Don't give up on DU

[mongo]

I may not make very many posts, but I do read a lot of DU during the day. In light of all the locked threads, DS leaving, etc., and the comments that DU is good for nothing but fighting among ourselves, let me make the following observations.

DU is a valuable resource for me. It is my primary news source. It also provides me with excellent ideas/arguments for LTTEs, and flyers which I occasionally create and distribute at my store and anywhere else I can find.

The Ohio forum has put me in touch with other local dems and progressives, let me know of upcoming events, and gave me a vehicle to participate in the election process.

DU has clued me in to several other progressive websites and email action lists which I now participate in.

I was never politically active before, and I know that DU has been my primary inspiration to get involved.

Yeah, there is fighting here sometimes. I am personally guilty of getting emotional and making posts sometimes that are not helpful to a debate. But, we are all human, and when you wade through it all there is so much good that it is more than worth my time.

Just my .02

[smiley_glad_hands]

1. DS is not here anymore?

What happened? Too much infighting?

[charlie105]

7. He/ She/ It left us. Here......

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x641274#642098


:cry:

[DemNoir]

2. Thanks for reminding me

There is a lot to love here.

[CrispyQ]

3. I don't know who DS is, but Mongo, I concur with your statement . . .

about DU being a good source of news & an excellent source for ideas for LTTE! LBN has links to stories that I would never have found on my own! And ditto again on the links & turnons to other great websites!

[LiberalVoice]

4. Who is DS?

???

[comsymp]

6. Dem Strategist opused out earlier today

link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x641274

[mongo]

8. Dem_Strategist

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=641274&mesg_id=641274

Sorry, had to ring up a customer then the power bumped while I was trying to post - raining like hell here...

[AngryOldDem]

11. Note --

Skinner has locked down these threads.

And, if I can, I want to second Mongo's comments about DU. I have come to rely on DU to keep me updated on what I need to know on the political front. With my life, there is no way that I could possibly keep up with all of this important information on my own. I find the analysis and comments worthwhile too. DU has become my resource -- I'm glad I found it.

[quaoar]

5. I haven't been here very long

But this place is definitely not for the thin-skinned. And it is challenging, which is the ultimate attraction of it.

[miss_kitty]

9. i held off on joining DU for a year

too many rules. but i have spent a year on a free forum site doing admin work and being trolled by strangers and now being trolled by my ex-best internet friend who is also a guest admin at the site

one thing i have learned is that on-line fights are not worth it.
the webmaster there is wise beyond his years and a small very educational part of his FAQ reads:

"I don't like your site /views. What do I do?

If you're stupid enough to take everything literally and get all worked up over it, go to another site. It's very, very easy...Writing to say that I'm a racist, insensitive, that I hate women /this /that is not gonna help, so save yourself a few minutes. I know what I am and what I'm not, so what you think I am, it's not that high on my "things to lose sleep over" list. If you disagree and got opinions, feel more than free to say what you got to say by posting a comment."

i still slip into the emotional thing, but i am much better at 'reigning it in' and using my self-edit chip.

when you have a site that is as huge as this one is, i guess some rules need to be set out, since we weren't all raised in a house where manners and decorum were an important part of life.

if you're still changing, it's proof you are still alive.

[peacetalksforall]

10. Yes, the scope of those who capture the news and post it is

unquestionably valuable, but even more than the news is the analysis. Every one here is somewhat of an expert on something and when they are available and willing they can debunk or support some aspect of the news or offer some insight of logic that allows the item to funnel down to some resonable reality, until proven or disproven. Additionally, the range of impressions on how a statement or supposition is digested and reacted to by a wide range of age, sensitivity, and passion is highly educational. The 'ahas' of understanding an issue is a gift. OK OK time for me to donate.

[mongo]

12. and MOST of you are better writers than I am