Is it just me or is the DU more sparsely populated these days. For sure

[applegrove]

it is election season and many have jobs with Hillary or are volunteering.

[murielm99]

1. You know why.

Trolls and people who are unfriendly to our cause have been allowed to dominate this website. Many people have stopped coming here. Some may never come back.

Like many Hillary supporters, I was alert stalked and silenced for a time. I seldom post here any more and I have not renewed my paid membership. I go to websites that are more friendly to Democrats.

I do volunteer for Hillary. I have work to do for her Tuesday, and I will be signing up for future days as well. We all need to GOTV.

[FarPoint]

11. The trolls did damage our community.

I agree with your assessment.

[RapSoDee]

20. + 1

Troll infestation...

[BobbyDrake]

15. "I go to websites that are more friendly to Democrats" THIS!

They made a big show of redesigning the terms of Service and jury system, only to deliberately fail to enforce the new rules, leaving us no better than before.

[Fast Walker 52]

24. Huh? What site is more friendly to Dems and is a decent place for discussion?

IMO, the new rules are pretty harsh but have worked to enforce party support.

[BobbyDrake]

47. The best pro-Democratic sites are invite-only, IMO

That way they don't end up becoming facilitators to anti-Democratic sentiments as happened to DU.

[Historic NY]

59. Yup.....

and twitter with thousand of followers, where one can choose who or whom they follow.

[Fast Walker 52]

103. "invite-only"? Like secret clubs?

How is that possibly large and diverse enough to be an interesting forum?

Actually, I am on a closed liberal politics group on Facebook. It's ok, but doesn't have that many people participating. And has the usual fighting between Bernie-or-bust/3rd party people and regular Dems.

[BobbyDrake]

105. If "interesting" means letting trolls take over, we're fine being boring.

The people I know from such groups care more about supporting HRC and Democrats than "some" of the people around here, I'll just say that much. And we've got zero concern about passing the latest litmus tests about whether or not we're "progressive enough," which is just the way we like it.

[Angelfire144]

109. like many websites

TYY comes to mind, membership, posting and being engaged dropped precipitously after Sanders left the race. That was my point. No doubt he generated a huge excitement for people who were never engaged in politics, and they have dropped off the radar. Whether they vote or not, I'm talking millennials is yet to be seen.

[BobbyDrake]

110. My counterpoint would be that not everyone who gets involved is qualified to be.

I'm not interested in allying with modern Know-Nothings, no matter how wrongly progressive they think themselves to be. And Cenk Uygur is the leftwing Glenn Beck, so I'm sure he's fine with any amount of ad revenue, that greedy lying liar.

[Angelfire144]

111. boy, a little prickly aren't you

Comparing Cenk to Glen Beck?

[BobbyDrake]

142. They share a business model. Oh, and they're both Republicans.

Cenk Uygur is a conservative who makes his money pretending to be a progressive. Go look at the tiered pricing scheme of his "online network" memberships. Just $10k per month gets you a monthly phone call with Cenk!

Don't blame me if you're just finding out that Cenk Uygur isn't who he pretends to be.

[Angelfire144]

143. he was fired from MSNBC for being too liberal

And not towing the corporate line. So was Ed Schultz. Get your facts straight, where do you get your information?

[BobbyDrake]

145. Uygur's business is funded by $4 million from Buddy Roemer. Do you know who that is?

Buddy Roemer is an anti-choice, anti-gay, pro-torture former Republican governor of Louisiana. But since he agrees with Uygur about campaign finance reform, and because Uygur is a greedy Ronald Reagan supporting Republican, that $4M has effectively purchased Uygur's silence on all of those more progressive subjects like reproductive rights, gay rights, and human rights.

Pretend Uygur is progressive all you want, but you're only fooling yourself.

ETA: Cenk Uygur denies the Armenian genocide. How progressive, right??

[Fla Dem]

87. I've not seen a lack of enforcement. You know you can alert if there's a post that violates the TOS.

We all have that responsibility, not just the admins.

[Skidmore]

27. This is very true.

I left for several months and was really hesitant to come back at all. Now that I have I find that new people are here and old friends have left. I haven't decided what to think of DU now and can't feel the old sense of community yet.

[Fla Dem]

84. I think if you spend a little bit more time here you' find the atmosphere has greatly improved.

No question the primaries were a terrible time here. Most of the worst disruptors were outside agitators with nothing in mind but to disrupt our community and cause divisiveness.

However, I was disappointed to see many long term members show a very ugly side and many of them have now left.

There are many Bernie supporters here now who are actively supporting HRC.

I hope you'll give us the benefit of your continued participation.

[LAS14]

97. I agree that the atmosphere has improved. nt

[kstewart33]

113. Bingo, Fla Dem.

I like the new jury system because it does not identify posters and it provides the content of the specific policy allegedly violated before providing the alerted post.

I expect some of the long timers will return. Overall, things are much more civilized since the policies were revised. It seems that we are working together toward a common goal instead of many constantly taking pot shots at each other.

[PatSeg]

90. This is my reaction as well

and I know some long time DUers who quit coming here and I think they may be gone for good. I stayed away myself during the primaries, much too contentious for me. However, I do sense a lot of disruptive trolling going on these days and some very predictable patterns.

Professional Internet trolling is a very established reality these days. Paid trolls are well trained and know how to cause dissent without getting banned. I really don't know what the solution is.

[murielm99]

91. I think the solution might be

active moderators. It worked in the past, when we were more of a community than we are now.

[PatSeg]

99. You know,

that is a really good point. I've seen comments banned that wouldn't have been back in the moderator days and vice versa. We certainly were more of a community back then. I am still friends with ten or more people that I met here back in the early days.

[Shankapotomus]

114. There's websites more friendly to Democrats?

Where? Can you PM links? Thanks!

[murielm99]

115. No.

They are invitation only. That has been the only way to avoid the trolls and Hillary haters this election season.

[Shankapotomus]

116. Wow

Now I really want to join. How do I prove I'm a loyal democrat?

[murielm99]

130. Go out and vote.

Work for candidates up and down the ticket. Phone bank. Canvas. Get some yard signs.

[Angelfire144]

2. well I imagine most of the Bernie supporters left.

How many thousands might that be?

[Maru Kitteh]

4. You joined DU to explain the history of DU to DU? Why do you say

that "most" Bernie supporters left?

[NurseJackie]

50. Weird, huh?

[Maru Kitteh]

85. It's like the person has DeJa-Vu all over again!

Very strange! Almost unexplainable!

[Hekate]

98. Possible reincarnation?

[NurseJackie]

117. Michonne would stay busy around here ...

[Maru Kitteh]

137. Some people believe when a DU soul passes the Rubicon

it returns as a fuzzy (minded) bunny. New, and yet somehow still, an old soul. Always confused. Perpetually oppressed.

so sad

[Hekate]

141. Awwww. That is one of the most touching things I've ever read, Maru

[riversedge]

5. A few dozen probably have.

[pnwmom]

8. You imagine wrong. Most real Bernie supporters took his message to heart

and will be supporting Hillary in the general.

The disrupters are off disrupting somewhere else.

[Hortensis]

13. Right. In fact, a large majority of Bernie supporters intended

from the very beginning to support Hillary if she won and were satisfied to have her as a second choice. (80% of Bernie's Iowa primary voters specifically said so, for instance). That's because the large base of his support is/was mainstream liberal Democrats, as she is. Others were not so glad, of course, but still supported her.

[Fast Walker 52]

25. Welcome to DU! Though judging by your comment, I bet this is not your first

incarnation here.

[Squinch]

29. Apparently many are coming back under different names to disrupt, though.

[Demsrule86]

55. Bored with JPR?- terrible site nt

[FSogol]

60. +1, LOL. n/t

[Andy823]

61. Yep

And some are coming back to help rec disruptive posts, and of course try and take over the jury system as they did in the primaries. Many of them are still using their old names from the primaries, and many, as you stated, or using new names, but using the same lame tactics to try and skirt the rules, but still divide the boards.

[DesertRat]

107. Many are trying

But don't last very long.

[Demsrule86]

31. Not all who claimed to be Berne supporters were

Democrats. This is a Democratic site. And I think things are going pretty well.

[Bobbie Jo]

36. Thousands?

okay.

Yeah, no. Tens perhaps.

Welcome to DU.

[Lil Missy]

108. Not thousands, just the shit-stirring trolls, maybe a hundred or two.

[FSogol]

118. Nah, only 50. Socks come in pairs. It is much nicer here without them.

[betsuni]

3. I've been hoping people are just enjoying summer vacation. (nt)

[yodermon]

6. Check the Alexa rank.

It's definitely been trending down for a certain period of time.

[stevenleser]

119. Happens after every contested Dem Presidential primary. Nt

[burrowowl]

7. I voted for Bernie

but will vote for HRC, but Salazar?
Scary!

[HeiressofBickworth]

9. I'm not one of the more prolific posters

And this has been a bad summer for me. A surprise bypass surgery in May and just a week ago another hospitalization have sapped a lot of my energy, resulting in very few posts.

But I read DU at least a couple of times a day to try to keep up with things. Despite the contentious primary season, I'm not giving up on DU.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

21. Sorry to hear

I hope you get better soon.

[Demsrule86]

32. Get better soon. nt

[uponit7771]

40. God Speed on your recovery

[True Dough]

56. I'm new here

and have no frame of reference, so this thread has piqued my curiosity. I'm enjoying my experience here, even if the DU had seen better days in the past.

Regardless, I hope you are back on your feet soon HeiressofBickworth. Our health is precious, and hopefully you'll be enjoying better days in the near future. Take care.

[applegrove]

57. Vibes to you for improved health.

[femmocrat]

79. So sorry, Heiress!

I hope you are on the path to a full recovery.
Thanks for checking in!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

10. Hillary doesn't get the coverage Trump gets.

And when Trump appears on my tv or radio, I turn it off. That tends to make diversion essential. And that leads to thinking less about politics.

But there was indeed some horrible behavior here in the primary that turned me off and surely dozens of others as well. I just need to check in because I'm addicted to electioneering.

[bettyellen]

65. A lot of people got turned off by the crazy Dem hate that took over and the old system didn't catch

Now the moderation rules out the majority of people who hated the rules and refused to enforce them. It's summer and a lot of people are taking it easy until things heat up in the fall, this is pretty typical from what I recall in past years.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

112. Good to know. It's sort of a blur. Been here 12 years.

So many are gone, not forgotten, but neither missed.

[Onlooker]

12. It's cause for concern

It's the liberal millennials. They screwed us in 2010 and 2014 by failing to vote in droves (when only 22% voted and voted Democratic by only a 55% to 44% majority).

But if DU traffic is a clue to election results, we do have something to worry about. These charts show the popularity of websites, from the site Alexa.com.

Democratic Underground:

http://traffic.alexa.com/graph?o=lt&y=t&b=ffffff&n=666666&f=999999&p=4e8cff&r=1y&t=2&z=30&c=1&h=150&w=340&u=democraticunderground.com

Free Republic:

http://traffic.alexa.com/graph?o=lt&y=t&b=ffffff&n=666666&f=999999&p=4e8cff&r=1y&t=2&z=30&c=1&h=150&w=340&u=freerepublic.com

[Divine Discontent]

14. For sure we can't ignore it

But I think the site isn't the place for the young crowd, and they are usually conversing at functions or on FB or Twitter. I also think Trump is so awful a candidate, many believe there's no worry. But that too is cause for concern.


http://cafepress.com/hillaryforamerica2016

[fleabiscuit]

33. Alexa tracks stats for those who have the Alexa toolbar installed on their browser.

I don't. How many here do?

[Lil Missy]

122. DU has no impact whatsoever on General Election results.

DU membership is a spit in the ocean compared to the hundreds of millions that vote in the General.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

16. I prefer trump.

No trump is ok, but when you have a long suit, ruffing is a joy. Of course, a long suit can be helpful in no trump, but dangerous, too. Bidding and making six or a grad slam is toughest in No Trump.

[Sancho]

17. I'm not as active on DU as I used to be...for the reasons given in the thread...

the trolls during the primary and alert stalking were worse this time than previous primaries.

At any rate, I agree that traffic is down and I've discovered other outlets.

If DUers post informative OPs and avoid piranha attacks, then people will come back. The HC group removed the blocks. I don't know if other groups have done the same.

[bigwillq]

19. The Bernie group removed blocks as well (nt)

[Sancho]

22. Good...maybe that will increase the activity...

[synergie]

43. No, they have not.

[bigwillq]

124. They unblocked me

Didn't realize that meant that there were some still blocked. My bad. I haven't checked out that forum since I was unblocked.

I found it funny that I voted for Bernie and was a vocal supporter but yet got blocked from the Sanders group on DU.

[synergie]

146. The list is rather interesting, made up a large number of people who share

some characteristics. Quite a few poc. The reasons for blocking are spurious too, mine was for daring to question the attacks on planned parenthood, using right wing attacks, and anti choice rhetoric and misrepresenting an article they had linked to and did not bother to read (if one is generous and goes with ignorance and not deliberate deception).

The purity tests seem to be a crutch for some people. It is part of why this place was so very nasty in the primary days, and why the off shoot remains so today.

I am not sure how the hosting is done here, but it seems that encouraging those with power to promote their personal grievances is not such a good plan.

My block was before I hit 10 posts, so I had no recourse to even ask why.

[tammywammy]

46. No, they haven't. n/t

[BobbyDrake]

66. At least 41 people would disagree with you.

Go check out that group's details, where they still maintain a blocked list. It's very obvious that the Hosts of the Bernie Group continue to fight the primary as a middle finger to the new Terms of Service.

[Blue Idaho]

63. DU failed the civility test during the primaries...

Lots of good people, long time members of DU, got their feelings hurt. I know this sounds trivial but hurt feelings are no laughing matter. Especially when there are plenty of alternatives to this place.

[bigwillq]

18. DU is not as interesting or exciting when we have to agree with each other

Lol.

Loved the primaries, but it's kind of boring now. I haven't been as active since the conventions ended.

[Fast Walker 52]

26. I agree. DU was more exciting during the primary when there was so much in-fighting

now, there's not so much to discuss as we basically agree with each other.

[Demsrule86]

34. We don't have agree

but we should be civil...also those who say 'agree with each other' often mean trash our nominee and Democrats. This is not Green underground. It is DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND. I like the new rules.

[Maru Kitteh]

82. Some people are not happy unless they can spew vile at Democrats. I used to think those people

were called Republicans. I used to think that Republicans hated nominees and officials who stood up for equality, who cared about living wages and fair compensation, who supported unions, who accepted science and worked to fight climate change, who fought for parity in healthcare and coverage for all, and believed it is the role of the government to maintain a strong social safety net for the most vulnerable of citizens.

But come to find out, while Republicans certainly show disdain for Democrats and vehement opposition to our ideals - it's the prancing-pony, alt-left drama queens and puritopians that really, truly hate Democrats. They frequently flock to progressive message boards to tell Democrats all about the real, shocking and totally true! news that we are actually the root of all evil in the world!

These devotees of Our Lady of Perpetual Oppression feel sorry for us, that we do not understand that President Obama is just exactly like George W. Bush, and we would be better off with Trump, and if only we would just believe, Glenda the Good Witch and her sparkling Green Emerald Party could be our president and turn the whole Earth into a magic wonderland. Patchouli for everyone!

[betsuni]

129. This is FABULOUS! ++++

[AgadorSparticus]

136. +1,000!!! You sure hit the nail on the head!

[NaturalHigh]

53. Yeah, I'll be so glad when this damned election is over.

Almost every post is about what a dick Trump is. I already know that, so I'm ready to move on to something else.

[meow2u3]

23. Trolls and hostile forces have been polluting DU

The admins have cracked down on trolls and others hostile to DU's cause, so they've been cracking down and nuking them.

[sufrommich]

28. DU has become too anti democratic party for me. In many

ways it reminds me of conservative purists on Free Republic who call anyone not far right enough RINOs. I'm not a leftist,I think on DU I probably fall into the much despised moderate democrat category,although anywhere else in the real world I'd be considered a liberal democrat. Just got tired of the constant bashing from the holier than thou crowd.

[zipplewrath]

30. Context is everything

You made me laugh a bit. I'm surrounded by conservative republicans at work and they always call me the "liberal". I laugh and tell them they have no idea what a liberal is. It's just that the GOP has gone so bat shit crazy, anyone left of "crazy rightwing" is now a "liberal". I was far more moderate in my youth, I've become "radicalized" over the decades, but even around here there are very few true "radical liberals". You spot one every once and a bit, but right now they've been chased off. But yeah, this place didn't really like the whole DLC crowd. Now though I think they run the place.

[Demsrule86]

37. That is simply not true

Many who frequent this site decided during the primaries decided to post right wing crap about mostly Sec. Clinton but I saw some stuff about Sen. Sanders that should not have been allowed either. Personally, I would not have allowed those sources ever. This is Democratic Underground. We are all Democrats otherwise why even come here? This has always been a party that has many different points of view. There is nothing wrong with that. Some say they want radical discussionss but what they really want is to be able to criticize Democrats and for everyone to agree with them or face constant alerts. You can say what you want here unless you attack Democrats. And if you are a Democrat why would you do that? I think the Admins have a tough job and do it quite well.

[zipplewrath]

77. Which part isn't true?

There used to be a much bigger anti-DLC bias. It seems to have completely disappeared.

[G_j]

38. There may be an age component, I don't know.

Some of the older crowd see 'Democratic values' more along the lines of JFK, RFK or FDR, and have never been very comfortable with the DLC.

[Demsrule86]

52. there is no DLC really

It was invented to take the GOP down in the 90's and has been insignificant since...and I really don't think what you said was very nice...some of the most liberal Dems I know are my kids...and they are young. Some have a picture of past Democrats that bears no resemblance to the actual men...the GOP does the same with Reagan. JFK would have fit very comfortably in a DLC sort of group with is emphasis on tax cuts in fact...and I notice you skip Johnson entirely...even though Johnson passed the most liberal stuff ever including the War on poverty programs,Medicaid and civil rights.

[G_j]

58. I was specifically addressing the impression

I've had over the years, that there are a lot of older folks here at DU (I am one of them). I am well aware that there are plenty of younger people out there who are very progressive! They were the base for Bernie's successes.

And yes, you can include LBJ on that list, though Vietnam, unfortunately didn't help his legacy.

As for the DLC, I think the basic mindset is still very much alive.

[Demsrule86]

35. Those who do that are often not Democrats but Greens ET AL.

And they have a different agenda. Greens want to destroy the Democratic Party.

[LongtimeAZDem]

39. ^^^^^ (nt)

[stevenleser]

120. I think it has gotten much better with the new rules.

There seems to be some bending of the rules going on but mostly it's a huge improvement.

[demmiblue]

41. This whole thread is meta. Unrec. n/t

[saidsimplesimon]

42. Just served on a jury here

Just for clarification, I have never alerted or blocked anyone on this site. I think it is juvenile behaviour and worst of all, it does nothing to encourage discussion. As always, just my opinion.

Sad to say, the new site rules, not my own, required me to judge an alert based on the content, without context.

[Fast Walker 52]

104. yeah, a lot of alterts are silly IMO

I also don't like not knowing what happens, or even knowing if it's only me judging or a team. It's a strange new system, and too harsh.

[BlueInPhilly]

44. 10+ years and running...

and you can tell by the number of my posts that I do not post often. I too was blocked and reported when I dared question Snowden's glorification. The primaries turned me off big time - I have never seen such vitriol and division.

But DU is still my go-to place during elections.

[Imperialism Inc.]

45. I haven't visited DU much over the last couple years

so I can't speak to recent activity but on the long term scale it is much less active. You go into a particular category and the majority of posts on page 1 are the same for an entire day and that never used to happen. Posts with only a few responses (or even none) somehow manage to stay on the first page. In the old days those would have been gone within the hour.

[Demsrule86]

49. That is not true...I see differnet posts when checking all day. nt

[geek tragedy]

48. site traffic spiked during the height of the primary (lots of Reddit types came in)

once the primary was effectively really over (NY primary) the Reddit types went back to their dens.

Traffic is still high compared to where it was in the fall.

http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/democraticunderground.com

[Exilednight]

51. The younger generations prefer Twitter, Redit, Instagram, and Facebook

Everything goes in flux on the internet. First it was message boards, then blogs, now it's microblogging.

Women tend to trend towards newer apps faster than men do, so that plays a part too.

Mobile devices replaced laptops which replaced desktops.

Typing out a long post takes time, and everyone wants bumpersticker replies these days.

[tymorial]

62. Often with little substance

And a lot of supposition.

[AngryAmish]

54. Everyone is out aging golf.

[murielm99]

68. What is the Clinton koolade?

What does it have to do with supporting the Democratic nominee on a Democratic website?

Is there Sanders koolade and O'Malley koolade, too? I must be missing out on some refreshing drinks during this hot summer!

[synergie]

147. Perhaps it is what the RWers, freepers and Cavers imbibe to keep that pointless

hate humming at proper levels to shut out reality?

[BobbyDrake]

69. "Clinton koolade?" Stay classy, I guess?

But seriously, tell us more about this scientific method of yours based on how many lawn signs you see. Besides all of them, in which scientific journals will your results be published? After all, nothing says "super-scientific and peer-reviewable" like counting random bumper stickers, amiright?

Anyone on a site called Democratic Underground who calls the Democratic nominee "the lesser of two evils" should just find the door and leave already. Go found GreenPartyDumbassUnderground or something, OK? Stop trying to demoralize those of us working to build something already. We don't need folks pretending to be allies while stabbing us in the back like this.

[bklyncowgirl]

74. This was the exact point I was making.

Don't complain about losing posters when people who are not in lockstep are treated like enemies.

[zipplewrath]

78. Waiting until after the GE

I'm curious how the rules will be enforced after the GE. Especially if Obama tries to push the TPP through. We'll see what people are allowed to say, or what policies/politics are allowed to be criticized.

[BobbyDrake]

80. If you don't want to be treated as an enemy, stop acting like one.

Seriously. You actively choose to write that Clinton is the "lesser of two evils," and then you have the nerve to try to imply that you're the wronged party when you're rightly called out on it? Give me a fucking break. You and the other trolls know exactly what you're doing, and just because it hurts your Precious Feelings to be exposed doesn't mean I'm going to stop exposing you.

Asking you to not attack our nominee on our board is not the same thing as demanding you march in "lockstep." It's more like a common courtesy that seems to sadly be beyond your capabilities.

Democratic Underground. Support the Democratic nominee. If that's impossible for you to do, then why are you here if not to make trouble? Obvious bitterness is obvious!

[Maru Kitteh]

138. was it one of these?

[GulfCoast66]

131. If you do not support

Hillary you are the enemy.

[yeoman6987]

73. I think for the first time, if we had a start over vote of the two parties,

It would win. I agree no enthusiasm with regards to neighborhood and yard signs or bumber stickers.

[Native]

67. Been a member for 14 years. It looks like viewership may not be down that much, but posts are.

Latest Breaking News is basically non-existent compared to the old days. I remember when news would break and we would actually get posts by members who were experts in the field/area concerning the post. Much of the time, posters would give additional information regarding the breaking news that would later end up being reported. And we really had some super OP's in the GD election forums - posters were actually quoted in the media. Nothing like that now!

[femmocrat]

81. LBN has such tight restrictions.... if I hear something "breaking," I post in GD or GDP.

I kind of wish people would check for duplicates though. We could have good discussions if there weren't so many OPs on the latest hot-off-the-presses items.

I can never remember all the rules for LBN!

[Purveyor]

88. Agreed. This having to walk on eggshells just bring content to the forum just isn't

worth it any more for me especially considering I'm one hide away from a ban.

There are 3 "top of the hour' lbn worthy news stories right now crossing the transom that, considering the current situation would probably get a hide.

I'm having much better luck "purveying" news on twitter with damn few hassles.

Was once a great breaking news site but all good things eventually come to an end...

[Native]

89. I don't see that many duplicates in LBN, but I see tons in this forum.

It used to be that I couldn't keep up with the articles posted in LBN, and now there are barely any. Didn't the old rules allow for 24 hours? So much news is published online in the wee hours that by afternoon it is already past the 12 hour time limit per the current rules & it can't get posted there.

In its heyday, DU was really something. I remember when politicians would post, and people in the intelligence community, and when planes went down we'd actually have employees from the airlines post inside info - pilots and mechanics too. It was a freaking treasure trove for news junkies. Now I have to go to Reddit and Twitter to find anything "breaking." Reddit is great for getting news fast, but it doesn't support decent conversations. DU is the opposite now when it used to have the best of both worlds.

Like you, I usually end up posting breaking news in GDP or GD.

[PatSeg]

92. I've noticed the same thing

I remember when I couldn't keep up with the posts, everything moved so quickly. Even when I didn't participate a lot at DU, I would still come for the news articles, but as you said, now there are barely any.

[Native]

93. Do you remember if the old rules gave us 24 hours? 12 just seems unworkable considering the 24/7

news cycle.

[PatSeg]

101. That is a good point

Then there are a few "Latest Breaking News" police who jump all over any article that might not fit the criteria exactly. The unnecessary nitpicking tends to discourage people from posting news stories.

There are an awful lot of issues that people are bringing up. I wonder if they will be addressed after the election or perhaps sites like DU are "yesterday". I hope not, because I really don't like Twitter.

[TexasBushwhacker]

70. Election fatigue?

Another 11 weeks until the election. Maybe folks are taking a break before things really get rolling when the debates start.

[grossproffit]

71. It's so peaceful here. Love it.

[grossproffit]

72. Hillary supporters do their posting on election day. They populate voting booths, not forums.

[workinclasszero]

75. Yup

[hollowdweller]

83. I have noticed forums of all kinds attendance is down. I think Facebook and other stuff like that

are taking their toll.

I like the outdoors and shooting and knife collecting and goat raising and all the forums related to those subjects are down by 2/3 mainly due to facebook.


I have friends it's impossible to get hold of them by email because they never check it. You have to contact them thru Facebook. It's really taken the toll on email and forums.

[SecularMotion]

86. The signal to noise ratio is at a low point.

[ms liberty]

94. The overwhelming majority of the posts in this thread

Are why I rarely post or participate here now. I supported Bernie in the primary and I'm not going to spend much time here when pretty much every thread is still being used to bash me and anyone who is not enthusiastically in lock step with the views of our nominee's supporters here. I come by and read sometimes, but there is a group of members who are still relentlessly working to define me and others like me as someone who is a troll, not a real democrat, and someone who should be banned, and it has run a lot of us off. That's what they want, some of the posts in this thread make it clear and it is a view that has been repeatedly posted here. For myself, I've got better things to do than voluntarily read verbal abuse from people who think theirs is the only legitimate viewpoint - many of whom have been members a third of the time I have. This used to be somewhere to come for real discussion, somewhere we were able to exchange ideas and views. There was once a range of views that were argued and discussed and it was not just okay, it was welcomed. Those days are likely gone forever.

[Native]

106. I recall staying away from DU because at times people were so darn critical of Obama -

nothing hateful, but definitely stuff that would get banned here now & wasn't banned then. It is definitely more restrictive now - probably the result of such a contentious primary season.

[Peacetrain]

95. Actually I am sort of seeing the opposite.. a greater variey of names on ops

Sometimes a while back you would see the entire page filled with ops from 4 or 5 people.. and they were fast.. so looking at the page today.. its pretty diverse..

[unitedwethrive]

96. I have several friends who were kicked off of here during the Bernie v. Hillary time,

and started a private Google Group to discuss politics. That is how I heard about DU, when they invited me to join their new group and were talking about why it was started. Frankly, political discussion among friends is far better, because people treat each other with respect. The advantage to DU is getting lots of information from around the web, since it is time consuming to come across all these articles individually.

[LAS14]

100. I think DU is more civil, but perhaps less interesting.

It's a hard thing to encourage disagreement but prohibit incivility and untruths. I don't know how one accomplishes it. I guess I like this civil atmosphere better, but I do wonder where the far left have gone. I don't hear many far left opinions anymore. Maybe because they would have the word "Bernie" in the post????

BTW, I, myself, am not far left. I just like lively conversation.

[NanceGreggs]

121. Many long-time DUers ...

... myself among them, stopped participating here back in 2009, when the anti Obama/anti-Dem posters were allowed free rein.

It quickly got to the point where DemocraticUnderground was NOT a site for Democrats - it had become the on-line "complaints department" for those who never ran out of reasons to bitch about everything the Party said or did. Needless to say, a lot of those posters were never Democrats to begin with.

Are there less people here then there once were? Absolutely - the Alexa stats bear that out.

My hope is that DU will now go back to its original roots: a site for DEMOCRATS to discuss our party, its activities, and its goals - and offer criticism when warranted. The fact that many shit-disturbers have left for sites like JPR is, IMHO, is a godsend. Most of them were never Dems to begin with, so their absence has improved the atmosphere here to a great degree.

DU now has a chance to rebuild itself as a place for DEMOCRATS to gather. It will take time to get back on that track that made DU what it once was, and a lot will depend on how dedicated the Admins are to making that happen.

[uponit7771]

125. "it had become the on-line "complaints department" for those who never ran out of reasons to bitch"

+1

[SecularMotion]

127. They go to other sites and complain about DU, but they never leave DU

They come back with a sob story to play on the empathy of liberals or sign up under another account and then it's not long before they're back to toxic posting again.

[GulfCoast66]

133. Like this one perhaps?

Totally agree. Only been here a year and it has been eye opening. But it was easy to predict that those who went to Jackass Resentfuls would not be able to stay away once they realized a site dedicated to a losing candidate is nothing but a pity party.

This is a site for democrats. Not general political discussion.

[postatomic]

123. It's election season

Miles to go before I sleep.

I can't speak to DU being less populated. Just haven't noticed it.

[tavernier]

126. The only thing I've noticed

is that in the past the discussion threads seemed to scroll by more quickly, so it seemed there were more threads being posted.

[aikoaiko]

132. DU has become very pedestrian and an echo chamber.

The primary was miserable, and the current state is better than that, but there are only so many Hillary is awesome, Trump is still insane, and Jill Stein is the devil posts that I want to read.

[uppityperson]

135. Has all that been you? Or your "friend"? What have you been up to this summer? Canoeing?

Collecting bottle caps?

[George Eliot]

139. I miss the issues talkers. Now mostly Hillary love and bashing everybody else.

I was here to discuss political issues. I'm a Sanders person who will vote for Clinton. But I've never been an emotional voter. I miss the missing who talked the issues. They are gone.

[applegrove]

140. I think too that Hillary is letting Trump be Trump this month. Hopefully

we will get back to the issues in September.

[MissB]

144. It's summertime. I'm not on DU as much.

Too busy when the weather is nice.