General Discussion

Athame

(1,342 posts)

57. Chiming in after many years of silence

Sun Jan 1, 2012, 12:03 PM

Jan 2012

Dear Octafish, I have been with DU almost from the beginning, but I stopped posting after the rancor of the lead-up to the Iraq invasion. I want to say to you that I have continued to read and learn much from your posts and I am so grateful for the work you do here and for your stamina in withstanding these attacks. I also believe they are often organized. Ridicule is highly effective in silencing questions and dissent. I just get tired of it. And I don't have time to counter it or hunt down the links to support my position (though the links and evidence for positions does not seem to hamper the dishonest posters who are only interested in shutting up the inconvenient arguments of posters such as yourself.) I just want to thank you and let you and others like you know that there are many out here watching and appreciating your willingness to keep at it. I also agree entirely with the Op, but I wanted to reply to YOU on my first post back.

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A call to holders of traditional Democratic ideals. [View all] FredStembottom Dec 2011 OP

I too have seen good friends leave, no longer willing to put up with the rhett o rick Dec 2011 #1

I hope we can work around all this. FredStembottom Dec 2011 #2

they come here because they know we are smart, well informed ThomThom Jan 2012 #54

Quick supportive responses count. FredStembottom Dec 2011 #3

Agree, do not strike back. Use alert and ignore. nm rhett o rick Dec 2011 #8

They're not Democrats. ClassWarrior Jan 2012 #80

By what criteria do they fail to be Democrats? nm rhett o rick Jan 2012 #83

By the criterion that they would... ClassWarrior Jan 2012 #84

Yes of course. I got confused as to what you were responding to. My error. rhett o rick Jan 2012 #93

Well stated, FredStembottom. Octafish Dec 2011 #4

"Bullying" is not an over-statement. FredStembottom Dec 2011 #5

Bullying tactics are used to stifle debate. Tell someone their post is stupid or idiotic rhett o rick Dec 2011 #6

Demostrates the power of organization. Octafish Dec 2011 #7

+1! (&, I wonder if they've become more visible bec. they've lost the unrec button-- snot Dec 2011 #36

Chiming in after many years of silence Athame Jan 2012 #57

Welcome back, Athame! FredStembottom Jan 2012 #63

And what I have been hoping for Athame Jan 2012 #70

You're quite welcome. FredStembottom Jan 2012 #73

it seems some egos have gone into hyperdrive now that the unrec feature has gone Donnachaidh Dec 2011 #38

My suggestion--alert on the post that starts a pile on WolverineDG Jan 2012 #66

Thank you for taking a lead on this. Well said. JackRiddler Dec 2011 #9

The swarm has been fairly prevalent lately quinnox Dec 2011 #10

That's the spirit! FredStembottom Dec 2011 #12

They have Greenwald Derangement Sydrome today Union Scribe Dec 2011 #17

lol quinnox Dec 2011 #18

+1! snot Dec 2011 #35

+1! snot Dec 2011 #34

LOL. What's with that? PA Democrat Jan 2012 #59

I think they want a bunch of alerts and hiding while hoping on nulification to slide by on the TheKentuckian Dec 2011 #24

Um, I agree with you, but forgive me for adding... JackRiddler Jan 2012 #52

Yep, lots have gone. Fed up with it. Who can blame them? Perhap Lionessa Dec 2011 #11

will you getdown Dec 2011 #13

Ha! FredStembottom Dec 2011 #14

shucks getdown Dec 2011 #16

It was worth a shot. And welcome to DU. FailureToCommunicate Dec 2011 #44

TY getdown Dec 2011 #45

Weird. The time stamp on my reply says I passed New Years by 3 hours... I 'd better start drinking FailureToCommunicate Dec 2011 #46

time warp? getdown Jan 2012 #64

Good OP. Thanks! n/t Morning Dew Dec 2011 #15

I'm with you, hoss. Tobin S. Dec 2011 #19

Excellent reply, T FredStembottom Dec 2011 #20

I agree - excellent reply, T! And I am a strong supporter of O. BUT johnaries Dec 2011 #40

Well, there ya go! FredStembottom Jan 2012 #67

+1 nashville_brook Dec 2011 #39

I'll stand with you, bvar22 Dec 2011 #21

Great to see you, though! FredStembottom Dec 2011 #22

Yup. I don't spend much time here anymore, either. Reality has more appeal, and that's not good. nt SusanaMontana41 Jan 2012 #50

That's funny because I find just the opposite OKNancy Dec 2011 #23

It's just because you don't hold "real Democratic values." Robb Dec 2011 #25

Do you think that Obama is perfect? Tobin S. Dec 2011 #26

I am on record at DU with my gripes with this administration. That is inconvenient to the narrative Robb Dec 2011 #27

It was an honest question Tobin S. Dec 2011 #28

Indeed. Robb Dec 2011 #29

You must do the following to include yourself in what I am denouncing. FredStembottom Dec 2011 #31

Reminds me of the game the GOP ran on the media nobodyspecial Jan 2012 #56

See post 31 FredStembottom Jan 2012 #69

Up thread I spelled out my pragmatic politics... FredStembottom Dec 2011 #30

So were you upset that there were "attacks" on Republicans and not on fellow Democrats? Autumn Dec 2011 #41

Since we keep having threads on this topic, I'll keep posting this... Scuba Dec 2011 #32

I have to deal with whiners on DU all the time derby378 Dec 2011 #33

That's the spirit! WorseBeforeBetter Jan 2012 #79

I just want to know what id Glenn Greenwald is using on DU toddaa Dec 2011 #37

I am Glenn Greenwald. JackRiddler Jan 2012 #51

Good luck with the speaking freely ...and the truth. L0oniX Dec 2011 #42

On top of it all, The Haranguers are just dull. Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #43

Precisely Sherman A1 Jan 2012 #47

This will be the mark here in 2012. mmonk Jan 2012 #48

LOL! FredStembottom Jan 2012 #62

Me too. mmonk Jan 2012 #72

kick,, nom n/t Ichingcarpenter Jan 2012 #49

There are a lot of names I never see anymore. MoonRiver Jan 2012 #53

Message boards are not for the faint of heart or thin-skinned Gman Jan 2012 #55

Why not? FredStembottom Jan 2012 #74

Why, I thought it was God's plan Gman Jan 2012 #75

And it appears to me that the "haters" are using the "jury" system to censor views they don't like. Better Believe It Jan 2012 #58

Some even brag about the excessive # of posts they've alerted on. SaveOurDemocracy Jan 2012 #60

This is becoming a very serious problem and Skinner needs to do somthing about it. Better Believe It Jan 2012 #61

do you know you can put a certain number of jurors on a blacklist quinnox Jan 2012 #65

They aren't just targeting me. And I have put some on the "blacklist". Better Believe It Jan 2012 #68

Wow. Major Hogwash Jan 2012 #71

I think there are many from both sides of the argument who have moved on. LiberalAndProud Jan 2012 #76

Talking past each other FredStembottom Jan 2012 #77

Words of wisdom. Betty Karlson Jan 2012 #87

Well said. I've seen posters leave, return and go away completely for ten years. Festivito Jan 2012 #78

I have thought for some time that Republicans do not have the ability to think rationally... kentuck Jan 2012 #82

Another Holier than thou post. YAWNN!!!! nt bluestate10 Jan 2012 #81

You know, that could have been said in a nice way too. Betty Karlson Jan 2012 #88

Oh gosh, don't put me at 75 - 90. FredStembottom Jan 2012 #90

Easier. FredStembottom Jan 2012 #91

K&R (nt) T S Justly Jan 2012 #85

I'll be here whenever I can. Betty Karlson Jan 2012 #86

Thank you Fred.... midnight Jan 2012 #89

Very well said, Fred. hifiguy Jan 2012 #92