Why do Reich Wing talking points dominate DU so frequently?

[ConsAreLiars]

Poll question: Why do Reich Wing talking points dominate DU so frequently?

Yeah, this refers to the current spasm of posting about a personal tragedy that is essentially nobody's business but those involved. But the same thing occurs with all varieties of celebrity scandals and info-tainment "hot" topics. Bread and Circuses -- moldy bread and lame-ass carnival scams in my view. What is yours? Why do so many at DU turn away from the real life and death issues facing us all and spend so much time on such irrelevancies?

(edit removed some redundancy and some typos)

[expatriot]

1. Aren't these two 'choices' the same?

People get suckered by the Noise Machine's choice of topics?

People naively accept and want to answer RW "framing"?

[ConsAreLiars]

5. Yes, sorry. I hit "post" before re-reading.

I moved another zero-vote category into the duplicate slot and added "all of the above."

[Wonk]

2. And now for something completely different: The Larch

[Toucano]

3. The left is too reactionary in general

by nature.

The left, liberals, progressives - whatever the label - a defining characteristic is concern about what others think.

What others "think" is what they talk about, so it's almost an inate response to talk about what others are talking about.

The left will never make progress unless it stops listening to the right and focuses on our own causes and agenda.

For example, whenever a discussion about Sen. Clinton's presidential aspirations comes up, HUNDREDS will post something about her being a polarizing figure who will alienate conservatives.

During the primary, it was not infrequent to see a lot of concern about what Rush Limbaugh thought about Howard Dean, and how "unelectable" he is/was or isn't/wasn't.

Does anyone honestly believe that a single conservative or Republican ever considers or frets about what the liberals think about an issue or candidate before moving forward?

Not for a second. They're focused on getting their agenda through.

It's that whole "keep your eyes on the ball" thing.

[Jamastiene]

4. After a while

serious topics can really depress you or make you feel disspirited, so the mindless chit chat really does make sense.

[Cleita]

6. Well, sometimes no one will talk about other things.

I have seen some very good informative posts sink because they weren't the problem 'du jour'. For instance I'm watching CBC news tonight and it has a lot of interesting stories on in that haven't been even mentioned on DU today let alone the MSM. Oh yes, they spent thirty seconds on Terri and moved on.

[ConsAreLiars]

7. Been without TV a few days (and never had CBC) so I suspect

that the "1984" theme of the TV monitoring one's acts was optimistic. Now we see the Corp TV controlling one's ideas about what to think.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ConsAreLiars]

10. Damn, I missed it

I had no idea that this question would attract the ire of "name removed," but I'll guess that means one more vote for the "operative push these issues" option.

[Make7]

11. I don't think the post counter is working properly.

I mean, I've seen a lot of posts by Name removed, but his/her post count still says zero.

:) Make7

[cynatnite]

9. They have a high school mentality

and think these little hit and runs really upset DUer's.

[Wonk]

12. kick

[LSdemocrat]

13. I don't think anyone cares enough about DU to send "operatives" here

We're just an internet discussion group and nothing more.

[Wonk]

15. You're wrong about that. There are some truly sick fucks on the internet.

Exhibit A
http://www.conservativeunderground.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=5

[LSdemocrat]

17. I don't consider losers from right-wing discussion groups operatives

I mean operatives as people acting on orders from a larger political group.

[Lars39]

14. I think some of the women have.....issues with men.

[sandnsea]

16. The TeeVee Directs ALL Issues

Whether enlightened DUers want to admit it or not. And they're as susceptible to repetitive brainwashing as the right wing, which is evidenced by how many people accept the parent's version as fact because that's what has been on the teevee. Or even the number of people who will use terms like gun grabber, even thought they know it hurts the Democratic Party as a whole.