I just don't fit in anywhere...

[BIG Sean]

Hey All,

Yeah, I know, I only have about 180 posts or so, but it seems that about hald of them have pissed people off. I am not a conservative, not by a LONG shot. In fact, I always considered myself a liberal, then I came here and posted what I thought were good posts and well thought out positions and most are treated like I am a troll. Now don't get me wrong, I am not thin skinned at all. I am can take and give it pretty well, but I want to find a place where I "fit".

Anyway...just posting how I am feeling these days.

Flame me, dont' flame me...I just don't know anymore....

[alphafemale]

1. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. Welcome to DU Sean...

We love to debate here at DU... try not to take it personally.... after all, you havn't been tombstoned.

on edit: after looking at some of your past posts, you probably should have stayed out of the Tookie threads! LOL

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

3. I didn't search your posts recently, but honestly, I specifically remember

you as coming across as "trollish" to me. I'd have to look back at the posts to remember exactly why. Just some feedback. Not trying to be an ass to you...

[Lusted4]

72. On sale this week only DU asbestos body suits S,M,L, 19.95 XL 29.95

For that feather ruffler who just can't seem to make everybody happy.

[friesianrider]

4. Don't worry about it.

DU has what...around 100,000 members (more, less? I could totally be making this number up, lol)? Anyway, it's a lot - someone will always dislike what you have to say. Most people dislike half of what I have to say too, but that's their problem and not mine.

Don't worry. Just speak your mind and as long as you're not hurting anyone else's feelings or breaking any DU rules, brush the bitchy people off :hug:

[Warpy]

5. Most of us can disagree without being disagreeable

and chances are that you're a bit farther to the right than you may consider yourself, at least as far as this board goes.

If someone insists on being disagreeable about it, hit "alert." However, do make the distinction between whether or not your ideas are being disagreed with, versus whether or not you, yourself are being trashed.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. You're still here...

whatever you wrote must not have been THAT bad.

[porphyrian]

7. Use lubricant.

Sorry.

What we have here are some rabidly opinionated people, myself included. We all know we are right, yet we disagree. Some issues are pet peeves/projects of otherwise-sane people, and they attack as soon as someone disagrees with them. Some of us just like to argue. This is the "big tent," Big Sean. If you don't fit in here, you don't fit in anywhere. At the end of the day, they'll still hate you like a brother. ;)

[pitohui]

8. this is a lounge post

ha, i know, another nitpicker to tell you move it on along

:-)

[mmonk]

9. You're still standing

I see no tombstone. Someone seems to disagree with my posts quite a bit at times. So, as I see it, no problem.

Besides, when I got here in 2003, I was called a freeper just a few posts in. I'm still here.

[Oversea Visitor]

10. Well it looks like you still kicking

Many happy posting, hald.. 11 of them pissed people off.
Evolution is healthy hey.
If you dont fit anywhere and really like to fit somewhere you got to understand how to fit.
No really that hard, just listen analysis and come up with right answer.
Facts are facts.

[rockymountaindem]

11. You're not really a DUer until someone else has called you a troll

It's a rite of passage. If you're not making people mad on DU, it's because nobody's paying attention!

If you're looking for a place to "fit" you might try some sub-forums, your state forum or DU groups, although you will need to donate to post in groups. However, you can do that for as little as $5 and it will last for a year, so if you want to stick around it's not a bad investment.

[Blue_In_AK]

18. Oh, dear...

No one's EVER called me a troll. Am I not real? I did get a deleted post though once. Does that count?

[rockymountaindem]

22. I think getting a post deleted is even better.

I can't remember if that's ever happened to me or not. I don't think anyone's ever called me a troll either. I tried to help people out by starting a thread which I titled "I'm calling you (yes you) a troll", and invited people to reply if they'd never been called a troll before. Only six people took me up on that offer.

I'm not too worried. I try to avoid controversy because honestly, I have a lot better things to do than get in internet fights. That being said...

Half of you people are nuts! NUTS I say!!!

[Ladyhawk]

55. I remember my first deleted THREAD.

Woohoo! I was such a bad girl that day. (I'd do it again, too!) :evilgrin:

[Jamastiene]

64. You're so bad.

I remember some good roundhouse fights over the years too. We need to stick up for each other more. :evilgrin:

[NNN0LHI]

70. I was called a lot worse than troll before my first 180 posts here

Funny thing is the folks who gave me the hardest time back then are now some of my favorite DUers. True story.

You should have seen it around here in the days when the moderators used to get into it with each other on a regular basis. Now that was a real hoot.

Don

[Blue-Jay]

12. You just have to be tough. Like chuck Norris.

You know....Chuck Norris can shave with his own roundhouse kick.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

41. that's the funniest pic ever!

. . . of the smartest man that Harriet Miers ever knew . . .

:dunce:

[DanCa]

43. Lol is that why Chuck's a repuke?

It's a lingering effect from all those times where he kicked himself in the head?

[TahitiNut]

13. Quite a few folks on DU seem unable to distinguish between ...

... an attack on a person's position and an attack on the person themselves. This failure to differentiate goes both ways ... some are so personally attached to their arguments that an attack on the argument is taken personally and some seem incapable of focusing on the argument and attack the person instead. It seems the simple grammatical test of identifying the subject of a post is too great a burden for some.

I tend to think it's a side-effect of our favorite sport: making fun of Mortimer Smirk an the rest of the Puppet Show.

[tx_dem41]

14. A hearty welcome to DU, BIG Sean!

Don't get too upset. I tend to piss off a lot of people with my posts. Just grow a thick skin and stick to your principles AND be consistent.

[Rick Myers]

15. Welcome, I was flamed by the best of them!!!

Just stick around, you'll get used to the place. It does have a kind of 'secret handshake' vibe on occassion, but we love everybody!!!

[specimenfred1984]

16. I Was "Screamed At" In One of My First Posts

called a FASCIST by Will Pitt no less, back when my id was "LastChance2004". Plus, I don't know if you read any of the pro-death penalty or anti-death penalty posts lately but people were practically at each other's throats.

I screwed up and flamed southlandshari a few weeks back and felt pretty bad about it later, we're all pretty enraged at the entire situation in the U.S. now and take it out in ways we shouldn't sometimes. But one thing is for sure, not everybody gets along and that doesn't matter where we go.

[Catherine Vincent]

17. Well now. You get nominated for an academy award for that bit of drama.

[theHandpuppet]

67. I'll second that nomination

Having now read several dozen of the OP's posts via a search, I find I'm fresh out of alligator tears.

[TheFarseer]

19. Hey, sometimes I feel that way

I'm actually fairly conservative socially, but I tend to focus my posts on things that I can agree on with people here. There's a reason you sought out a democratic forum. Tell us all what that reason was in your future posts :)

[ruggerson]

20. Why don't you start a "Is Cindy Sheehan Helping Anymore" thread?

You will immediately be enveloped with love and warmth and all the best that DU has to offer.

[mmonk]

26. Yeah, sounds good.

:rofl:

[Marie26]

39. That's sarcasm there.

Just in case you couldn't tell.

[DanCa]

21. welcome to DU Sean

Sorry you had such a rough go of it. :hug: Try to hang in there a little longer so people can get to know you. Also dont be discouraged about "flame wars" everything is cylic on these pages. Just remember a wise man once said "you needn't feel all alone, everyone get's stoned." :D
Peace Buddy.

[BlueJazz]

23. Gee Big Sean...I think when you said that we were all going to Hell..

..if we didn't send you 10 dollars...well that kinda' caught a few of us off-guard.. :)

Welcome to DU !

[sam sarrha]

24. hi Big_ guy, it is just the passion here, dont take it personal, but there

is one crime you dont want to commit here and that is miss-SPELLING, if you miss spell a word the Spelling Nazis will skin you alive... they will hunt you down and slash your tires.
they will sell your children into slavery and have your deported to a third world country..

there is a language you do need to recognize.. a way of putting words together, you will catch on, dont give up.. this is the best political source of information on the web..

keep at it

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

25. I think we're seeing more and more people who consider themselves

as independents (fiscal conservatism, reduced gun control, states rights, etc.) and may be more right leaning than some of us here.

However, gwb offends all but the rich neocons or nutty fundies, so where else can they(independents) go to vent their disgust with this administration?

It's a phenomenon I've observed personally and may be what causing some of these misunderstandings.

Anyway, you're hanging in, expressing your opinions apparently without deeply offending anyone, so welcome and please stay as we continue to adjust to the political realties of strange bedfellows here at DU.

If we can all get this corrupt, power grabbing, illegal, unethical cabal out of the WH, it will pay off big time.

:hi: MKJ

[Marie26]

27. Welcome to DU!

I wouldn't take it personal. Almost any opinion will annoy someone w/the opposite belief - and with all the posters here, you're bound to hit someone's pet issue. Plus, people tend to be a bit more suspicious when you don't have many posts. I got flamed pretty badly at first for expressing opinions w/20 posts that sailed by once I reached 800. If worse comes to worse, sometimes it helps to just observe for a while till you know the "rules" of the place (and maybe which threads to avoid!). Good luck - and I at least promise not to flame you. :) You'll catch on pretty quickly to how it all works.

[WilliamPitt]

28. Welcome to GD

Wear a helmet.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

34. Will, you forgot...

To tell him about the athletic supporter and cup. The one made from Kevlar and Nomex.

I always keep a spare handy, too.

;-)

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

35. Ya Know, Why The Fuck Did I Post An Entire Friggin Paragraph,

When six little words summed it up so beautifully.

Course, That's why you're the writer and I'm not :P

[KoKo]

29. Hey...even those of us who've been here awhile get the flames...so

don't let it get to you. Go into one of the "Interest Forums" and check out the place a little more.

It's kind of a "testy time" these days with all the "stuff" going on and holiday frenzy.

Hang in...and Welcome to DU!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

30. LET'S GO RANGERS!!!!!!! Welcome Blue Blooder!

Though I can't recall your posts and can't say if they were or weren't good, don't sweat the small stuff. This is a big board with many different personality types and opinions that are bound to clash time and time again. Unfortunately there are many here that are very quick to be defensive when they see a low count poster, but that is only because it is that zone upon which the trouble makers show themselves. Regardless, I think some take the whole "hey low poster you're a freeper" thing way too far, but you'll learn quickly that we all take certain ideals too far from time to time, but that's part of what makes DU so much fun!

Just hang in there, take the high road when ya can, and don't sweat the small stuff. DU is literally the most fun, exciting, informative and caring group you are going to find anywhere on the web.

Oh, the fact you're a fellow ranger's fan is enough to make you A-Ok in my book LOL

[mmonk]

32. Let's go Hurricanes

oops sorry.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Beam Me Up]

33. Greetings from another misfit.

There are quite a few of us here, I think. To some extent one has to carve out one's place here. To some extent one has to learn what is an 'acceptable norm' for discourse, too. I've learned a lot from hanging out here over the years.

If your perspectives are further afield, Progressive Independent offers other forums to explore.

[ret5hd]

36. search his/her posts...

both DU and PI are too left, not too right.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

38. I think you are being quite unfair to the OP

Based on your other post above, I decided to search his posts myself so that I could see what you were talking about. The majority of his posts were 100% fine, with exception to 1 or 2 I found that I thought were definitely inappropriate and over the top. But overall I think he has posted just fine and done fine here, as much as any other poster that I could put under the microscope by searching their posts. It also seems that you had very selective reasoning for disliking his manner. Sure he posted in some hot topics, but he posted in many non hot topics as well. Sure, in a few of the hot ones he got a bit edgy, but in a lot he didn't and was fine.

Overall the impression I was left with after perusing a good 30 of his posts was that he has to get more acclimated on how to respond when a poster ticks him off, and get used to DU a bit more, but that overall he is just fine and I saw no reason WHATSOEVER in any of his postings to fear he is a freeper.

This is your second post now in this thread stating your dislike for him. We were all new once (I still kinda am) and know how hard it was getting our foot in the door. Maybe you should ease up on the Big Sean :)

[ret5hd]

44. I never once accused him/her of being a freeper...

and now that my post above has been deleted, he/she will not have a chance to respond...not that he/she has taken the time to do so yet, regardless.

[ClusterFreak]

37. Don't sweat it.

That's my advice. You may find yourself in a flame-war or two (or three) as a newbie, then you'll catch on to how things generally work here. Pick your battles. You'll be fine. Welcome aboard BIG Sean!:evilgrin:

[lady lib]

40. I did a search and read quite a few of your posts.

Yes, you take the opposite position in some cases, but I don't think that's the primary problem. It's more that your posts tend to come across as hostile. And when you send out hostility, guess what you get back? The golden rule works at DU. (I'm just sayin'...)

[aaronnyc]

42. Yeah, I sort of have the same problem

I have a similar low number post count, and don't really feel comfortable posting anything which might be controversial. I've also been called a "freeper troll" in the past, and for some reason it really bothered me. I'm not really sure why it bothers me to be flamed on the internet - since I have no problem getting in heated political arguments face-to-face. Regardless, it is the main reason that I haven't made a lot of posts on DU (despite reading the message board almost every day).

I think a lot of people here forget that the vast majority of the world are not DUers or Freepers most people are somewhere in between, and would probably consider both DU and Free Republic "too extreme". So when new people question the views of the majority of DUers they are quickly labeled "Freepers"; in reality, I think that. most of these people are either moderate Dems, or people who simply don't see things as so "black and white".

Anyway, good luck here on DU - and I just hope that you have thicker skin for being called a "troll" than I do.

[Beam Me Up]

45. I've certainly been called a "troll" and I agree, it is disconcerting.

Especially difficult when you have a low post count and haven't been here for years as some of us have.

I do hope you'll post more often. :hi:

[aaronnyc]

52. Thanks

It really seems strange that it should be so disconcerting to be called a "troll" though. There is no logical reason why I'm so much more sensitive to getting flamed in an on-line discussion, than I am to getting in an argument in "real life".

Anyway, thanks for the kind words, and I definitely will try to post more often in the future.

[Deja Q]

46. I've a few posts under my belt and I still get called things like a troll,

freeper, racist, and so on.

:crazy:

Thank you for speaking your mind. :pals: :hug: You are welcome here.

[zalinda]

47. There are some people on this board who

think they know EVERYTHING. They know who the best candidate is, what religion is the best, and recently, how people should spend their money. Honestly, I don't think these people have lives. Most people here are not like that though, it's just a few VERY vocal personalities. Most just read and move on to the next subject without posting. After a while, you pretty much can figure out whether the person you are "arguing" with is worth it or not. After I post about 2 times I can usually figure out if they really have a valid point, or just want to be right. Sometimes, what they are saying really doesn't make any sense, but that doesn't stop them from spewing.

It will get better, you'll notice who to avoid, and who can speak sanely. Just follow the rules, and if it gets too bad, just step back a little and read, you can always take a break from posting. The info imparted here is worth putting up with the "know it alls".

zalinda

[Ksec]

48. Stick around a while and give it a chance

The last thing we need here is group think. That makes for a really boring read.

[kansasblue]

49. Hey Big Sean,

It hurts even more when people don't respond at all! :-)

Seriously, I love the debate, but it's even sadder to post something that one thinks is all witty and deep
and nobody responds.

Enjoy the attention, write your opinions in an open, logical manner and enjoy the flames!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

56. LOL 100% Absofuckinglutely Agree With That!

Or those great one liners you might come up with to caption a picture, that you just KNOW other DU'ers are gonna think you were funny for, but get no replies. Or that really logical deep statement that you put a lot of thought into instead of the typical just type quick to reply and think it will be appreciated and effective, but yet nothing LOL

I'm with ya 100% on that. I see many a great post sink while a dimwit post rises, but alas, guess that's just the nature of the game :)

[seabeyond]

50. lol big sean. a couple things. firstly there are a lot of extreme on

this board. granted, i think a lot of it is internet bravado, saying the most outrageous things. but also a lot of times the posts i agree with i dont comment on them, why should i, i agree. it is the posts i dont agree with that i post on. i assure you aren't hearing from the people that agree with you, just the few that dont. i dont know your positions on issue, i do know i am more conservative than most on the board. but i dont find a lot of the opinions on this board mainstream

still..... it is a wonderful source of information. my father brought up three very different topics, i knew about them all. ranging from the death of the son of a football coach to the amount in the law suit for walmart.

it is a valuable place. and i do like listening to the vast array of opinion. good stuff

[notadmblnd]

51. Welcome, but you're not really one of us....

....until you've pissed someone else off, had a post or two locked, complained about it and had that locked too. You've not been banned yet, so you're doing fine. DU can be a tough place especially if you have thin skin. Don't take it personal, I'm sure common ground will be found with at least one of the nearly 100,000 users here on DU.

[JacquesMolay]

53. Hey man, are you Big Sean of Jeet Kune Do fame?

There used to be a guy named that who ran a JKD site.

[BIG Sean]

66. Yup...Thats me!

Do I know you in the JKD world??

[JacquesMolay]

71. I used to go to your site back in the day. I can't remember ...

... the screen name I used. I learned a lot from that place. Of course, it's kind of hard to spar online - at least with your hands and feet.

[blonndee]

54. You're not, by chance, seansky, are you? n/t

[BikeWriter]

57. Welcome to DU. At least you got responses to your post.

Some don't.

[Hardrada]

73. I rarely get responses.

[SW FL Dem]

58. Welcome to DU

At least you get responses to your posts :).

As others have said, DU is a place for debate, especially in GD. If people disagree with your positions, that is ok. If they call you a troll, hit the alert.

[RagingInMiami]

59. What did you post?

A week doesn't go by unless I'm accused of being some kind of right-winger for whatever reason or another, which is so far from the truth. I'm not even a moderate liberal. I'm solidly in the middle.

[FreedomAngel82]

60. Hi

Welcome to the board. It takes a while for people to warm up to you. I know I get a little bit paranoid myself with new comers but after you're here a good while you belong. There are lots of groups you can join if you have a star. Just stick around and join in. :hug: Happy holiday's!

[melody]

61. Don't let it get to you

There are all manner of posters here with hair-trigger topics, loaded to go off at the mere mention of a word. People have different opinions on what constitutes "polite conversation". I've been called a troll many times AND a freeper, even though I've been a liberal a longer time than many of those folks have been alive. People of reason will always disagree on a certain percentage of things with others people who hold similar views.

Just remember to use the Ignore feature for people beyond hope, and that disagreement doesn't equal dislike.

Yeah, I know that sounds like a purple dinosaur moment, but it's the day after my f'ing 46th birthday, so I'm entitled. lol

:toast::hug:

[donco6]

62. Sometimes it depends on the day.

The board's mood can change. For example, there are two preachy threads on right now that normally people would be all over with, and instead people seem to be going out of their way to kiss the posters' ass. Any other day it would be different. You just posted on a crappy day and got smeared. It happens. Don't give up on your points completely, but use the experience to rethink them - maybe unpackage them a little more so people know where you're really coming from.

That's my cheap advice anyway. Welcome to DU.

[Rainscents]

63. Hi Sean... Welcome to DU!!!

It took me while to warm up to DU, but, once I got use to how things work here, I was very welcome by great people here. At times, I still feel very intimidated by DU'ers. You'll find that, DUer's are the greatest people and they'll do anything for you if you ever need help!

[Vektor]

65. I'm not sure what you said...I never saw any of your other posts...

But welcome just the same. I too have been attacked for saying what I thought was a good thing. We've got some pretty cantankerous folks here...

But we have mostly great ones. So hang in there.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[AtomicKitten]

68. Don't hold back.

You will be stomped on by someone sometime for something. Count on it. But that's okay. Doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you. That's what the ignore function is for.

[ComerPerro]

69. I haven't seen any of your posts, but I can give you some advice:

If you are ever posting with a low post count, be careful. We get tons of trolls here.

The best thing I can tell you, and that is often overlooked: Sarcasm doesn't play well if you aren't careful. On a message board, there is no tone of voice. Just your black and white literal words.

Of course, there is "smile" that would be your friend in those cases:

:sarcasm: - you just type ":", then "sarcasm", then ":" again.

Like I said, though, not sure if that's the case with your posts, but I know that a lot of people who are legitimate liberals or moderates get into flamewars because they spoke out of satire or sarcasm and someone took them literally.

[Hardrada]

74. People don't get deadpan satire in real life either.

It's kind of thing brighter people tune in to but not your average schmoe.

[NNN0LHI]

76. I'm teaching deadpan satire to my 2 year old grandson when I get the chance

He seems to pick it up real well even with his limited understanding on the english language. Actually he picks up on it better than his parents do. Its kind of weird.

Don

[Hardrada]

77. Well, that's it then.

You've got to teach the little nippers very early on!!

[LittleClarkie]

75. Why am I such a misfit. I am not just a nitwit. You can't fire me I quit.

Why don't I fit in.

Welcome to the Island of Misfit Toys, Sean. :hi:

[Pushed To The Left]

78. Welcome to DU, BIG Sean!

Don't feel bad. Lots of us have been flamed at some point. I was in a pretty bad flame war with several posters around this time last year! I think you will fit in just fine. :)