Why do you stay?

[elcondor]

As most of us know, many "classic DUers" (some here even in the beginning) are leaving us. (Willfully or otherwise.)

So, I ask, what keeps you here? How about we list some of the positive aspects about DU that keep us coming back almost everyday.

For me, it's undergroundrailroad's "Monday's In the Lounge", the candidate debate dicussions, the music threads here, and all the latest news.

How about you? :-)

[Maddy McCall]

1. I am staying so that I can be a part of the victory celebration in 2004.

And also because of my many friends here, with whom I enjoy communicating ideas, passing time, laughing, crying, griping, etc.

[realFedUp]

2. It's the place we use our voice

and we're read.

[glarius]

3. I'm glad to have found a place where Canadians and other non-Americans

are not thought of as enemies of America....Bush has done such damage to relations between my country (Canada) and yours and it is very important to me that he be voted out and we can get back to what we were as neighbours and good friends again....This place has been so accepting of "foreigners"....:pals:

[trof]

4. asked and answered in an earlier thread

but I'll say it again.
I'm just here for the juice and cookies.
;-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. I wouldn't make too much of that..people always come and go in life

I stay because I am here for the information.

I read DU long before I participated.

I also have made friends (in fact one of the people I now consider one of my BEST friends came from this board) so simply being in communication with them keeps me.

I also stay because I feel I can still contribute something here.

Heck..the three things that matter most to people in life when you get underneath the superficial crap is that they were loved, they mattered and that they will be missed.

I miss some of the people that have left but it is natural for people to move on.

We are always recycling people through our lives..this board is no different.

[ZenLefty]

6. Speaking as a "classic DUer", I think you are mistaken

I don't think there is any mass exodus going on of old-timers quitting DU. I've been on these boards for a long time, and there have always been times when people get fed up and want to leave, or long-timers who get banned for some reason. Classic DUers are not leaving us any more now than in the past. Maybe it seems that way, because the longer the website is around, the more and more DUers there are who have put a lot of time posting on this website, thus an increase in the population of "classic DUers."

I've also observed that many long-timers who do leave, eventually come back. A little time off can be a good thing.

To answer your question, I just like staying in touch with the thoughts and ideas of our big happy family. Whether I agree or disagree, I'm often made to think. And we dig up news from all over the world like nobody's business. And after a few years, you begin to care about these people like they were lifelong friends.

[Javneh]

9. hope keeps me around

Even though I'm a bigtime lurker, I take encouragement from many of the opinions and news updates here. I work in a somewhat conservative office and on those rare occasions when I can hear and see opinions from folks who share many of my views, I'm reminded the whole world is not set against me after all. I keep reading and hoping that one day justice be served and this gang of thugs will be removed.

[jono]

7. There are so many reasons

I came for LBN (my primary news "source") and the articles on the home page, but I stayed for the camaraderie and antics in the Lounge.

Plus Skinner would be mad if I left before my moderating term was up. ;-)

on edit: cleaning up my poor grammar

[Cheswick2.0]

8. I stay for the reason I came

for the information.

Having said that, I do enjoy the lounge nonsense and I do really like many of the people I have met here (as much as you can like someone you have never met). Some others I don't really know.

I don't worry about those who have left. Every single one of them left by choice. I do miss some of them and the dynamics have changed somewhat, but that is normal life.

[bunk76]

10. I stay....

because we all have a common goal.We have some very compassionate people here and it does get way out of hand at times and some folks have left for that reason,some for very good reasons and some not.
I do believe that the people that left are still doing the work that must be done to get our country back from the sick maniacs that currently control the white house.I intend to stay for our victory,
because in the end I still believe the country will awake from this madness that is the bush white house.

[VelmaD]

11. A couple of reasons...

One is for the fights. I love arguing with people and I get a huge kick out of the flame wars. Seriously. :evilgrin:

Seriously though, I enjoy the debate. I love putting my opinion out there and hearing what others think and trying to hammer out some common ground to talk.

And finally, I love the people here. I've met some good friends and a ton of interesting people. I never would have met short bus or DarkPhenyx or Leftist Rebel or Will Pitt or GOPisEvil or sonias or Aristus or a zillion other people I'm leaving out...without this place. :-)

[curse10]

12. I stay cause if I left there'd be less Kerry supporters

and I love the lounge

[arwalden]

13. The Camaraderie Of Reasonable Folks And Thinking People

who aren't so quick to judge. I especially enjoy the company and discussions with folks who are HONEST and LOYAL.

-- Allen

[kmla]

14. I come because it is the only place

where like minded people hang out. I am stuck in the middle of Patriotland, where you wave a flag, say "I support the troops!", but bitch about having to pay for the protection they give you. A bunch of lazy bastards, basically. It is a breath of fresh air to be heard and to hear new ideas, thoughts, and constructive criticisms. (Except when I venture into GD, that is...)

And besides, when I'm a smart-ass here, no one can reach me to physically smack my booty-ass.

That's why.

Come on. Admit it. We're more fun than the dark side, aren't we?

[roughsatori]

15. Though the overall intellectual quality of the board is plummeting

The "Articles and Editorial" forum is amazing. I would recommend it to members who may stay in the lounge or General Discussion. It would be nice for those who Post articles there if the rest of us just responded with a "kick" or a "Thanks. I am lax on that myself. But it is a way of encouraging quality.

I admire the regular posters of threads in that forum. The best make sure the article's title is honestly stated in the thread title, then they post a few paragraphs and a link. I admire people who take the time and effort to do that. It amazes me more that some of the posters do not inject a ton of ego with their opinion and just let the article speak.

I admire posters in all forums who reply to people who post in response to their threads. I know some of us don't have the time to do that.

Some of the lounge lizards are very funny, and if you check out the lounge regularly you will see how kind and supportive some Duers are. I admire how some posters really do seem to care about others members.

I too have been considering leaving. The board is becoming a bit to moderate and not as intellectually astute as it once was. I started lurking here a few months after the board started. Ironically, I think the ABB (Anybody but Bush) idea is partly responsible. If one posts an articulate criticism of some candidate you will simply get a "yawn" or "ABB." I think it back-fired.

We have some extraordinarily intelligent members still--and I like that. We have some extraordinarily kind members too. I think some of our Seniors Citizen members are such beautiful people. Many of their posts touch me deeply (I'm not a Senior Citizen.)

And finally I admire deeply the commitment some of our members have, even the ones supporting the candidate I hope does not win the nomination. But NOT the members who reply in GD with disgusting language or a "yawn" (Responses that right-wing talk show hosts love). I look up to ones who really do care about their candidate, and would like to win us over too. I admire those who model intelligent mature responses in response to detractors. (I am not capable of that myself).

And though most of our culture talk here is about Pop-culture. I sometimes find members who if they lived nearby, I know it would be an honor to discuss serious art, philosophy, and literature with over coffee.

I love it here for the moment. (Sorry for the too long response.)

[leftofthedial]

16. I'm only staying until one of my posts hits 100 replies*

then I'm out of here.

*conditions subject to change without further notice.

[ArkDem]

17. The

food.

[THUNDER HANDS]

18. me personally

I'm just sticking around until Catwoman sleeps with me, I don't know about you guys.

:)

[soleft]

19. I came for the politics, I stayed for the chicks

:silly:

[TreasonousBastard]

20. Well...

your family, your job, your neighborhood, and every organization you belong to and just about everyone and everything you know has a downside. Some have some very big downsides.

You stick around with the ones that make it worthwhile going through the hassles.