This lurker gets sad every time he reads this forum

[Smashmouth]

I know this website does not represent American attitudes towards this election. Christ, no one is really paying attention yet. But I've lurked here for over a year now, and I have learned sooooo much. I mean, look at my screen name. 'Smashmouth' was the fisrt book I read after Theft 2000, and I thought it was good. But then I found this place, and looked into a whole bunch of the books mentioned here, and now I wish I had a different name. 'Smashmouth' wasn't half the book that 'Down and Dirty' or 'The Hun ting of the President' or God so many others were. But I'm getting off the subject.

I've actually become a decently astute political observer now. I can identify total crap when I see it...which is why I get sad when I read this forum. So much of what you people are throwing at each other here is total crap, silly crap. Here's a hint from a lurker that you all should know: All of this so-and-so-can't-win polls are totally useless, because none of these candidates have had the chance yet to run directly against Bush. That means Bush has not yet taken any direct fire from any of thesew dudes in a time when the public is paying attention, and if we can pull our stupid selves together behind whoever is the nominee, he's mud.

I don't know. It just makes me sad to read War Criminal or Jesus Yeller or whatever. I think a lot of people here are going to have a lot to feel sortry about before too much time passes unless we pull our heads out of our butts.

Sorry to be all preachy. My name is Peter, by the way, and I'm going to quit lurking.

[NashVegas]

1. Hi Peter

Welcome to DU.

And Dana's a hoot.

[VolcanoJen]

2. Welcome, Peter!

Thanks for no longer lurking... looking forward to more of your posts!

:-)
Jennifer

[janx]

3. Hi Peter!

:hi:

I couldn't agree with you more.

[quinnox]

4. Glad to see this isn't typical

when I read the post headline, I expected another, "Dean is taking too much criticism, let's all unite behind Dean" post which seems to be common lately.

I agree, much of what is written here is rubbish, but it's to be expected in politics. I always think of this forum as pure entertainment, I never take it seriously.

[Smashmouth]

8. I'll unite behind Dean if he wins

but this was not a yay Dean post. I like him, but damn I like all of them.

[dsc]

17. Oh yess I see so many of those

BTW can you link even one that is on the first, second, or third page of this forum? But I must have the only computer showing the half dozen Dean is a religious nut threads, the ISR article posted three times, the Dean won't fry Osama posts, the thread that dissed his wife, the thread which dissed his kids, the threads which dissed all Dean supporters by finding some lone one which said in CSPAN he woudln't vote for anyone but Dean, and the multitude of others. Damn those editting computers.

[Scott Lee]

5. Hi Peter, and don't worry.

This is preconvention bluster. I haven't seen it this nasty before, but I have seen it before. You'll see a big change after the Democratic candidate is nominated.

[Bucky]

12. "haven't seen it this nasty before"

It was plenty nasty in '92, the last time we were in this situation. I certainly remember some out and out fights we had in 1980 between Carter and Kennedy people whan I was 16 and a tag-along. The Mondale-Hart disputes were pretty bad too, but all forgotten by the summer.

Of course there wasn't an internet back then to fan the flames so much. Written words always have a harsher punch than spoken words. So the nastiness is mostly the internet's influence. Since no one has to actually face whoever it is they're badmouthing, it's easier to degenerate into feces-flinging. Honestly, Scott, you're one of the most sarcastic posters on the board. But I can only imagine that if we were all in a room together, your comments would be tempered with a disarming smirk -- and you probably wouldn't make as many of the comments that you do.

[Smashmouth]

13. "Honestly, Scott, you're one of the most sarcastic posters on the board"

I didn't want to say it. :( Guess I just made an enemy. Wrelcome to DU.

[diamondsoul]

16. Nah, I doubt you made an enemy.

Scott's ok and bear in mind sarcasm is a general half-funny-half-serious commentary on the current state of things. It's not personal. Without it some peple might never re-examine their own views.

Welcome to DU and if you get bit, just give a little nip in return...as long as it stays within the rules, you'll be fine.;)

[Scott Lee]

23. Nah, you're no enemy of mine. It takes a lot for someone

to make that list, Smashmouth.

Part of the art here is to realize it's not personal. At least, we should try and not make it personal. It's politics.

[Scott Lee]

22. Sarcasm? Guilty. But you get the truth as I see it.

And just so we're on the same page here, I have been involved plenty "on the ground" as it were in political causes. The internet is a cozy interractive tool but certainly not the be all and end all in getting something done. It's a tool, nothing more and nothing less.

And as for me "tempering" anything due to proximity, I think you might not understand the nature of the person you are addressing. I was involved for years in the anti-Nuclear testing movement and have been arrested at the Nevada Test Site three times for trespassing during a mass action. The last time, a truck driver jumped out of his cab, wielding a large piece of iron pipe, and ran towards me to beat me down with it. I still got up in face, right before cops took us both down. So, I don't really think sitting at a round table with a bunch of you would much dampen my nerve. Sorry to dissappoint.

[wryter2000]

6. Hi, Peter

FWIW, I don't read candidate threads much for just the reasons you mentioned. There's lots of other good stuff to read on DU. Stick around.

:hi:

[oasis]

7. Hi Peter. "The Hunting of the President" by Joe Conason and Gene Lyons is

good reading for non-lurkers too. Welcome to DU. :hi:

[Crunchy Frog]

9. Hi Peter

I'm similar to you, I lurked here for about 7 months before I finally registered and started posting. For most of that time this has been a really great place, it's sad to see it degenerating the way it has been recently. I hope that people will finally go back to being civil once the nomination is settled, though some of the attacks have been so vile that some people may end up being permanently alienated.

I get really sad too. ;(

[Military Brat]

10. For this particular post, Peter, I'll call you "Wisemouth"

Well done. (I don't mean "wise" in a smarta** way)

:hi:

[Smashmouth]

11. Can I change my name and keep my post count?

That name migt be a bit ego-ey. :) But can I do that?

[newyawker99]

25. Hi Peter!

"Can I change my name and keep my post count?"

If you change your username, your post count will start at zero again. I think Smashmouth is a good name. Why not keep it? :hi:


Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[JPace]

14. Hi Smashmouth,

that you are criticizing some posts shows that
you have opinions....why not be a poster instead
of a lurker?

There is room for all opinions on DU as long as
they are presented within the guidelines, so even
those you don't like have a place on the board.
I pass over posts that don't interest me and still
find much that grabs my attention, that is the
beauty of diversity in action.

While some posts get ugly, most are simply healthy
sparring that will eventually ferret out a first
class leader for our party. I have my favorite
candidates, but will vote for whoever gets the
nomination.....almost everyone here will do the
same.

Again welcome and hope to see you posting more
often.

[Smashmouth]

15. I'm not going to be a lurker any more

I definitely have opinions, even a (gasp shudder) candidate I prefer. But I prefer winning more than I prefer my candidate, so its whatever until the nomination. We win this one.

[OzarkDem]

18. Thanks for saying it, Peter

I couldn't agree more. Hopefully the mods are getting better at ferreting out the RNC trolls, and the regulars will get bored with this kind of thing.

[Upfront]

19. Hi Peter

You speak the truth and most of the folks hear know it. We do have a few who will never get it. Welcome:toast:

[Padraig18]

20. Welcome, Peter!

I agree with you, especially about the 'so-and-so can't win' stuff; I posted about that very thing today.:hi:

[Toucano]

21. Welcome.

It sounds like you'll be an appreciated voice at DU.

[freetempe]

24. This lurker gets sad too, and angry

I'm tired of reading "Dean can't beat Bush" or "Clark can't beat Bush" or "Kerry can't beat Bush". I am tired of reading endless attacks on nominees (mostly against Dean). I get more and more depressed everytime I read this board and begin to wonder why we are even challenging Bush when all we do is fight amongst ourselves. Its sickening.

We can agree to disagree on who might be the best nominee but the endless attacks and constant rants about "So-and-so can't beat Bush" really honk me off.

The constant bickering and perpetual self-defeatism serves no useful purpose other than to help Bush and with the posters I see, who have less posts than I do, doing most of this, it makes me wonder if these people are really Democrats.

[deutsey]

26. We're just forming a circular firing squad like Democrats often do

:evilfrown:

I've been a poster here for a couple years and, like you, I'm saddened by the tone of this place lately.

I know, it's politics, blah blah blah, but it just seems to me that so much is at stake this time that we shouldn't be wasting all this energy on tearing each other down. All the acrimony we're sowing is going to make it difficult for the more partisan among us to rally enthusiastically around the nominee if it isn't their person. I hope I'm wrong (I for one believe whoever gets the nomination can beat Bush, although I personally believe Dean has the best chance).

Anyway, glad to see you're no longer lurking. Welcome! :hi:

[Padraig18]

27. Kick