Until you are "Tombstoned" .. because of the DU Rules ...why Should Anyone NOT be Welcome Here?

[KoKo]

Does anyone have an answer to this?

[taterguy]

1. Because some people are fucking stupid

[Tangerine LaBamba]

11. Yeah, you pretty much said it all ..........

Where fucking stupid is concerned, one strike and you're out.

My "Ignore" list is entering a second generation, I think ....................

[CreekDog]

43. Yes, I know

:rofl:

[OneBlueSky]

70. words of wisdom from an old sage I once knew . . .

"Remember, son . . . everybody's an asshole to someone." . . .

so leave us not be too quick to judge . . .

[BlooInBloo]

75. And that's the end of this thread.

[Mike 03]

2. Certainly not. Everyone should be welcome here. We were all new once. NT

[KoKo]

6. Ah...My....We were all NEW ONCE! Doesn't that say it all.......

but were we included? :shrug:

[Mike 03]

15. Well, I was the first time, but NOT when I came back under my same old name, but

later.

I would love to discuss this with you. It was really hard to convince (or remind) people that I was the same "Mike" that had been here since 2003.

Truly, DU can be a hard place to make friends nowadays. But it didn't used to be that way, IMO.

Do you agree? What do you think?

EDIT:

I feel you have a point to make, and I'm listening.

[juajen]

45. Well, I agree with you, Mike. It is very hard to make friends here now. NT

[biopowertoday]

74. agree

[Mike 03]

20. I'm sorry, maybe I'm missing your point. You seem very passionate about this, and I

know you are highly intelligent, so I'm guessing maybe I'm failing to grasp your point.

But I am staying tuned to this thread. It is undoubtedly important.

[KoKo]

28. I think it's a "Zen Thing." Asking a Question to which one might not get an answer but

one which one is seeking without knowing where it will go. If that doesn't make sense...well it does really...when one spends time on this board for years like many of us do. One can get to a point where one wonders..."Why? What's it all about in the end? Is there an end?"

NO...I'm not "Smokin', Shootin' or Drinkin' (just anticipating snarky comments to my post)

[Fozzledick]

77. If you don't mind some snarky quibbling over your misunderstanding of Zen

Zen koans DO have an answer. They basically amount to "I understand the indescribable mystery you're alluding to because I've experienced it myself, and here's an indication of my understanding which you should recognize if you have too".

If koans and their answers don't seem rational, it's because they're not. They're attempts to communicate that which cannot be contained by words. The first words out of a good Zen teacher's mouth are "As soon as I open my mouth to speak, I am already wrong".

[nomorenomore08]

3. So-and-so not being welcome, unless they're an outright Freeper troll, is strictly a matter

of opinion. And in the end it's only the mods' opinions that really matter... :shrug:

[Botany]

4. Because we don't like 'em and they are poopie heads

Besides "they" have been talking about me too :crazy:

[panader0]

5. Some of my favorite DUers have been tombstoned.

TominTib comes to mind........

[Webster Green]

9. He got tombstoned?

WTF?! ;(

[panader0]

13. Yeah. He was bitching about the white phosphorus bombs

used during the invasion of Gaza, and went over that invisible line. POOF! gone

[Behind the Aegis]

37. The "invisible line" is "FUCK JEWS?" Seems pretty reasonable to boot someone for that.

[CreekDog]

44. the line was invisible, but he didn't step, he rocketed across

:crazy:

[LeftishBrit]

56. I think ...

that 'goddamn the fucking Jews' should be over any line.

And yes it was JEWS, not ISRAELIS.

I'd feel the same way if the same line had been used ending with 'Arabs'.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

14. Yeah, he did ........

I really liked Tom, but when he drank, he got pretty nasty, and one time, he want 'way over the line regarding Israel-Palestine.

I mean, REALLY 'way over the line.

Still, he was a dear ...................

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

40. Yeah, he made a bunch of comments like "fuck Jews"

Who could ever imagine that could lead to being TS'd?

His Walter Mitty stories, homophobia and anti-semitism went on for far too long, IMHO. YMMV.

[smalll]

51. t I always enjoyed getting annoyed by his "Women fuck/have fucked me a lot - let me brag" posts. /nt

[jonnyblitz]

62. boy that pyscho-fuck could tell some TALL tales and the

gullible here soaked it all up. He knew and associated with sooo many famous people (:eyes:) He was one of the nastiest, meanest bigots around but the dim bulbs here just looooved him like they seem to love all needy attention whores who have BULLSHIT to peddle.

I was suprised he was even tombstoned when he went off on the Jews that day since he said so much crap before and nothing ever happened.

[shadowknows69]

67. As far as gullible people I guess I was one then

But maybe tall tales are easier for me to believe because I've led a fairly interesting life myself.

I once obtained more celebrity than I ever even conceived for myself, big fish; small pond, but it was overwhelming and I ended up mingling with people I never thought I would. Shit, I turned down a chance to meet Mitch Ryder and Levon Helm once; fucking idiot.

So I guess I instinctively trust most tales out of hand, but I also know people who have attained some public notoriety do occasionally tend to have competitive ego problems and exaggerations are the side effect.

[Djinn]

82. I also tend to believe what people post here

because stuff I've done/seen/people I've known and posted about have been doubted. I can respond to someone's points without it actually mattering much if they're lying about being best buds with Obama (for example I haven't actually seen that one)

I don't care much whether people I'm never gonna meet believe me, though I suspect they find it difficult precisely because they've never got involved in anything outside their own self comfort. When you do you tend to see things that seem to them as tall tales.

[shadowknows69]

66. I liked Tom a lot and I think I may have called him on that on that thread actually.

I've had some pretty "bare knuckle" fights on here about the I/P issue but I know the difference between a country's national policy and the people within it or of similar cultural backgrounds. Our own country is a glaring example of that. I've probably said "FUCK AMERICA" and "FUCK CERTAIN AMERICANS" before but I know there is still some good in all people depsite the fact we seem to always have leaders that can't resolve anything without bloodletting.

[Bluenorthwest]

78. one of the most major jerks I have met

on line or off. Could not bear him, and then came his hate vomit, and then another and another. Prejudiced, arrogant, and pitiful.

[Webster Green]

7. Sure. I've seen some really offensive posts before the mods showed up..

I have no problem with telling obvious trolls to take a fucking hike.

Then, I hit the alert button. :patriot:

[rucky]

8. I think there are trolls here who discourage new membership.

by being purposely rude to any newbie, no matter what they post.

[burning rain]

21. There's that.....

and also some that come waltzing in, and make their debut by lambasting established posters in an astonishing display of concern trollishness.

[trudyco]

10. You mean because some people are dog piled for having another view point?

[Skip Intro]

12. I don't know what exactly you're referring to, but those who propose to speak for this board

who are not moderators or admin, remind me of some of the people I work with.

The company I work for is about to go under, major source of revenue gone at the end of June. It is a death blow. Yet I have people in positions identical to mine who are fond of saying things like, "we want to do this, or we need you to do that." As if they speak for the true management of the company. They don't - verified, but they think they do. Reminds me of those here who deign themselves spokespeople for the rest of the board, when really they can only speak for themselves. Pretty cowardly if you ask me. Attempt at intimidation?

You raise a good question. Wish I knew the catalyst.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

47. She's referring to racist penguins

Oh wait, they are DEFINITELY never welcome on here.

[blondeatlast]

63. Legendary--and I was a witness.

Occasionally I revisit it when I'm in a crappy mood.

[shadowknows69]

68. I'm pretty certain my career in radio was ended by such people

As you said, a person, verified not to have any authority over me, basically had the General Manager by the balls somehow and was intergral to my "budget concerns" layoff.

[Hepburn]

16. Well....

...this is the DEMOCRATIC Underground and the purpose, as I understand it, is to support Democrats and other liberals, right?

:shrug:

[Sebastian Doyle]

17. Sarah Palin's lieutenant governor was on this site all day long yesterday.

His pizza was finally delivered, and admittedly even I didn't realize who he was until after he had been tombstoned and David Shuster mentioned his name on TV.

But all the same, should he have felt "welcome" here?

(and yes his posts were 100% opposed to Democratic values from the first word)

[Starry Messenger]

22. Wow, really?

That's a riot. I'm sorry I missed it. What's his name?

[Critters2]

25. Me too! That would've been fun! nt

[burning rain]

24. Good Lord! What was that character's screen name?

*

[Sebastian Doyle]

26. He actually used his real name

SeanParnell.

Thread here.... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8324844&mesg_id=8324844

[Starry Messenger]

30. Bwah!

Awesome thread is awesome. You creamed him! Sean Parnell thy name is FAIL!

[Critters2]

31. Holy crap! The Lieutenant Governor of Alaska!

I don't know why this strikes me as hilarious, but it does! :rofl:

[blondeatlast]

64. Yipes--he couldn't even spell properly. nt

[LeftishBrit]

57. Really??? Blimey, I always miss the best bits!

What did he say -"Sarah is God's anointed and we must make her president so that I can take over her job of killing all the wildlife in Alaska"?

[Blue_In_AK]

72. It's hard for me to believe our own "Club for Growth" Sean Parnell

would have been trolling around Democratic Underground, but I guess stranger things have happened. Sarah's probably got him out spying on all the progressive websites.


ed. After looking at the link at the bottom of his post, I'm thinking this is probably a different Sean Parnell, someone out of Arizona maybe. The post just doesn't "sound" like our guy.

[smoogatz]

18. They only people who aren't welcome are rightwing trolls

and disruptors. And assholes. Assholes aren't really all that welcome. I guess my question is, why are you worried about how trolls, disruptors and assholes feel?

[Luminous Animal]

27. Yay! I got a shout out! n.t.

[Mike 03]

19. Kick and Rec, BTW. NT

[Luminous Animal]

23. Well, because a lot of people think I am an asshole...

but I haven't broken the rules so I live here to be called an asshole yet another day.

I don't mind being called an asshole on a political discussion board. I've been a activist long enough and have had some successes around some issue that a lot of my adversaries (both Repulican and Democrat) thought were terrifically asshole-y when I was advocating for them. I'm here for the politics not to make friends.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mudesi]

32. Right Wingers Are NOT Welcome Here

That includes the NRA talking point gun nuts. But they're an exception for some reason.

[Runcible Spoon]

33. Neither are anti-gay bigots.

They are also an exception here, too.

[Luminous Animal]

35. Indeed. n.t.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

49. Yeah, very much an exception

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

48. I'm not a Right Winger in the slightest, but I agree with the NRA on guns

I do take extreme exception to their views on non-gun topics.

[Luminous Animal]

52. With what specifically do you agree?

I'm pretty much on board with the notion that we have the right to own any armament that is available on this godly earth.

[Djinn]

53. when did Skinner say

that people who support gun ownership (and I couldn't care less either way it's just not an issue down here) are not welcome here.

Nice of you to invent your own rules for DU, can we all do that?

[Codeine]

80. Many left-wingers support gun rights.

Along with all of our other Constitutional rights. It's not a Chinese menu where you pick two from column A and two from column B -- it's all or nothing.

[Double T]

34. ANYONE is welcome here.

Some DUers like to hear differing opinions from ANYONE and EVERYONE. Other DUers engage censorship to create their own world of 'nice' or 'message control'. Regardless, ALL ideas, positions and views should be heard and debated.

[TwilightZone]

39. Uh, no.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/about.html

We welcome Democrats of all stripes, along with other progressives who will work with us to achieve our shared goals.

The rules pretty clearly exclude right-wingers, trolls, disruptors, etc. If that's "censorship", so be it.

[Double T]

84. Unfortunately 'opposition' to positions held by certain stripes of Democrats........

results in their labeling others as trolls and disruptors, which is totally untrue. Censorship in the form of 'Ignore' makes it 'nice'. All should be welcome for positions, views and debate.

[lilyreally]

36. I was a long time member back pre and during

the bush reign of error.

I had to leave for health reasons because I didn't have the time or the energy as I was going through my recovery.

I left with all good feelings intact on both sides but returned with a new name and a 0 post number, just purely by choice.

I haven't been treated much differently, although there are lots of new names and "faces" I don't recognize, and many old that are no longer here. I can't honestly say that my few posts have been any more or less respected or disrespected because of the numbers. Ah, maybe a bit, but us "newbies" have to expect that until we make our bones, albeit for the second time around.

[Adelante]

58. If you were a member pre-the bush reign of error

You must have been very lonely.

But welcome back, anyways :hi:

[lilyreally]

61. I was referring to the fortunate son,

but point taken and thanks for the welcome!

:)

[Djinn]

83. but DU didn't exist before the fortunate son

[Oregone]

38. I LOVE mixed boards

I visit a few. But they can be fun to actually humiliate people by pointing out the idiocy of their logic in a fair open debate (over and over again). And the thing is, no one gets banned. After you make some in-roads, they give you a lot of concessions and listen quite a bit.

This doesn't happen here. This is preaching to the choir. Sometimes the soprano and the baritone still bitch and fight with eachother.

[Djinn]

54. I used to feel the same

and didn't post on DU for a year or more but then every other leftish board I found was FAR more of a circle jerk, perhaps just because of the size here I think it's a pretty good big tent, albeit for those on the leftish side of the centre divide.

[Bluebear]

41. What started this latest round of random curiosity?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

50. .

[uppityperson]

42. I'd answer you except you have me on ignore. Rather ironic, isn't it? eom

[Vickers]

46. While I'm not here to make friends, I do try to be civil to everyone

unless they are a goddam asshole douchebag assclown fuckstick, or if they express even a casual dislike of puppies.

My Troll-dar© is pretty accurate...I figure I have about a 99% "success" rate (i.e., they are subsequently tombstoned) when alerting on repuke shit-stirrers.

[NashVegas]

55. Because It's Human Nature to Protect One's Territory/Club From Outsiders

Not all elements of our animal instincts are necessarily bad ones.

Would you disagree that the first cluster of DUers to popularize the place were traditional alt.weekly readers, or those types, who cut their teeth on:

organics = good / synthetics = bad?
WTO / IMF = bad
Chomsky = good
Chavez = mostly good

Yes, we had our flame wars but it was mostly over stupid shit, but the above four were all pretty much the consensus around here.

Remember 2003? Dean = great(!) for 2/3 of it, and then WHAM! Tons of new accounts slamming him left and right, pumping Clark. There were people who signed up for the specific purpose of steering the conversation. There's a post above where someone wrote, "I'm here for the politics not to make friends." Meaning, they're here to game the board and use it as a political tool, and it must be recognized that shit most often entails using wedge politics against the regular posters of DU, dividing us and our voices.

It happened again in 2007/2008. And this latest crew, even more than 2004, has no reservations about going hostile on anyone who expresses negative sentiments on the new administration's policies, like we're going to be so entranced by Michelle's new garden to quietly acquiesce to industrial agri-business's paid legislative agenda.

I have a friend, a dear Southern lady, who will show the best hospitality to anyone who crosses her threshold. And if that person turns out to be a boor in her home, they never set foot in it again. She has control over that.

We don't. The mods do. The admins do. Making a boor feel unwelcome is the only weapon we have.

[Realityhack]

59. If you see someone cruzing for a tombstone I would avoid them...

also some people operating within the rules I chose to ignore either because they are skirting the edges or because I find them annoying for one reason or another.
That is what ignore is for.

That said I welcome their presence and support them posting within the rules.

[tekisui]

60. Trolls/disruptors come here for the sole purpose of disruption.

This place would be intolerable, and wouldn't be DU, if RWers were allowed to spew their hateful shit here.

[DCKit]

76. Yet, so often, I find a good troll post the highlight of my day.

Even earlier today, I almost posted "please don't delete" on a obvious troll 'cause it was just too damn, desperately funny.

My "ignore" list is also empty. There is no entertainment value in *only* talking to people with exactly the same POV - too akin to schizophrenia for my taste.

[blondeatlast]

65. "WHO IS WELCOME AT DU" A very effective use of language...

Anyone can enter but if you want to cause trouble, regardless of political sympathies, there's no place for you here.

DU isn't unlike a publicly accessible (as opposed to simply public; think of a department store as opposed to a city office building) restroom; anyone can enter, but if you come in just to cause a mess, those who are using that facility for legitimate reasons can choose to prevent further disturbance until the authorities come to haul your sorry ass out.

No, I won't be pleasant to those who choose to disrupt--regardless of where on the political spectrum they fall.

[Bluebear]

79. You said it.

[L0oniX]

69. Well there's no shortage of condescending blog nazis here too.

[Runcible Spoon]

73. !

:applause:

[Warren Stupidity]

71. Define 'welcome here'.

If you mean 'tolerate idiocy and rightwing bullshit', no thanks.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

81. I'm still here and that's saying something.

[cherokeeprogressive]

85. I notice that you only have 55,000 posts. Keep trying, noob.

Your concern is duly noted.