How about a SINCERE WilliamPitt Appreciation Thread?

[MrMickeysMom]

I don't like game players on DU…

Sometimes I miss the point of snark or superiority, but I could ALWAYS understand where Will was coming from…

Respectfully,

MrMickeysMom

[BlueJazz]

1. I think he knows I've always respected him. I miss him.

[NuclearDem]

2. Butted heads with him more than once, but still respect him and hate to see him go.

[MrMickeysMom]

6. Hopefully, it was for more than course language...

(understanding and agreeing)

But, if it was, I believe in course language to make a point. I love using it often enough.

But, then… there's making the point itself, and for that, provocative points of view he presented!

Shit! How refreshing!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I sometimes take a cigar as just a cigar

but sure. You got my rec too.

And what I wish to really see, is the bully brigade to really pay a price for this shit... but I am at peace that on DU they never will.

[Hissyspit]

10. Sometimes a cigar is bubblegum.

[countryjake]

23. And, sometimes they're...

I'm glad to recommend any sincere appreciation thread.

Here's an honest for Will.

[sabrina 1]

120. Yes, that would vastly improve DU but for some reason, it seems to only get worse.

And it's driving away some of DU's best leaving it to the most uninteresting and least representative of Democrats in general.

[Marrah_G]

4. I don't always agree with him, but he is part of this community

I will miss him.

[HFRN]

5. thread? how about an entire forum

with it's own moderator?

[NightWatcher]

13. Seriously. These threads are a long wet sloppy kiss

Maybe they should get a room or a forum.

[HFRN]

15. big time drama queening nt

[11 Bravo]

58. Good to know that in your one month at DU ...

you have a long-time and highly respected DUer all figured out.

[HFRN]

62. please accept my sincere apology

and may I seek your wise and erudite counsel, before expressing an opinion in the future

[sibelian]

82. Wow. You're going to fit in beautifully...

...with certain people.

[HFRN]

83. perhaps so nt

[sibelian]

91. Choose wisely, I'd suggest. nt

[HFRN]

96. sounds like a threat nt

[sibelian]

99. Dear me.

How does advising someone to adopt a course of action so generically positive that it's likely to improve their circumstances in ANY situation become a threat?

You'll find that your condition is largely consequent on your conduct in most areas of life, I would hope. This website's no exception.

There's nothing I can do about it.

[sabrina 1]

118. Sounded like advice to me. Take it or leave it kind of advice.

[HFRN]

152. oh really nt

[sabrina 1]

170. Really, yes, that's what I said!

[HFRN]

173. did you nt

[sabrina 1]

189. Yes, I did!

[HFRN]

192. you sure? nt

[sibelian]

200. Well, she said she was.

So, she probably is.

[melman]

98. You don't have to be a member to read the board

You can't know how long someone might have been here just by their registration date.

[sabrina 1]

121. Yes, most of did that for a while before registering, and most also realized they still didn't

know much about the dynamics of the forum simply by reading, you need to interact with posters for quite a while before that happens, so most people would never have jumped into a thread like this with so much certainty about a longtime DUer they cannot possibly 'know' without that interaction.

[sabrina 1]

119. Yes, lots of that, but I'm not sure we are talking about the same thing. What are you

referring to re 'drama queening'?

[sabrina 1]

116. Actually they are a response to a deceptive OP. And there is such a thing as 'thrash thread'

or just pass by threads that don't interest you.

[MerryBlooms]

7. He hasn't been my cup of tea the last couple of years, but I'll rec this OP.

[Left coast liberal]

8. He will undoubtedly be back....

...tempers always flare during hot primaries. He will not be able to join back in after the heat is cooled.

[sabrina 1]

126. I hope so, and hope a few others take a break.

[Orrex]

148. Then we can undoubtedly look forward to another of his GBCW threads

Followed by another round of Will Pitt Appreciation Threads.

[sabrina 1]

159. There would be no threads like this had someone not decided to post

a thread that was a mockery of his tradition. DU has a lot of nice traditions that to my knowledge have never been misused until now.

I am glad that a majority of DUers still respect the community enough not to abuse those traditions.

There are always a few however in every community who are not interested in anything but their own personal issues.

[Orrex]

160. GBCW posts are laughably narcissistic and invite mockery

Especially if the DUer has a history of laughably narcissistic GBCW posts.

In theory, the intent of a GBCW thread is to announce to DU that one is leaving, so that there's no worry or confusion surrounding the sudden absence. In reality, the intent of a GBCW is to generate a lot of ego-massaging praise and sentimentally and misty-eyed replies begging the DUer please-oh-please-don't-leave-us!

We've seen it many, many times, and more than once by the current recipient of adoration.


And this fawning appreciation thread--or one much like it--would certainly have occurred even if MineralMan hadn't posted his terrific snark-fest.

[sabrina 1]

163. Really? I always assume that someone, another human being, has been

hurt and is dong what real humans do when they encounter nasty bullies and I am always glad that to learn who those bullies are.

But then I'm one of those 'bleeding heart' Liberals so despised by bullies who interpret natural human compassion for others as a weakness, when in reality it is a strength. Bullies are cowards and once confronted tend to try to weasel out of the situation.

Btw, you are contradicting MM who denies what you have accused him of claiming he was just trying to bring WP back whose voice, he says, is 'welcome' here.

I agree with you, the fawning excuses when people saw what you saw, a misuse of this forum, posting a META thread in GD, flame bait thread actually.

So we agree and I think that the thread doesn't belong in GD which forbids META and certainly what you just described, 'his terrific snark-fest'.

Against the rules of GD as far as I know. Thanks.

[Orrex]

164. Puh-leeze.

Really? I always assume that someone, another human being, has been hurt and is dong what real humans do when they encounter nasty bullies and I am always glad that to learn who those bullies are.

That's a pollyanna assumption that will be wrong more often than not, and it plays directly into the narcissism that leads to GBCW posts in the first place. An anonymous posting forum is a venue ill-suited to the cry for help that you describe, and a GBCW post is about the worst way I can think of to address such bullying.

For that matter, Will Pitt has famously strong-armed more than a few DUers, so you should certainly include him near the top of your list of bullies, given his high profile.

Btw, you are contradicting MM who denies what you have accused him of claiming he was just trying to bring WP back whose voice, he says, is 'welcome' here.

MM's post was widely identified--both in that thread and this one--as being snarky and insincere. But if that's not the case, and if the original was in fact meant sincerely, than this current thread is a duplicate and should have been locked.

So we agree and I think that the thread doesn't belong in GD which forbids META and certainly what you just described, 'his terrific snark-fest'.

Against the rules of GD as far as I know. Thanks.

But it's not meta; it's satire. And satire is beloved and permitted in GD, as evidenced by frequent postings of Doonesbury, Borowitz, Fugelsang & The Onion, etc.

[sabrina 1]

166. Yes, I've been told that caring for other human beings is a 'pollyanna' thing, but never by

anyone from our side of the aisle. Of course it is as I already stated, to heartless, uncaring bullies. Who are weak and envious of those who are capable of human emotions they themselves are not and in many ways, they KNOW how they are lacking in normal human compassion so they lash out at those who are actually just normal human beings.

I feel sorry for them and wish there was a way to help them but I'm not a psychiatrist and this is just an internet forum. So I tend to stand up for those who become targets of those sad people.

MM denies your, correct assessment of his nasty thread btw, assumption that he was not sincere. He insists he was sincere. I personally requested that he include in his OP his real reasons for posting it so that good DUers would not be deceived. He denied that his intentions were not sincere.

I suppose it would have taken courage for a host of a forum to admit to his abuse of the forum, but then again, who knows, maybe he thought he was being so very clever, no one would notice. YOU, however are correct, it was not clever, people did notice and then he denied it.

And no, it was not satire, it was Meta and intended to mock, though it failed spectacularly, another DUer. All it did was to provide opportunities for people who had no idea what was going on, to show their support for a long time DUer in various other threads. Not good tactics to try to fool DUers, they are way too smart for that.

I will thank him though, because without his meta thread, I would have known nothing about what was going on, nor would the hundreds, perhaps thousands now, who are now aware of the nastiness.

Sometimes, depending on the motive, it is best not to 'stir the pot' as it doesn't always work out the way you intended, especially when you are known for that kind of thing.

[Orrex]

167. That's not quite it

Yes, I've been told that caring for other human beings is a 'pollyanna' thing, but never by anyone from our side of the aisle.

And not by me, either. Here's what you wrote:

Really? I always assume that someone, another human being, has been hurt and is dong what real humans do when they encounter nasty bullies and I am always glad that to learn who those bullies are.

And here's what I wrote

That's a pollyanna assumption that will be wrong more often than not, and it plays directly into the narcissism that leads to GBCW posts in the first place.

Nowhere am I faulting you for caring; I'm faulting the assumption that a GBCW must be a sincere cry for help for a person who's in pain, when it's often a narcissistic quest for public praise and adulation.

I feel sorry for them and wish there was a way to help them but I'm not a psychiatrist and this is just an internet forum. So I tend to stand up for those who become targets of those sad people.

Well aren't you a heroic champion! Did you stand up for the people whom Will Pitt bullied as well? Please post links--I'd love to read all about those brave exploits.

MM denies your, correct assessment of his nasty thread btw, assumption that he was not sincere. He insists he was sincere. I personally requested that he include in his OP his real reasons for posting it so that good DUers would not be deceived. He denied that his intentions were not sincere.

Why do you doubt him? Why do you insist that his motives are cruel, rather than assuming that he's in pain, lamenting the loss of a beloved DUer? By what criteria do you determine who is and who is not worthy of your support? You assume that Will Pitt--a well-established bully and serial GBCWer--is suffering, yet you assume that MineralMan is a mocking failure?

Why?


[font color="red"]I edited my needlessly cruel subject line. Sorry about that[/color]

[sabrina 1]

172. What? YOU verified my assumption re MM. It's always better to have

verification of assumptions..

But assumptions based on prior KNOWLEDGE and FACTS about individuals often do turn out to be correct.

Eg, if this had been my and others' only encounter with this kind of manipulation from this poster, I would have made no such assumption, and would have assumed it was a genuine, sincere OP.


YOU must also be familiar with what most DUers learned, from his own admissions, about this poster, since you TOO made the same assumption, that it was not sincere.

I'm far from being a heroic champion. Would never, eg, have had the courage Will Pitt had when he publicly took on the Bush War Criminals, going so far as to write a book about the lies they told.

I was satisfied to just quietly discuss what we all knew, with other like-minded people in what seemed to be a safer setting.

What was MM doing back then? I didn't do much but at least I was on the side of those who were appalled by they liars and war criminals rather than cavorting with the 'enemy'.

And you again state what I already addressed, that we should ASSUME that GBCW OPs are a sign of narcissism. No, I do not make that assumption. I told you what I generally assume already.

Put it this way, I would rather be wrong but retain the ability to empathize with other human beings by erring on the side of compassion absent any other knowledge that the poster has a record of deception.

Which is definitely NOT the case with WP who has the opposite problem if anything, of being TOO blunt, which btw, I prefer to sneaky, passive aggressive behavior.

[rhett o rick]

168. Ah yes the rational that certain people or posts "invite mockery". That's saying that some

just can't resist the mockery but they aren't responsible because the mockery was invited. Mockery is never appropriate. It's especially ugly when people are mocked in their absence.

[Orrex]

169. Show me where you have challenged Will Pitt for his mockery and bullying?

I'm struck by how many in this thread rise in defense of Will Pitt but not of his victims.

That's saying that some just can't resist the mockery but they aren't responsible because the mockery was invited. Mockery is never appropriate.

I disagree. If I posted a look-at-me GBCW post, I would full expect (and deserve) to be mocked for it, especially if I had a history of posting GBCW's followed by triumphant returns to reap the praise and adoration of DU.

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, and I'm going to call out bogus GBCW's as the narcissistic indulgences that they are.

[rhett o rick]

174. I don't condone mockery by anyone and including myself. I have done it and it was wrong.

But I don't see rationalizing it. "I only mock people when they deserve it." Isn't that the same rationalization that the schoolyard bullies use. "I only pick on those that deserve it."

Why would anyone care if someone gives a dramatic goodby and then comes back? Seems to be a good opportunity to be able to mock someone.

What strikes me as ironic is that those that get upset at posters that they say want attention, give them lots of attention. This all would have died out except those that are intent to disparage Will create the mocking threads which is creating a backlash that continues on and on. Will is most likely laughing his head off. I think he will come back thanks to those that mock him. They just don't get it.

[Orrex]

176. That's simply not consistent with reality

Let's address this part first:

"I only mock people when they deserve it." Isn't that the same rationalization that the schoolyard bullies use. "I only pick on those that deserve it."

That's one way you can spin it, I suppose. The more accurate way, however, is to make the mockery contingent upon circumstances, as is the case here; Will Pitt doesn't deserve mockery because he's Will Pitt; his actions merit mockery because he posts narcissistic GBCW threads followed by "Look At Me I'm Back" threads, all of which predictably draw heaps of fawning adoration.

What strikes me as ironic is that those that get upset at posters that they say want attention, give them lots of attention.

I encourage you to find amusement wherever you can. Why does it upset you that others point out the narcissism inherent in GBCW posts?

This all would have died out except those that are intent to disparage Will create the mocking threads which is creating a backlash that continues on and on.

Nonsense. The ball started rolling as soon as he got his nose out of joint and posted his GBCW, followed by a devoted flock wailing and gnashing their teeth about the tragedy of his departure. You're blaming the people who are calling bullshit on the whole silly pageant.

That's like saying that an injustice would go away if only its protesters would shut up about it.

Will is most likely laughing his head off. I think he will come back thanks to those that mock him. They just don't get it.

No, they get it just fine. When Will comes back, it will be to the fawning adoration of his acolytes, who will tell him that DU isn't the same without him, etc., just like the last times. He'll continue to be a thin-skinned bully who garners tons of dubious Recs for his mundane posts about news that broke three days earlier, and his acolytes will continue to praise him for it. Why wouldn't he return?

[rhett o rick]

180. So you know "reality". Usually, politically liberal posters recognize that they are

not blessed with the knowledge of what is reality. Usually those that claim to know and lecture others on the nature of reality really mean "reality as I have defined it."

I guess I don't understand the obsession with "setting people straight", as some call it. What difference does it make if someone acts (in your opinion) pompous or egotistical? Is it so very important to gang up on them and mock them? And the justification of "they deserved it" or "they asked for it" is really not very liberal minded. I remember a boy in grade school that was a nerd before nerds were socially acceptable. He wore thick glasses and different cloths and knew the answer to most of the teacher's questions. There were a number of kids that always picked on him. Their justification was that he asked for it by being so "smarty". And how many times have we heard the "she asked for it" when women get abused?

Again, I am betting Will loves making (yes "making" because he is in control) posters mock him. I bet he likes that more than adulation. If you hate him because you think he wants attention, then don't give him the attention.

Personally I am ambivalent about Will and think that some here stick up for him because he is the subject of ridicule. And I think that liberals, while not always agreeing with him, like that he doesn't march lockstep to the oligarch's tune.

I think Eugene Debs would have liked Will. Debs said, "Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization. Progress is born of agitation. It is agitation or stagnation."
- See more at: http://www.great-quotes.com/quotes/author/Eugene/Debs#sthash.3wIUu4T0.dpuf

And on the other hand there is probably a quote some where that says, "If you don't like what someone is saying, use ridicule and mockery to shut them up." It was probably Rahm Emanuel.

[Orrex]

182. Ho-hum.

When you have to play the "it seems like you're not a real liberal" card, as you've done, you come across as the exact kind of bully that Will Pitt's fawning acolytes are so quick to attack. Watch out, or you'll run afoul of that tireless throng.

So you know "reality". Usually, politically liberal posters recognize that they are not blessed with the knowledge of what is reality. Usually those that claim to know and lecture others on the nature of reality really mean "reality as I have defined it."

I imagine that you see it that way, but in fact I was referring to reality as "that which is the case."

If you are able to demonstrate that Will Pitt's bullying, narcissistic GBCWs and factual error are not in fact the case, then I will happily recant. I have a well-established history on DU of admitting when I'm wrong, so I do not fear error. Can you say the same?

But let's cut to the chase here, since you have appointed yourself the gatekeeper of suitable conversation on DU. Tell me exactly what you will permit me to discuss, and which subjects you will permit me to find objectionable. I'm sure that things will all run smoothly once you've explained the rules to me.

[rhett o rick]

183. Actually the Admin's have very good guidelines. The Community Standards are straight forward. nm

[Orrex]

184. Then let me draw your attention to the "Alert Abuse" link.

You'll find it beneath the body of a given post, directly below the "Thread Info" and "Bookmark This Thread" links.

If you find yourself unable to tolerate a particular post, then I invite you to avail yourself of the "Alert Abuse" link.


Good luck to you.

[sabrina 1]

195. Why do you care so much about one of tens of thousands of DUers? Why the

'concern' with what he does? Do you see what happens when people get all upset over ONE person? He gets loads and loads of POSITIVE attention.

Is that what you wanted?

When I don't like someone and it happens, I just ignore them, I definitely don't spend days and weeks and years obsessing over them and in doing so making that person POPULAR when in reality if I just move on which is the natural thing to do, no one pays any attention to him/her.

You all have made WP the most popular and most discussed DUer here over the past few days.

And stop the childish attempt to put words in people's mouths, Rhett isn't trying to stop you from speaking at all.

He's offering his opinion on all this, are you trying to stop HIM from doing so?

[Orrex]

196. Every time you accuse me of obsession, you reveal volumes about yourself

When I don't like someone and it happens, I just ignore them

Sounds good. You won't hear from me again, and I sure as shit won't hear from you.

[sabrina 1]

194. It's really simple, for Liberals anyhow, you don't have to go to all this trouble

to explain why bullies 'sometimes' are justified for 'mocking' other people.

NO ONE should be 'mocked' by anyone. Period. It is a disgusting bullying habit mostly found in authoritarians who feel inadequate and who have a need to TRY gain some power which they feel they do not have, mostly over those they are JEALOUS of.


Challenging people respectfully is fine, if they are wrong, then explain where and why you don't agree with them.

The very word 'mockery' should cause decent people to cringe, and it does.

The issues being dragged up from the past re WP were long ago resolved, which has led a majority of people here to find the continued attempts to use them, again and again and again and again for years and years and years, to be simply disgusted. So it isn't getting any traction at all, nor should it in a decent community.

You don't like someone, fine, you disagree with them, great we need that. Then try discussing your disagreements like adults and if two people just can't agree, then move on.

This OBSESSION with Pitt is pretty disturbing to most people here .

[sabrina 1]

190. So then you must be able to show us where you 'mocked' other DUers who

posted GBCW ops and then returned after the community asked them to? DUers you agree with, I mean.

Thanks .... consistency is everything in order to establish credibility.

[H2O Man]

9. Thank you!

Recommended.

I'm doing a mental outline for an OP on this topic. And I'm really happy to find this OP/thread. Thank you very much!

[hfojvt]

47. i said this to somebody else

who said he was leaving because he felt put down by this place

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=journals&uid=157743&year=2013&month=3

[passiveporcupine]

81. Loved watching that River Dance!

Thank you!

[peacebird]

11. What happened to william pitt?

[peacebird]

18. I like WilliamPitt. He was an asset to DU, but then. I like folks with all sorts of opinions

The best of opinion boards have a wide variety of views represented

[Skittles]

105. means you're not a swooner, peacebird

[MrMickeysMom]

17. Here you go, peace bird...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7015044

[peacebird]

20. Thank you! I haven't been on as much recently. Life in 3D has taken priority over the interwebs....

[MrMickeysMom]

32. Heard THAT!

[Renew Deal]

12. I'm not sure if your thread is sincere enough.

[MrMickeysMom]

16. Okay, let me look further in my black bag...

Okay… Here's some good Will towards humanity, too!

[Renew Deal]

36. better

[hfojvt]

41. "nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see"

[Gormy Cuss]

19. IBTL

Because even though the callout thread was too subtle for a jury, one alert and this thread is toast.

[sabrina 1]

131. The words were 'carefully chosen'. I remember being instructed by

that poster on how to use 'carefully chosen words' in order to say something that normally would get you hidden or banned, to deceive people and make it difficult for juries to hide. I thought that was extremely deceptive thinking.

Will, no matter what anyone might think of him, is honest. I like honesty even when I don't agree with them. Can't imagine him doing something like that. He would take the hide and say what he really meant.

[theboss]

21. Why are we acting like he's really going to stay away?

He'll be back in a week or two like every other time he's pulled this move.

And you can appreciate him then.

[Hissyspit]

61. We can appreciate him now whether he's gonna come back or not.

[NealK]

95. Very true.

[sabrina 1]

129. We can appreciate that he is HONEST even when, and we have, disagreed with him.

I cannot imagine him posting a deceptive OP mocking another DUer with the intention of using that other DUers name in order to get recs, as was done today and good DUers were deceived.

THIS is an honest OP. That is why people are rec'g it.

Deception, using what is a DU tradition to say nice things about other DUers, in order to deceive DUers is reprehensible imo and it deserves to be countered with honesty.

[whatchamacallit]

22. That OP is nothing more than snark and mockery

It would be ok if it were clever or funny, but it's neither.

[MrMickeysMom]

25. Which one would that be???

You know, it's getting hard to have a sincere conversation about a person's right to have an opinion around here.

I want to be sure about your snark-o-meter… It must be well calibrated!

[whatchamacallit]

29. Mineral Man's

[MrMickeysMom]

34. Oh…..

(.) seeeeee!

[Maedhros]

56. Not surprising. [n/t]

[darkangel218]

100. You mean he posted it for snark??

And like a dummy I recced the thread

[sabrina 1]

135. Yes, it was intended as an insult, done in his own recommended style of how NOT to

get hidden, using as he once instructed us, 'carefully chosen words'.

It was to mock WP, but what it actually did was to Mock DU. To use what has always been a really nice tradition on DU in order to insult another DUer, is the first time I have ever seen ANYONE do that. I know, he is 'clever' but not that clever, a lot of people recognized it for what it was and said so in that awful OP. And then we got the expected 'denials'.

[leveymg]

151. I recognized that OP for what it was, but recced it to praise Will in spite of MM

MM came on this board as a pro-nuker who claimed he was originally an anti-nuke activist. He denied that a meltdown could ever happen.

I've been wary of him ever since.

[sabrina 1]

197. Pro a lot of things Dems are not generally 'pro' and

from a right wing site, by his own admission when Will was here fighting against what that site was promoting.

I prefer to rec genuine appreciation threads but I get why people who knew it was intended to deceive this community, rec'd it for Will Pitt.

[leveymg]

198. There was a wide-ranging discussion

about him here after he was booted from FR during a religious purge in 2006. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2705446

Personally, I don't mind overt difference of opinion and even welcome information from and about the other side of issues. Helps me to think through and frame my own arguments. What I am really uncomfortable with, however, is a person with an agenda who poses as a neutral. It's a kind of Q-Ship approach to shaping opinion. I get a sense that there's a passive-aggressive quality to his tone of voice, kind of like Hal the Computer in 2001. I wouldn't exit any airlock he controls.

His "appreciation" post on Will had the same ominous undertones as HAL when it observed when confronted about its own apparent error, however correctly (on some level), that it is always attributable to human error:

[sabrina 1]

137. It's the first time I have ever seen anyone USE a really nice DU tradition for such

a reprehensible purpose. And every comment from the OP in that thread, was more of the same passive aggressive 'who me' nonsense.

A few people have taken back their recs, thankfully. realizing the deception.

[Uncle Joe]

24. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, MrMickeysMom.

[MrMickeysMom]

65. You're so welcomed, Uncle Joe!

[Uncle Joe]

125. ..

[G_j]

26. Hear, hear!

http://www.amazon.com/War-Iraq-What-Team-Doesnt/dp/1893956385#immersive-view_1438116211479

[libodem]

27. Wha'd I miss?

I can't keep up.

[MrMickeysMom]

37. See post #17, libodem

I can't even keep up with this thread!!!

[libodem]

40. I had seen that

And there were some shitty remarks. I also see another appreciation thread so I was hoping they weren't competing for sincerity. As long as it's all good, as they say.

[pa28]

28. There you go. K&R

[kpete]

30. R-E-S-P-E-C-T

that is what WilliamPitt deserves

& Appreciation

peace,
kp

[JEB]

31. Abso-f'ing-lutely.

[hlthe2b]

33. Here Here..

I sincerely do not want to lose Will or any other long term (non-trolling) poster, whether I always agree with them or not. Will had a special talent to offer us here and we are not the better for his absence.

[sabrina 1]

35. Thank you, I don't like game players either, and great minds think alike, see

here http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027019688

I can delete that one if people think that too many ACTUALLY SINCERE tributes to offset the mocking OP are not appropriate.

I just thought it better that people who MEAN it should be the ones to post a tribute to Will.

[MrMickeysMom]

42. KnR to your thread...

Everyone reading it will appreciate what you've said, as I certainly do.

[ornotna]

38. Absolutely

[jwirr]

39. First read his book about the war in Iraq. Have had great respect for him ever since. DU is not

going to be the same. We are losing a lot of good progressives.

[Cleita]

43. Good idea.

I always like good writing and you can't fault WP for that. Sometimes maybe he had too much to drink and got rude, but overall he was a good DUer and a good Democrat. I can see his disgust though. There used to be a lot of good writing, edgy writing, truthful writing on DU besides Pitt, but that has dwindled down to almost nothing thanks to a trash can full of garbage writing and issues that makes it not worth pawing through it to find the gems.

[7wo7rees]

71. Amen and +1000.

Starting to feel sad and tea partyish....

I keep hearing myself say I want my DU back.

Hoping that Will is reading all the msgs of support.

We are donating to Truthout later today. Best response so far we can come up with.

[grasswire]

92. donating to truthout is a good idea. Excellent. nt

[sabrina 1]

139. If I came to DU today, I would not stay very long. It used to be interesting

to read all the great posts and to learn from some great teachers.

I wonder how many Dems DO come here now and think 'hell no' and just go find somewhere else where they can discuss democratic issues without having to defend them.

[carolinayellowdog]

44. THANK you for an answered prayer, or at least a strong agnostic HOPE fulfilled

I was astonished that my reply #44 was the first to recognize what a cruel, taunting joke was being perpetrated elsewhere. So was WISHING iust now for a genuine appreciation thread. For any of us who were here daily from 2002 through 2008, Will Pitt was unforgettably one of the strongest voices against the Bush presidency and all its nightmares. That's how I'll always remember and appreciate him.

On edit-- how odd to come in again at #44 which I only learned after posting.

[MrMickeysMom]

52. You see… what you said there… it's very important...

What we do here is important. Even provocative commentary that pokes a finger through what you read, whether or not you fully fall in line.

The POINT is not to fall in line, but to PROGRESS our thought processes. Do we realize what we miss by that?

Not until it's diluted down and there are no more strong voices left.

[sabrina 1]

141. You may have been the first, but you were by no means the ONLY one to recognize what

a cruel stunt was being played in that OP. And by someone who was elsewhere, in fact, posting on FR while the rest of us were here, trying to stop those criminals from what they were about to do. And Will as you said, was speaking out when it was not the acceptable thing to do, was the target of that cruel not at all funny 'joke'.

I thought I might be the only one, considering how 'carefully' it was written. I am happy to see that DUers, never easily fooled, saw it for it was. But some good DUers were fooled as intended.

I didn't see MMM's post, like you I was hoping and even suggested that someone would post an honest appreciation thread and not seeing one, did it myself. So now there are two or three to offset the deception.

That is a coincidence, that number of your posts both being 44!

[Faryn Balyncd]

45. Thank you!

[1monster]

46. I was sincere when I recced and posted on the other thread, adding my voice

to WRP to come back. I'd like to believe that both threads are sincere and not just opportunities for some to score off others.

[HFRN]

48. I favor a 'Really Sincere' thread instead nt

[bravenak]

132. Me too. I have no idea why it seems like he died or something terrible. Isn't he at Truthout?nt

[Android3.14]

49. The other thread was fun too

If you can't handle some good natured teasing, then a hermitage may be a more appropriate forum.

[Electric Monk]

50. K&R

[gademocrat7]

51. K&R

[WillyT]

53. Hear, Hear !!! - K & R !!!

[ybbor]

54. I so respect Wlliam Pitt's view of things!

I knew of him even before DU, through Truthout and LOVED him there prior to seeing his posts here. He is one of about 5 members whose post I always read.

[yuiyoshida]

55. K&R

[d_legendary1]

57. Rats! And I was just starting to like this person too!

Happy Trails! May the Force be with you!

[countryjake]

59. Kicking for Will

and a thank you, MrMickeysMom.

[MrMickeysMom]

70. You're welcome, countryjake...

[Octafish]

60. + Infinity

The only thing bad I can say about Will Pitt is that he needs to be read by more people.

Thank you for straightening things out, MrMickeysMom. There's something twisted in one's heart who gets joy from hurting other people, whether their feelings or their physical bodies.

[alcibiades_mystery]

63. ...

[Zorra]

64. Well done, MrMickeysMom!

To Will,

and a
to you.

[MrMickeysMom]

68. Why, thank you, Zorra...

Most of my voice here is reactionary, occasional peppered, and God knows, what else!

[Dustlawyer]

66. People need to understand that talking politics gets heated at times.

Many of us have responded with things we would like to take back after reflection. Also, feelings sometimes get hurt in vigorous discussions, but we also learn things from others with different or opposing points of view. To come to a site like this and post is to expect contrary responses, even snarky crap that is a real buzz kill, but people need to have a thicker skin when discussing politics, especially during the silly seasons.

I have been guilty of going overboard every once in a long while, but it's usually when I fail to calm before shooting off a response. If I do give me a chance to retract or rephrase before you sick the dogs on me and I will try to be objective and respectful when I check what I first wrote. If I stand by my comment then alert if you must, but please give me and others a chance. I have never alerted ANYONE. Not sure if I have blocked anyone, but I don't think so. I have grown up for the most part and try to follow the Golden Rule I learned in kindergarten.

I like Mr. Pitts posts, though I may not always agree with him. He writes well and always makes me think. Hope he comes back soon!

[MrMickeysMom]

69. You have a better track record then I, Dust...

I've alerted a few times, and I have some on "ignore", but I guess Skinner, who we're also appreciating today, and company thought that could be a self-intervention. You have more temperance, me thinks!

[Dustlawyer]

76. I have made my mistakes for sure. I have been banned from the Hillary group, deservedly so.

In my defense I thought it was a post in GD because I failed to check 1st, now I check.

"Ignore" was the word I was looking for, and I have thought about it a few times for sure, but I decided others would make their own decision about what was said and I could deal with a few small minded people who regularly dish out snark, maybe later they would say something interesting. Life is too short to worry about it!

[zeemike]

67. One by one they go away.

And somewhere in the hidden parts of DU some dance on that grave.

[City Lights]

72. Thanks, MrMickeysMom!

And thanks, WilliamPitt.

[riderinthestorm]

73. I kicked and Recced the other thread - didn't realize it was a parody

I'll miss Mr. Pitt and truly feel badly that he's leaving.

I'll K&R this thread as well and any others that appear.

[MrMickeysMom]

77. Yeah… that was kind of subtle...

… I hope Will will be checking this thread.

[bahrbearian]

87. Not to late to unrec the other thread

[riderinthestorm]

89. Good idea... Will do now nt

[LiberalLoner]

74. Respect and miss him.

[JDPriestly]

75. K&R.

[Hissyspit]

78. K&R your "K&R."

[CaptainTruth]

79. I love Pitt

Many years ago he inspired me to create my own web site & write well-researched, fact based, scathing political commentary (about the GW Bush admin).

He inspired me to become a writer of political commentary (in the vein of Mr. Pitt & greats like Hunter S Thompson) & for that I will be eternally grateful.

[TBF]

80. This one I can K&R - thanks - nt

[840high]

84. I always understood, too. Hope he

comes back soon.

[bvar22]

85. I usually don't participate in "Appreciation Threads".

I honestly find them a little creepy,
BUT,
for Will I will add my best wishes.

Thank You, Will
for your participation here.
You made DU a better place.


I doubt you will leave your beloved New England,
but if you are ever passing through my part of the country,
drop in for Green Beans & Cornbread.
(We actually eat better than that (Grilled Fresh Salmon & Asparagus), but I like the sound of Green Beans & Cornbread, and it adds colloquial color.

[paleotn]

86. Absolutely!

I don't think I've ever seen a single post of his I didn't enjoy.

[Kingofalldems]

88. So the other one was basically a callout?

That's low.

[deurbano]

90. K & R

[onyourleft]

93. Yes.

Thank you.

[sabrina 1]

94. Thanks for this post, MMM. Tributes to long time DUers should come from people

who are SINCERE and not be used as a way to mock longtime DUers.

[realFedUp]

97. Will always had thoughtful things to say

Hard to believe some of us keep returning too

[tech3149]

101. My first exposure to Will preceded my exposure to DU

Will was able to voice an understanding of the insanity of our foreign policy that could not be logically argued against. His ability to dig through the deception of commercial media and get to the most important facts is invaluable.
If he truly will no longer be a member of this community, I will miss his point of view.
If his departure is as a result of adversarial discussions that were not at all productive, I curse all those that drove him from our midst.

[Marr]

102. Never show a bully weakness.

It's not surprising that crew reacted as they did to what they perceived as retreat. That's what bullies do.

[Generic Other]

103. Will is DUs heart and spine

I met him at Andy's funeral when he gave the eulogy for all of us. He spoke for us all that day. Through all the years on DU, he fought the good fight. Honed his arguments in our forge. A warrior. A friend. And one of the most honest DUers I know. Sharing of his life. His family. His loves. His angers. He has always worn his heart where all can see it. He became my friend on Day 1 when he screamed into the internet to anyone who would listen that Bush had stolen the election and that our country was in danger. He was a voice that led many of us to find each other. DU came together like the group from Walking Dead largely in response to following his voice in the wilderness. Some pretty bedraggled angry shocked people. And Will helped lots of us learn to survive on our own as well. He was one of DUs homegrown grassroots writers. How wonderful that we nurtured so many amazing voices.

I don't trust new people who try and tell me this wasn't what it was like.
Not everyone turned out to be who they said they were back then, and that's still true. With Will, I knew. I hope he returns not because he needs us, but because we need him.

[deutsey]

150. +1

[Skittles]

104. ME, ME!!!

LOVE HIM MUM RAVEN TOO

ALL THE HATERS CAN FUCK OFF

[MrMickeysMom]

122. ...

Yes… Yes, they certainly can!

[MisterP]

106. yeah--a thread from someone who wasn't one of those driving him off!

[Half-Century Man]

107. I posted in an earlier thread which I thought was sincere.

I sincerely meant it when I said he is a good man. I have nothing but respect for him and his posts.

I will miss his insight until such time as he feels he should return.

[Enthusiast]

108. K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations! Thank you, MrMickeysMom!

We appreciate you, WilliamPitt!

[MrMickeysMom]

123. Jesus… I just returned to it...

and it appears to almost have hundreds of recs!

(Jeebus, Will…. I hope you are reading this.)

[rainy]

109. love Will Pitt, don't leave us!

[sabrina 1]

110. K&R

[herding cats]

111. I'm taking you at your word that this is sincere.

If it's not, then everyone please ignore my rec.

I don't agree with the poster in question much of the time, but I'm thinking this is more than simple disagreement at the root of this matter.

[bbgrunt]

112. I don't always agree with everything he says, but I

know he has heart and soul. I always read what he posts. k and r.

[ozone_man]

113. I will miss him.

He is a passionate voice for the left, not too unlike Keith Olberman, or maybe Ed Schultz, who can let it all fly, and sometimes you take the heat for it.
He is just one of many great posters here, who make it worth the daily reading. Who provide sanity in a climate of authoritarian rule by the 1%.
Hopefully DU will not succumb to the centrist, MSM brain washing, but a loud vocal minority is trying to squash dissent, left leaning, humanitarian, earth loving ideas.
So, I hope he comes back, and that DU is still worth a visit.

[MrMickeysMom]

124. I hope DU is still worth a visit, too, ozone..

… I can't see it go down this way.

Centrist MSM brain washing… authoritarian rule has a way of infiltrating into the fabric of social discourse, regardless of what that social group is called.

[TimeToGo]

114. Sigh

[elias49]

117. K & R.

[Jim Lane]

127. Another K&R.

My criterion is not whether I usually agree with the poster, but whether I usually learn something from his or her posts. Will Pitt qualifies.

[underpants]

128. I am sincerely glad we marched together October 26,2002 against the war

I sincerely appreciate his anti-war book with Ritter.

I sincerely believe that Pitt caught some unlucky breaks along the way.

I sincerely think he put me on ignore but I could be wrong. No problem

I sincerely hope the best for him.

[sabrina 1]

130. I don't like to see what has always been a really nice DU tradition USED to

mock another DUer, and do it in a way to deceive people. That should be against community standards imo. No matter how 'carefully' it is worded, lots of people got what it was about. Reprehensible. Thank you for posting an HONEST thread.

[MrMickeysMom]

133. Well, a lot were at first deceived by it...

… like me, but because some here weren't as quickly taken in, … You see, that's what this is all about. The community this is supposed to be, which fosters discussion, not baiting and jabbing for sport.

You're right as usual… The game playing should be called for what it is and reprehensible is a good word for it.

This time tomorrow night, I want to post another sincere thread, post Bernie's event.

I know you'll have more to say on that, too!

[KoKo]

157. ...!

[appal_jack]

134. Will Pitt and I could fight like two cats in a sack...

Particularly about 2nd Amendment issues, we were 'never the twain shall meet." But I enjoyed the argument. I genuinely weighed his ideas (on the 2A I found them somewhat lacking).

On most any other issue: domestic spying, the environment, corporate power, money in politics, TPA/TPP/TTIP, etc., Will and I were (& are) on the same team.

I genuinely respect the man, drunken vitriol & all.

Hats off to you, Mr. Pitt,

-app

[Elwood P Dowd]

136. This looks like the "real" William Pitt Appreciation Thread.

The first one was disgusting.

Sorry folks about being behind, but I've under the weather the past few days and missed out on most of the nasty stuff I guess.

[Segami]

138. K&R for Will

[WorseBeforeBetter]

140. Exactly. Never any passive-aggressive bullshit...

like with the game-player, our former Freeper buddy.

[AtomicKitten]

142. Thank you.

k&r

[delrem]

143. THANK YOU!

And warm regards to you, Mr Pitt!

[Helen Borg]

144. William Pitt is a man of his word.

You cannot have it both ways! He said Goodbye.

[Orrex]

177. That man of his word said goodbye last time, too.

Apparently he can have it both ways.

[Helen Borg]

178. Oh... But this time his cork has popped

or something

[Orrex]

179. LOL.

[proud patriot]

145. I consider Will my friend , we arrived at DU the same week

I will forever consider him Friend..

[aikoaiko]

146. Word

[marble falls]

147. I Appreciate WillianPitt!

[Heidi]

149. I'm happy to kick and recommend this sincere Will Pitt appreciation thread.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

153. negative 1

[carolinayellowdog]

175. ignore

[Laura PourMeADrink]

205. like I care

[rbnyc]

154. Proud to call him a friend... (Nt)

[Duval]

155. After reading WRP's post, I

feel rather selfish in asking him not to leave. He obviously needs a break, and I hope he gets the time he deserves to rest, spend time with his family and whatever else he decides to do. I will miss him, and I wish the best for him.

[HFRN]

156. yes, appreciation should be shown

'Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close up'

[raouldukelives]

158. Thanks Willie P! And thanks for this MMM.

I try to avoid threads started by climate deniers.

[H2O Man]

161. Recommended.

Very well done. Thank you.

[psychmommy]

162. I definitely appreciate you Mr Pitt

You are informative and timely.

[BeanMusical]

165. Kick and R

[Spirochete]

171. I'll join this one

Miss your writing, Will, and hope you eventually return to us.

[Liberal_Dog]

181. I Will K & R That

nt

[rhett o rick]

185. And a sincere appreciation for you and this thread. While I don't always agree and

may even occasionally disapproved of what he posts, I do appreciate him as I think most liberals do. He keeps us thinking. Generally non-liberals prefer those that walk a tighter line and do not speak out to authority and convention. Instead of appreciating the difference or even ignoring him, they feel challenged and think it necessary to force him into some conventional behavior they have decided is normal.

As I mentioned above, I think he will come back, not because he seeks adulation but because he relishes the hate. How ironic that those that hate him for seeking attention, give him so much.

[Orrex]

186. Maybe if you keep posting that it will become true

You're welcome to continue with your petty insults of those who don't pass your liberal purity test, but that just reveals you as a passive aggressive blowhard.

Instead of appreciating the difference or even ignoring him, they feel challenged and think it necessary to force him into some conventional behavior they have decided is normal.

What passive aggressive ugliness you post! And all while posturing yourself as some voice of tolerance and reason!

If you're going to be insulting, at least try to have the integrity to be honest about it.

[rhett o rick]

187. How is posting the difference between liberals and non-liberals insulting?

Liberals are more apt to be open minded and let people speak their minds even if they don't agree. Non-liberals on the other hand, like to shout people down, alert, lock, hide, ban. That is pretty straight forward. If you disagree, make your case instead of name calling "you are a passive aggressive blowhard." Should you get hidden, it wasn't me.

[Orrex]

188. Your straw-man definition of "liberal" is worthless

Liberals are more apt to be open minded and let people speak their minds even if they don't agree.

Even if we accept your arbitrary definition, liberals are under no obligation to tolerate bullshit or ostentatious look-at-me displays of public rhetorical masturbation.

Non-liberals on the other hand, like to shout people down, alert, lock, hide, ban.

That is a preposterously self-serving definition, and it foolishly ignores the multitude of entirely legitimate reasons to shout people down, alert, lock, hide or ban them.

Your implication is that these dastardly non-liberals object to free speech and expression, and that's always the go-to complaint for people who want totry to make nonsense look like depth.

If you disagree, make your case instead of name calling "you are a passive aggressive blowhard."

But you *are* a passive aggressive blowhard. Or, perhaps more accurately, your posts are entirely consistent with what one would expect from a passive aggressive blowhard. Your own posts are all the evidence we need, in which you opine that "this objectionable type of person demonstates these qualities" which you have identified in your opponent's post immedately previously. That is, rather than having the integrity to say "you're not a liberal," you rattle off a bullshit checklist with the unambiguous implication that your opponent meets those criteria, and then when the opponent objects, you can say "but I didn't say you aren't a liberal--you must think that you really aren't a liberal."

That's a cowardly and passive aggressive tactic, and you roll it out again and again. Compare that with my tone here, for instance, where I'm spefically identifying your cowardly, passive aggressive tactic.


Your schtick is trite and obvious.

[rhett o rick]

191. You make my case. For example your rationalization for name calling is that I deserve it therefore

it's acceptable behavior. For some, rationalization is the key to happiness.

PS: I am guessing you rationalize crapping in an appreciation thread because the OP author deserves it, or is it for goodness.

[Orrex]

193. I've seen your type before

Any argument that doesn't flatter your view of the world is dismissed as a "rationalization." That's a bullshit rhetorical tactic known as equivocation, and I've seen it many times before.

You're boring.

[Octafish]

199. You're condescending.

And not at all democratic.

[Orrex]

201. Meanwhile, you're a tinfoil hatter who panders to sycophants.

So where does that leave us?

[Octafish]

202. Show where I wrote anything that's not true. I'll be glad to correct the record.

As for sycophants, no. As I consider others, even condescending posters, my equals. That's why I don't use condescension, unless someone has denigrated me or another poster first. I think that's what the record, for the most part anyway, shows.

[Orrex]

204. Sauce for the goose

You've openly denigrated SidDithers, for what you probably consider valid reasons, so I am responding in kind for what I consider valid reasons.

Others have insulted me quite viciously and specifically in these various fawning threads, merely because they don't agree with my assessment of Will Pitt nor his acolytes; I make general statements about no one in particular and am insulted directly. I admit that I do thereafter return the favor, but by your own yardstick that's fair game.

As for your hat? Please. You've been here for a dozen years; I don't have time to cite verse and chapter for you, for two main reasons:

1. You'll simply dismiss anything I cite
2. A few seconds' Googling returns a trove of evidence


However, at the OP's request I will make this my last reply in this thread. Although the "intent of the thread" holds no value for me, far be it from me to stand in the way of a parade.

[Octafish]

206. Show where I wrote anything that's not true. I'll be glad to correct the record.

Other than that, great. You're still condescending.

[MrMickeysMom]

203. Please don't insult the intent of this thread further...

It doesn't endear you to attack. It's not logical, either.

THINK

[stonecutter357]

207. .

He had a RWNJ and SJW vibe i just do not like in journalist.

[MrMickeysMom]

208. Hey, well, at least you're sincere - eom