Hello All

[Tighelander]

I'm a newbie to the DU. For years I hung out at a small forum of mostly liberals. It was nice; they had the politics, photography, and Mac forums. One thing that had me puzzled was this obsession with a former member. Now and then some of the regulars would just start kicking him around with new posts, and disturbing Photoshoped images with the guy's face. If you don't like something, why not just ignore it?

Well the end of that forum for me was due to the recent trouble in Gaza. One of the regulars made light of a photo that showed a victim of the first Israeli counterattack. He thought it was funny. I replied that it was cruel to do so, and eventually got jumped by about 5 others. Until then I didn't realize how polarizing the topic was for the Left. They defended Israel's right to do anything it thought necessary with the same conviction that those on the right have for banning abortion. They were essentially reducing the people of Gaza to murderous animals that can't be reasoned with. So I decided to look for greener pastures, and eventually came here.

This seems like a nice place; really big though. I did notice one thread had a few flamethrowers; I hope that's not too regular.

[leeroysphitz]

1. Welcome to DU but I hope you brought your asbestos underwear.

It's been flame city here for months now. (Years really but this year was a doozy.)

[Haole Girl]

2. Welcome to DU, Tighelander

Hope you like DU. :hi:

[Tighelander]

6. I Think I Will

The place is much bigger than what I am used to though. I have a problem with spending too much time looking at the internet, and not enough time working, so this might contribute to that problem. Before I came here I was checking out liberalforum.org, but that only offered politics and I wanted other topics as well.

[Rhythm]

3. Hi! Welcome to the neighborhood!

We mostly play nice here...

Mostly...

:hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. I see you're in Sandy Eggo

Madres fan?

[Tighelander]

5. No Teams Here Worthy of My Support

Padres and the Chargers both suffer from "Sport Franchise Exceptionalism" that allows them to think that they are Gods worthy of any public sacrifice. I grew up in LA and am a big Dodger fan, but the move down here in 1992 plus them being bought by Fox a little later made my interest wane.

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. I understand, but

y'know Faux sold 'em to McCourt, and he seems intent on buying building a winner. ;)



I've been a Dodgers fan since 1965, so I think we might get along. :hi:

[Tighelander]

12. Yeah, the Change in Owners Helped

but still being in San Diego keeps me from being tuned in. I watched them a lot during their heydays of the seventies as a kid. Then got back into them during the late 80's, and by the time I left in '92 I was going to more games than I ever had, which was around 7 games. I peddled my bike to them; it only took about 40 minutes to get there. That wasn't much different than the time it takes to get out of the parking lot in a car.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Welcome to DU, my dear Tighelander!

It's a crazy, very addictive place, and the Lounge is its heart!

:hi:

[ThomCat]

8. Welcome to DU

:hi:

There are a hell of a lot of big flamewars here, but you can avoid them. There are a lot of more civil and friendly threads here too, and the lounge is almost always a great place to hang out. :)

[JenaLaw]

10. welcome to the neighborhood!

expect Welcome Wagon to pop by any time now with a pie...

can't wait to chat with you,
Jenna

[Ptah]

11. Yes this place does seem nice.

[illuminaughty]

13. Welcome to DU! Approach your threads with caution.

It really is a nice place despite the bashorama that's been going on lately. I don't come to the lounge often, but thought I'd respond to your post.

That subject that did you in at your other site is probably the most heated forum on this site.
There are special rules for that forum (I/P) Israel/Palestine and it is WILD in there. I don't post much on that subject even though I lived in the country in 1981. I do not recognize the Israel/Palestine that I left. It was a fairly peaceful co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians with no wall seperation. I loved it. But, here in this country we don't get the real story on the Palestinian situation, which makes us ignorant on the subject.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it here. Lot of wisdom floating around and I've learned a lot from fellow DU'ers. Also, some of the wittiest posters I've found on the net.

[nytemare]

14. Welcome!

:hi:

[orleans]

15. happy new year. wheee! n/t

[LibDemAlways]

16. If you want to avoid flamethrowing, tread

carefully here. On DU you can be viciously attacked for rendering an opinion as innocuous as "I think parents ought to remove screaming children from restaurants so as not to disturb other diners." If that can send posters over the edge, imagine how heated the politics gets.

However, I've been here since 2001, and am somewhat thin-skinned, but I've stuck around anyway - just learned to make good use of "ignore."

Anyhow, welcome.

[supernova]

17. Shhh! He's too new to

learn about chicken dinner wars!

:P


:D

[AwakeAtLast]

18. Hello! Welcome to DU!

We're mostly harmless, but you do have to take some posts and posters with a grain of salt. This is the internet, after all.

This is a great, if not the greatest, Democratic website. It has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years.

Glad you've jumped aboard!

:hi: