A lot of people leavng, or threatening to leave. The place seems the same

[WilliamPitt]

to me. Dunno. Maybe I'm thick, or maybe I decided to stop taking the bullshit that flies around here (and has ALWAYS FLOWN AROUND HERE) to heart. I used to.

I can remember three separate occasions when I proclaimed my imminent departure because I got all wound up about something. Big stinkeroo I would throw up, and some people would ask me to stay, and some people would tell me not to let the door hit me on the way out, and I always stayed because, basically, whatever had gotten me all bunged up chilled out eventually. I consider myself to be personally responsible for the creation of that legion of DUers who spit venom when they see an "I am leaving!" post. :)

Anyone who thinks this place had some sort of 'salad days' when everyone was kind and peaceful to one another and there were never flame wars and we were all united in purpose and spirit, anyone who thinks that...well...I want whatever you're smoking.

The only difference - the *only* difference - is the number of people involved, and the number of issues on the table. Back then it was Nader, and disagreements about how Gore ran his campaign, and Nader, and attacks against v. defense of 'pink tutu' Democrats, and Nader, and Israel/Palestine, and Nader, and guns, and sometimes Nader.

Now...well...there's a half a zillion issues up for debate, and not everyone agrees with everyone, and so things can get loud. The only difference is the volume of issues on the table. The disagreements have *always* been here.

I joined in May of 2001. I missed the January-to-April phase, when half the fun was batting down Freepers. But when I got here, boyo, the fists were flying in GD. The Mods and Admins didn't create all these new rules because they are power-mad. They created them because there have always always always been brawls here, and after a while they became dangerous to the stability of the forum.

And it used to get to me, and then I would freak out. But I had an epiphany, fairly recently. This is a fucking WEBSITE full of anonymous people who would never ever ever ever have the guts to say things face to face the way they say them here. It is a very bad and unhealthy idea to take what happens here very seriously.

If you don't believe me, ask Skinner:

I certainly think it's not such a good idea to spend too much time on DU. This place can be very frustrating sometimes. Also, I think that there is a danger that people begin to get caught up in the personality conflicts and the behind-the-scenes hijinx and start to believe that it actually matters, when in fact this is just a message board. When DU becomes your life, it is easy to lose a sense of proportion.

I tell the moderators to get away from DU, have a life, take a walk, watch TV, hug their kids. Because it's important to have some perspective regarding what is really important in the world. DU really isn't.

Sage advice from a hard-working fellow who does not practice censorship, despite howls to the contrary.

So, as an old-timer, I'd say this place has not changed. It has gotten bigger, and the times have gotten exponentially worse, but the same phenomenon continues and the same rules apply. Take it somewhat less than murderously seriously, and you will be a happier person.

Just my humble O.

[Donkeyboy75]

1. Well put.

I've only been here about 18 months, but I haven't seen that much of a change, either. The world sucks right now, but we shouldn't be taking it out on each other. Peace.

[MikeG]

2. Not the time for discord - Victory is within reach.

W is being openly criticized by members of his own party.

It's just the silly season.

[NightTrain]

3. Unfortunately, DU can become addictive.

Particularly if you're in a situation like mine. I work unconventional hours, which makes it all but impossible to have a social life in a 9-to-5 state like Connecticut. Also, I'm rent poor, so I usually have no money to go out anyway. Not to mention that I try to spend as little time outside in the winter as possible! Thankfully, the weather's warming up now--REALLY warming up!--so I hope to spend less time at the computer in the months to come.

[Taverner]

4. "well...I want whatever you're smoking. "

[Trajan]

5. Unfortunately for the World, DU ... and now William Rivers Pitt ...

Im not going anywhere ....

[VelmaD]

6. I had been trying all day...

to figure out how to say what you just said without getting really nasty about it. Thanks. :)

I was here as a lurker in the beginning and finally got mad enough to post in June of 2001 so I think I have as much historical perspective as the next person. I think and I must have been asleep on that mythical day when everything around here was goodness and light and everyone got along and sang kumbaya all day.

To people who are unhappy here...do what I did a couple of times...take a break from it and come back when you've got some perspective. To quote a good friend of mine, "it's just a website".

[lazarus]

11. that mythical day

I seem to recall it was a Thursday. That's about all I can remember, though. :D

[TrogL]

105. "never could get the hang of Thursdays"

Douglas Adams

[GirlinContempt]

23. Yea...

I used to come here a lot quite a long time ago, probably around July 2001? My nick expired after I left for 'real life' for a while... I used to actually get more upset then than I do now...
I haven't noticed any real changes...

[Screaming Lord Byron]

81. It was really good round here 'til Morgoth stole the Silmarils.

It's all been downhill ever since.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

94. I've never been more in agreement with something on DU

:thumbsup:




I swear by the name of Iluvatar, calling the Everlasting Dark upon me if keep not my Oath, and I name Manwe in witness, and Varda, and the hallowed mountain of Taniquetil, that I will pursue with vengeance and hatred to the ends of the World, Vala, Demon, Elf or Man as yet unborn, or any creature, great or small, good or evil, that time should bring forth unto the end of days, whoso should hold or take or keep a Silmaril from mine and my descendent's possession.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

100. Yup. And he still has Finwe's copy of 'Frampton Comes Alive'

THE ROGUE VALA BASTARD!

[DAGDA56]

7. Thanks, Will...yours is one of the few names that send me to a thread...

...your slugline could be Oxafkal hlkhadk and I would check it out if it had the Will Pitt name on it. Buying brand names is OK if you want quality. (unless it's a knock off at Wal-Mart)

[WilliamPitt]

8. Oxafkal hlkhadk

LOL...my secret DU identity.

:)

Thanks.

[DAGDA56]

28. Dagda sees all!!! (and types with his fists sometimes.)

[WilliamPitt]

29. I type with my face

Beat that!

[DAGDA56]

31. Well, I type with my...

...oh, Geez, look at the time... It's been a pleasure.

[WilliamPitt]

32. See post #18

:evilgrin:

[VelmaD]

33. NO SEX THREADS!!!

:spank:

[Lisa0825]

9. so so so so so so so so so TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a moderator of a site with about 1/4 as many members of DU(if not less), and I have been involved for 7 years. It's actually really amazing to see the trends come and go like the tides... and I still remember the first ever swan song on my board... it seemed so dramatic then, and now all such an act invokes is ridicule for being a drama queen. It seems like discussion sites have some sort of pattern that they progress through. I have actually been looking into whether or not any local (Texas) schools have a course in the study of social dynamics on the internet. It's actually a very interesting thing to witness, especially when you get to see it on new sites as a progression, after having experienced it in the past.

[Kenneth ken]

10. nice post

I would add that there are certainly people who post here with the intent of disrupting. Not necessarily the obvious freeper-types, but something more akin to COINTELPRO-types whose sole purpose in posting here is to divide, disrupt, instigate, and demoralize.

It's anonymous, there are no repercussions.

[Amaya]

12. Ok, maybe the place hasn't changed

Just bigger and less personable IMO I've taken many breaks. It's a good thing sometimes :)

[NightTrain]

15. Oh, I don't know. Things do seem a lot nastier now than they were...

...even just earlier this year. Of course, when you have a community with 44,000+ members, there's never going to be 100% agreement about anything! Hell, I've been guilty myself of nastiness around these parts more times than I can readily recall.

Be that as it may, DU really does strike me as having become increasingly nasty in recent times.... :shrug:

[WilliamPitt]

17. *cough* primaries *cough*

There is a post I put up a year ago in the archives somewhere which predicted how bad it was going to get here when the primaries came. Why was I able to make that prediction? Because the fighting and acrimony was already bad.

[NightTrain]

19. That's right! The shit really did hit the fan long about primary time.

Funny, that never even occurred to me until you brought it to my attention.

However, the primaries are essentially over now. It's quite obvious that John Kerry will be the Democratic nominee. So why the hell are we still at each other's throats???

I can only assume that it's because some of you are douche bags. :evilgrin:

[WilliamPitt]

25. Nah, it's just because you are a douche bag

Your douche baggedness infects everything. :)

That, and the lingering anger from the primaries, the goodly percentage of DUers whose candidate got beat and refuse to cope with that. The swelling hasn't gone down on that yet. Christ, there's a whole other website forum that got created by people who beat themselves to death in GD2004. If you think people aren't still cheesed off about the primaries, go check that place out. :shudder:

[NightTrain]

26. You mean it's noticeable?!

I've been to GD2004 a few times. Suffice it to say, I've found it a less than pleasant place to hang out!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

68. I think you guys are both a bunch of skid marked jock straps

:evilgrin:

[Amaya]

24. Yes, I've seen this nastiness,

though I do not partake in it. It's not worth my time.

[SarahB]

48. Me neither

Sometimes, I'm a bit of a smartass and I know people want to fight, but rarely do I indulge. Truth be told, I can't hack the stress.
:hi:

[The_Casual_Observer]

13. Well thats it then, I'm leaving, calling it quits

I can't take all this nostalgia and "sediment"!

=just kidding, I'm hooked, no way out!

[Rowdyboy]

14. DU stays about the same

Its just a website. It is fun though....

[BigMcLargehuge]

16. Damn good points Will

and prescient too!

Speaking as a veteran of the six month mod tour of duty in GD2K4 lemme say perspective is everything. If you're spending ALL DAY here getting worked up about arguments on a message board, then please, for your sanity, go see a movie, take a walk, read a book, or more aplty, to quote Jimmy Serrano from Midnight Run -

Make yourself a sandwich, drink a glass of milk... Do some fuckin' thing.

[WilliamPitt]

18. I suggest relentless masturbation

Oh...wait...that's GD2004. Never mind.

:evilgrin:

[VelmaD]

20. That's always the answer...

what was the question? :)

To quote matcom...I'll be back in 9 to 12 minutes. :evilgrin:

[NightTrain]

22. Hey, it works for me!

Unfortunately, my right shoulder gets awfully sore.

[Failure]

21. Overall there is a lot of strength and support here...

which is why I come here, frankly. I think the biggest reason the repub's are in serious trouble is because they are divided. I think we need to do everything possible to maintain a united front, so we can focus on our goals.


failure.

[Fenris]

27. You would believe that you spineless Kerry supporter!

Skull and Bones blah blah blah Chomsky blah blah blah Nader blah blah blah DINO blah blah blah support of IWR blah blah blah not a real liberal blah blah blah the Admins infringe on the First Amendment blah blah blah I miss the "old" DU blah blah blah no more meaningful discussion blah blah blah support of Israel blah blah blah opposition to Chavez blah blah blah blue blooded Ivy leaguer blah blah blah Kucinich still a candidate blah blah blah Communism blah blah blah Southerners are morons blah blah blah assault weapons blah blah blah abortion blah blah blah rape blah blah blah the word bitch blah blah blah the Passion blah blah blah yaks blah blah blah.

:)

Hi Will.

[WilliamPitt]

30. You shouldn't copy and paste from GD2004

Someone(s) might get mad and threaten to leave DU.

:)

Hi Fenris.

[Fenris]

34. Oddly enough, I find the polemics a reason to stay at DU

If only for sheer entertainment!

Oh, how I miss "Christ was Socialist". One of our true comedians, even if he was painfully serious. We hardly knew ye!

:D

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

79. Me, I like the surrealism at the Lounge better (nt)

[Crewleader]

35. I'm an old timer of DU....

who does have a life, taking care of family and my pets. Max my German shepherd is going through heart worm procedures, touch and go for awhile, now he just had the second course to kill the babies.
I love that dog dearly, he saved my life once, woke me up, I have CFS and forgotten I had eggs on the stove. When they started making the popping sound and black smoke filled the air, he turn on the barking to wake me up and he sure did. Some know Max from the other DU Gallery, I'll get the pet pictures ready to send to Skinner,so all can see him, he's lovable.

I don't get here like I use but it doesn't mean I haven't stop caring for my DU friends.

I was here from the start, some of you may remember me and some don't know me at all. From Jan.2001-April was pretty much what William says, we cleaned house of disruptor's. And that was after the selection, we are now nearing a election and all hell is breaking out with the news everyday.It angers us, for we know Bush is the cause of all of it, the Iraq War was his choice the day he was sworn in, "For My Daddy," get Saddam at any price. What a price it's been, and watching these hearings, shows how divided we are as a nation. Good over evil has to come forth and rid ourselves of the corruption we have in this Bush Administration.

I too get frustrated about the damn politics, breaks are good for those who think they need to leave, to calm down and smell the roses. Life is only good when you feel good,and with love of family and friends,that's all we need. It keeps us all grounded, like I told my friend MaryPat, in trouble times as these, it's friendship like ours that helps us get through difficulties.

So reach out to one another,love and support because life is short,and friends are such a gift. :loveya:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

37. Imagine YOU posting on this thread

The SINGLE person who was nice to me besides Maeve..because MY first post on DU was something ever so slightly critical of Al Gore that got me labeled a freeper!

My first hundred posts came and went without a SOUL noticing and without barely a PERSON welcoming me to DU...now everyone gets a welcome..even the friggen OBVIOUS disruptors (God love Roni for that)

I think we go through spurts of nice and not nice but all in all I think we still have some stellar posters.

[WilliamPitt]

42. Ha!

MY first post on DU was critical of Gore, and Crew gave me a big welcome hug!

Why? Because Crew rules. Period.

[Crewleader]

47. See how nice I am, well lookie there....NSMA and William!

And I love you both! :loveya: :loveya:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

52. You will always be the denmother of DU

:grouphug:

[VelmaD]

39. Good to see you chime in

You were the very first person I ever responded to on DU. :hi: We argued for a couple of posts and then managed to find a point of agreement and have a reasonable discussion and I decided it was worth hanging around and posting some more.

And I agree with you 100 percent...life is short and friends are a gift and we probably all get too worked up sometimes and forget that.

[Crewleader]

64. I don't think it was arguing VelmaD

just conversing...it was good to welcome you and many other DUers' that seem to hang around...Newyawker99 as been a gift to all of DU! :hug:

[VelmaD]

66. That's one of the things...

that convinced me to stay and keep on posting...the way that you and some of the other people I probably pissed off when I was an angry newbie didn't see it as arguing but rather as a chance to talk. :hug:

And you're right about newyawker99...she's a treasure. Something about the milestone posts just gives me a warm fuzzy feeling every time I'm in one. :)

[newyawker99]

71. I learned it from the best, Crew!

I love this place. I love the good members and the
bad members. I love the discussions, whether they are
funny or sad, whether they are celebrating good times
or bad. I have been a member since May 2001 and I
guess I have seen it all. There may be some rough
spots here but I still wouldn't trade this website
for any other.

It is a funny thing, this "I am leaving" stuff. It
has been my experience that those who say they
are leaving always manage to find their way
back to this site. I always wonder why. ;-)

[Crewleader]

98. Very nice Roni

those are heartfelt words of your love of DU and all who are here, the good,the bad and ones that say they are leaving, only to come back even more welcomed and loved for no one does it better then you.
Thank you for the great compliment too! :loveya:

[Misinformed01]

72. Good to see you!!!

I hope things are going your way; I always miss your voice on DU.

[Crewleader]

96. Thank you Misinformed01

I hope to be able to post more in the future and especially near elections and not too far from now...I'm supporting all our DUers' at the Democratic Convention. I was asked to be a few candidate's delegate and I was honored but unable to do it. But my spirits are for those who will be there and for all of us for this election is everything. We have to be free of the Bush administration for all that is wrong with their policies,it's just overwhelming how wrong they are for people of America who are hurting in every direction!
They have to go!!!

So expect my voice to be here, I'm not far, I still stop in to read when I can...and post to converse, express and support DU.
Look how wonderful this place can be, you found your better half,
now how cool is that! ;-) :hi: :hug:

[Misinformed01]

97. Yes, and isn't he too cute?

:)

Thanks for giving us an update; you are missed on a daily basis-

Stephanie

[Crewleader]

99. Stephanie, you make a cute couple!

He's a very lucky fellow and he knows it! :-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

36. mem'ries fog the corners of my mind..misty rose colored bullshit mem'ries

of the way we weren't:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=8208&forum=DCForumID66&archive=

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=5&forum=DCForumID35&archive=yes

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=36531&forum=DCForumID35&archive=yes


http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=36866&forum=DCForumID35&archive=yes#43

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=248&forum=DCForumID60&archive=yes


http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=708&forum=DCForumID24&archive=

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=36176&forum=DCForumID35&archive=

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=5108&forum=DCForumID70&archive=

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=8556&forum=DCForumID60&archive=

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=24266&forum=DCForumID60&archive=
http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=27221&forum=DCForumID5

[WilliamPitt]

40. Wow

Amazing threads.

Did we ever find out what happened to Olaf the White? I remember he had a tumor, and then he was gone.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

44. No clue

And Iverglas has the 200 post women's issues thread bookmarked..and then there was the famous Ed Caspary..all the south's a racist sewer thread.....I mean...there were some NOT very nice threads...there were just less people..that's all.

[VelmaD]

51. I hope you're remembering the South-bashing thread...

where I asked Will to marry me and not the one where I wasn't very nice to you. Not one of my prouder DU moments. I let a good friend's antipathy toward you seep into my own responses to you and I've always been disappointed in myself for that. If I never apologized for that...I am now. :)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

57. No worries

besides..I never picked on the south...I like all ya'll..one day we flame...the next day we use the embers to smoke a peace pipe..I've made very few enemies on DU and the ones that are are fine with me..ya can't win em all.

It's nice that you did apologize but you really didn't need to..we're cool with each other.

[VelmaD]

63. *huge fake sigh*

You're as bad as DarkPhenxy about spelling y'all wrong. ;)

I'm glad we're cool though. I really like the mental image evoked from "one day we flame and the next day we use the embers to smoke a peace pipe". I'm gonna end up stealing...er...quoting that all the time. :)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

41. And don't make me dig up the McGaa/Wellstone threads

or the reparations threads....or the Cynthia McKinney is a crackpot, anti-semite threads...those ones take way too long to load..

[WilliamPitt]

43. I'll make it easy for you

A simple old-DU search string:

nader jaicinto

Search on that.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

45. Or...................................

Mike Hersch

[ulysses]

102. ah, yes.

Anyone else remember Emperor_Buddha?

[OKNancy]

107. Absynthe could really

cause a stir when he got wound up

[VelmaD]

46. I coulda gone my whole life...

without beind reminded of him (Nader or jiacinto either one).

[curse10]

76. LMAO

oh man- I'd nearly forgotten about the man in blue and black!

[WilliamPitt]

50. Another good one

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=4340&forum=DCForumID35&archive=yes

[VelmaD]

55. That was vile...

I think I need a shower...or 12. :scared:

[WilliamPitt]

56. ...and then, of course...The Day...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=4276&forum=DCForumID35&archive=yes

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=4311&forum=DCForumID35&archive=yes

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=4288&forum=DCForumID35&archive=yes

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

60. I oughtta go find the EARLY tort reform threads..the ones where

DU'ers criticized the McDonald's case before they got all the facts...I'm ashamed to say I didn't bookmark them all but there were some WARS in there....now the same people that used to say PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY can jump in on any right wing oriented thread and take them down in a nano second...but until we hammered it into the place it was all war all the time.

[Fenris]

58. Jeezus! Midori was a wildcat!

:D

[CatWoman]

85. who???? me????

O8)

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Crewleader]

49. Hi GrovelBot

got to love your efforts there friend...another one from Florida!:hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

53. Some people are just too damned sensitive to handle debate

and discord and opposing views and blah blah blah the hell blah.

If they're offended, I don't agree with it, but I can't say they aren't, so if they leave, they leave. Blah blah blah, better they aren't here, because if ti is really is bothering them, I'd rather they be healthy and away from the stress than to stick around.

But I would say that people need to learn and get used to the fact that the world isn't all in group-think, even those of us who gather under the tents of progressive/liberal/democrat/whatever.

if you can't handle being told "no", then I guess you can't handle being at DU.

I've had my ass kicked and handed to me a few times; and I've been outraged a few times; and, by golly, I've said amazaingly stupid things I wish I hadn't when I've been outraged.

So I prefer to give others the benefit of the doubt when they piss me off, or at least give DU the benefit of the doubt when one person pisses me off. It's either me, them, or DU.

And I can never, at least at this point, blame any person's post on DU.

That's just immature.


(which is all my very subtle and long circumlocution as to call those who decide to have a tantrum and leave DU as "immature", which I'm sure is patently unfair in a somewhat significant percentage of people, but true in a very large, utterly significant percentage of cases)

[icymist]

54. This place has become America's life!

The more I see of the issues of the day being discussed here, of picture of prisoner abuse being displayed here, of the dissatisfaction of the Bush administration being voiced her, The more think of how fucked we all are. No! I'm not leaving here! This may just be a bulletin board, but, damnit! You're going to hear me!

[JCMach1]

59. Nor can DU substitute for the real world

as you well know Will...

I have avoided most of the big dustups here 'on purpose' and still manage to get by :)

there will always be a winnowing process here-- we have seen it from the beginning...

the question is...

Are you down with the Underground, or not!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

61. Yeah..I just see no need to permanently relegate myself to the

underground and sometimes I think people are so self-defeating that they get their IDENTITY locked in with the UNDERGROUND where it becomes a permanent status for them rather than a temporary respite until ssanity can be halfway restored...if you get my drift.

[Philostopher]

91. And I gotta say it, JMach

I was sincerely glad you didn't lose all faith after the Wellstone crash and the 2002 midterms. That was a sad time, in so many ways, it would have been easy to give up. It took courage to try, and even more to stick with it all when your efforts didn't have the desired result.

And I'll buy a star for anybody who can convince me that things are any nastier now than they were between 10/25/02 and the midterm elections -- I remember it. Same stuff, basically -- especially the conspiracy theorizing. I know many of us were saying then -- and will continue to say -- we may never know what happened. As often as we've been lied to over the years, it's no wonder some of us are clinically paranoid -- especially about BFEE matters.

I'm down wit' anything that doesn't require me to gnaw a hole in my tongue to avoid losing my job because my boss is a FReeper, or because the whole bar is full of 'nuke 'em all' jingos, or ... anyway, DU never annoys me as much as living in FReepville.

[Catholic Sensation]

62. I feel that if someone's so vain they need to post an "I'm Leaving" thread

it's always a good idea to say something to them to make their decision to leave DU worth it. It's doing a good thing, while being a douchebag.

But in all seriousness, the "harsh" things that are said on this forum are nothing compared to the shit I've seen elsewhere. If you want to see some fucked up discourse, go to a video game forum, a forum on Japanese animation, or Free Republic. These people all take their shit way too seriously, and sometimes the arguments get to the point that threats of violence or, *sigh*, hacking another's computer are made. So all this bullshit summed up in one thought: I can't believe it when someone gets so angry after one simple post they'd leave du.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

65. Actually I posted an I'm leaving thread once

The morning after the California recall that I worked my ASS off fighting with thousands of phone calls, dollars and hours.

I was pissed at the number of posts on DU criticizing Davis (who now looks much more appealing given that Arnold has put the state in permanent debt..totally undermined workers rights and is ready to hand us off to ENRON or their twin sister again)

I was exhausted and pissed...most people were really great with me..understood how devastated I was after working so hard and only one person (who was sympathetic at the time) ever had the GAUL to use it against me.

It made a huge difference for me in defeat to know I had so much support...so when people get angry..I'm not likely to shove it up their butt because I know how they feel.

[PartyPooper]

67. Personally and politcally speaking, it all has a cumulative effect.

Many of us at DU have been having difficult times in our personal lives. I don't have to tell you that. Plus, we have to deal with what has been happening to our country and the world over the last 4 years.

It all adds up. It's depressing...and, sometimes overwhelming.

:-(

[cleofus1]

69. There's no place like home...

I've been here for over 4 years and I am an addict. I tried to leave after the election of '00, but I just couldn't stay away. What kills me is that after so much time I still haven't broken 700.

[cleofus1]

70. hurmmm...

I also seem to kill a lot of threads.

[GOPisEvil]

73. Don't you have a $600 date to plan or something?

:hi:

[cleofus1]

74. damnit....

I never realized Will was such a high roller...

[GOPisEvil]

75. He's not...and that's the point.

However he comes across in the written word, I've found him to be pretty unpretentious in real life. When the guy came to Austin, he slept on my couch for crying out loud.

Now, Will DID plan a very special event for someone, and told us about it. This led to a flame war and one of Will's epic "Fuck you, I'm outta here" posts.

So, I'm just trying to be a smartass. :-)

[cleofus1]

77. oh yeah

and I can see you are very good at it...:+

[supernova]

82. Hee Hee, that thread was a doozy!!

People just wouldn't leave poor Will alone. LOL! I felt so bad for him. Here he was pooring his heart out and people were ragging on him for how he spent HIS money. "Don't you know 5,999,999, 999 people on this planet get by on that for a year?!

Lurked for a while, and I honestly can't remember if it was March of 2002 or 2001. 2002, I think when I started posting. Believe it or not, I came here initially because the Lounge seemed a lot friendlier, and definitely funnier, than Beliefnet, where I had been posting. And that was the board for my denomination!! :wow:

Regardless of what happens in GD or GD2004, the Lounge is definitely a great safety valve. :toast:

[curse10]

78. Old timer here- who's taken many breaks from this place

It's a great place. It's one of the best websites out there. But, it is just a website. We have to get perspective. Sometimes I know I lost mine. I took things too personally.

I'll never leave this place (unless I get my sorry ass tombstoned). But I'm not bothered by the people that threaten to leave. I could care less if they think they are too good for this place. Let 'em leave! That just means more yaks, thongs, and CONFESS!! threads for me :-)

[ZenLefty]

80. Your post offends me. I'm leaving.

Pbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbtttttttttt!!!!! :P

[Buns_of_Fire]

88. Yeah? Well, I'm offended at your offense!

...but now, it's time to let bygones be bygones and all gather together for a group hug :grouphug: while I put on some nice music in the background... Let's see... I know! How about some Barry Manilow? (:spank: ...ouch... :spank: ...ouch... :spank: ...ouch...)

[ZenLefty]

95. Just for that, I'm going to taunt the Happy Fun Ball

Neener, neener, you so-called Happy Fun Ball. :P

[supernova]

83. The Argument Clinic

I always wondered what happened to their customers when The Argument Clinic closed down.

Now I know, they come to DU.

I only try to post in threads where I know something about the subject. Otherwise I give it a pass. My blood pressure thanks me. :7

Well, I used to be disgusted; now I try to be amused..

[soleft]

84. The way you do anything is the way you do everything

That's an old saying.

While it's true that DU is not real life, and you do post things on an anonymous message board that you would never say to someone face to face -

Digest this a moment - the way you post is the way you live. The way you live is the way you post.

I think about that a lot. Well, maybe not a lot. But I think about it.

[cleofus1]

87. unfortunately....

In real life I am a loud mouthed jerk...:smoke:

[sus]

86. great advice.

[sus]

89. geez...

why is it that everytime i post, the thread DIES??

you are obviously all against me.

[GOPisEvil]

90. Damn! You figured it out so quickly!

Now we need a new target! x(

[SiouxJ]

92. When DU becomes your life, it is easy to lose a sense of proportion.

This is so true. I used to spend almost my entire day here and I neglected things I should have been paying attention to because of it (like my health, my family, my business). Now I pop in for a few minutes each day but I try not to get into long discussions or I end up glued here at my computer for hours on end. I come in, get the news; maybe make a comment or two; find out what letters I need to write; say hi to a few friends in the lounge and try to get out. Oh, btw, if you are frustrated about a situation and you don't write letters to the people involved, you should! This sometimes helps relieve your frustration. It might actually make a difference too, whereas arguing on DU doesn't really do anything about resolving the issue.


DU had become an addiction but now it occupies the right proportion of my time (for me). I do miss some things about spending more time here, like the new friends you make but I just get so much more done now. ;-)

Oh yeah, while I'm at it, :hi: to all my old DU buddies. I've missed you!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

93. i wonder if some people don't say they're leaving to hear people plead for

them to stay. I think if you really want to leave you just leave. Otherwise I tink you're being childish.

[WilliamPitt]

101. I've certainly heard that one a few times

:)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

103. Well, WP , I'd porobably ask you to stay but then why do we need this?

Aren't we adults? If we don't like what's being said on this internet message board shouldn't we contact the people we care about and move on? I think so.

[TrogL]

104. The tinfoilhatters are wierder than ususal

(I know, I should talk)

[mwdem]

106. Hey, I come & go...

I've been here a long time, but look at my posts. I can be away for months, but I always like to check in, because this is where I can feel the pulse of the left. There are a lot of good news leads, and I feel like I'm listening to the heart of what I consider the truth. I'm not leaving anytime soon, but you won't hear from me from time to time, but who's counting?