an apology to newcomers.

[UpsideDownFlag]

the past couple days, i've sort of lashed out at people with very few posts if they contained anything even remotely suspect. i dont really have an excuse except that there's been lots of trolling lately, and i got very annoyed. but i don't wanna be suspicious, so from now on i will either ignore unseemly posts or give them the benefit of the doubt.

:toast:

[progressivebydesign]

1. I'm not new at all.. but I appreciate the spirit of your thread!

These past few weeks there have been a lot of new people attacked and tombstoned, and I know some of which were probably just new, not freepy. I think your thread is a must read for everyone... give the newbies the benefit of the doubt. If they're freepy, it will be evident eventually. :grouphug:

[VOX]

2. Good going, JJ.

Your gesture is polite, kind and the right thing to do.

I'm guilty of the same action, and, taking your apology as a prompt, I too will tread more cautiously and caringly with newcomers.

Best to you -- :toast:

[HughDunnette]

3. I guess I'm a lashee...:)

I didn't really think that anything in the link I posted here earlier violated the rules, but it got deleted anyway. Sure, it's from a socialist source, but I thought we Democrats were more or less interested in hearing other points of view. Anyway, here's the link again.

http://www.socialistworker.org/2004-2/510/510_07_KerrysToLose.shtml

[NC_Nurse]

4. Good post!

and Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[Kanary]

11. Sorry you were hit. That seems to be the sport here.

Thanks for reposting your article. Everyone I know IRL shares those sentiments, so I don't see it as particularly "socialist".

Good luck to you...... there are good people here, but nobody escapes the hazing.

Kanary

[ET Awful]

5. We don't expect much better from someone who hates kitty threads :)

j/k :)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Hang in there

your words are wise. What I usually do when I suspect a mole is to simply punch the alert button and let the mods monitor and decide. I feel that to answer them only boosts their egos.

[Jon8503]

7. Sounds great JibJab, I am fairly new here and still learning my

way around and appreciate this board. It seemed to me to be one of the most civil which is why this liberal landed here.

However, I learned the other day and I really was innocent in my thoughts when I posted a msg that I felt Kerry was getting his ass kicked. I had not given up, I wasn't happy about it, it was just what I thought was going on at the time & a little worried.

I got missiled including one guy who called me a "fucking republican" & another name. Naturally I was a little bewildered and will be more careful in the future. But I do appreciate your words.

[Kanary]

8. Yup, you learn to self-censor here.

It's really too bad. I'm sure there are many things we never hear here because of the attacks.

Our loss.

Kanary

[yewberry]

9. No apology needed here

It has been freepy here of late, and low post-counts look suspicious. I , after years of lurking, finally decided to post today...so I'm disguised as a newcomer! Eek--don't lash out at me!

[merh]

43. Well tofunut, glad you decided to join in the fun!

Welcome and enjoy -- :hi:

[Jon8503]

10. I do have a question on this Freeper business.

How do you tell one? They say low number of posts and I suppose the content of their messages but I had'nt really noticed anything and everyone says there are a lot of them on the board lately.

[Kanary]

12. Yup, it's just a policy of "be nasty to all who are new"

Encourages participation of newcomers, eh?

:crazy:

[Droopy]

14. That's not my policy

When I see a newbie I'm always extending my digital hand in a welcoming handshake and a toast.

[Kanary]

15. Glad to hear it -- so, don't take it personally.

I'm sure you've noticed that there are MANY who do attack.

I do what you do when I see newbies........ I'm not sure it overcomes the hurt they experience from others.

Kanary

[daddybear]

18. Newbie pain

Yeah, I gotta admit -- I was invited over because a friend thought she had found a place where people seemed to enjoy good discussion and no name-calling etc -- didn't work out that way, it seems... but, hey, here we are ... so we will TRY to get along with ALL...

[Kanary]

23. Sorry you've experienced it, also. It's counter-productive, to say the

least!

Remember, your ignore button is your best friend..... and don't forget to alert at attacks! We need to make it known that it's not acceptable.

:hi: Welcome, daddybear! :hi:

:toast:

Kanary

[daddybear]

25. Okay help me...

alerts? I used IGNORE over at myway... a LOT! Hahahah... and it worked, but it did not stop the trash talk... soooooooo... here I am... what are the alerts about?

[Kanary]

26. Look at the bottom of a post

down at the bottom left.

There is an "alert" thingie....... click on that, and it will open an email form to send an alert to the mods.

If you see a personal attack, whether directed towards you or someone else, you can alert, and I encourage you to do so.

I hope that answers the question....?

:hi:

Kanary

[daddybear]

29. Ooooooooooooo wow...

now THAT is a great feayure, sorely needed at MyWay!!! Thanks...

[Kanary]

31. It's an "Ah-HAH!" moment

:hi:

Sorely needed here, too.

Good luck to you!

Kanary

[daddybear]

33. Haha

so I have discovered on my very first day with you all...

I do like the board though... so I pray all goes well...

[asthmaticeog]

84. You came in at a rough time.

There were tons of low-post trolls all throughout the holiday weekend, so I wouldn't be surprised if suspicion fell on other newbies who were honestly just here to participate for real. If anyone lashed out at you, try to be as understanding as you wish they were - it was a bit chaotic (and tiresome!) with all the disruptors, and folks here were a bit on edge.

[5thGenDemocrat]

38. Re: That digital handshaking thing

I've tried to, too. Even to a few who WERE tombstoned twenty minutes later.
John
Which kinda makes you feel like a dweeb, when you think about it.

[BeFree]

20. Bullshit, Kanary

DU'ers are not nasty to newcomers. But when anyone, even if they have a thousand plus posts, takes a vicious stab at Kerry or other good Dems, they open themselves up to a counter stab.

It's only fair.

Our enemies and their friends are everywhere. We may have to smile at them on the streets, but on DU they get nailed. If it takes a little pin-prick before newbies learn that not everything goes here, well, that's life!

Welcome to DU, Newbies! Welcome home!

[Kanary]

24. Same to ya.......

Actually, the poster admitted to doing just that.

There are certainly those who like to attack Just Because They Can.

So, same back atcha....

Kanary

[BeFree]

27. You painted DU with a "Policy"

An unfair and wrong statement that DU has a policy to be mean to newbies, and you know that's total bullshit!

Yeah, some of us love to attack. So what?

Befree--- a former newbie who was never attacked 'til hundreds of posts.

[Kanary]

28. "Yeah, some of us love to attack. So what? "

And there you have it. It's a sport.

Nevermind that the rules forbid it, and the admins have tried to figure out how to make the place congenial. Whatever floats your own personal boat, eh?

Danged good thing there's an alert button, and some mods who are diligent about enforcing rules.

Kanary

[BeFree]

39. And what percent is that?

What percentage of posts get deleted? About .0009%, I'd say.

Not enough to paint DU with a "Policy".

Newbies, get this straight--- you can attack an idea but you can't attack the person behind the idea.

In other words: had I called Kanary a derogatory name, I would have broken the rules. As you can see, what I do attack is her IDEA of "the Policy of DU is to be mean to newbies".

I don't want newbies to think Kanary is stating a fact about DU.

_______________

I say we Dems need to be on attack alert, and not sit around reading a pet goat story, as America IS under attack.

[Kanary]

41. Newbies see for themselves

Some have already posted they have experienced this; they aren't in need of lectures.

Clearly, you care more about your "right" to go after someone, than how it feels to that person to be harassed. I have concern for those who join, and find so much attacking. Since you already posted that you think attacking is just fine, it clarifies your stand.

I was brought up to believe not only in courtesy, but that Democrats had more concern for people than Republicans. It's a shock to those of us with these ideals to see the attitude here.

Kanary

[BeFree]

44. Are we reading the same DU?

The DU I read is full of feelings for people, of all kinds... except for the repug-licking kind!

Look, the original poster apologized for their possible misguided attacks. Isn't that enough? Do you want him/her on their knees begging for forgiveness?

The number of posts attacking someone without good reason is so small, it is the least of our concerns.

It is not "Policy" to be mean to newcomers.

[skooooo]

48. shock! shock I tell ya!

[Djinn]

58. Vicious stab???

people get flamed for very respectful and gentle criticism of Kerry - even when they add the almost obligatory "but I'll still vote for him because he's a 1000 times better than Bush"

[BeFree]

61. Yeah, that they do

Not that I endorse it, mind you, but anyone poking at our Man needs to be reminded that he's all we got.

There is no room for error. We must get Kerry elected. Every vote counts.

[LWolf]

45. You don't always tell one.

There are some who brag to their conservative friends on other boards that they've racked up 1,000s of posts without getting "caught." There are others that are transparent the moment their fingers hit the keyboard; one was gloating about being able to post and egging on DUers to "fight" on the GD front page earlier today. Happily, the moderators removed the whole thing pretty quickly; they're pretty good at that! If you don't happen to run into them within a short time of their posts, you won't see them.

Then there are the gray areas; mis-interpretation of another's post, DUers with thin skins (all of us at one point or another, when our personal buttons are pushed!), sincere but uninformed posters, or sincere posters who don't realize that even here at DU there are some things that cannot be civilly discussed. That doesn't mean you can't discuss touchy issues, and have a good conversation about it; just know that you'd better show up with your armor on, because there will always be some ready to take you on.

If I have a question about a poster, I like to give them the benefit of the doubt. It might be that they are having a bad day, or that we have a sincere disagreement about something. If they are a Freeper, they will out themselves eventually. If it's obvious, use your alert button, and don't respond to the thread. Every response kicks the thread and gives them the opportunity to spout right-wing crap.

Welcome to DU!

[skygazer]

13. Fairly new myself

I haven't been raked over the coals yet (knock on wood) but one thing I did pretty quickly was to donate. That star beside your name really does add some credibility and this site sure deserves out support. Here's to you, Skinner & Co. :toast:

[daddybear]

17. Me, too

about an hour ago... and it says a star won't appear (hehehehe) until 24 hours later... or some such... dunno if it will help, but it will get me (us) wider use of the board.

[drdigi420]

94. be patient, I donated 3 times before my star was awarded

[giant_robot]

98. Amen to that

I feel DUers respond to me differently since I got the star by my name. Plus, I just got my nifty bumper sticker in the mail today!

:)

[daddybear]

16. From another lashee...

All is well. I would be suspect, too, with the onslught... maybe some of us who came from MyWay should have foretold the migration so you would have known. But, my "new" thing is that we (well, I) should talk about the issue and idea and NOT about the messenger... that seems so crass (and I had been guilty). Not going there.

[Misunderestimator]

47. What is MyWay?

[daddybear]

69. It is the forum (board)

from where some of the newbies in the last few days (like me) have come...myway.com... nice sewt-up, but not as nice as this one... and wayyyyyyyyyyyy too anal.

[K. F. Gibbons]

19. I'm new, joined yesterday.

I work for the RNC and my job here is to infiltrate this board and convince everyone to vote for dip shit.

Anytime you want a piece of me just let me know.

[Vickers]

22. Har!

:toast:

[skooooo]

21. Well...people who get into flame wars..

on their 3rd post are going to be suspect, and I don't apologize for being suspicious of some of the new people. But I've only hit the alert button once.

[Misunderestimator]

30. I've done the same thing...

It's hard not to when you see so many evil-doers on a daily basis :)

[daddybear]

32. Evil doers?

On both sides, I assume? LOL
Well, why does someone then have to attack the MESSENGER? We are all here to air our laundry (politically or whatever) and not to be called names for doing so... why call the messenger a name because he/she expresses an opinion (we all know about those anyway, and we ALL have them)...we do not KNOW one another for the most part; we are monitor screens yelling at one another... seems a bit silly and childish, yes?

[skooooo]

34. sigh

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[daddybear]

37. ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Oh... another OLD head the slips into slumber? I do that, too... Lord bless ya... rest well...

[skooooo]

40. an old head?

Well since March of 2004, so not sure if you'd consider that old head.

The site is for the exploration of democratic/progressive/liberal ideas. If someone doesn't come into it with that in mind, they shouldn't get offended when people don't have much patience when a newcomer wants them to defend Kerry, or Edwards, or Roosevelt.

[daddybear]

49. Why?

Does Kerry need defending? And will what you (or I) say change a mind this late in the game. I seriously doubt it. And what good does calling them names do anyway?

Hey...

There are less than three months until the election, an election that will decide the next President of the United States. The man elected will be the president of all Americans, not just the Democrats or the Republicans.

To show our solidarity as Americans, let's all get together and show each other our support for the candidate of our choice.

It's time that we all came together, Democrats and Republicans alike.

If you support John Kerry, please drive with your headlights on during the day.

If you support the policies and character of White House resident George W. Bush, please drive with your headlights off at night.

God bless America!

[skooooo]

54. Here's why - Rule #1

1. This is a message board for Democrats and other progressives.

[OKNancy]

55. I have a feeling you didn't get his joke

Read the last line again....

[skooooo]

57. I got it...I also saw the same

...line in Yahoo with the opposite juxtaposition of the candidates, so it didn't strike me as all that funny.

I also saw this, "To show our solidarity as Americans, let's all get together and show each other our support for the candidate of our choice."

I don't come here to "get together" with people who support other candidates than John Kerry. And I don't agree that saying that "Does Kerry need defending" addressed my issue.

Color me bad, I guess.

[daddybear]

64. Coloring...

you have been so colored.. thanks. Now, on with the show... and if you cannot handle folks who aren't democrats, well golly, the rest of us Democrats will help you along... without cursing and name-calling and ugliness. How'll THAT be? I am new HERE, but I have fought the war elsewhere and hey... Kerry is OKAY, not the best we have ever had -- but I will stand by my ANYBODY BUT BUSH concept... and right now, guess who is NOT Bush? KERRY so... he rules.. but I am not gonna kiss his... face... just gonna vote Bush OUT by hopefully voting Kerry IN! See?

[skooooo]

71. cursing and name-calling and ugliness?

huh?

[daddybear]

59. And I am one....

but...er... does that mean I must then attack folks who are less fortunate and call them names? Doesnt that show a small mind?

[skooooo]

60. And where out the air are you pulling this one?

"does that mean I must then attack folks who are less fortunate and call them names?"


Interesting.

Who is less fortunate?

Who is calling anyone names?

What does that have to do with anything?

[daddybear]

67. Can you smile at all?

The "less fortunate" are the non-Democrats... it was a JOKE. What IS your problem, lil feller? We all love ya...well...we are trying anyway... hehehe... very trying huh?

KERRY/EDWARDS 2004-2012

[Misunderestimator]

66. What?!? Less fortunate? Calling names? Small mind?

What on earth are you talking about?

[skooooo]

68. bait bait bait

[Misunderestimator]

70. Yep, exactly... and expose, expose, expose

[Misunderestimator]

36. Evil-doers, as in Dubya's terminology.... a joke in other words

I'm talking about a proliferation of "real" trolls on this board in the past week or so. Since you're new I can understand that you haven't seen the same thing. And again... welcome to DU. :toast:

[FARAFIELD]

35. THATS A GOOD POLICY

I dont get a chance to post that often, although i do read a lot of the threads. Id say once in a while i have a different opinion and am just putting it out there to let people know that other dems. hold opposing views, not just to flame. Im pretty sure most of us can spot a freeper post, from one simply stating another point of view. I remember my 3rd post (or close to it) was to a thread saying that people that download music on the net ARE stealing! Boy that hit a nerve. Anyhoo, good policy especially with the election coming up, we need to see what people in different parts of the country are thinking and encourage new posters and just ignore the idiots trolling.

[RedDragon]

42. What is trolling

and why are you so afraid of newcomers? Are you afraid of a different opinion? Is this a secret country club? I think you may need to put the mouse down and step out for a while. You are taking this internet discussion forum thing a little too seriously.


If a freeper posts so what? Debate him or her. Don't be scared. That is the problem. No one wants to fight back. You woulf rather hit the alert button. Stop running away. Challenge them. If you are right then you cannot lose. Bottom line.

[Misunderestimator]

46. LOL... Welcome to DU

That was pretty derisive. Is there a reason you're so combative?

[RedDragon]

50. Is there a reason

you misinterpret my post?

[Misunderestimator]

51. How did I misinterpret?

This is what you said:

------------------------
and why are you so afraid of newcomers? Are you afraid of a different opinion? Is this a secret country club? I think you may need to put the mouse down and step out for a while. You are taking this internet discussion forum thing a little too seriously.

If a freeper posts so what? Debate him or her. Don't be scared. That is the problem. No one wants to fight back. You woulf rather hit the alert button. Stop running away. Challenge them. If you are right then you cannot lose. Bottom line.
------------------------

If you haven't read the purpose of this site, then that's why you don't know that "freeper" posts are not welcome here. Not because the enlightened and intelligent members of DU cannot debate someone of a differing opinion, but because those differing opinions are most often so blatantly antithetical to the purposes of this site, that there is no use debating them. We have more important things to do here, such as to ensure that John Kerry is elected President, and we can finally be rid of the toxin that has inhabited the white house for the past four years. Are you with that?

[RedDragon]

73. You sound scared.

"are most often so blatantly antithetical to the purposes of this site, that there is no use debating them."





How can you know? The minute someone offers a difference of opinion they are banned. Are you so obtuse that you cannot see that? This site is for the choir. Everyone agrees. Hey that is fine. I invade freeper sites all the time for a debate. Because that is what I enjoy. Screw the everyone agrees good feeling crap. I want to argue. And since I agree with most things here I cannot do that.


There are sites where I can. And I frequent them. I also understand that this site will not tolerate a difference of opinion. So I abide.

But I think it is wrong. And I think the concept of banning people is scary. Unless they are making direct threats then I say let them speak. That will never happen here and I succumb.

But since this thread popped up I figured I would point it out.

This site isn't doing any good by hiding and banning people who want to discuss. Know that. It would do better by standing up and challenging anyone who wants to debate. That is my opinion. I know the rules and I know the way things work so I will quit right now. Thank you for hearing me.



Vote Kerry

[Misunderestimator]

74. You're wrong. The object is not to ban anyone who disagrees...

only those who blatantly disrupt the purpose, which is to elect Kerry as President. How on earth do I sound scared to you, when I'm just letting you know the purpose of the site? Believe me, there is PLENTY of contrary discussion here, but disrupting shouldn't be tolerated on a site whose purpose is to get rid of Bush. Why do you think it should be?

[Bridget Burke]

89. There are plenty of discussions & differences of opinion here.

But obvious disrupters & black-hearted Republicans generally end up getting banned.

Sorry.

[UpsideDownFlag]

52. hoo boy.

i'm out. backing away.

[UpsideDownFlag]

53. read the forum rules.

it's not a country club, but there are specific rules such as "for dems/libs/progressives ONLY. i promise you that 99.5 percent of the people who log on that are otherwise only do so to disrupt.

there, that was pretty sensitive and un-flamey, wasn't it?

[Ripley]

56. A newcomer ...

apologizes to newcomers.

Good effort!

[Misunderestimator]

63. LOL, I didn't even notice that...

Indeed... good effort :)

[wyldwolf]

65. my thoughts exactly. He/she's been a member less than a month...

...and has been throwing around the freeper label?

[UpsideDownFlag]

77. have you not noticed the barrage of freeper threads

by those with 10-30 or so posts?

[wyldwolf]

80. I've notice a lot of people using the term "freeper" a little too much

That includes a lot of people here - not just you. I'm not singling you out. Keep in mind, though, that to 5000 - 12000 posts DU members, you are a newcomer - being here less than a month.

[chiburb]

92. And a lot of people who start threads on

Abortion, gay marriage, abortion, prostitution, and abortion...

Just to sit back and watch the fur fly. Then their minds get "changed" and they're thankful for the enlightenment.

;-)

[UpsideDownFlag]

99. that's not a backhanded accusation, is it?

i dont recall posting anything about gay marriage. i have posted about prostitution and abortion tho.

[Maeve]

62. Ignore, give benefit of the doubt and/or hit the alert

There HAVE been a few trolls running around this three-day weekend--always are, always will be. But the guideline from the old "information dirt road" days still applies: "Let the moderators handle that stuff--they have the necessary shovels."

[Pithlet]

72. When I'm suspicious

I hit the alert and let the mods deal with it. You're right, I've seen a lot of lashing out lately, and while many times they were really disruptors, there were times when I thought the person was just new. I've seen them post things that would get the benefit of the doubt from an old timer, but leads to crispy buns for the newbie. It's been getting bad lately. I think people are edgy due to the upcoming election combined with the increase in freepers.

[hyphenate]

75. It's within our experience

that Democrats have been treated very badly for a long time, and so we're naturally suspicious about a lot of things. We're on the defensive so much that we act a lot more paranoid than the "other side."

This site presents us with a wonderful venue for sharing our fears, our hopes, our many desires for change and a new future. It also gives us sanctuary against the horrors of the dirty politics and the really bizarre people out there who are still defending this illegitimate regime and their unscrupulous acts of deceit and lying. On the other hand, while many of our members here sneak surreptitious looks at free republic, don't forget that the opposite is also true: freepers come here for the same thing--to see their beliefs confirmed that we are as nutty as the propaganda that feeds them, and in many, many ways, their suspicions are confirmed, just as ours are often confirmed by the posts at free republic.

It's something we have to live with--neither side is pure, neither side has a monopoly on the truth, but in our hearts, we feel far more in touch with the truth and with the true meaning of democracy. After all, we've seen the crap this regime has fed us for the past nearly four years, and we've been able to discern the lies far better than the blind believers.

I think that there are likely quite a few freepers lurking here, and I wish there was a way to stop the most vicious of them, but until they basically "open their mouths" and post, there is no way to identify them. At the same time, I think that we need to be tolerant of newcomers because who knows? They might start off as freepers, but after being here and posting for awhile, some of the truth might rub off on them. I do know a lot of people who started off as conservatives at one time, but after hearing and reading about a lot of issues, they realized they were in agreement with many of our arguments, and once evidence pointed to the truth, they were able to discern that truth from the lies they'd been fed for so long. Even now, there are many stories here from people who are announcing that a lot of people who have historically been republican voters can't wait to get rid of the evil boy king.

We preach tolerance, and we need to show that we can deal with some harsh criticism, but that we are open to debate, and open to some thoughts from the "outside" which are posted in that spirit of debate. We need to show that we're not as close-minded as the posters such as those at free republic, and that our liberal values are indeed, liberal.

If we constantly are on alert for that single post that marks someone as an "enemy combatant" and we need to get rid of them as quickly as they appear, how are we that different from them? How can we prove that we're different enough, that we're filled with a lot more empathy, a lot more ability to listen and make sound choices, and show that we are as magnanimous as they are nasty?

I have only reported twice in all my time here, and once the poster was as freepish as you can possibly get, with the insults flying and the overall tone one of derision. It is those kinds of posters who we need to banish, but I don't think we need to immediately condemn someone who is sincere about learning more about liberalism and the Democratic party. Someone who feels alone in their doubts about what they've been taught to believe their entire life; someone who might be a convert at some point, and who can learn to respect our opinions, even if they're not the same as their own.

[Bob Hannah]

76. Newcommers gather strength.

I've been on other forums where people wre down right rude if they didn't know you. That makes comming back harder for the thin skinned.

[Andy_Stephenson]

78. Hateful thing....

:)

[Tsiyu]

79. We are too nice

Some freepers last longer than others because we like to bat them around - like cats with mice.

This is OUR forum, for DEMOCRATS. That's why it's called DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND.

Intelligent people understand this. And we come here to get away from the inane arguments freepers offer. Their uninformed, visceral hate-fests are boring and nonproductive.

If you are here to get your jollies off trying to play with the Democrats, you are wasting your time. All of these whiney, "Oooh, DUers tweated me SOO BAAAAD" are telling. There are thousands of threads. Find another one. Or go away.

[Dem2theMax]

81. That's really nice of you JibJab. And I appreciate your saying it.

What is so funny is reading the replies and seeing the long time posters go at each other over whether they attack newbies or not. lol. (If they'll attack each other that fast...)

I've watched it happen. I've seen long time posters complain about how 'funny/strange' it is when someone with less than 1,000 posts actually has a star next to their name. THAT makes me mad.
I spent a lot of time at another board where the repugs made no sense at all. When I found this place and donation time came around, there was no way in the world I wasn't going to donate, even with my sorry little post number. I'd be going bonkers if it weren't for DU.

As for those who are mean, I just put them on IGNORE.
I love that feature. :)

Again JibJab, thank you. It helps us newbies a lot! :)

[T Town Jake]

82. JibJab - "Member since: August 14, 2004"...

...wow, I'm so impressed with your "apology" to "newcomers"... <snicker>...

[UpsideDownFlag]

83. it was meant for those with like 30 or less posts.

b/c they are usually the object of suspicion.

[dddem]

85. another newbie!

I'm a good Democrat, but not very computer savvy. How do I know if something I've posted is offensive? Is there a way to view your past posts without going back to the original thread? I do try to play nice, but in the event that my slightly sarcastic sense of humor is misinterpreted, I want to aploigize in advance.
Thanks in advance for your good advice!

[dddem]

86. oops

I also want to "aploigize" for my less than stellar typing skills!

[Misunderestimator]

95. Welcome to DU...

Most people know when they are trying to start trouble... if you're just here to discuss issues and get Kerry elected, you shouldn't have any problems.

Welcome to a great site. :toast:

[Mr Blond]

87. I've been treated very nice.

And I'm a new guy. :)

[da_chimperor]

91. Me too!

But I doubt i've said anything suspect.

[Selwynn]

88. Dude, you are a newcommer.

Jibjab - Member since August 14, 2004.

[Sparkle]

90. LOL!

[UpsideDownFlag]

93. right. i've clarified before that it was meant for those with 10-30 posts

eh?

[Misunderestimator]

96. And you wouldn't believe how many people join and rack up 1000

posts in a month. I'm much more suspicious of someone who makes questionably antagonistic posts who has been here for less than a month, than someone who has only a few posts but has been here for a while.

You can usually tell when someone is racking up their post count for just the purpose you describe, so that people think they have been here for a while, then they occassionally throw flames (that are innocuous enough to not point them out as what they are) into threads. Happens all the time. Sit back and stay a while, you'll see.

[UpsideDownFlag]

97. sounds good.

i've racked up a lotta posts because i'd rather do this at night then study, and have found it very engaging.