General Discussion

Think. Again.

(22,456 posts)

28. I'm a newbie myself...

Thu Dec 7, 2023, 08:00 AM

Dec 2023

...I joined after 'lurking' for a while, and started lurking mostly because I saw a need to debunk a lot of false information being tossed about on the topic of clean energy and the energy transition itself. I was (and am) hoping to spark some new public engagement and exctement over what I see as the most important social issue of our time-- getting away from fossil fuels.

I would have thought a flush of new members during the lead-up to this very important 2024 election would have been very welcomed by a Democratic party website, but I'm seeing more suspicion of, and vitriol toward, various groups like younger voters, pro-nuclear energy folks, middle-east peaceniks, etc, than I like. Open minds seem to be few and far between.

I DO suspect there are nefarious forces at play here trying sow division within a specifically Democratic discussion group, but I also suspect there are some 'in-crowd' folks who just want DU to be a 'cool-kids friends group' that they're familiar with.

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jmbar2 BigmanPigman Raine Goddessartist CrispyQ KPN Brenda

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Highlight:

Has anyone noticed all the newer DU members lately? [View all] BigmanPigman Dec 2023 OP

Yes, but even more, the number of prolific posters who are no longer around since Oct. 7... hlthe2b Dec 2023 #1

Good point. BigmanPigman Dec 2023 #2

I never considered myself a "prolific poster"... A HERETIC I AM Dec 2023 #30

I am sick...have Covid.My sister in law died from it...she was in a home. I am holding my Demsrule86 Dec 2023 #44

Glad you are able to keep it managed! JudyM Dec 2023 #50

Holy hell! I'm so sorry about your SIL. Please, everyone, if you do not have a pulse oximiter Maru Kitteh Dec 2023 #63

You are not alone. Polly Hennessey Dec 2023 #51

Oh yes, me too. MuseRider Dec 2023 #71

The conflict between Israel and Hamas attracted a number of new users. TexasTowelie Dec 2023 #3

I wonder about those who earnestly came here in search of news & perspective on this war EYESORE 9001 Dec 2023 #5

compared to the entire rest of the interwebs mopinko Dec 2023 #39

This place is a goldmine compared to most social media AZSkiffyGeek Dec 2023 #86

Likely true of some. There was a group that showed on 10/8-10/10 with +60% of their posts were OP's... CincyDem Dec 2023 #56

That's a good point - MIRT must be working overtime during this fall term FakeNoose Dec 2023 #69

"Ceasefire Now" protesters have said they are specifically targeting the Democratic Party LeftInTX Dec 2023 #90

I didn't think that was even possible.... BigmanPigman Dec 2023 #6

all u need is a distinct email address. mopinko Dec 2023 #37

And a vpn, and a mac scrambler, and.... getagrip_already Dec 2023 #54

we've had persistent trolls that use public computers. mopinko Dec 2023 #57

Some people will also moniss Dec 2023 #20

That's just creepy. Years ago I did get a mild challenge from someone who'd had interactions with "Hecate"... Hekate Dec 2023 #97

Members using multiple user names. CrispyQ Dec 2023 #53

IIRC there have been trolls w/ multiple usernames arguing with themselves to boost their "legitimacy" AZSkiffyGeek Dec 2023 #65

I literally LOLd at that. -nt CrispyQ Dec 2023 #68

Funniest one I ever saw was someone who lost track of their multiple personalities within a thread Hekate Dec 2023 #96

Me too, BigmanPigman Dec 2023 #98

There seem to be trolls and good folks amongst them. Hermit-The-Prog Dec 2023 #4

I don't even understand BigmanPigman Dec 2023 #8

Oh it's simple! The frogs are dancing with orange tutus on the roof of the basement. Hermit-The-Prog Dec 2023 #9

Some months back I had an extended moniss Dec 2023 #15

Also, some people just have to have the last word. It scratches a sort of "I showed them," itch. -nt CrispyQ Dec 2023 #55

DUs evil stepsister site JPR did shut down revmclaren Dec 2023 #7

You're more skilled at discerning posts BigmanPigman Dec 2023 #10

Its subtle things like greatings, slang terms, etc. revmclaren Dec 2023 #12

There was a repeat intruder who didn't know when to use an apostrophe. nt TexasTowelie Dec 2023 #14

Wow, you're good. BigmanPigman Dec 2023 #16

My mathematical prowess and pattern recognition skills also came in handy. TexasTowelie Dec 2023 #24

FWIW, I think AI would suck at MIRT EYESORE 9001 Dec 2023 #29

Yesterday someone posted a nonfiction book review written by AI. It was total gibberish. CrispyQ Dec 2023 #64

The Policeman's Beard is Half Constructed Wednesdays Dec 2023 #99

I was impressed when you mentioned the writing style as a tell... CincyDem Dec 2023 #52

I'm not on MIRT, but there are several members who have served on the team that are better than I am TexasTowelie Dec 2023 #93

haha - I've been around 11 years and only now starting to understand/appreciate MIRT. CincyDem Dec 2023 #95

That was a brilliant catch AZSkiffyGeek Dec 2023 #45

Never heard moniss Dec 2023 #18

JackPine Radical. A former DUer, now deceased, who started his own site, if I have the details correct. eppur_se_muova Dec 2023 #25

My understanding of history may be a bit askew EYESORE 9001 Dec 2023 #35

No, you are absolutely correct. It was shameful for them to use his name for that mishigas of a website. Scrivener7 Dec 2023 #41

Thank you. I sit corrected. As I tried to indicate, I was unsure of the details. eppur_se_muova Dec 2023 #48

I see and I do sort moniss Dec 2023 #36

The original JackPineRadical was a good guy who had nothing to do with the site. Scrivener7 Dec 2023 #40

JPR was really bad PJMcK Dec 2023 #31

What is claudette Dec 2023 #32

see (corrected) response 25. nt eppur_se_muova Dec 2023 #49

One or two simply revived their abandoned accounts here when their JPR home went away. Scrivener7 Dec 2023 #38

MIRT knows! NewHendoLib Dec 2023 #47

So all the new users are from a site that shutdown almost a year ago? Voltaire2 Dec 2023 #77

Never said that. But to actually think that revmclaren Dec 2023 #81

I know that I read posts of new members with added scrutiny especially new members Bev54 Dec 2023 #92

Hard not to notice. Cha Dec 2023 #11

yes Skittles Dec 2023 #13

I have noticed. Lunabell Dec 2023 #17

Hello! Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #19

Hah! I hadn't thought of that. Welcome! hlthe2b Dec 2023 #21

My poor old eyes Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #23

I find night mode alleviates that problem.. Wounded Bear Dec 2023 #60

Thanks! Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #88

Really? getagrip_already Dec 2023 #59

Been here since 2001 from DU 1-4, so yeah. I'm adaptable, but my weary eyes do prefer hlthe2b Dec 2023 #62

A dial like this phone? area51 Dec 2023 #74

I always wanted one of those..... getagrip_already Dec 2023 #79

Ha! The nerve of you... elias7 Dec 2023 #26

Thank you! Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #27

Welcome from a fellow lurker! Goddessartist Dec 2023 #42

Lurkers Unite! Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #46

I, too, have lurked... ggma Dec 2023 #72

Thank you ggma Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #75

Same! Goddessartist Dec 2023 #82

Welcome welcome ! CincyDem Dec 2023 #70

Thank you. Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #78

Welcome home, Ursus Arctos. Niagara Dec 2023 #89

Thank you so much! Ursus Arctos Dec 2023 #94

Are they noticed on a particular subject? Basic LA Dec 2023 #22

I'm a newbie myself... Think. Again. Dec 2023 #28

I think your point is valid, but I also think a lot of old posters have been through this before. Scrivener7 Dec 2023 #43

Yep, I can see all that happening... Think. Again. Dec 2023 #67

Been visiting DU since the bush years Woodwizard Dec 2023 #33

The problem is people have a hard time discussing contentious issues. Old Crank Dec 2023 #34

I didn't notice. NCIndie Dec 2023 #58

Some are genuine newbies, and some are genuine new trolls ms liberty Dec 2023 #61

I asked DU to cancel my first id due to a loudmouth in my workplace Captain Zero Dec 2023 #66

I miss the tombstone, too! ms liberty Dec 2023 #73

Yes. cilla4progress Dec 2023 #76

It' an army of GQP trolls bucolic_frolic Dec 2023 #80

It's not just from the right AZSkiffyGeek Dec 2023 #87

Consider that during times of great political moment we attract many new members and many new imposters pecosbob Dec 2023 #83

Hoping Not All Of Them Are Trolls Deep State Witch Dec 2023 #84

I'll bet that a lot of them aren't "new" and just reborn again... GuppyGal Dec 2023 #85

I guess I'm the exception here Xavier Breath Dec 2023 #91