What makes people think anyone expressing a different opinion

[HEyHEY]

IS now the enemy, or a racist, or a sexist, or whatever.

It's getting pitiful here. Anyone who doesn't conform to what some see as the "Way Dems ought to be" is now an enemy to all things just and right.

You know what kind of people brand like that? Dangerous people. People like Stalin, Hitler, BUSH (With us or against us ring a bell?)

I also think you'd have to be a bit of a moron to subscribe to that way of thought, just a follower and any descending parties are to be lynched. Makes you a dope.

There is no excuse for going on witch hunts. At least usually those responsible are seen as wackos by normal people.

Thoughts?

[Tux]

1. I'm like that

I believe we should liberate PCs from WIndows and provide salvation by Linux.

We all disagree but if we can get along and not attack each other (like I do Christians), we'd all get along. It's hard to practice at times though.

[HEyHEY]

2. You seem normal here

If you can at least seem normal here, then you probably aren't the kind I mean.

[Extend a Hand]

22. hey, I'm a christian

running linux. Does that make me safe from attack? ;)

[Tux]

44. No

Lately, I have had a time in this red state. I can't get a job since I lived in MI, got a bachelor's at Eastern Michigan University, and to them, most likely a godless liberal (why ask who I voted for and base it on my old college?)

I had to move from MI as jobs were geting scarce. I graduated in 1998 and yet to have a job in my field at all. I can't even get a part-time job for grad school. I want to get a master's in sociology (psych is too clinical and I was trained in research). Even then, MI is held against me constantly. This area is so Christian that I get stares and dirty looks for wearing a Buddhist pendant or mention my old high school during interviews (You're relaly from MI?) % years of this has driven me next to insane. I lost jobs over not attending certains churchs or reading the Bible daily. In 5 years, I made less than $40,000 total. At this rate, I'll never get a good job since I can't get one in pysch nor go to grad school. All over a book.

So yes, I hate Christians and thier attitude that I'm inferior wih my liberal degree and godless IQ of 160. I have no money to move and I'm stuck. I did get a job inteview for a job that would pay enough so I could go to grad school, pay for it myself entirely (if I go part-time), and still work full-time for $14 starting at base. This company loves degree holders and I'm trying to make a story why I never held a psych job in my life. If this fails, it is all over.

[Extend a Hand]

55. Tux,

I hope you get the job.

Peace.

[jdj]

3. damn, did I miss a good witch hunt?

well, I've been hunted here my share of times, I guess it's only fair to let someone else have a go.

[HEyHEY]

4. The newest target is John Stewart

[jdj]

8. oh, I saw that.

he bummed me out, not because of the point but because double-yew doesn't have a whole lot to do with it.

The way I look at it, Stewart is so good at zinging people with the truth...I think the problem tonight was that the guest was a dem, so there was no target. But he either needs to go for the whole conspiracy theory about this or just don't cover it, because it was a little disrespectful of the truth, i.e. the Bush Doctrine is about as real as the Easter Bunny, it's what they are now calling the huge mess known as Iraq.

Some people have said he's not a lib, he's a moderate, but I don't see him that way at all, I think his feelings really run more like what he said to Carlson, very strong, but he hides it well and makes it his act.

[BuyingThyme]

5. I hear you.

I was recently in a thread where somebody was trying to make the case that making a joke about Ann Coulter's femininity was an attack on all women.

I'm not the one who made the joke, but I thought it was worth taking the time to explain that painting comedians as woman-haters just doesn't seem appropriate.

What got your attention?

[HEyHEY]

6. This shit about John Stewart

And the normal DU stupidity

[BuyingThyme]

7. I haven't read that one.

What's the problem with John?

Too many jokes about Dems?

[HEyHEY]

9. check it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3203016#3203211

[jdj]

10. watch tomorrow night.

after the new show they will show the old one.

this segment would've worked better with Buchanan or someone on there to counter-balance...the way it came off, it was weird.

[BuyingThyme]

Actually, it's coming on in 15 minutes.

(I think.)

[Dave Reynolds]

19. I was there watching that one...

..I was amazed by the giant leaps of (il)logic.

[jdj]

23. I think it was Jon's "kiss repuke ass and line up some stooges" night.

I see him do that periodically, his mama didn't raise no fool.

[Dave Reynolds]

37. Business is business.

Can't fault the man for being a comedian and giving equal time to all.

Well, apparently some can, though, can't they?

[Syrinx]

11. Hear, hear, HEyHEY

Or is that "Here, here?"

:thumbsup:

[HEyHEY]

33. Depends if you're at a bar or the doctors

[Syrinx]

40. you scamp!

:D

[Dookus]

12. because half the people here are idiots

who demand some sort of ideological purity in every aspect of life.

[HEyHEY]

13. And I love how they despise freedom of thought.

[Dookus]

15. the fact is there is not ONE politician

or public figure who could withstand the DU firing squad.

Feingold voted for Bush's nominees.
Wellstone voted for the Pariot Act.
Kucinich has a distinct anti-choice voting record.

But people are willing to abandon ANY politician over the most arcane procedural vote, ignoring all political realities and demanding something that can never be.

Barney Frank said "I only ever voted for a perfect candidate once, and that was in my first run for office. By the time I was up for reelection, even I wasn't perfect anymore."

[Goldmund]

27. It isn't just with politicians.

It's posters calling each other trolls and accusing them of an agenda for expressing a remotely unconventional (relative to the accepted paradigms at DU) opinion.

I've not been a target of this kind of a thing, but I've seen it happen a lot lately.

[applegrove]

14. I think we have to try and not act or 're-act' like adolescents. It is

easy to forget yourself because you are bombarded with adolescent thinking in the WH and with all their followers and people like Ann Coulter. But we really need to not mirror them and act like them and stay the adults we were before Bush was elected to the WH.

When we are angry & provoked, you may want to lash out (especially when it overwhelms). But really we are all enough removed from the horrors that we can take a sec and process some new information and decide how to react to it.

And decide to be discerning and adult & not hateful. Hate & greed & sadism are the tools of baby-men. We were not like that before... why act like that now.

[HEyHEY]

18. I don't think it's anyone's fault but those posting that way

IF people can't step back and respect someone might be a liberal with a different opinion, it's no-one fault except the dipshit in general.

[Dave Reynolds]

16. It is NOT pitiful!!!

Go peddle that right-wing crap in the lounge, dammit!

:silly:

[HEyHEY]

21. You laugh, but I'm waiting for a serious post like that

I promise you it's coming

[Dave Reynolds]

31. Without a doubt.

A lot of folks here, some with thin, nearly transparent, skin.

Too many commas, I'll await hearing from someone with a punctuation correction.

[K8-EEE]

17. Yeah Like Me Saying I Don't Like "Boondocks"

I think it SUCKS, has an obvious Doonsebury rip off feel to the drawing, except not as good -- awful drawing actually. OMG this guy said something like "YOU JUST LOST ANY CREDIBILITY YOU EVER HAD."

ha! Since when does "credibility" have anything to do with liking or disliking a fucking comic strip? I do like the artist as a guest on Bill Maher -- I just don't think that strip is very clever, just IMO. Sue me!

I do think the PC Police are in the minority though and best ignored. Doesn't really bother me.

[jdj]

20. McGruder doesn't do the drawing anyway.

He does the words in the bubble and that's it apparently.

[K8-EEE]

30. God You're Kidding....

He's PAYING somebody to do those drawings???

[jdj]

34. He used to but apparently doesn't now.

where did I read this...honestly I think I just put in MacGruder in google, and this interview with him came up, and I read it, it's a female assistant of his that does it or they use templates (is that the right word?) or something. She calls him and asks him what he wants Huey to say. Mostly it's just Huey watching tv.

[K8-EEE]

36. Well It Certainly LOOKS Like It's Done That Way

Watching TV or reading the paper, in profile and with the same expression (scowl.) Man they must do those things in about one minute flat.

[SmokingJacket]

54. He's a talented guy, but...

I think he's lost interest in the strip.

It's sometimes pretty good, but often he's just faking it, seems to me.

[kaitykaity]

24. Flamebait.

5.. 4.. 3.. 2.. 1..

[HEyHEY]

26. Flamebait? No, the truth - the mod that locks this cares nothing

for the spirit of debate

[Qanisqineq]

25. You MUST believe exactly as they believe in EVERYTHING

or you are not a democrat, you must be a republican. Hmmmm... that doesn't sound very liberal or democratic to me.

[HEyHEY]

28. Try telling them that.... man it's annoying

[jdj]

29. Now I'm wondering if I have any republican beliefs.

So I could be thusly labeled.

I think I might believe in the death penalty. But I don't want to push the button. Oh well.

[HEyHEY]

32. Oh, this is good we can show them how to have a civilized discussion

Without resorting to calling each other benidict Arnold.

I, for example am against the death penalty, reason being I don't like the idea of government deciding who lives or dies. It's very barbaric and I think a touch arrogant to assume such a responsibility.

Okay now you go,

[jdj]

38. well of course I am presuming guilt and there is that issue

of not knowing that they are indeed guilty.

But, this, however, is boring.

Let me just add I am a vegetarian and then someone will call be a hypocritical death-monger, and we can really get this party started.

I of course will be fast asleep, having added the necessary ingredients.

I really don't know about the death penalty. It's a spiritual thing, I mean like with Aileen Wuornos, who on bad days makes perfect sense to me, she wanted to be done with this life, so who am I to stand in her way. She requested it. (The part she makes sense about to me is her motives for murdering her johns, not the suicidal impulse). Or if there is DNA evidence. I just don't know.

[HEyHEY]

39. JUDAS! Traitor to the cause

Sorry, I couldn't help myself ;-)

[Dave Reynolds]

35. Plus, I've noticed

a few other topics bringing out the worst in folks like the vegan-carnivore wars and taser battles.

[jdots]

41. yes indeed,you are correct o mundo

did you ever have the dream about the net where there are really no people and it's all programs in the computer ?Then there is the meet up that took so long to put together,you show up and everyone else is a cyborg controlled by your computer's hidden programs.....what ? since we only know each other by the typing here,it is kind of easy and comfy to read opinions we can share because we don't know the typer's real person.

[leftofthedial]

42. How DARE you express an opinion!!

I am outraged.

You and your ilk turned me into a newt!

I got better.

[DemBones DemBones]

43. If it's really a discussion board, it seems to me that it needs

people with different views. If everyone thinks exactly the same way, it's just an agreement board, isn't it?

:shrug:

[Just Me]

45. I had to read through the thread to get a handle on your post.

I guess I tend to avoid the "witch hunt" threads to which you refer.

I feel kind of uncomfortable, though, about what to suggest concerning some of the reactionary moments I read (except when I note a pattern of it) because I know I have my reactive/emotional moments, too.

I don't even know if there is anything I could do to help.

[seabeyond]

46. ya a lot of issues, people are in immediate attack mode

so angry. attacking both the poster and by standers alike as if there is a personal afront.

just dont get why we cant discuss option, opinion, thought without saying all or nothing. i see a lot here. i thought it was exclusively right, but i see the left equally does it. unless this is just a board of extremists. i dont know. just have been surprised how some threads evolve

[KnowerOfLogic]

47. You should investigate the difference between 'different' and 'wrong.' nt

[Padraig18]

48. GREAT POST!

Well said, and a great opening for a discussion we NEED to have here at DU.

:thumbsup:

[Swamp Rat]

49. DITTO

Oops! :silly:

Did I say something wrong? :D

[Padraig18]

51. Probably so.

*dons Nomex and Kevlar*

:P

[Blue_In_AK]

50. Hey, I don't let 'em scare me...

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right......

Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

[Cuban_Liberal]

52. Some people think there is (or should be) a progressive cathecism

Although the posts never use the word, they just SCREAM 'Heretic!', complete with the requisite scorn. If we are sincere in our expressed belief that we wish to become the majority party, we must also accept that we will on occasion differ on certain issues. Differing on those issues does NOT automatically disqualify one from being a liberal/progressive, the obvious extreme views excepted.

[redqueen]

53. Paranoia. Fear-based thinking.

It's getting worse, I think. Sadly.