I realize that a call to civility is useless here

[Cary]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by rhett o rick (a host of the 2016 Postmortem forum).

But it is a discussion board and I present my point of view anyway.

I have not said a single negative thing about Bernie Sanders. Quite the contrary, and yet I have been attacked by Bernie Sanders' supporters. And then in the same breath they tell me, someone who has actually only posted in self defense, if anything, that they can abuse me because Hillary Clinton supporters abuse them.

I don't get attacked by Hillary Clinton supporters, quite the contrary. It seems that the battle ground isn't about candidates at all, but rather there is a reaction against the idea that at some point we have to get behind the ultimate candidate.

And while I don't believe that I will ever hold the treatment I get from Bernie Sanders' supporters here at DU against Bernie Sanders himself, I have to admit that I am a little tempted. Ultimately I cannot because I believe that any Republican President would be catastrophic. But it bothers me that there will be others who will not vote for Bernie Sanders just because of the conduct of Bernie Sanders' supporters here.

This is just rank stupidity here. The only post I've had hidden was apparently hidden because made that statement too broadly. But hey, we should be able to look at ourselves and what we're doing. I just don't get it. Really. I don't really want to fight with anyone here. I have plenty of "conservatives" to fight with and they have gotten to be even worse over the past 8 years of pent up frustration--not being powerful enough to bring us into unnecessary wars and not being able to sufficiently scuttle our economic recovery.

Wow, could we not use our collective energies to fight that? It's smart to fight each other? Really?

[MineralMan]

1. Such calls are hardly useless,

but may receive uncivil responses.

[Cary]

2. Humor works.

[MineralMan]

6. Humor is funny.

Funny how? Do you find it amusing? Does it make you laugh?

[Armstead]

10. This is reminding me of a scene from Goodfellas with Joe Pesci

"You think I'm funny? Do I amuse you punk?"

[atreides1]

13. I was thinking

Good Feathers, from the Animaniacs cartoon!

[MineralMan]

15. Yah, that was intentional...

[roguevalley]

34. I agree, MineralMan. What annoys me about whichever side posts such messages is the

inherent or even stated remarks that their side is blameless. I think these posts are interesting but useless. I would like civility too but given that both sides have yappers who like to stir stuff up, it probably is a forlorn hope.

[Cary]

36. I don't have "a side." What annoys me about people who respond to these posts is that you assume.

I speak for myself as an individual. I didn't say I was perfect either so basically you seem to be doing the same silly trick, which is to change the subject to me or, in this instance, to "a side" which presumably you put me on.

I would approach this place as if I was a Democrat first and foremost, because I am. But that's never good enough.

[Cary]

60. Useless

Never try to teach a pig to sing. The pig never sings, it just gets mad at you.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. Really? NOW you want civility?

No.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[Bjorn Against]

4. If you were truly seeking civil discourse you would not be broad brushing Sanders' supporters

Accusing Sanders' supporters of "rank stupidity" is not civil, you need to clean up your own act before you go pointing the finger at others.

[dorkzilla]

22. +1!

But don’t you know, Bjorn, only Sanders supporters can be uncivil. It’s part and parcel of our rank stupidity.

Expect more of these “can’t we all get along” posts as Clinton’s inevitability goes, once again, the way of the dodo bird. It’s the precursor to “I was with you guys all along! I never said nasty things about you or your candidate! Honest!”

[Cary]

37. But I didn't even do that. I said the whole fight is stupid.

And again you change the subject to me. I did say that I was getting it from Bernie supporters so go ahead and use that as a lame excuse to change the subject.

[Bjorn Against]

44. You pretend to be for civility while you slime Bernie supporters

You seem to think that you should be able to attack Bernie supporters all you want but if they defend themselves against your attacks they are the ones being uncivil. There is incivility on both sides and you are not even close to being innocent, if you truly wanted civility you would clean up your own act.

[Cary]

59. You are changing the subject to me, personally.

Go create the "Cary sucks" thread. Go. Just do it.

[TheFarS1de]

54. No , you made well sure you threw in the old "Sanders Supporters"

The only thing lame here is your attempt to paint one side as better than another simply by who they support . Cry me a river .
Feel the Bern .

[mmonk]

5. I'm fighting for my and my family's well being

right now. I try to do it with civility. There are a lot of attack threads that have nothing to do with policy. I try to avoid those when possible.

[lovemydog]

52. I understand and appreciate what you're saying.

Thank you.

[Armstead]

7. Perhaps some might practice what they preach

Either that or just enjoy the combat and not pretend otherwise.

Or find some middle ground of civilly disagreeing and without makiong it personal.

[Cary]

38. I've tried. It is invariably used against me.

I'm always told some variation, like yours, of "you are being abused because you ask for it."

Just like you do.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. "I have become what I beheld and I am content that I have done right!"

DSB

[elleng]

9. Some posters can't help themselves, I've learned.

[Lil Missy]

11. I've had the same experience - snotty and rude responses.

I'm holding out for super Tuesday and hoping the Democrats can start posting.

[Fawke Em]

26. Democrats are posting now.

I've always voted for Democrats and am supporting Bernie.

Not sure what you mean.

(Actually, I do, but you're wrong in your assessment that Sanders supporters aren't Democrats. Many of us just don't like Republicans wearing blue)

[Cary]

39. I never said Sanders supporters weren't Democrats.

Quite the contrary I am saying we are all Democrats. That's why I'm saying that fighting each other is stupid.

[Punkingal]

32. A prime example of one of the problems here.

The insinuation that people who are posting here aren't democrats, especially if they are Bernie supporters.

[Cary]

40. A prime example of one of the problems here.

Posters twisting my words into something I did not say, and did not intend to say.

As stated above I was saying exactly the opposite. An apology is in order.

[Punkingal]

45. I was not responding to your OP, but to a poster in the OP.

[Cary]

49. Ok, I'm sorry.

[Cary]

51. Oops. Indeed you were.

Like I said below, I'm not perfect.

{embarrassed}

Sorry again.

[MeNMyVolt]

56. Puhlease. Back in Dec. a certain poster had an OP which said...

..."I'm no longer a Democrat" and it got 74 fucking recs, and lots of support in thread. Those weren't HRC supporters reccing that crap.

[Punkingal]

63. What does that have to do with me, and my response to this particular post?

[MeNMyVolt]

66. Uh, let's see.

"The insinuation that people who are posting here aren't democrats, especially if they are Bernie supporters." Is it clicking yet?

[840high]

35. I was banned from Hillary group for

posting I wasn't sure about something.

[Cary]

42. Sorry. I assure you it wasn't me.

I cannot speak to that. I wasn't there.

[NCTraveler]

12. I have worked my ass off to gain the scorn of a couple of Sanders supporters.

Get off my lawn with your call for civility.

Shhhhhh. Some of my favorite posters are Sanders supporters. Don't tell please.

[Beacool]

14. Hear, hear!!!

This site has become a cesspool. Some seem to have forgotten that Hillary is not the enemy. I have mostly reacted to some threads and comments, but I have never spewed the kind of vile against Sanders that some people regularly spew about Hillary. They even go as far as posting RW talking points and articles from RW sites. Disgusting the things one reads here, a supposed Democratic site.

[dorkzilla]

24. How very civil of you!

Have a great day!

[Dawson Leery]

25. I am pleased to see Schultz and Rhodes gone from the air.

Limbaugh will gone soon, too.

[Fawke Em]

27. Thom doesn't snark on Hillary and cuts callers off who try to do so.

He's said often that he supports Bernie in the primary, but would vote for Hillary if she's the nominee.

[Bobbie Jo]

33. I gotta say...

Thom Hartman

I've tried to listen to him for years. Mainly because there is/was no alternative in his time slot - 11-2?-

So I've tried to take interest, but his show is the equivalent to listening to paint dry. I'm sure he's a "good progressive" and all that, but damn, what a snoozefest.

[stillwaiting]

17. A lot of us feel like the stakes are very high here so emotions are running extremely high.

I know mine sure are.

I don't have you on ignore yet so I tend to believe you aren't being too negative. I have very little tolerance for many Hillary supporters, and I have many of them on ignore.

This primary will continue to be emotionally heated because we have two candidates who offer quite different approaches to the future of the Democratic Party (this is my opinion and it is shared by many others). Many of us are demanding change within the Democratic Party. We are frustrated and fed up with what has happened to the Party over the past few decades. So, it's not quite so easy to simply just focus on the Republicans at this point. We have some house cleaning to do. At least, a lot of us feel that way. Quite obviously at this point.

Thank you for your respectful post. The Republicans ARE horrible. They really are. And, even though I STRONGLY do not approve of Hillary Clinton, I will vote for her should she get the nomination. But, I can not lie. I would be quite devastated if she did.

[Kentonio]

18. While your premise is correct..

There's been too much mud flung on all sides for it to just vanish overnight. You don't get attacked by Hillary supporters because you're seen as a Hillary supporter. On the other hand, many people find it hard to forget the posts in the Hillary forum that described Sanders supporters as naive, stupid, vile, sexist, disgusting, racist and much, much more. Then again there was an equally nasty post about Hillary supporters made in GDP itself just yesterday, and the alert on it failed. So much anger and resentment all around.

If you geniunely want to find some unity, all I can suggest at this point is to just make sure you only post kind things and hope it makes others come to their senses. Making these posts you've been making which basically put all the blame on one side isn't particularly kind incidentally, and certainly won't do a single thing to help restore any unity.

[m-lekktor]

19. It seems the ones always calling for civility are mostly the ones contributing to the lack of it..

That is why the "calls" are sneered at and dismissed!

[Old Codger]

20. After the bunch

From the hillary site came out here and trashed Bernie and his way back at the startI didnt see much complaining from her supporters about that trash talk, the pretty muc set the tone fro the rest of it...

[cali]

21. Oh please. You have a record of smears against Bernie's supporters, rendering

your plaintive op a tad disingenuous.

[notadmblnd]

23. you know, we get at least one "bernies supporters are mean" posts daily.

and they say almost the exact thing you posted. So I think you are just trying to stir the shit pot to make people react.

[Cary]

43. Yes, people calling for civility are stirring the pot.

Good thinking.

[notadmblnd]

48. You know what I mean and you know it. Now I suppose

you can claim to be a victim too when you are the one providing snark? You proved my point about just wanting to toss out some shit.

[Cary]

53. Stop

What utter nonsense.

Do you not see that you are changing the subject to me, personally? How can you not see that?

Address the issue. This is a discussion board. If you want to discuss me, personally, open your own "I hate Cary" thread. I've said that many times, probably to you.

You're being abusive and doing exactly what I am complaining about. Good grief, grow up.

[notadmblnd]

55. Exactly. What you are doing is nonsense.

I did address the issue, I said this message is repeated here daily and I believe you are not sincere in your message and said so. You proved it when your reply to me was nothing but snark. You are not a victim of Sander's supporters meaness.

Now, you have a good day.

[Cary]

57. Then don't respond.

Your opinion of me is irrelevant and your insistence that you are my judge is ridiculous.

I am "not a victim of Sander's supporters meaness. (sic)." People aren't behaving this way because they support one side or another. The need to attack someone instead of addressing the issue is a personal character flaw. It is a sign of insecurity and immaturity.

As I said, grow up.

[notadmblnd]

71. Now who is twisting words?

I have given no opinion of you. I did give you my opinion of what you are trying to do here. Perhaps a nice cup of tea will calm you?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

28. Not into bloodsport? This could be the wrong forum.

You seem to be into bloodsport, at least on the giving end of it. But if you're not all-in, this can be a rough forum.

[guillaumeb]

29. Hope this helps Cary,

From a Thomas Mulcair supporter. Sorry, wrong country, wrong socialist.

[Cal Carpenter]

30. How about a call to intellectual honesty from you?

I replied to you once on a thread in GD that wasn't even about the primary, it seemed. And you didn't like my follow up answer and went off about what sort of chances Bernie has and how mean his supporters (implying me) are to you, and so forth.

It was the weirdest thing, because I wasn't talking to you about the primary, nor have I ever expressed support for Bernie over Hillary on DU.

So I question your perceptions. You thought I was just another mean Bernie supporter, when the evidence about me showed no such thing.

You see what you want to see. You say "we should be able to look at ourselves and what we're doing" - I think first and foremost you need to start with yourself.

And the funniest part of all is that you talk about yourself and your feelings all the time and then wonder why responses are all about you personally. It's because YOU started it. I know that sounds like something a 3rd grader would say, but it is true.

You are quite a character, Cary.

[Cary]

46. "You are quite a character, Cary."

No. Actually I'm just a person.

I make mistakes sometimes. If I did, I apologize. But I really get sick of having crap thrown at me for no good reason, and sometimes I lose my temper. And sometimes I just plain old make mistakes.

Like I said, just a person.

You are quite judgmental, Cal Carpenter. It's about you, right? See how easy that is? You like that do you?

[polly7]

50. Gas-lighting at its finest. nt.

[Cary]

65. Indeed, I am getting gas-lighted.

Of course that's not what you meant.

[polly7]

70. You're actually quite good at it (don't take that as a compliment).

I recognize it very easily, having lived with it for years.

[Orsino]

31. If you are getting attacked, please alert on those posts.

If it's only your views facing vigorous opposition, welcome to DU. And if you'received hunting loyalty pledges, good luck.

[lovemydog]

41. That's been my experience here too.

We need to expand the ability for free speech here. To me that means more that just saying whatever is the first thing that comes to mind.

It also means helping create an environment where all types of people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts & opinions without the fear of being personally ridiculed.

[Cary]

47. We used to have that. I miss it.

I don't understand why just calling for it again causes so many to melt down.

[lovemydog]

61. I think it's a reflection that their nerves are frayed.

I understand it to some extent. A lot of people are sick and tired of the democratic party's difficulty or seeming inability to say and do the things that will help the 99% financially and in other areas like the criminal justice system.

Some people here have been volunteering for their candidate. I applaud them for it. The race is tightening and if they're emotionally involved or invested with time and energy it can be grueling. I'm not sure if it was better here in the past. I've heard varying opinions on it.

Maybe some need to get outside and get some air & sun. It's great for the soul.

That's what's I'm heading off to do now. I hope you enjoy a good day Cary!

[TheFarS1de]

58. Keep your safe spaces ...

Adults need to discuss issues without tip toeing around hurt feelings .

[Cary]

62. Tell you what.

If I want to be condescended to I'll let you know.

[TheFarS1de]

68. Should'nt that come with a trigger warning ?

[Cary]

69. You aren't a trigger.

Like I said, the pig never sings. I get that.

[lumberjack_jeff]

64. Given the choice between "civil" and "accurate", I choose the latter. n/t

[Cary]

67. Which do you normally choose, walking or chewing gum?