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(94,304 posts)

5. seriously? DU has been an echo chamber on many things

Thu Jul 4, 2013, 01:47 PM

Jul 2013

. . . wrapping all of the worst of it in the worthwhile just brushes past the reams and reams of type spent here repeating false mantras and exaggerated claims and charges against the Democratic party and our Democratic president.

When DU is informative, it's a winner. When it's mired in overwrought, self-serving hyperbole, it's a bore.

That doesn't mean DU doesn't matter or anything like that, Will. it just means that this is an open and varied forum where people post for many, many different reasons and motivations; some noble and worthwhile, some venting and cathartic, some inquisitive, some declarative, some just sounding out an idea which has been floating around in someone's head (not always going to be correct, relevant, or prescient). Even more motivations to post here . . . most all of them worth the time and effort, because there are folks here with a myriad of reasons and motivations to read the posts and respond.

But, 'echo chamber?' Yes, it can, undeniably be an echo chamber - for good or bad. Coming to grips with that reality might just allow some here to look beyond these pages and expand their perspective and pov.

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I've read here a dozen times today that DU is an echo chamber, has no wider impact, etc. [View all] WilliamPitt Jul 2013 OP

Outstanding think Jul 2013 #1

Some of the "DU is meaningless" posts probably express genuine despair, winter is coming Jul 2013 #2

It's always the same group of people attempting to poison the well... WorseBeforeBetter Jul 2013 #10

It seems odd that so many of the "internet doesn't matter" people Romulus Quirinus Jul 2013 #12

So which is worse, apathy or ignorance? Jackpine Radical Jul 2013 #23

+10 vlyons Jul 2013 #28

Poster with >10^4 posts here... Buzz Clik Jul 2013 #26

iron pyrite is pretty, vlyons Jul 2013 #30

Yep. And when it weathers, is loses its luster and exudes pure acid. Buzz Clik Jul 2013 #34

I feel that our perceptions here are managed much more aggressively than in the past. bemildred Jul 2013 #3

I also see it backfiring and a lot more open pushback and criticism of the Admin and Dem figures. leveymg Jul 2013 #11

It makes it too obvious, is what it does. bemildred Jul 2013 #20

The "people stop listening, tune u out" may be the point - more poisoning the well than persuasion. leveymg Jul 2013 #36

Yes, a lot of that too. All noise is good when you don't like the message. bemildred Jul 2013 #40

Great sub-thread. bleever Jul 2013 #42

Thanx. Next round's on me. leveymg Jul 2013 #53

I think it's too late to snuff the story, and anything that happened to Snowden or GG would simply leveymg Jul 2013 #52

Let's say I will find it very interesting if no heads at the NSA roll over this debacle. nt bemildred Jul 2013 #60

Yes. The DU dissidents who were criticized for daring to tell the truth about the importance of JDPriestly Jul 2013 #80

Bravo! kentuck Jul 2013 #82

I'll second that. Thanks for the historical perspective. This really is a period like the '40s - leveymg Jul 2013 #105

Yup. what you say. nt graham4anything Jul 2013 #46

More like the money men/women vlyons Jul 2013 #31

Yes! nt Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #100

+1 xchrom Jul 2013 #14

And we met up and raised our voices suffragette Jul 2013 #4

seriously? DU has been an echo chamber on many things bigtree Jul 2013 #5

When you agree with what you read, it's informative. WilliamPitt Jul 2013 #8

I agree that it's a vehicle for action bigtree Jul 2013 #22

Definitely.. Cha Jul 2013 #113

+2 bvar22 Jul 2013 #32

+1 Buzz Clik Jul 2013 #25

"Coming to grips with that reality might just allow some here to look beyond these pages and expand Number23 Jul 2013 #88

What I hate is this talk about "motivations" instead of "ideas." Pale Blue Dot Jul 2013 #92

As I once explained to you about my own experience, Will, it wasn't all paranoia. It's intimidation. leveymg Jul 2013 #6

DU has always been relevant Hydra Jul 2013 #7

More good stuff, thanks Will. marble falls Jul 2013 #9

Absolutely remember those days, and we still are the best real-time think tank on the planet usGovOwesUs3Trillion Jul 2013 #13

Yes. I've seen many ideas first posted here that were picked up and Zorra Jul 2013 #35

Unfortunately... kentuck Jul 2013 #15

I lurked for a long time before I signed up in 2008 davidpdx Jul 2013 #108

You read those words because you wrote them. merrily Jul 2013 #16

Eh? WilliamPitt Jul 2013 #17

... Buzz Clik Jul 2013 #24

k&r n/t RainDog Jul 2013 #18

And that is the reason I have stayed around sense the beginning. zeemike Jul 2013 #19

Hmmm...I don't know pipi_k Jul 2013 #21

works for me vlyons Jul 2013 #27

BRAVO: I have really needed to hear a post like yours!!!! kpete Jul 2013 #29

K&R^^^^ ;-) ReRe Jul 2013 #33

A journey of a thousand li starts with one step. - Lao Tse Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2013 #37

Good point davidpdx Jul 2013 #109

I have many war stories from the Old Days at DU, bvar22 Jul 2013 #38

And the US Senate knew about DU also. kentuck Jul 2013 #39

I was with friends back then having lunch and said something against Bush... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #41

I remember William Crewleader Jul 2013 #43

CREWLEADER!!!!! WilliamPitt Jul 2013 #44

Back at You William Crewleader Jul 2013 #97

Awesome to see you here! n/t MuseRider Jul 2013 #54

Thank you MuseRider Crewleader Jul 2013 #71

And to you Crewleader. MuseRider Jul 2013 #79

MuseRider, You made this lady feel real good! Crewleader Jul 2013 #96

What MuseRider said! nt Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #102

CREW! kentuck Jul 2013 #63

Thanks kentuck Crewleader Jul 2013 #72

I was just thinking of you a few days ago. kentuck Jul 2013 #75

Thanks friend Crewleader Jul 2013 #77

Welcome Home, Old Timer. bvar22 Jul 2013 #64

Hello there Crewleader Jul 2013 #74

I was here. Awesome post. nt silvershadow Jul 2013 #45

k&R. Kurovski Jul 2013 #47

This is a great post, polly7 Jul 2013 #48

DU was better before but there are some great minds and activists here right now xiamiam Jul 2013 #49

Good that you are back. kentuck Jul 2013 #66

Gotta get off that number... kentuck Jul 2013 #68

that's very sweet..ty..i never really left all the way..just came here less and posted less..nt xiamiam Jul 2013 #76

Sometimes as friends you just have to hang out nolabels Jul 2013 #50

People who say DU is an echo chamber, and has no wider impact AndyA Jul 2013 #51

Well said Mr. Pitt Marrah_G Jul 2013 #55

ooga smooga booga wooga? annabanana Jul 2013 #56

And that is completely different from a forum that just wants to atgue about BlueStreak Jul 2013 #57

Kicked and recommended, the ripple in the pond is a dead-on analogy. Uncle Joe Jul 2013 #58

Yes! And some stones make bigger ripples than others here... FailureToCommunicate Jul 2013 #59

HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Jul 2013 #61

We stood up and gave our real names. Bonhomme Richard Jul 2013 #62

Yes, I too remember that. MuseRider Jul 2013 #87

K & R because DU does matter Lifelong Protester Jul 2013 #65

DU has had a huge influence on my life. cheapdate Jul 2013 #67

We at DU are more like trim tabs. WHO SAYS we don't have influence outside of this site? calimary Jul 2013 #69

nice, but hfojvt Jul 2013 #70

I agree. Rarely will we see evidence of our effect outside DU. randome Jul 2013 #73

The focus on DU is on the information shared, not on the bright, shining stars who start JDPriestly Jul 2013 #78

Nice post, WilliamPitt! Enthusiast Jul 2013 #81

COINTELPRO Techniques for dilution, misdirection and control of a internet forum siligut Jul 2013 #83

^ This. October Jul 2013 #117

My god I remember seeing that picture so many times. MuseRider Jul 2013 #84

MuseRider WilliamPitt Jul 2013 #89

I really thought you were going to trash DU lunatica Jul 2013 #85

K&R felix_numinous Jul 2013 #86

If I didn't come here I would miss out on a lot. LiberalFighter Jul 2013 #90

DU is a light in the dark. nt valerief Jul 2013 #91

Of course it matters, look at all the Occupy senators and congresspeople that were elected in 2012 WonderGrunion Jul 2013 #93

I C U WilliamPitt Jul 2013 #94

Is this an acknowledgement that the overall sentiment expressed here ecstatic Jul 2013 #95

Thank you for posting TxDemChem Jul 2013 #98

hardcore Obama supporters like to claim DU isnt the norm. Du is MORE INFORMED boilerbabe Jul 2013 #99

Nice try. Summer Hathaway Jul 2013 #103

I seriously doubt it CakeGrrl Jul 2013 #104

WE matter. Mira Jul 2013 #101

This website does matter. Damn the trolls and naysayers. RedCappedBandit Jul 2013 #106

That really touches me libodem Jul 2013 #120

Yes, very nice. ElboRuum Jul 2013 #107

Fantastic post. I agree with every word. Thank you. Number23 Jul 2013 #111

That was such an orgasmically good piece of writing Summer Hathaway Jul 2013 #112

I remember those days, ElboRuum, of which you Cha Jul 2013 #114

Thanks. Excellent assessment. -nt CakeGrrl Jul 2013 #115

Perfect summation. Bobbie Jo Jul 2013 #122

In 2004 New Hampshire was recounted because of This Site. IdaBriggs Jul 2013 #110

There are just more trolls - proving there is some power here October Jul 2013 #116

I have never doubted that DU matters. Hubert Flottz Jul 2013 #118

du matter to me--don't give a shit about what anyone else thinks dembotoz Jul 2013 #119

To a point. LWolf Jul 2013 #121