Everyone here should buy a 50 gal drum of salt

[Pretzel_Warrior]

I appreciate what DU can bring to the table as far as links to less reported stories, some insightful reasoning and points of view and the rest.

But I also realize one must take most things seen on here with a huge grain of salt--shovels worth of salt, at times.

There are long time posters with many posts to their names that have wonderfully edifying things to say. But those same posters can go off the deep end on a particular topic and become downright unreasonable.

There are new posters who often say things of great value, and they can be overlooked at times. I know I've fallen into the habit of engaging with negative personalities or posting with emotion rather than reason.

We don't all have to agree or disagree on every topic, but we can try to hold ourselves to a higher standard of writing and effort at making our points.

For new low post count people trying to contribute and to long time lurkers....we need your voices. Don't let the perceived authority of a few more vocal posters stop you from posting your great thoughts.

[msanthrope]

1. There is definitely a post count bias. I have it, too. But I'm also a snob about

my sign-up date.....

[Pretzel_Warrior]

2. I'm sure there are good reasons for some bias

Because I've seen the clowns come in here pretending to take on a progressive slant and then immediately or gradually out themselves as a troll. We hate to be taken in.

I just think it would be good if everyone read ever single post with a critical eye and asked,"yes, this person posts many good things...but do I really recommend this?".

Intellectual fellow travelers who are good friends don't just pat each other on the back--they scrutinize and view critically statements made by the other and will challenge the rigor of their logic.

[Cha]

55. Wow, you have been here since its beginning, msanthrope!

Should I be a snob about my post count?

Or admit to an addiction since I took off for two years.

[msanthrope]

120. You Better Believe It!!!!

[Cha]

127. That's just scary!

[leftstreet]

3. Stop lecturing us. DU is fine

There's nothing wrong with it

[Pretzel_Warrior]

5. That's pretty much what I said

That DU presents it's challenges to any single person because of so many strongly held and stated OPINIONS on so many matters, but each individual user has the perogative to act in a way that makes DU upbuilding for themselves and perhaps higher quality experience for the majority.

It was more of an insight I had gleaned and was sharing rather than a lecture.

[alittlelark]

119. I thought you presented WAR, WAR, WAR

..... perhaps I missed some of your other posts....????

[spanone]

4. K&r...

[zappaman]

6. "we can try to hold ourselves to a higher standard of writing and effort at making our points."

So true...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=298088&sub=trans

[quinnox]

7. lol, ouch

[NuclearDem]

18. Hope none of that salt accidentally gets in the wound...

[Pretzel_Warrior]

9. I've already admitted I can get heated up by others'

Post meant to inflame. It's been a strange thing trying to find the new equilibrium in DU3.

So in your linking of my transparency page are you trying to undermine my original message? Shame me into not posting this kind of topic? Or just being mean spirited?

[Squinch]

10. I think the poster is saying there are steps you can take to improve the quality of discourse here.

And those steps don't include telling others to be more discerning in their opinions of other posters.

[zappaman]

14. Pretty much...yeah.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

15. I'll let the poster speak for himself

But I appreciate your contribution. I believe what I was saying is exactly the point that will help myself and possibly help others to make DU a more enjoyable and upbuilding site.

I think it is wise to consider everyone here is just joe blow giving their opinion and not get too worked up over what we might see as a really disagreeable or incorrect post (provided it isn't violating TOS).

[Squinch]

122. Michael Jackson had a song about this.

[zappaman]

12. Oh yeah

I guess you got really heated up by this post that was obviously meant to inflame ...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023192690

That's why you said this, right?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3192728

Why you think you should lecture anyone on DU is beyond me.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

74. Same reason anyone should feel they have the right

It's a free and open board, and we all get to post what we want at the discretion of the administrators, juries, etc.

If you don't agree--fine. There is no hierarchy or seniority here. I can and will speak as freely as the next person on what is important to me.

[Paulie]

33. But you signed up after DU3 went live

What was your name before?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

58. It was just pretzelwarrior prior to that

And dated back to 2004 when we were allowed name changes. My original 2003 sign up name was different than that.

[Rex]

56. You still hold the record for best reply ever.

IMO.

[Oilwellian]

78. I'm reminded of...

a bug zapper. Zzzzzttttttt!

[zappaman]

128. I do?

Did it have something to do with Denmark?

[treestar]

130. Some of those hides seem kind of silly

What's disruptive about the Magna Carta?

[tokenlib]

8. Every so often we need a post like this..thank you.. n/t

[Pretzel_Warrior]

71. Thanks for the support

As you can see, not much to be had on this thread!

[bemildred]

11. It is always a bad idea to take internet discussions very seriously.

And it is a fountain of bullshit, so you have to keep your wits about you.

[Aerows]

13. Trying to gin up support for an attack on Syria, I see

Yeah, it was unpopular before this post and it still is a bad idea.

Maybe we could discuss your hairstyle? At least that will change.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

19. Non sequitur

Your post assumption has no relationship at all to what I wrote.

[Aerows]

21. An attack on Syria is a bad idea

I have no idea what your hair looks like, but it also has as much relevance as what your view on Syria has to do with whether we should start throwing bombs at it.

NONE.

We should not get involved in another country's civil war, period. Vietnam. Have you heard of it?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

24. This thread is not about Syria

[Aerows]

25. And it isn't about your hair, either.

Posts meander.

[zappaman]

30. I love posts about hair!

[Aerows]

35. LMFAO

That is awesome

[Zorra]

36. Seems to me war has been really unpopular with most long time DU posters since

DU began.

I think you're correct, Aerows, it is still a bad idea, no matter what posters with low post counts may express to the contrary.

[frazzled]

16. I'm not really "cowed by the perceived authority of a few more vocal posters"

but I do sometimes feel that it's useless to post my points of view when their threads are running hot. Partly because I think it is extremely rare that one can change someone's mind, even with a well-constructed argument. Partly because I feel it just makes people more entrenched in their position, rather than less (which is their right, but hey). Partly because it seems the more you try to construct a cogent argument, the more one of two things will happen: (1) you get attacked; or (2) you get ignored.

The upshot is, I've been posting less and less over the past couple of years. It just doesn't feel like it's worth the effort sometimes. When I do post a response (I made a vow never to start threads quite a few years ago), it's usually because I want to clarify my position in writing for myself. And because I want to procrastinate from whatever work I have on my desk.

C'est la vie on the Internet.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

20. Got it. Well, when I put effort into a post

That I feel makes an important point, I'll save to my journal or even offline in Word. I can do it for myself and appreciate what I was thinking at the time.

It is always worth it to put your ideas out there, and I agree timing can be key.

[Aerows]

28. You think your post made an important point?

Oh, well, I think I'm pretty awesome, too.

Guffaw.

[Rebellious Republican]

42. I really like the rainbow, it reminds me of my town....

As a heterosexual male I can honestly say I am proud of St. Petersburg. Fl.

[Aerows]

44. I lived there for 7 years

and my own pride radiates

[Rebellious Republican]

47. Come back it has gotten so much better!

All 8 St. Petersburg Council Members Sign Gay Pride Proclamation

http://southfloridagaynews.com/articles/all-8-st-petersburg-council-members-sign-gay-pride-proclamation/123931

[SwampG8r]

69. st peete is the original shit

I used to never go there it was ffull of geezers but now im a geezer I love st pete!

[Rebellious Republican]

70. SwampG8r, its not just geezers anymore. It is a vibrant community....

PM me, lets chat!

RR

[Aerows]

80. Old people's parents live there

but it kind of rocks, anyway.

[1awake]

129. Ugh really not a fan of St. pete

it's like... 20 minutes from where I live now and I hate driving through it. It's like a giant grid with bridges on both sides. Or.. could be I'm no fan of the skyway, and that has tainted my view of that area lol.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

59. That's not what I said.

I was referring to cases in the past where I did put a bit more research and effort into a post.

[Aerows]

79. St. Pete rules

I'm with you on that, my friend!

[Rebellious Republican]

83. Thanks for the update, my apologies Pretzel_Warrior

[quinnox]

17. On the other hand, we have "newbies" posting OPs as ridiculous and offensive as this one --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3612558

(They self-deleted it, but go to the last post to see the text of the OP as recorded by uppityperson. I always miss the good ones!)

So maybe in some cases, it is right to be skeptical of the low post count newbies. Just sayin'.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

22. I agree one has to take a new poster's post with a grain of salt

Which was the original point of my OP. I was extending it to say don't suspend judgement or relax judgement of a post just because the person saying it has 10k posts.

One person's newbie may me 600 posts. Others can see the content and realize the poster is genuine and quite knowledgable.

[Rebellious Republican]

45. Yes, I responded to that post.

Tried to invite a civil discussion and was making headway with out negative comment. If they were a troll then I disarmed them with facts. If they did not have facts then they could not respond appropriately. Either way I showed empathy while looking for a response exposing them as either a troll or someone whose is young, new and or confused. FR just attacks without query. Take a lesson in humanity, give those that are ignorant a break, and those that wish to disrupt, not the satisfaction with witch that they came for.

Just food for thought.

[Aerows]

23. YOU want war

I don't. You can invest in the shed loads of salt you will need to justify this travesty of getting involved in the Syrian Conflict. I have no need for justification, because 90% of the population is opposed.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

26. This thread is not about war

Or Syria.

[Aerows]

27. What is it about then, really?

Driving up the price of salt? The price of tea in China? You started this mess, you can define it, but it doesn't mean that other people know what on earth you are talking about if it isn't clear from your post. Which obviously it is not.

Proceed. I'll just sit here and wonder what I'm replying to if it isn't about Syria.

[zappaman]

31. The price of tea in China?

Good quality black Chinese tea is priced between $13 - $45 (US dollars) per 100 grams in China, which is approximately 3.5 ounces.

[Aerows]

34. That makes as much sense as any

I love my iced tea.

[alittlelark]

64. Of course it is.... it's all you talk about. n/t

[Pretzel_Warrior]

68. In recent days it has gotten my attention and most of DU's

But to categorize me as mostly posting "pro-war" posts...well, that is flat out not true.

[ladyVet]

29. I have a low post count,

but I've been a member for years, and lurked since the site began. I dropped off the forums for a long while, just couldn't stand the arguing, and putting people down for not supporting the same things.

My opinion, experiences and beliefs are just as valid as anyone else's. I'm a progressive, left-leaning liberal, currently under siege in the hell hole called North Carolina. Have pity on me and my home state, we may not make it.

[hamsterjill]

46. Well said.

Same here. Lurker since the beginning and officially joined in 2004. Post count less than 5,000. I don't just reply to posts to up my post count. I only reply when I feel I have something insightful to contribute.

And I'm in Texas...so I feel your North Carolina pain!

[Pretzel_Warrior]

61. I'm feeling for you. North Carolina seems beautiful

And has a lot going for it in Charlotte, research triangle, etc. maybe the pendulum can swing toward sanity again now that demographics are continuing to moderate and GOP is on the Crazytown Express.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

32. Post count isn't always a sign of longevity or wisdom....

I mean,...look at me.

[Bluenorthwest]

37. Another 'I Remember Meta' OP. This OP violates the SOP of GD, which clearly say no whining about DU.

Statement of Purpose

Discuss politics, issues, and current events. No posts about Israel/Palestine, religion, guns, showbiz, or sports unless there is really big news. No conspiracy theories. No whining about DU.

I see also that the OP has a transparency page filled with personal attacks on others who dare to disagree with the OP.
Some people disregard community standards and forum guidelines because they feel they are above the rules.

[Rebellious Republican]

40. Say what?

[Bluenorthwest]

60. Just a point of fucking fact. This sort of preaching has no place in GD, as the SOP states,

plus the OP is a surly insult monger whose transparency page displays his or her disqualifications for the role of sermonizing critic of the ways of others. Arrogant chump.

[Rebellious Republican]

65. Wow, you have me beat on the ten dollar words.

Plus the incoherent rants. Kudos to you.

RR

[Oilwellian]

88. Are you purposely being obtuse?

Perhaps the link in post number 6 will explain further why the OP is hypocrisy at its finest. The richest I've ever seen on DU.

[alittlelark]

67. ^^^^^ What he/she said !!! ^^^^^

[Rebellious Republican]

73. Care to expand your thoughts, or just mime someone else's?

Can not have a civil discussion without meaningful dialog!

[alittlelark]

76. I respect the intellectual depth on DU. The posters quote....

"the OP is a surly insult monger whose transparency page displays his or her disqualifications for the role of sermonizing critic of the ways of others. Arrogant chump."


Is PERFECT and makes me want to have his/her child!!

[Rebellious Republican]

77. So hook up! I will be happy to PM them with your thoughts.

Great disscusion....

[alittlelark]

81. Commodian.....

adj. A person who thinks they are funny but are actually full of shit.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023612370

DU has some wonderful intellects....

[Aerows]

82. I love you!

[alittlelark]

84. I love you right back!!!

I love this place, even if it makes me semi-insane sometimes !!!

[Rebellious Republican]

85. Please I do not understand the Commodian reference?

Please post a link, so that i may be able to understand!

[alittlelark]

89. Uh...... I did.... and have not REVISED the post

you are referring to....

[Rebellious Republican]

94. OK i do not get it.

can you at least give me hint?

[alittlelark]

98. Hint..... Look up definitoin of 'OBTUSE'.

[Rebellious Republican]

102. Obtuse, I did not see that in your post, thanks for pointing that out.

ob·tuse (b-ts, -tys, b-)
adj. ob·tus·er, ob·tus·est
1.
a. Lacking quickness of perception or intellect.
b. Characterized by a lack of intelligence or sensitivity: an obtuse remark.
c. Not distinctly felt: an obtuse pain.
2.
a. Not sharp, pointed, or acute in form; blunt.
b. Having an obtuse angle: an obtuse triangle.
c. Botany. Having a blunt or rounded tip: an obtuse leaf.

Well I want to thank you for such a civil discussion. It was very refreshing and extremely enlightening. Glad to know that there are still folks around with such wit and humor.

How about you put me on your ignore list. Because I am not high brow, nor enlightening. I would not say that it is not below me to cut loose with some old fashioned sailor jargon.

However I will not go there unless you insist.

[Rebellious Republican]

107. I alerted you and this was the response, so you are fare game.

Automated Message
AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your alert
Mail Message
At Fri Sep 6, 2013, 10:59 PM you sent an alert on the following post:

WTF is this 'Both of you'.... go to sleep before you're tombstoned.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3615291

REASON FOR ALERT:

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

YOUR COMMENTS:

Pushing others to the brink!

JURY RESULTS

A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Fri Sep 6, 2013, 11:12 PM, and voted 1-5 to LEAVE IT ALONE.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: An alert for a pissing contest between two sixth graders? Come on people.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: That is not "the brink".

Thank you.

[alittlelark]

108. Uhhh.... dude, do you even understand what you are trying to say?

You are saying that since 5 out of 6 randomly selected DUers agree with me that I am 'Fare Game' are you for real, or even sane? Go to sleep.

[Rebellious Republican]

112. We will see, there are many ways to assess your harassment!

[alittlelark]

116. Sooooo many ways

GO TO SLEEP !!!

[Rebellious Republican]

110. Here we go!

Glad to know that I am such an uneducated low class asshole. I offer you these equal thoughts....

This offering makes as much sense as your Posts

[alittlelark]

113. GO TO SLEEP !!!

[alittlelark]

118. You were unable to understand the link in the post you responded to...????

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023612370

Pretty self-explanatory I would say.........

[Rebellious Republican]

86. Don't they?

you are among them as registered DU members.

[alittlelark]

90. Go to sleep - you are making no sense.

[Rebellious Republican]

93. Hhhhmmm...

sounds like I am making sense and both of you are tired. Good night and sweet dreams.

[alittlelark]

97. WTF is this 'Both of you'.... go to sleep before you're tombstoned.

[Rebellious Republican]

95. so how is the peyote working for you?

[alittlelark]

96. You are embarrassing yourself, go to sleep.

[Rebellious Republican]

105. Am I? or are you?

[alittlelark]

114. GO TO SLEEP !!!!

[Rebellious Republican]

115. Take yourself to sleep little one!

[alittlelark]

117. It's Friday night and I'm on the Pacific coast

With some friends and wine.... and we're all laughing (at this nights postings)

[Rebellious Republican]

87. simple thoughts for simple minds.

[alittlelark]

91. Keep trying or be smart and go to sleep.

edited for stoopid spelling.

[Rebellious Republican]

92. All I can say is that you are so much more superior than I am....

Thanks for the enlightening discussion.

[Rebellious Republican]

103. I will be smart!

[Rebellious Republican]

104. Good night and sweet dreams.

[alittlelark]

109. Your ability to talk to yourself on a message board.....

....gotta say it is either pathological or borderline pathological. Go to sleep, seek help in the AM.

[Marr]

38. I'd let someone else play the scold if I were you. /nt

[Rebellious Republican]

41. Who would that be?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

63. I can understand why you'd say that....

But I am kind of opinionated. maybe it will fall on deaf ears because of recent activities where I've had posts hidden. But it is more an affirmation to myself and others who sometimes forget we're all just a bunch of regular schlubs posting here (although some here certainly don't see themselves that way)...heh heh

[Rebellious Republican]

39. Major K&R!!!!!!!!!!

I have tried to to inform and educate the newer posters with some understanding of their views and prospectives. Lest we forget our humble beginnings.

Teach Your Children Lyrics

You who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good bye.

Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

And you, of tender years,
Can't know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth,
They seek the truth before they can die.

Counter Melody To Above Verse:
Can you hear and do you care and
Cant you see we must be free to
Teach your children what you believe in.
Make a world that we can live in.

Teach your parents well,
Their children's hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

[stupidicus]

43. it is hard to get a word in edgewise around here

that's why I spend most of my time on less populated and mixed boards

[Rebellious Republican]

49. You can get as many words in as you wish to friend. With a handle like mine and eleven...

years later I am still here. Please join in on the discussions, tan your hide cause its gonna get flamed here once or twice. Hell I can't count the number of times mine has been, but I ain't been tomb stoned yet. I will leave you with this....

[kentuck]

51. :-)__~~%

Well said!

[Rebellious Republican]

52. Thanks kentuck!

coming home for the holidays, god willing.

[stupidicus]

53. well

I was thinking more along the lines of top posting, as opposed to responding to them or to other responses.

In my relatively short time here I've seen my share of the "flaming" efforts, and all of them are relatively mild compared to what I see almost daily elsewhere. That's what I like least about this place -- the unfair way the jury system seems to work in favor of those with the higher post counts.

[Rebellious Republican]

54. stupidicus, your reply is very confusing.

stupidicus
Thu Apr 5, 2012, 08:33 PM

"In my relatively short time here I've seen my share of the "flaming" efforts, and all of them are relatively mild compared to what I see almost daily elsewhere. That's what I like least about this place".

OK, now I am confused.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

75. Can't speak for the poster, but what I took from it

Is there are some pretty "no holds barred" type of discussion boards and by contrast an infrequent poster can get quickly caught up in a web of PC things we're supposed to just "know" cross the line. If you aren't well known you are likely to have a post hidden merely because people don't like what you said and can use the manner in which you said it as a cudgel to beat you with.

[Rebellious Republican]

106. Granted, it has happened to me.

[stupidicus]

121. allow me to clarify

I don't have a problem with wouldbe flamers, but I have had a bit of a problem with the way in which the jurors have sometimes taken my responses to them that are equally "mild", and largely the same in form and substance, and hidden them. That was in response to your reference to the "tomb stone" that is sometimes the end result of flame wars.

Over time I think it is inevitable that a place like this, big or small, will become something akin to a high school popularity contest, and the "new kids" always suffer in more ways than one.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

66. I hear you on that one

I like the jury system, but that is one quibble I have with it.

[MadLinguist]

48. Plenty of NaCl to raise a hackle, all my brine on the line

I appreciate your post, Pretzel. I've see you around for a long, time. I been here since the days of the Bush election fraud in 2004. I rarely post, though I come here most days. I dont want to add to the clutter, but I have sometimes refrained from posting because of the many shrill warnings against low-post count DUers, and cautions against people who admit to reading more than posting (aka lurkers). I do want to feel that I wont be automatically shunned for those reasons, so thanks!

Mad, mad mad Linguist

[Not Sure]

50. I sure identify with this post

Been here since Katrina, but rarely do I have anything to say that hasn't already been said. I don't see myself being a prolific enough poster to get away from low post count bias anytime soon. Maybe in time for the 2024 election season.

[Cha]

57. Look at you, PW.. suggesting reservoirs of salt and asking

for civiliity and shit.

Mahalo!

[Pretzel_Warrior]

72. Yeah. I want to TRY to put a little higher caliber effort in

And not just engage in primal scream type DU thread behavior that is so common or the usual knee jerk reaction posts.

And it has helped to put this all into a little different frame of reference.

[alittlelark]

62. I suggest you get double that......

...seriously.

[Starry Messenger]

99. You were TS'd from DU2 for homophobia. I'd take anything you said with a grain of salt.

Larger quantities are good for killing slugs.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

123. No. I was TS'd for not being politically correct enough. I learned a lesson with that one

Not least of which is that a)it can happen without warning, b)it can happen despite years of positive posting, and c)numerous requests to admins for some type of explanation can and will be completely ignored.

Some people want to say what I said was homophobic. It was me overstepping some people's bounds by suggesting gay rights people who were impatient with Obama in 2009 were lime others who said "Where's my pony?" only I said in that case "where's my fabulous pink pony.". I could understand it being deleted and people PM'ing me explaining their outrage...but summary execution seemed a bit harsh.

[Starry Messenger]

124. Yeah, straight guy says what he said isn't homophobic after he's banned for it.

Sounds legit.

No. I was TS'd for not being politically correct enough. I learned a lesson with that one

Not least of which is that a)it can happen without warning, b)it can happen despite years of positive posting, and c)numerous requests to admins for some type of explanation can and will be completely ignored.

Some people want to say what I said was homophobic. It was me overstepping some people's bounds by suggesting gay rights people who were impatient with Obama in 2009 were lime others who said "Where's my pony?" only I said in that case "where's my fabulous pink pony.". I could understand it being deleted and people PM'ing me explaining their outrage...but summary execution seemed a bit harsh.

[MNBrewer]

131. Why was he allowed back in?

We have enough zombies in DU, don't need more returning from the grave.

[Starry Messenger]

132. Heck if I know. I agree with you totally.

I hope this is just a temporary visit.

[Gormy Cuss]

125. I have no beef with you, Pretzel_Warrior

but "fabulous pink pony" is flat out homophobic in the context you just described. Do you still not get that?

[RagAss]

100. Before I clicked on it...I thought this was a post about preparing for the winter ice.

[gtar100]

101. Post count does not equate to intelligence or due respect.

A quick "k&r" counts the same as a well thought response. I like the mobile DU because the count isn't present with the name. Looks a lot more like an even playing field.

[Coyotl]

126. Everyone here should buy a pair of hip waders.

The BS gets real deep at times.

[backscatter712]

133. Look who's talkin'!