not an informed person make.

More than once I've had everyone at the table look at me for the answer to a question.

Also, a shout out to the mind boggling knowledge of the posters here. When a thread veers into the technical... whoosh... it's all I can do to comprehend what I'm reading.

So thank you DU for constantly educating me.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. My PIQ (Political Information Quotient) went up exponentially after joining DU.

[TxDemChem]

15. Mine too!

And so did my BS meter. My husband has actually increased both as well, even though he has not yet joined. Working with birthers and conspiracy theorists, we have to be on our toes at all times.

[winter is coming]

2. CNN has reached the point where I think it's deliberately designed to make you think you've

been informed, while providing as little useful information as possible.

[East Coast Pirate]

3. That's exactly what it is.

You get as much information watching 2 1/2 Men.

[winter is coming]

4. And more from the first ten minutes of The Daily Show. n/t

[East Coast Pirate]

5. Much more from the Daily Show at times.

[jimlup]

37. and they seem to be behind the curve even on most breaking news /nt

[Supersedeas]

39. CNN is not alone in this vein

[winter is coming]

40. True enough. n/t

[eridani]

6. The sum total of wonky expertise here is truly amazing

The best feature by far. You need to know which heritage tomatoes would do best in your climate, a translation from Middle English or Japanese, where to go to find info on the insurance exchanges, and just about anything else, you'll find it here.

[underpants]

9. I can't quantify or express the amount of education DU has offered me over the last 12 years

Really? 12 years?

The pre-War on Iraq information was not both mind opening and, sadly , completely spot on accurate.

I made a comment about "the McDonald's coffee lady" and was quickly and completely corrected. This was several years before the "Hot Coffee" documentary. As the OP stated the level of technical information on that one thread was dumbfounding.

The movies "W" and Michael Moore's "Sicko" had nothing that I was not already aware of.

The best comparison I can offer is my lucky access to alternative music in the 80's while everyone else was listening to hairbands and shiny music. I knew the others would dissolve away and they did.

[arcane1]

20. Agreed 100%, except it's 11 years for me

Not only do I never encounter a news item that I haven't already seen here, but I've never encountered a right-wing talking point that wasn't already debunked here.

DU rocks! And so do DUers!

[Cooley Hurd]

24. 11 for me, man!

Which reminds me... you HAVE to introduce the newer DUers to your marqueed, Cranky Underpants signature gif!

Here's a classic gif of mine (gotta be a decade since I used it):


On edit: It was soo much bigger in 1024x768 (2003 standard resolution).

[East Coast Pirate]

12. Not to mention computers. law and science.

Did I mention math? That too.

[marble falls]

7. DU is like Utne only with pitchforks and torches.

[Warren Stupidity]

16. !

[Doctor_J]

41. DUZY

True and hilarious

[Mr.Bill]

8. Yes, the OP is correct.

If you want to see how poorly informed the Fox News crowd is, just try to convince one of them that the federal budget deficit has gone down in the last few years. They quickly resort to the "cooking the books" argument, because they have no facts to bring to the discussion.

[arcane1]

21. Just like when you explain that under Bush, the cost of the wars wasn't included in the budget

It's so far beyond their awareness that it just *must* be a librul lie

[KamaAina]

10. Quite often I run across an item in the M$M

and think "Hmmm. That sounds familiar."

Then it hits me. "Oh. I read that on DU six weeks ago!"

[Fumesucker]

17. Or months..

Or years, sadly sometimes.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Couldn't agree more. If only I could retain 1/10 of it.

There is so much information here, that I just cannot remember it all when the time comes to use it. But knowing 1/10 of what I see here is more than most others know. Amazing people here.

[lpbk2713]

13. Stay thirsty my friend.

[Snarkoleptic]

14. I recommend adding a side-car of the Thom Hartmann show as well.

He's a strong progressive voice with an encyclopedic knowledge of history, politics and policy.

[tblue]

18. I know! And generally very well-written posts too.

Very few typos too. Lots of smart people here. And if you want the latest news, this group doesn't miss a thing!

[Fearless]

19. +1

[malaise]

22. +1,000

DU is light years ahead of M$Greedia

[mountain grammy]

23. I'm here for a couple of hours every day and agree, Pirate.

I'm amazed at the depth of information I find. For a long time, I never posted anything. It's a bit intimidating, but now I keep jumping in because my husband gets tired of hearing me rant and I've got to get stuff off my chest sometimes..

[DainBramaged]

25. Wait till you need to know about cats and dogs.....

[East Coast Pirate]

27. I avoid all dog threads.

Nothing good can come from them.

[DainBramaged]

28. Disappointing, you should visit the pets forum

instead of blanket dissing us

[East Coast Pirate]

29. I was joking about pitbull and leash threads on other forums.

I love all animals. Will visit the DU Pets forum.

[peasant one]

26. Thanks from me as well.

I rarely post but I have been on DU at least ten years. I am amazed when I talk with others who don't read DU--they are always less informed. I love the arguments here and have really learned from people--not only on political but social issues as well. I feel I am a much more empathetic person and I have even changed my opinion a time or two.


My sanity was saved when I found this place. Thanks to all

[Bunnahabhain]

30. Good for you!

Can you tell me how you distinguish the wheat from the chaff here though? I mean every time I correct a hugely blatant error here I get roundly attacked.

[East Coast Pirate]

31. You have to remember that it's just some guy sitting at his keyboard

who was in the mood to rant about something. I just make a flippant remark back and move on.

[Bunnahabhain]

32. Probably good advice

But I just have this thing about letting lies or misfacts stand unchallenged. I think we are all morally charged with not letting untruths stand unchallenged. Just my personal burden and I get that too.

[East Coast Pirate]

33. Hey, that's what discussion forums are for.

[Ghost Dog]

34. Agree.

[steve2470]

35. This place will educate you faster than any other site on the internet, except maybe Wiki

It's why I'm still here after 9 years and sending Skinner my money.

[reusrename]

36. There are some outstanding researchers here.

[silverweb]

38. Absolutely right!

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I finally had the chance to get to know a new neighbor the other day -- a 20-something, very bright, educated young woman -- who had never heard of fracking.

I couldn't believe it at first, but jumped at the opportunity to introduce her to the subject (at which she was horrified). The more informed we are (thank you, DU!), the better we can help others understand the things going on that affect all of us.