People, it's just another day...

[ScreamingMeemie]

On DEMOCRATIC Underground. I read these "I'm Leaving" "Shame on You Posts" and am forced to wonder yet again the reasoning behind them. What is the use in storming off?

A horrific thing happened and here we fight amongst ourselves, tell each other that we're right, make judgments about others, and ultimately threaten to leave. It makes no sense to me.


The beautiful think about believing in Democracy, in my opinion, is the ability to form one's own thoughts. And to be able to disagree with them.

If I didn't believe that here is a partial list of things I would have left DU over:

Howard Dean and the scream (no matter how irritating the ridicule got, I just ignored the threads and stayed on)

Stereotyping-yes, unfortunately even here this goes on. It irks me, but I stick with it.

The Confederate flag
Religion
Gun Control

I could go on. This board is filled with different people working for the same thing, I hope. I am here to see John Kerry become president, whether I supported him at first or not. I'm not leaving, nor should any of you.

I will promise you one thing. If I do decide to leave, I'm going to turn out the lights and quietly close the door.

Remember, elad gave a beautiful feature. It's called "Hide thread". Try using it on those posts that bother you, because in the end the Democratic Party needs us all.

Laura

[demnan]

1. I agree

I missed the latest big huuhaa but I certainly wouldn't storm off about anyone disagreeing with me on the Berg incident.

Now eating cats, that's an issue!! ;-)

[MuseRider]

2. Thank you.

I was going to go back to a thread and post something like this but now I don't have to!

It is messy, often ugly and hurtful but it is democracy and that is the reason I, and most of us, are here. Nothing ever gets worked out or solved by following what one group of people tell you. If we don't do this nobody will and as nasty as it gets it is also thrilling to see the process working. Thanks.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

3. agreed. nt.

[Cursive_Knives512]

4. Well-stated

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Perhaps it's wanting to distance yourself from views

you disagree with, as Kerry may have by ending his association with Vietnam Veterans Against the War, when it seemed too militant for him.

It's not a phrase I've used before, but the rush to pin the beheading on the CIA or whoever really does seem like 'Blame America First'. How long did it take - an hour?

When they're leaving, they may want to explain this to those DUers who they think might have similar views to yourself, and let lurkers know at the same time that the view that the USA did it is not universally held here. A separate thread can be a way to do that, rather than burying it in the hundreds of replies on the subject.

[Raven]

6. I think you are probably referring to me, among others.

Democracy is great when you are not being insulted and sworn at. I expressed an opinion last night and was told, among other things, that I should "get the f**K out" and that I was responsible for getting us into the war in Iraq.

I posted because there was so much juvenile crap floating around on DU yesterday that it made me sick. How would anybody take DU seriously with some of the knee-jerk, bizzare and over-the-top stuff that gets posted here is beyond me.

It's gotten to the point with me that I am ashamed to admit that I even come here. I know people who work very hard for our democracy. They don't hide behind a pseudo name and post ridiculous crap...they are out there on the front lines, using their real names and risking their futures. I'd be real curious to know how many of the people who post this crap actually DO anything (other than sit on their fat asses and type into the ozone).

Sorry for this rant, Laura, but given the seriousness of what we are facing, the stuff that gets thrown around this site has really gotten under my skin. And I guess I won't be going quietly.