How has DU changed over the past year?

[smirkymonkey]

Especially, for those of you who have been around for a while.

Has DU changed fundamentally?

If so, in what way?

Obviously, issues are different from day to day, so of course things will change?

I guess what I am curious about is if the SOUL of DU has changed over time. What are your thoughts?

[mot78]

1. I think it's improved

I came here last June, a few weeks before DU2 was created, and I like the fact that DU has more features, and how the mods handled the primary partisans. However, a small group of people seemed to think that DU is DLC-online, so they went off and started that forum we can't mention by name.

[Robb]

2. Well, for one thing...

...they're letting just anybody be a Moderatorator these days. :evilgrin:

[smirkymonkey]

6. Yes, and now they are even calling them

"Moderatorators"! Just can't leave well enough alone! Those bastards!

Just kidding! :evilgrin:

[AntiCoup2K4]

3. It's definitely changed for the worse

Last year at this time, 98% of DU'ers were furious at Bush's illegal invasion of Iraq, and anyone who voted for it.

Now we're all expected to enthusiastically support one of those very people, and some have even demanded that anyone who disagree with that should be banned immediately.

As I said, definitely a turn for the worse :(

[camero]

4. I agree

There is much more tolerance for RW talking points now than there was before. Probably because of how much DU has grown.

[Triple H]

5. You're kidding me?

Some are demanding that people who disagree should be banned???

Looks like I should be one of them people. :eyes: :crazy:

[m-jean03]

8. I think they just feel we should stand behind

The lesser of two evils, if that is how you see him, until he is elected.

But I don't think anyone is actually opposed to criticizing Kerry, are they? Just as we should freely criticize a sitting president, so should we a candidate. The more we make our passions known, the greater possibility for change.

[Cursive_Knives512]

11. I agree that criticizing Kerry (constructively) is a good thing,

But I know that I tend to get a little bit... defensive when I read it on DU, because there's so much Kerry-bashing everywhere else. Thanks for reminding me that criticizing and all-out bashing are two different things.

:toast:

[jobycom]

13. Not my recollection

There was a lot of debate about the invasion. Probably 90% of us opposed it, some of us more vigorously than others. There were those who supported it. There were a few people banned for going overboard on either end back then.

On your Kerry dig, though, there was not the monolithic agreement you dream of. There were some who claimed Kerry voted for the war, there were a lot who understood the difference, and there were a few who didn't consider Kerry's vote the defining issue. That doesn't mean Kerry had a lot of support-- there were other reasons to oppose him.

Those who hated Kerry shouted louder, demanded conformity more, and thus were often ignored by anyone of a different opinion. But hinting the 98% of DUers opposed Kerry or anyone else who voted "for" the invasion is a damn long stretch.

As for the invasion itself, it seems to me that there is less support now than when it happened. I remember people defending it on DU back then, stating that we would all see once WMDs were found, and revelling in the gory details of Hussein's brutality. I don't see them anymore.

[greatauntoftriplets]

15. Yes.

I have been here for 2 1/2 years.

[mot78]

22. That was when DU had a "DLC community"

[smirkymonkey]

26. How so, in your opinion?

It would be interesting to hear from someone who has been around here as long as you have...:)

[greatauntoftriplets]

29. DU has moved to the right.

A year ago, the place was rabidly anti-Iraq war, for example.

[smirkymonkey]

7. Are we more optimistic as a whole or less so?

I feel like we were getting more optimistic but now I am seeing a lot more weariness and despair in general.

[Robbien]

9. I believe those that support the DLC are optimistic

and those that do not support the DLC or the war or globalization are very much not optimistic. Because no matter who wins in 2004, we will have more war, more globalization and more Patriot Act.

[kitkatrose]

14. YES!!! That's it exactly.

I will vote for Kerry, but will be somewhat sad because it seems like nothing's really changing. And yes I do know that another four years of Bush would suck out loud, because I am 18 and very likely would be drafted if it comes back. I already know how important this election is.

[tigereye]

23. but maybe fewer rightwing judges

fewer "Handmaid's Tale" - type social policies, more money for job training and good economic policies, less money for invading countries, less insane foreign policy... hmm? Maybe the Patriot Act will be rolled back as well; even those on the right think it goes too far. Maybe a president who reads books and is able to think?

[hippiechick]

10. Less civil debate/info sharing, more knee-jerk screeching ...

... and tons more double/triple posts across the forums and in LBN.

Oh, and there's even a groupie now, too !! :P


I've been here since January 01 so this is JMHO ...


:hippie:

[m-jean03]

17. A groupie?

Whose groupie? I give compliments, am I a groupie?:shrug:

[smirkymonkey]

25. I've noticed that too, about

civil debate and info sharing. One of my reasons for coming here was to become educated and to be in a community of like minded people. Also, LOTS of repetitive posts - Lately it has been really bad - same thing, all worded differently.

What's with the groupie thing? :)

[kodi]

31. oh, you just said a mouthful of truth there, chickie

younger, less informed, more intolerant of opposing views and generally, ah, how shall i put this.....shallow minded?

and i have been here since march 2001(as AJA) and no longer see liberal researchers posting their detailed work on a myriad of topics for dessemenation to DU members.

success kills boards like this one.

[jobycom]

12. It's harder to hold a discussion these days

Threads now tend to be shorter, and the longer ones tend to have more one-liner discussions. There are more hit and run posts, fewer detailed discussions. No one has patience for long posts anymore. Porbably because there are so many people, so many posts, there is always something to drag people away.

But, the passion level is high, and there seems to be more political sophistication than before. A lot fewer "Damn em all, I'll vote "x"" threads, more of a realization of the reality of the world.

I used to come here a lot to talk politics. Now I just scan the headlines and drop a few quips and head somewhere else. I miss the old forums, but I like what DU's popularity increase hints at.

[slinkerwink]

16. it's a lot more moderate these days

with a lot of people here supporting the DLC. ick.

[LTR]

19. The Democratic party is a big tent

There are many political preferences throughout, and what one person beleives is not the absolute correct position.

I think we all need to realize this.

[Djinn]

20. True

but there does seem to be a higher proportion of people willing to call many of us "far left fringers" or "loony lefties" than before.

[LTR]

21. Or insult the moderates (nm)

[FARAFIELD]

18. WELL

For one thing i dont get kicked off if i call people who steal music from the internet thiefs. I think that is a major development.

[Wonk]

27. Out of curiosity, how many times have you been banned from DU so far?

Oh, and it's spelled thieves, btw.

Have you ever recorded a song off the radio or taped a show from TV? Have you ever shared that tape with a friend?

[Skittles]

24. well, the format has improved A LOT

KUDOS to DU - what a great board this is. The only complaint I would have is those darn fly-under-the-radar-trolls. I have some of them on ignore - you know the kind. They argue incessantly, have to have the last word, accuse people of "spinning" or of using outright stereotypes. I don't know who they think they are fooling.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

28. we used to be able to swat em like flies

and get away with it. I miss that.

[Skittles]

30. I do too

I pick on them for a while, get bored, and put them on ignore. I understand why moderators technically cannot ban them but I wish we could officially notify them we know they are fly-under-the-radar trolls who are not fooling us because they think they are so freaking clever.