The DU Hundred Heart Dilemma - Resolved.

[MineralMan]

On Tuesday evening, an anonymous, but very generous person made a donation in my name to DU. Thank you so much for that. Right now, my finances don't allow me to make such a donation. With that donation came 100 hearts for me to distribute. I was gobsmacked at this. 100 hearts! It was a serious responsibility, and I absolutely had to give them all away before the time ran out.

Just now, I gave the last one to a DUer. Since Wednesday morning, I've been reading DU as always, trying to distribute those donated hearts. Who to give them too, though? That was the dilemma.

The answer I came to was to give the hearts to people on DU who showed the qualities of reason, tolerance, a willingness to listen, kindness, real civility, and thoughtfulness. It wasn't a matter of giving them to people who agreed with my opinions, but to people who I felt exemplified what I think DUers should be, and who had all the qualities that help DU to be a valuable discussion forum.

So, if some people knew that I gave them a heart, they'd be surprised, I'm sure. I gave hearts to people with whom I disagree on many topics. Of course, I also gave hearts to people with whom I agree. In both cases, though, the recipient had to be someone who discusses issues without rancor and without undue snarkiness. Some of the people who agree with me on most things did not get hearts, while some who disagree with me on most things did.

Of course, there were other hearts given to people who were unfamiliar to me, but who posted something caring or kind or helpful. Giving away 100 hearts, it turns out, is a lot of work. I didn't post much at all during the process, and that is very unlike me, as many of you know. But, it was worthwhile and educational.

Once again, my thanks go to whomever made that generous donation in my name. You've helped DU, and that's a good thing, to be sure. My thanks also go to every person to whom I gave a heart. You are, I think, the solid core of DU...each and every one of you. You all have my gratitude for your presence here.