General Discussion

kentuck

(111,147 posts) Fri May 23, 2014, 07:37 PM May 2014

In what ways has DU changed over the years? [View all]

I can recall when DU was the 10% that disagreed with Democratic and Republican Parties on the war in Iraq and the majority support for President George W Bush. That was an eternity ago.

Over the years, it seems to me that DU has become more partisan and less ideological. A few issues have become untouchable over the years, as DU has evolved into its present state. The Party is much more important now than in the early years and less open to criticism, in my opinion.

What changes have you noticed?

205 replies

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In what ways has DU changed over the years? [View all] kentuck May 2014 OP

Foreign nationalists are here. geek tragedy May 2014 #1

I don't agree that DU disdains nationalism Donald Ian Rankin May 2014 #6

It's immoral for companies to exploit workers in other countries and.... Armstead May 2014 #85

How often does Europe employ people in non-Euro countries. whathehell May 2014 #154

That forbid what, exactly? Donald Ian Rankin May 2014 #161

Americans teaching ESL in Western Europe, for one thing.. whathehell May 2014 #178

So what? Liberal sites always had a wide variety of people from all over the world. I moderated one sabrina 1 May 2014 #57

Sorry, I just don't understand why they get to be in a party's "underground" forum, though. ancianita May 2014 #106

Our policies now affect the whole world. In fact many people from around the world sabrina 1 May 2014 #139

Cool. Thanks. Much appreciated. ancianita May 2014 #140

More than six million US citizens live outside the United States. Spider Jerusalem May 2014 #141

Understood. ancianita May 2014 #142

Foreign nationals are adifferent thing from "foreign nationalism" Scootaloo May 2014 #165

They were always here. McCamy Taylor May 2014 #65

There were non-Americans on DU from the beginning LeftishBrit May 2014 #70

Foreign nationalist ........ that sounds so much more ominous than polly7 May 2014 #86

Well said. Texas Elvis May 2014 #105

Welcome to DU. You're in a LOT of good company, then. ancianita May 2014 #108

I actually think the poster meant "foreign nationals" which has an entirely whathehell May 2014 #160

No, it was pretty obvious what he/she meant. polly7 May 2014 #164

I see more pro-US nationalism here than anything, really Spider Jerusalem May 2014 #113

+1 YoungDemCA May 2014 #114

I see some of the anti-immigrant stuff but that is geek tragedy May 2014 #136

Perhaps you are "seeing things" through the lens of your own bias.. whathehell May 2014 #158

FYI, I'm a US citizen and I've voted Democratic since I could vote. Spider Jerusalem May 2014 #159

No doubt you expected wild surprise on my part.. whathehell May 2014 #180

Sure, I'm characterising it as "nationalist". Spider Jerusalem May 2014 #181

Good thinking!..Drag out the "dictionary definition". whathehell May 2014 #184

Thank you, but be prepared to be flamed for the mere observation. n/t whathehell May 2014 #153

I think you mean "foreign nationals" as opposed to foreign nationalists, whathehell May 2014 #156

No, I'm talking about people geek tragedy May 2014 #168

Okay, I understand. n/t whathehell May 2014 #198

The site is far more Libertarian ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #2

I agree with that gollygee May 2014 #3

I don't either, but I really felt like people here just wanted to get rid of Bush... CTyankee May 2014 #4

Yeah it was so anti-Bush gollygee May 2014 #5

except for the Green Party stuff bigtree May 2014 #8

I was going to say, there was a lot of support for Dennis Kucinich back when... Shandris May 2014 #21

Yep. In contrast to the Bush years, there is a definite strain of implicit trust in the Dear Leader Maedhros May 2014 #118

I agree Mojorabbit May 2014 #152

Green Party politics is very different from Libertarianism. Maedhros May 2014 #117

Either that or the libertarians stuck to issues geek tragedy May 2014 #9

That's very true. greatauntoftriplets May 2014 #7

TELL IT. Number23 May 2014 #31

You joined DU in July, 2011...unless you were here under another name? KoKo May 2014 #32

Actually I was here shortly after you .. 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #48

prove it U4ikLefty May 2014 #49

how? 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #52

How? jberryhill May 2014 #63

Exactly Bobbie Jo May 2014 #67

You don't get to tell anyone what to do or demand anything of ANYONE! Liberal_Stalwart71 May 2014 #191

I have no idea what inspired that jberryhill May 2014 #195

Your words... Liberal_Stalwart71 May 2014 #196

I believe you need to read for tone jberryhill May 2014 #197

Don't take the bait. nt msanthrope May 2014 #79

Bait? U4ikLefty May 2014 #99

Who the f*ck are you to make such demands? [n/t] Maedhros May 2014 #120

Prove what? To you? You don't get to demand anything of anyone unless you're a moderator! Liberal_Stalwart71 May 2014 #190

Cornflaked chicken. nt PassingFair May 2014 #131

Please. The site is open for anyone to read. Ms. Toad May 2014 #122

Have you ever posted this to Sid? Capt. Obvious May 2014 #185

I post it when I run across someone spouting suspicion Ms. Toad May 2014 #187

+1 Bobbie Jo May 2014 #66

I think you've nailed it War Horse May 2014 #109

I suspect that ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #116

Nailed it...nt SidDithers May 2014 #126

Can you give examples of Libertarian issues that are popular here? MannyGoldstein May 2014 #151

I would point to ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #172

A higher percentage of male posters Maeve May 2014 #10

True. It was definitely safer. knitter4democracy May 2014 #173

DUers used to cite sources... YvonneCa May 2014 #11

I can think of one Poster ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #22

She posts links to her links to her links to other discussions that may or may not be related. Electric Monk May 2014 #33

Not true. Thanks for being a prime example of how DU has changed. Whisp May 2014 #55

They know. Bobbie Jo May 2014 #68

very true reddread May 2014 #189

+1000 Katashi_itto May 2014 #60

Yes - that isn't linking to sources, it's just linking. [n/t] Maedhros May 2014 #121

You mean there are more "Drive By" comments now? KoKo May 2014 #41

Your second... YvonneCa May 2014 #54

Hell ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #80

That is true! n/t YvonneCa May 2014 #81

and engage in collaborative research salin May 2014 #144

Yes. And, as a result, many of us YvonneCa May 2014 #169

Less REALLY GOOD, professional posters. Le Taz Hot May 2014 #12

You are right... we have lost posters that were incredible writers etherealtruth May 2014 #29

Yet if someone brought up the word "clique" in the lounge RiffRandell May 2014 #44

Yes. The lounge became toxic for a while RainDog May 2014 #53

Latent racism in Liberal America has come to the surface and slapped many Liberal_Stalwart71 May 2014 #13

Very true. kentuck May 2014 #14

Sadly, true etherealtruth May 2014 #17

Not racist ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #23

As you are aware etherealtruth May 2014 #26

Yep! I've been drilled by it. 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #30

Reading this thread, it appears that a few people have noticed how many poc and women have been Number23 May 2014 #35

The mods do not seem to care at all that women, poc have left DU. Liberal_Stalwart71 May 2014 #45

There are no mods. That's the problem Number23 May 2014 #64

I came up with LESWORMS. For liberal, straight, white, older, racist males. Eleanors38 May 2014 #88

Ah yes, the old "discussing issues important to black folks divides us" argument Number23 May 2014 #135

Strange, how you characterize this as an "argument" Eleanors38 May 2014 #138

What changes have I seen? Amnesia about the long-term impact of the Bush/Cheney years. Hekate May 2014 #15

I agree about the growing amnesia... YvonneCa May 2014 #56

It's not the site, but the evolution of conscientiousness or a growing awareness.... 2banon May 2014 #16

The biggest change is the present lack of a common enemy Cooley Hurd May 2014 #18

+1 ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #24

Hope is ok, but hard work gets results. You think we got an 8 hour work day or a minimum wage McCamy Taylor May 2014 #72

I wish that were true -- Bit I've seen things backslide and get worse Armstead May 2014 #91

DU has indeed become less ideological, which inevitably leads to... Eleanors38 May 2014 #19

Well ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #28

You are a Newbie though. Joined July 5, 2011....so you don't know the older history.. KoKo May 2014 #38

No ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #50

I was unaware libertarianism countenanced or ignored racism... Eleanors38 May 2014 #59

You make many points that are interesting.. KoKo May 2014 #36

I think a reason for much of the infighting is a general frustration Eleanors38 May 2014 #61

Very true. Texas Elvis May 2014 #107

So, you think we need more old style hippies like me spouting Marxist dogma to scare the DNC? McCamy Taylor May 2014 #73

Nope. I'll settle for FDR & HHH. LBJ would make 'em piss their pants, now. Eleanors38 May 2014 #84

Bingo! whathehell May 2014 #157

Jesus, you don't need the Shining Path. Eleanors38 May 2014 #166

No, indeed. whathehell May 2014 #177

I've only been here since early 2008, so I don't have that long a perspective on what Jefferson23 May 2014 #20

Brand loyalty is used as an argument in disputes over prinicples and policies. Tierra_y_Libertad May 2014 #25

DU is far more about personalities than issues now. QC May 2014 #27

Yes the juries are often subjective Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 2014 #37

Could it be? kentuck May 2014 #39

That's exactly it. n/t QC May 2014 #46

The jury system Puglover May 2014 #77

The complaints around the old mod system were based on the lack of transparency. Gormy Cuss May 2014 #83

Heh. Thanks for that. Puglover May 2014 #87

Google translate thinks it is Swahili. Ms. Toad May 2014 #127

Hah! Google translate fail. Gormy Cuss May 2014 #132

Do you think the alerter outed themselves in that subthread? Capt. Obvious May 2014 #186

Good observations. I lean toward dispensing with the jury system Eleanors38 May 2014 #90

Yes enigmatic May 2014 #82

+1 geomon666 May 2014 #176

Pretty much the same Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 2014 #34

I wasn't attacked by other people here RainDog May 2014 #40

So noted. nt Eleanors38 May 2014 #92

Great post enigmatic May 2014 #93

Yep. salin May 2014 #145

nice to see you, too RainDog May 2014 #203

would love that salin May 2014 #205

More conservative, less open minded and slanted more towards the Party line ... slipslidingaway May 2014 #42

Time was this site was run from a log cabin that Skinner and EarlG built with their own two hands Algernon Moncrieff May 2014 #43

I joined in March of 2003, after the pre-invasion protests for the Iraq War. U4ikLefty May 2014 #47

Civility is certainly lacking. There is a lot of condescension, mocking and outright arrogance neverforget May 2014 #51

+100 nt okaawhatever May 2014 #58

Agreed laundry_queen May 2014 #74

Sigh, I kinda miss messing with OMC & his "bull in a China Shop" methods. U4ikLefty May 2014 #98

That's always been the case Armstead May 2014 #94

in the old days, it was directed more at Republicans. Now neverforget May 2014 #111

This ^ ^ ^ Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 2014 #129

+10,000 AngryOldDem May 2014 #188

Everything changes. The look of the site and when it began everyone hsd a common enemy. hrmjustin May 2014 #62

"The Party is much more important now than in the early years and less open to criticism" Cali_Democrat May 2014 #69

I have only been here since 2008. I discovered this place web searching Obama's campaign johnlucas May 2014 #71

Good post. kentuck May 2014 #78

There's a massive amount of republicans posting now, against free speech, against criticism Corruption Inc May 2014 #75

The site has moved to the right along with the president Doctor_J May 2014 #76

I don't know if it's Du that has changed or that I've changed -- I've gotten crankier Armstead May 2014 #89

Your 5th paragraph ^^^. Eleanors38 May 2014 #95

A decrease of good info lovuian May 2014 #96

Good OP. Recommended. H2O Man May 2014 #97

Good points. Texas Elvis May 2014 #110

Interesting Observations.....and, KoKo May 2014 #155

One thing that I H2O Man May 2014 #163

If you can understand what I'm saying...... KoKo May 2014 #167

What has changed is that there are now oddles of wingnuts and libertarian douchebags tenderfoot May 2014 #100

Once upon a time, a right winger that joined for JoeyT May 2014 #101

I've found people to be angrier Texasgal May 2014 #102

Medicare Part D (the Bush prescription drug bill) bluestateguy May 2014 #103

First time poster, long time reader of the site. Texas Elvis May 2014 #104

Social changes Blue_Adept May 2014 #112

some GOOD changes: there's still crap, but it gets smacked down faster by DU's "superstars" MisterP May 2014 #115

Unfortunately, actual facts are routinely ignored in favor of ad hominem attacks. Maedhros May 2014 #123

oh, absolutely: 2002-6 it was a welter of "voting third party will destroy the Dems, let the GOP MisterP May 2014 #125

mostly the Tiger Beat crowd Skittles May 2014 #119

There is a new issue of Tiger Beat out: Whisp May 2014 #175

Let's hope to crap they have an expiration date. Cha May 2014 #182

It used to be a site that thought electing more Democrats was a good thing...nt SidDithers May 2014 #124

I used to think minds could be changed here cleveramerican May 2014 #128

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague May 2014 #130

There is no longer any 'discussion' ... NanceGreggs May 2014 #133

Amen to that. (nt) The Straight Story May 2014 #143

Perfect summation. Bobbie Jo May 2014 #174

That's because the word police trolls have taken over and have Cleita May 2014 #179

AMEN!! I miss you so much!! Liberal_Stalwart71 May 2014 #192

Bravo. Perfectly, eloquently stated. Gidney N Cloyd May 2014 #200

Not As Funny As It Once Was... WillyT May 2014 #134

Whatever changes to have happened, sure is a steaming progressive engine today. maced666 May 2014 #137

A while ago, by the way: 1000words May 2014 #146

Kentuck, you've been here a very long time. You've BTDT and got the t-shirts to prove it! davsand May 2014 #147

Long time...no see... Thanks for stopping by. KoKo May 2014 #149

Laura and KoKo... kentuck May 2014 #170

I know...but...."Do Not Go Gently into That Good Night" KoKo May 2014 #183

I've never had enough sense to just "sid-down and shud-dup." Just isn't something I do. davsand May 2014 #199

When I came here, I was almost too conservative to fit in. Now I am pushing the fringe on the left TheKentuckian May 2014 #148

They call it shared sacrifice. KoKo May 2014 #150

Now, I wouldn't say I was a conservative Democrat but more DU was significantly left of the party TheKentuckian May 2014 #171

I find the characterization in your OP confusing, but . . . snot May 2014 #162

DU is activism now? Puzzledtraveller May 2014 #193

I've noticed the opposite, actually, at least in terms of ideology(and not always in a good way!). AverageJoe90 May 2014 #194

Glad this got kicked PowerToThePeople May 2014 #201

Maybe I'm not paying attention, but I joined in 2003 and think it's basically the same place Hippo_Tron May 2014 #202

Here's one way it's changed: Maedhros May 2014 #204