This is an Official Petition for a "Young DU" Forum. Please K&R so Skinner sees it!

[Bicoastal]

Times have changed here at DU.

Due to the excitement of the election, Democratic Underground has been inundated with a slew of new members--and as it appears to me, many of them are in their early-30's or younger. However, it has not always been so. When I joined on 11/08/06--the same day Democrats won the House and Senate back--my first post to make it the Greatest Page was a poll on the ages of my fellow DU'ers. At the time, I noted that the vast majority of members here are Boomers; however, nearly everyone congratulated a young whippersnapper like me for taking a keen interest in the democratic process in general, and progressive politics in particular.

However, in January of 2008, I rather innocently mentioned my current age (26) in a GDP thread and got a few nasty comments from a few people saying I was too young and stupid to know what I was talking about. At that time, personal attacks happened more often than not around here due to the competitive nature of Obama vs. Clinton vs. Edwards, so I blew it off. But then, things got REALLY confusing when people either leaped to my defense or challenged my opinion, and I had no idea how old any of them were. For one of the first times at DU, I felt kind of marginalized. It had very little to do with which candidate I supported for President--I simply wanted an area of this website where I could share and talk with other young DU'ers who found themselves in a similar position. And there was none.

That's how the issue stands today. Seniors have a Topic Forum. Baby Boomers get their own group at "Lifestyle" and then several more under "Personal Interest" by default--Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, etc. But where am I supposed go to talk about issues with people who are roughly my own age? The Daily Show Group? Please...

Unlike Daily Kos, I'm well aware that my generation is still a minority here--but since when have Democrats shied away from embracing minority groups? If we had a forum, or even a group, we would be free to talk about issues that matter specifically to us--such as (but not limited to) employment & career issues, health care, loans and tuition, campus politics and activism, getting out the youth vote, the possibility of a draft, etc. We would also be free to chat about other websites and blogs of interest, discuss music and other media we're interested in, and anything else that comes to mind. (Facebooking? Flirting?) All would be welcome and no one would be excluded--but it would be well understood that this forum or group would specifically be for DU's youngest demographic, born around or after the bicentennial. Don't come in talking about awesome Grand Funk Railroad is and be surprised when we laugh at you...

And to prove that I'm serious, I officially volunteer to be the first Moderator of this new forum. If you're interested in my plan, please K&R this post so the Mods know how much this would mean to us--or even if you're not in the age group.
We need all the help we can get--after all, we're going up against the MAN! (No offense, Skinner.)

Thank you DU,

Bicoastal, who grew up listening to THIS record:

[Kittycat]

1. While I'm not in your age group.

I do support your request to have an area where you can feel comfortable discussing issues that relate directly to you/your peers :)

[Iris]

70. Me, too. And I hope we not quite baby-boomers and not quite young DUers are welcome to visit from

time to time.

I'd even disclose my age!

[Danger Mouse]

2. I'm also 26. Kicked and recommended!

:hi:
There's an UNBELIEVABLE amount of snark towards 'young people' in GD: P, especially since it's one of Obama's strongest demographics.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Sounds like a great idea. Very fair.

"Don't come in talking about awesome Grand Funk Railroad is and be surprised when we laugh at you..."


:rofl:


Seriously. I hope you get a special forum. Just lending my support. (Sadly, I couldn't visit though...I'm too old.) :(

:hi:

[Bicoastal]

4. Sure you could visit!

Just like I could visit the Boomer forums...just be honest and friendly and you'd fit right in.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. I advocate for this strongly, especially in light of the trashing young voters get

at the hands of some DUers. It's awful.

I'm at the high end of your age-range and probably wouldn't participate, but this forum is very much needed.

[bluedawg12]

84. The problem is we act divisive about age and youth

it leads to fragmentation.

Maybe we need to stop talking to each other with such ad hominem attacks.

[no name no slogan]

6. That record is older than you think

I'm 38 and it got played to death when I was in elementary school in the 1970s.

I think a Young DU group is a god idea.

[New Earth]

7. I'd be interested!

I'm 29, that's not too old is it?

[Bluebear]

8. "Don't trust anyone over 30"

Everything old is new again :)

I think it would be a great thing for youse kids to have somewhere special to hang here!

[AlCzervik]

9. This old broad says yes indeed, now get off mah lawn.

:D

[rosesaylavee]

10. Ageism is alive and well here.

Saw a thread earlier this year that asked a poster 'how old' were they. Another ism we don't need here. As for feeling marginalized here on DU, I think the majority feel that way since the primary heated up in October.

If a forum is what you need though to gather a group of likeminded others, go for it. Bet Skinner will comply if you get a good response here.

K & R

[Sapphocrat]

11. "Minority group"?

This is the first "minority group" every member will grow out of! :rofl:

Whatcha gonna do when you're too old to belong anymore? Join the rest of us irrelevant old farts in the Soylent Green hopper?

[Bicoastal]

19. Of course! Who wants to be the skeezy older guy at a college party?

As long as the Forum continues in my absence, I'll be happy.

[Sapphocrat]

23. OK, I'll save you a spot...

...in the Skeezy Older Guy/Gal ward of DU -- but it's filling up fast, and we've almost used our allotment of creamed gruel for the next decade.

(Trust me: You'll be shocked at how fast you'll get here.)

[orleans]

38. hey! i thought everyone over 30 was given lsd in concentration camps!

at least that's what they told me when they brought me here

[Bongo Prophet]

100. Nice "Wild in the Streets" reference there, orleans.

There's a new sun
Rising up in the sky
There's a new voice
Crying without afraid to die

Let the old one
Make believe it's blind and deaf and dumb
But nothing can change the shape of things to come

There are changes
Lying ahead on every road
There are new thoughts
Ready and waiting to explode
When tomorrow is today
The bells made all fuzz up
But nothing can change the shape of things to come

The future's coming on now sweet and strong
And no-one gonna hold it back for long

There are young dreams
Crowding out old realities
Revolutions
Sweeping in like a fresh new breeze

Let the old one
Make believe it's blind and deaf and dumb
Nothing can change the shape of things,
Nothing can change the shape of things,
Nothing can change the shape of things,
Nothing can change the shape of things,
Nothing can change the shape of things to come

[madeline_con]

85. Funny as hell!

:rofl: :rofl:

[laststeamtrain]

12. Will everyone get a 'Special Participation Medal"?

They're really good for 'self-esteem'.

[Bicoastal]

14. Just keep at it, whomever you are...

You're only emphasizing the need for such a Forum to exist.

[rockymountaindem]

45. And whose idea was it to give out all those medals? The kids'?

Nope, it was the parents' idea. Sorry.

[laststeamtrain]

52. I'll call the wahambulance.

I'm guilt-free, though. Never had kids. Didn't see the point.

If I had, I'd have given them lawn darts & a 'great books' education.

I think the generations should mix. 'Ghettos' suck. Generations are artificial constructs anyway, usually done for marketing purposes.

I realize I'm eccentric & this must sound like heresy in our ultra-mediated consumer society. But then again, I don't care.

[madeline_con]

87. This is one hilarious thread!

edited to add "lawn darts..."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[NMMNG]

13. You do realize that album came out in 1972, right?

That was back in old fogey time (and I was a baby then). How can you fight the MAN when you listen to his music? You dis Grand Funk Railroad but Marlo Thomas is groovy?

I'd post more but I need to get ready for my post-dinner nap. That's how it is when you're as old as I am.

[Bicoastal]

15. I really DID listen to it growing up in the mid-80's...

But who cares? Maybe it will appeal to the sympathies of those who saw it actually released during THEIR childhood. The message is timeless enough, anyway...

[NMMNG]

18. The message of the album is timeless

Unfortunately other messages are not. Divisiveness, for example. Granted divisiveness shows up repeatedly over time, but it's something we should discourage rather than stoke the flames of.

[Sapphocrat]

24. Oh, just shut up and eat your gruel. n/t

[NMMNG]

25. Eh? What was that?

Damn hearing aid battery went dead again! :banghead:

[Sapphocrat]

28. I'd reply, but I can't read your message.

Can't find the goddamn trifocals again.

[tnlefty]

16. I often cringe at some of the things that I see and that I hear

people say about 'the youth'. I have a son who will be voting for the first time in Nov., and he's better informed than most of the adults around us.

I hope that you get your group, but mostly I'm disturbed that ugly comments have caused you to feel unwelcome. :hi:

[burythehatchet]

17. TUEN DOWN THAT DAMN MUSIC

[scarletwoman]

26. You call that MUSIC?

Nothing but a bunch of noise! Why, back in MY day we had REAL music!

(etc.)

:)
sw

[orleans]

39. link? n/t

[scarletwoman]

66. Sure!

Chain of Fools

Chain Of Fools
------Aretha Franklin (1967)

Chain Of Fools

Oh Its the sound
ha ha ha ha ha ha
Its the sound of havin a good time
Its the sound of pain

Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain...chain...chain..)
(Chain of fools)

For five long years
I thought you were my man
But I found out, I'm just a link in your chain

Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain.chain.chain.)
(Chain of fools)

Oh, you got me where you want me
I ain't nothin but your fool
Ya treated me mean
Oh you treated me cruel

Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain...chain...chain..)
(Chain of fools)

Every chain,
has got a weak link
I might be weak child,
but I'll give you strength

Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain...chain...chain..)
Chain of fools

(Woo, woo, woo, woo)
You told me to leave you alone
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
My father said 'Come on home'
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
My doctor said 'Take it easy'
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
Oh but your lovin is much too strong
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
I'm added to your

Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain -ain -ain -ain -ain
(Chain.chain.chain.)
Chain of fools

Oh, one of these mornings
The chain is gonna break
But up until then yeah
I'm gonna take all I can take, oh babe

Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain -ain -ain -ain -ain
(Chain...chain...chain...)
(Chain of fools)

Oh!
(Chain, chain, chain,-ain -ain -ain -ain)
(Chain, chain, chain)
Oh-oh!
(Chain, chain, chain, -ain, ain, ain, ain)
Your chain of fools
FADES-
Oooooooooooooooooh......

:D
sw

[orleans]

79. (good choice of songs--you know i was just "being funny" asking for a link, right?) n/t

[scarletwoman]

89. Yes, I knew you were being funny -- I was hoping to be funny back with a little

free association. You know: "Link"-->"Chain, chain chain"

I try...

:P

[orleans]

93. lol! sometimes i'm so dense! n/t

[Karenina]

65. Hey YOU!!! In my 20's I was on the PR team

PROMOTING that album!!!

[scarletwoman]

68. Sorry, I can't remember that far back anymore.

My own 20s are lost to the mists of time...

:smoke: ;)
sw

[Karenina]

73. OH? Mists of TIME?

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[scarletwoman]

74. Geeesh -- talk about flashbacks!

Time

:D
sw

[Karenina]

75. Thanx for that Bftp!

:loveya:

[scarletwoman]

77. My pleasure.

You know I :loveya: too.

:hug:
sw

[More Than A Feeling]

20. We've got a pretty sweet generation going so far, and I'm proud to be a part of it.

Count me in!

[scarletwoman]

21. As as an old boomer, I totally support your request.

Here's my k&r. Go for it!

:hippie:
sw

[dweller]

30. if such a forum is created

and they all agree to reside there, then i'm all for it.

i'll kick and R it, in the meantime, GETOFFAMYLAWN!
dp

[scarletwoman]

69. Exactly! As long as they hang out there with their own peers

AND STAY OFF MY LAWN!!!!

Oh yeah, and TURN DOWN THAT NOISE YOU CALL MUSIC!!!!

:D
sw

[stellanoir]

22. I work with college and high school kids a lot.

My kid is a junior in high school.

You guys not only represent the future but are more than likely to have a greater influence on the next national election than the female, Afro American, and Hispanic, demographics combined.

I think a youth forum is a great idea.

I hope it gets approved.

I'll play fairy godmother to it any day of the week.

Have fun kids. :hi:

[orleans]

40. fairy godmother? is that what they call a chaperone nowadays? n/t

[Lex]

27. Maybe you all could get something like this:

[Cobalt Violet]

80. I was going to send them a few packages of pampers.

:evilgrin:

[kster]

29. K&R...nt

[Aptastik]

31. 24 year old, signing the petition

Definitely agree that we're a minority here, but it's good to have a forum for our issues. I'm currently in college and I'm organizing on campus around tuition hikes and textbook prices. Don't think too many would even care in GD, unless they were supporting kids in college (lucky kids). For far too long, politics has been the dominion of "adults". It's time we, the educated youth, stand up for our issues.

Can you imagine a world where candidates introduce plans to lower the cost of college, or increase Pell grants, before they introduce social security plans? Where youth outreach is more than an intern with a phone on a folding table?

Youth turnout has been rising since 2000, and will continue to rise. Barack is still in this race because of the youth turnout. Our time has come, and we will be heard!

[stillcool]

32. I think it's a great idea...

those going up the hill, will be impacted far more from political policies than those going down. I think the change in generational attitude is drastic. It's hard to communicate sometimes with people that hold on to those kind of ideals.

[Dark]

33. 22. Been a DUer since 2003.

I wouldn't mind such a forum.

[ZombieNixon]

34. Yes, please.

[Sabien]

35. a generational thing

Born in 80s, 70s, 60s, 50s, etc. that way the people can stick with one forum and not need to jump around 'cuz you know you're sticking with DU!

[shireen]

36. you have my support

:wtf: DU'ers picking on young people in our community? That's disgusting.

I don't know why some people feel the need to pick on others who are different from them. I've always thought that DU'ers, because of our politics, would be more accepting and supportive of others.

Bicoastal, you and your young DU buddies are an important part of this community. You are our future, and speaking for most people here, we will always support and encourage you. The bullies who choose to be nasty towards you, just because of your age, are not worth another moment of your time. That's why God (I mean Skinner & Co.!) invented the "ignore" button! Use it to filter out the riff-raff!

:grouphug:

[WCGreen]

37. Bully....

Let's segment the place some more...

I think we ahould have a forum for people born between July 5th, 1966 and Febuary 17th, 1974...

Besides, if you can't hold your own with people who aren't your chronological piers, who can you do battle with...

:evilgrin:

[Bicoastal]

42. Nonsense.

I'm NOT asking for a GD or GDP just for young people--I'm asking for a small forum (or group) where DU'ers of my generation can congregate. If you've ever clicked on the "Lobby" icon, you'd see that DU is already fairly "segmented" already, by state, by religion, by interest, and yes, date of birth. But then we all hang out in the Main Forums anyway, so who cares?

It also has absolutely nothing to do with holding our own in political argumentation--go ahead and survey the boards, I think you'll find we generally do pretty well against the oldsters...

:evilgrin: right back atcha.

[WCGreen]

43. I prefer to hang with the main group

Although I have been known to meander when something in the lobby catches my eye...

And Dang nabit, I was just funnin'...

[Bicoastal]

48. Sorry...I guess I'm used to flying off the handle around here...

....friends? :hi:

[orleans]

41. great idea. maybe i can get my daughter to sign up on du

(the down side to that is that the computer signs me in automatically--i'm afraid if she signed up the computer would get confused and i'd have to use my password. it's been years since i've had to use my password. i don't remember it anymore!)

i absolutely support you on this. i hope you get the forum started.

[bamacrat]

44. I'm 24 k&r.

[rockymountaindem]

46. Kick

[Hawkowl]

47. A thanksgiving kiddie table?

Can we restrict everyone under 30 to this forum? Sort of like the kiddie table at Thanksgiving?

[Heidi]

49. There's a big difference between DU Forums and DU Groups.

The Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan areas are DU Groups, where a donor star is required for posting. DU Forums don't require a donor star to post.

Here's more about DU Groups: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=206x11

[stillrockin]

50. Boomers support newbies! Welcome to all!

[stephinrome]

51. I will not be disclosing anything about my age, but will gladly give you a K&R! n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

53. Truth be told, we don't really want you off our lawn.

I think that slicing and dicing us (we democrats) into ever-smaller personal affinity groups does a huge disservice.

The politics of hyper-division we see here today is both new and transient.

[ProfessorGAC]

54. Well, Jeff, Let's Not Get Nuts!

I don't want them on my lawn. But, they're welcome to come into the house!
The Professor

[stimbox]

55. Doesn't Obama have a message board already? n/t

[negativenihil]

56. why not?! k&r

[mth44sc]

57. Gads

this thread makes me feel old :-)

[halobeam]

61. LOL

:toast: (or can we not mix this with our meds?):P

edit to say... YES!!!! great idea.

[mth44sc]

81. Just avoid mixin' it

with Geritol®

:-)

[immoderate]

58. I say give it a try.

Then I can come around and offer you candy. Just Kidding.

If DUers don't go, then it can be terminated, like the Graphics group was. :cry:

--IMM

[FlyingSquirrel]

59. Too graphic?

;)

[immoderate]

60. Not enough cow bell.

--IMM

[ismnotwasm]

62. K&R

(Not in your age group, I feel the young are change agents. Always have been--Great Idea!!!)

[Iggo]

63. Kicked and Rec'd...

...but only because you're in my age group...0-150.

Yep, I'm age-ist.

[RamboLiberal]

64. This Boomer supports you getting a forum - K&R

Seems only fair to me! And I'm really thrilled so many of your age group want to get involved in Democratic politics and the races this year.

Hey I'm disappointed in some DU'ers who been acting like total jerks in defending their candidate of choice and have taken to trashing other DU'ers!

[StrongBad]

67. Fellow 26er (well next month anyway) checking in...

...and giving another vote for this group.

Nice idea!

[scarletwoman]

71. kick for the kids -- the kids are alright! (nt)

[Virginia Dare]

72. What about an old fart forum?...n/t

[scarletwoman]

78. This IS the old fart forum.

Seriously -- check out any DU demographic poll, those in their 40s & 50s always predominate, and have done for years.

I'm zooming damn close to 60 myself, and I think that a youth forum would be an EXCELLENT addition to DU. I'm getting old and tired. I just want to live out my days in some peace and freedom, but there's too damn many forces working against those things. I've been fighting those forces for over 40 years, I'd really like to see new blood taking on some of this shit.

As the Who said -- back in my day -- "The Kids Are Alright".

sw

[Virginia Dare]

92. Oh, I do too...

back in my young whipper snapper days a liberal progressive was a pariah, at least where I'm from. I'd love to see the new generation go to the left again. I support anything that would foster it.

[annabanana]

76. Sure! Why the hell not... You kids should have a place where you don't

have to explain all those weird texting abbr3viations! Or who the hell all those new comics are.. or what music is all over campus lately. .

[shugah]

82. lending support for a whipper-snapper forum ;-)

i'm too old, but i think it's a great idea. i'm only saddened at what motivated you to want to start a young forum. i can't believe that anyone would look down their nose at a fellow DUer, one who is obviously as thoughtful and well informed as anyone else, because of youth. hmpf! i missed the thread - i'm glad, actually.

i do want to say, tho, that my kids were raised/are being raised on the music i love - if my 20 year old posts in your forum, he may actually defend some of the old stuff ;-) just this evening he was singing some bowie with me. of course, he has turned me on to some of the more modern stuff in retaliation (see my sig line). it's all good :-)

anyway - here is your K&R! good luck with your forum!

[bluedawg12]

83. Diversity enriches people and reduces the echo effect

of just hearing people who think alike, by bringing out opposing ideas.

I think we would lose some richness from the borad by segregating by age.

I am sorry people attacked anyone about their age or experience.

I want to see us united and not divided.

[ChazII]

86. A boomer who is

K&R your thread and your idea.

[madeline_con]

88. "... and I had no idea how old any of them were."

And you still won't. People lie.

[Bicoastal]

96. So what?

If they lie about their age and want to hang out with the younger set, what's the harm?

Anyway, on the whole, there's really no REASON lie about something like this. My profile says I'm a Male from Brooklyn, but I could just as easily say I'm a Female from Anchorage if I wanted to deceive everybody. I could also hang out in the "Seniors" Forum and talk about my grandchildren, and few would notice the difference but me. But why would I?

Still, it is nice to have a place on DU where you at least THINK you have something in common with the others assembled.

[madeline_con]

99. The point is, who cares, so...

why have a separate forum, as if only "a certain age group" can:

A. relate to the content

B. be welcome

C. have relevant comments. :shrug:

[Bicoastal]

97. Double Post

drat.

[rug]

90. Elad's setting up a special forum for you on Thanksgiving.

[scarletwoman]

101. The Kid's Table forum? Will it have collapsible legs & mismatched chairs?

:rofl:

[Perry Logan]

91. Dumb post deleted.

It happens to everyone. It's happened to you.

[RoadRage]

94. I'm 30.. totally agree. I'm kicking (can't Rec.. past 24 hours)

Us Youngin's want a place to be all stupid about our politics!

[0007]

95. bttft and recommend!

[Vinca]

98. What if I feel like I'm 20? LOL. nt

[Jed Dilligan]

102. I turn 34 on Sunday, does that time me out of it?