Reply #14: Where to begin... [View All]

[Divine Discontent]

First, I want to thank you, Smarmie Doofus, for bringing forth your request to Skinner, it is important for any who may be feeling how you feel, to step up to the plate and say your piece.

In turn, I thank Skinner for trying to understand the life/issues of GLBT people in a culture that has roughly 50% of our fellow citizens who actively promote or would be fine with our jobs being taken from us, our rights to be 'Gay' in a public society removed, or more directly - the millions who believe we should be sent to ex-Gay ministries/therapy, or face their wrath, like the suffering GLBTers in Africa and other places around the world. Those people are nothing like the Christ they purport to follow.


If you'll indulge me a few moments, as I truly appreciate this thread, and the ability to just say what I feel.



MY OPINIONS IN THE PAST

I am formerly, themartyred, and changed to Divine Discontent after Obama became the president. For reference only, I bring up the fact that I have made plenty of threads that went to the top of the home page, thanks to fellow members. I accepted I was a Gay man in my late 20's, and I have stood up boldly at work for my rights, confronting people who were callous or downright hateful about GLBT, Women's issues, Homeless issues, etc. I haven't been able to post as much as I used to due to a brother's health concerns, and now volunteer moderating duties that occupy 95% of my 'DU time'. There's plenty for me to be doing right now, but I find this an important thread you have started, and I wanted to give my personal thoughts, for whatever small amount of use they are worth.

You can click on my journal to see some of the threads that became the most recommended post on DU. More than a couple deal with Gay issues. One thing I will say immediately about my fellow DUers is this - MOST of DU is not homophobic, and in fact, quite a few who are Straight have crossed that bridge from becoming accepting of Gay people to becoming patently pro-Gay. And, if we see an insensitive post, it is our duty as members to alert on it to the Mods.

These are some of my Gay-specific threads where hundreds of posts, silent posts, and recs occurred that made me know and believe that a majority of my fellow members care about the pain that a large slice of society has burdened on all of us who align somewhere within the GLBTQ community, and how it has made us feel growing up GLBT.

STONEWALL.
Posted by Divine Discontent
Sun Dec 21st 2008, 06:35 PM
If you're in support, please silent kick. We are being persecuted in our lives, everywhere we go, for being "in the way" because of how we were made, and having the audacity of hope to believe we are worthy of equal rights.
Discuss (331 comments) | Recommend (+162 votes)

Just some of the calls for violence against Democrats/Liberals, Gays, Pro-Choice, etc
Posted by Divine Discontent
Wed Aug 13th 2008, 02:43 PM
Discuss (146 comments) | Recommend (+131 votes)

Barney Frank, Dennis Kucinich, Cindy Sheehan - ALL ECCENTRIC
Posted by Divine Discontent
Wed Dec 31st 2008, 07:19 PM
Discuss (193 comments) | Recommend (+103 votes)

Keep speaking, Dr. Dean, you've outraged the out of control Congress & White House, and speak for me
Posted by Divine Discontent
Fri Dec 18th 2009, 04:22 PM
Discuss (52 comments) | Recommend (+140 votes)

School's back in session, and the level of anti-Gay bullying & violence is heating up
Posted by Divine Discontent
Thu Sep 30th 2010, 12:49 AM
Recommend (+18 votes)


I reference those posts to show that I know first-hand, believe me, that saying that those who state Obama hasn't done an excellent job of supporting the GLBT-community that fought so hard for his victory does upset some fellow members, but, we are free to show respectable, and even sarcastic discontent with the White House. I have done so, and the occasional time I have crossed the line, I have had my post removed, but I am still here, and I am still Queer and unless I repeatedly break the rules of the site, I won't be leaving anytime soon. When I have posted legitimate frustrations with the WH policy or decisions, I've seen it insinuated that I wasn't a Democrat, and even taunts about my still being on DU, etc etc etc, however, whenever I took the time to alert on such personal attacks, the moderators assuaged me to believe that they supported equality because many nasty posts were removed, and some people were even let go.



ON THE INSIDE

I know things aren't going to be perfect here, in fact, I know they're not, and even sometimes, mistakes are made - but we're human - and being a part of a volunteer moderating group is not easy. There is no pay, there is often plenty to do. The imaginary drinks are great, but damn, I could use a real one once in a while. We are only online when we're available, and that sometimes leaves hurtful, obnoxious, arrogant, cold-hearted posts up for hours that hundreds see. We try our best, and I often work the late-shift and wipe out plenty of personal attacks that we moderators collectively deem disruptive or hateful. Spending hours a day moderating isn't easy, but I believe nearly every time, we get it right - and for being human, what more could I ask?

I do know this - if I was chosen as a moderator because I am Gay, GREAT! It would be then, a thoughtful exercise on their part in making sure we're represented. If I was chosen as a moderator without thought to my being Gay, and it was done because of my contributions and overall site behavior, GREAT! Either way, I'm fine with their reasoning as to why they chose me. But in so doing, I have tirelessly represented, as best as possible, the heart of my fellow Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Queer fellow members.

I can assure you that there have been zero times since I have became a moderator, where I felt I needed to write Skinner about how my fellow mods reviewed a particular post, thread, or member. Also, I can assure you, that there have been times, when some fellow moderators did not understand fully, why a particular person, subject, or insensitive comment offended me - and after speaking up, and stating my problems with whatever - every single moderator has appreciated having that input, and rarely has that even had to be done, because (at least speaking for this incredible group of mods) they already seem to catch plenty before I have even signed on. By speaking out on the name-callings, we are letting it be known, that we will not stand for belittling statements made against us - whether they be getting our 'pony', our 'unicorn', our 'pet issue', or something nastier.

I am very honored to volunteer with several of the kindest, most versatile, understanding liberals that I could ask for. They are pretty A-OK in my book. In fact, I demand pay for us immediately or we're going on a general strike! Oh, wait, I volunteered for this.... sh*t.



THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW THE SITE IS RUN

As for the Admins. They too, like many, are very busy. There are times where they're not reachable for a little while. But they always answer a question in time. I think EarlG is a hoot of a guy, and quite likable.

And, as for the often discussed Skinner, I will say this, and I hope he isn't offended, as I don't state any of this entire commentary of mine to be anything but thoughts on the subject. We all are imperfect creatures, but --- and it's hard to put this into words - I'll try though, because my admiration of him for something particular that has struck me since I became a moderator is extremely noteworthy - he - despite his flaws/misunderstandings on any issue that we all have from time to time - is perhaps the most "supportive of his members" administrator you could ask for as a member. I say that coming from an inside viewpoint, and without naming names, posts, or threads, I know firsthand that this dude takes more time deliberating on decisions, is more inclined to give the benefit of the doubt, and often (to a fault sometimes I'm sure in some people's eyes), is willing to believe what he's told from us members. If there's anything I admire him for, it is that - he really does "think" about his decisions, and for that I give him my absolute highest regard, because, I know that is a rarity on these types of boards.

I believe he is deeply owed that respect, and I will give that to him.



THOSE WHO ARE GONE

As for those we've lost from this site, I know we each have those we miss, and chuckled at their posts, hearing from them, heck, I even had idle thoughts of dreaming about dating one of them, but when people are let go from being members here, as far as I've seen in the past several months and in researching the past, they personally have escalated matters to a point where there is nothing left to do but ease their frustration and our own, and let them know they need to move on.

I am not saying I know fully of decisions of the past, but I can state for my own feelings and firsthand knowledge of ongoing matters of being actively involved that I wouldn't be moderating if I felt there was an aire of negativity about my being Gay, or the Gay members of this site. I feel welcome.

Surely, there has been an occasional decision that wasn't right over the years, but I don't think I could find a better internet home where I am more welcomed by the administrators, moderators, and fellow members, than I feel being at Democratic Underground.

And for that, I am grateful to them for coming up with this site, and for doing the best they can in having a 'small city' to oversee, and running it as fairly as possible.

Smarmie Doofus, I applaud you once again for the thread in seeking a better dialog between the GLBT members and the rest of the site. I hope that every member will alert posts that are insensitive, and give a sentence or two why they feel that way, as I know I didn't always use to alert when I was offended. The more we are visible, and state our thoughts about things of the past & present, then the future will be better for it.

Now, back to work for me, my fellow mods need me

all glory to GOD in the highest,
Divine Discontent