General Discussion

Pretzel_Warrior

(8,361 posts)

19. I've taken long breaks from the site and it has changed

Thu Jul 11, 2013, 11:20 PM

Jul 2013

But there are a lot of reasons for that. The first 8 years of it's existence, DU was a tremendous well spring of ideas from the opposition. For the past 4.5 years, DU has had to figure out how to be the same collection of concerned centrist Democrats and progressive activists dealing with being the party in the White House. And I think the trolls have increased and become more sophisticated.

Whatever the case, I think the team or group or coalition is slowly figuring out how to operate in that reality.

This is still a GREAT site with wealth of information and vital diversity of ideas and points of view. That's what makes the Democratic Party so strong.

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Hey... Lurkers, Ex- DUers, And Anybody Else... [View all] WillyT Jul 2013 OP

What did I miss? OrwellwasRight Jul 2013 #1

It ain't what it used to be, (but I'm in for the duration). 11 Bravo Jul 2013 #2

Me Too !!! WillyT Jul 2013 #3

Hell, between the two of us we have 22 years invested. Damned right we'll stick around! 11 Bravo Jul 2013 #12

33 count me in... nadinbrzezinski Jul 2013 #17

I'll make it 45!!! Skittles Jul 2013 #36

Ah, I got ya both beat. Le Taz Hot Jul 2013 #46

Me too neverforget Jul 2013 #76

And as do I. RC Jul 2013 #80

But ... as you said earlier this week ... Trajan Jul 2013 #4

Shit--I can't AFFORD to abandon it! pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #5

Yes! Now THAT is a scary prospect! FailureToCommunicate Jul 2013 #23

But I can't afford to self-deport overseas, either pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #24

No! What post???? Le Taz Hot Jul 2013 #45

here: bunnies Jul 2013 #50

Oh shit! Le Taz Hot Jul 2013 #51

awww. bunnies Jul 2013 #52

If they closed this site down Le Taz Hot Jul 2013 #54

lol!! bunnies Jul 2013 #56

Wow, that was your 47,000th post Blackford Jul 2013 #6

What's Worse... I Didn't Even Realize That... WillyT Jul 2013 #8

maybe the bullies are finally in retreat carolinayellowdog Jul 2013 #7

So my feelings of not wanting to read most of the recent threads has some company. Maraya1969 Jul 2013 #15

Oh, that happens all the time at a site the size of DU. delrem Jul 2013 #42

Now. Like this: silvershadow Jul 2013 #9

Why have I never seen that before? ;-) ReRe Jul 2013 #26

We have some dreamers, too. longship Jul 2013 #10

DU Rec Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2013 #11

k & r Just Saying Jul 2013 #13

I take breaks from DU once in a while ... LisaLynne Jul 2013 #14

Hey WillyT! tnlefty Jul 2013 #16

Damn, I remember the days when my pseudonym was like a lightning rod for trolls.. Rebellious Republican Jul 2013 #18

Why did you choose such a pseudonym? delrem Jul 2013 #40

I've taken long breaks from the site and it has changed Pretzel_Warrior Jul 2013 #19

PW, Spot on! Rebellious Republican Jul 2013 #31

The schism between Liberals/Progressives and Centrist/Corporatist�s is growing and UserNSAv32 Jul 2013 #87

You guys have a "random malaise generator" that stitches together these clauses? Kolesar Jul 2013 #89

Definitely not leaving. JDPriestly Jul 2013 #20

That was the finest sentiment. delrem Jul 2013 #43

I'm still here Tree-Hugger Jul 2013 #21

The same is true for me elizfeelinggreat Jul 2013 #60

And here also ...... oldhippie Jul 2013 #63

Me too fadedrose Jul 2013 #77

Happy 47K Willy! pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #22

I also am primarily a lurker tiredtoo Jul 2013 #25

It's easier to stay when I see trolls kicked to the curb. IrishAyes Jul 2013 #27

+1000000 Katashi_itto Jul 2013 #33

and so muuch of it so recently....n/t Sheepshank Jul 2013 #70

Interesting that I can't tell which group you think is the "thinly disguised Rethugs" Fumesucker Jul 2013 #47

Far more interesting to me that you could play so dumb when I know you aren't. IrishAyes Jul 2013 #65

Hate Mailbag late entry? Bobbie Jo Jul 2013 #49

Let's see now.... IrishAyes Jul 2013 #66

What? Bobbie Jo Jul 2013 #69

If I misunderstood your intent, IrishAyes Jul 2013 #72

I joined earlier this year but 2naSalit Jul 2013 #28

Well... Rebellious Republican Jul 2013 #34

Thanks, Rebellious 2naSalit Jul 2013 #74

Your welcome, stick around it can be very entertaining around here! N/T Rebellious Republican Jul 2013 #90

I'm not going anywhere, unless... ReRe Jul 2013 #29

... LuvLoogie Jul 2013 #30

I'm more worried that DU will reject me. delrem Jul 2013 #32

See this reply if it helps? Rebellious Republican Jul 2013 #35

Yep there's a fine line between critic/disruptor marions ghost Jul 2013 #64

heheheh! delrem Jul 2013 #83

Before the 2008 election I participated in a Dem. blog/discussion site that No Vested Interest Jul 2013 #37

This site lost a lot of real Dems over Riftaxe Jul 2013 #38

If you're a real HRC supporter, IrishAyes Jul 2013 #67

I lurk. Never post tigervalentine Jul 2013 #39

If you started posting more you'd probably understand the pissing matches better Fumesucker Jul 2013 #48

Does that mean IrishAyes Jul 2013 #68

Did you look at my link? Fumesucker Jul 2013 #73

Most people listen and respond a lot better IrishAyes Jul 2013 #75

It takes at least two to engage in that sort of behavior Fumesucker Jul 2013 #78

True. IrishAyes Jul 2013 #81

Still around, no plans to leave, but I jump out of the endless "Did Not . . .Did So" threads quickly NBachers Jul 2013 #41

after 12 years, lets say I'm alot less emotionally engaged than I used to be. KG Jul 2013 #44

I still say WilliamPitt Jul 2013 #53

Says the perenially favorite target of the time travelling trolls Generic Other Jul 2013 #79

Joined in Sept 2001 Chico Man Jul 2013 #55

As long as DU exists, I'll be around clyrc Jul 2013 #57

lurker here bcbink Jul 2013 #58

There is an awful lot of effort put forth... 99Forever Jul 2013 #59

I find it amazing that the you must vote for Hillary threads have already started. liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #84

Back when I was a lad, we were taught to deal with bullies. riqster Jul 2013 #61

Well, the most recent group to declare that they were MineralMan Jul 2013 #62

You said that so much more concisely than I would have been able to Sheepshank Jul 2013 #71

I'm not yet gone, brush Jul 2013 #82

meh bobduca Jul 2013 #85

This site, and the democratic party, abandoned me. Fire Walk With Me Jul 2013 #86

I know EXACTLY what you mean.... Junkdrawer Jul 2013 #88