If I start a thread bashing a candidate can I get over 100 replies???

[LynneSin]

Seriously, I'm looking at this forum and general elections and I've come to conclustion that unless I Bash a candidate pretty much I can guarentee that my thread will sink like the titantic. Not that I think my threads are somehow more important that others. I mean, other threads that are of the "non-bashing democratic candidate" type seem to go down pretty quickly themselves.

I suppose some of us are partially to blame for it! I mean we see the candidate bashing and we do try the noble thing and defend either our candidate or the concept that Bush is making himself unelectable.

Which is pretty pathetic because personally I think the only presidental candidate we should be Bashing in that idiot boondocking in the White House (George W. Bush for those of us too busing to find the negativity in every democratic candidate).

Come on folks, most of America isn't quite ready to embrace we have anothe election in 14 months. But they sure are starting to get vocal about how Bush is totally screwing up the economy. Let's keep Bashing Bush because the more we do so the more we'll see that idiots poll ratings sink. This is our key to winning no matter who the candidate is!!!

[LWolf]

1. kick for common sense and civility

Have you noticed that the more often you respond to a flamer, the more they come back to fight some more, and the longer the bashing thread stays up?

The obvious solution: ignore flaming. It's hard, I know. We want to step in and correct the most ludicrous statements. But if we don't respond, it sinks. That leaves us to respond to the people who actually want to engage in civil debate.

Another solution; if you have nothing substantive to add, skip the thread. If someone has started a thread raving about their choice, and you don't like him/her, skip the thread. You don't have to read it.

My ignore list is growing daily. I don't ignore everyone who posts something I don't agree with; that's not bashing! I don't ignore people who question or criticize my candidate. But when I notice a poster's name showing up to disrupt civil discourse with no-substance bashing on a regular basis....I hit "ignore." And am not surprised to find many new threads with one-sided battles going on, and some poor DUer trying to defend against repeated flames.

[Gman]

2. As long as it's not in GD...

I don't care!

[liberalnurse]

5. They always target GD....

Once the flame is initiated there is no stopping it.

[Le Taz Hot]

3. Guaranteed

and the opposite is also true. Do HOURS of research on what you think is an important topic, post in the appropriate forum and watch it sink like a stone in record time.

Warning: Rant. It's amazing how so many posters bitch, complain, moan and groan about negative campaign tactics, sensational journalism, jingoism, etc., yet the SAME people either post flame threads or habitually engage in them and NEVER SEE the contradiction in their own actions.

[liberalnurse]

4. I too try to defend my candidate

in the bashing threads. I've never started one and really don't believe I have the talent. I'm just not frequenting DU that much anymore.

I just don't understand the thread bashers purpose or goal? Also, I question what their political mentality level is gaged at....

Do they not understand that we are in a national crisis with *bush at the helm?

Do they really believe they will change a voters choice with such aggressive abuse? Absolutely not. So that brings me to sense that many are campaign operative.

[soupkitchen]

6. For nobody's minds are achanging

With apologies to Bob Dylan

Come gather round DUers
And I'll post you a song
And I promise you I won't make it too long
For if it has depth it will sink like a stone
For nobodys mind is achanging.

[MercutioATC]

7. You'll get bonus for tying it to a conspiracy theory...

Just look at the 9/11 forum

[AWD]

8. Sure, but you must do this...

....bash a candidate, then claim "I only want people to know both sides of all the candidates."

Then refuse to post anything positive about the same candidate.

Then refuse to post anything negative about any other candidate.

Then claim you're being picked on.

[molly]

9. DU is in no way reflective of what the general public

thinks. I was without electricity since Thursday evening. It came back on last nite and this morning I come back to the same-old-same old - it's almost like a soap opera. Why bother - noone is accomplising anything.

[soupkitchen]

10. Yeah, if it wasn't for people like Soupkitchen, I would never post here.

[LynneSin]

11. Geez, I hope you didn't get flooded

Would you believe we never lost power. The entire state of Delaware can black out and my apartment complex still has the juice - go figure??!!!!

Yeah, it's funny I keep telling you the same thing - this isn't real world. Maybe one day folks will wake up and smell the damn coffee.

BTW, did you see me badmouthing all 10 candidates in the lounge. I bitched about Kerry and how he'll allow Heinz Corporation to take over the entire school lunch program!

[molly]

12. No - haven't even looked at the lounge

I just spoke with Oz - my contractor - they still do not have power - they are in Newark, DE

[LynneSin]

14. My friends in Pine Creek didn't get their power back til late this weekend

Me, just using power left and right here - go figure

[TreasonousBastard]

13. Trolling is a fine art.

Been through this for years on usenet and every other discussion board.

Most of the time, it's extremely important that no one actually post anything well thought out and knowledgable. That intimidates people who just want to argue or yak and keeps the thread short.

Vagueries, with a couple of hot buttons pushed, give a chance for those with nothing much to say to start saying something. This is a well known phenomenon at any committee meeting or dinner party, to say nothing of usenet or discussion boards.

Ask for a cost analysis of wind power over gas powered electric generation and you get three replies, only one of which mentions cost per kilowatt installed and compares maintenance, storage, and fuel costs-- if lucky enough to get that one. Say Dean is anti-environment and it goes on for a week, with not one post properly explainng why he is or isn't.

[LynneSin]

15. Amen to that one

go figure??!!!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. True; therefore

when I do a positive thread, I try to hold a few links, quotes, etc. in reserve, so that after it sinks I can go back and add some new info for a kick.

[JeniB]

17. While I undestand your thoughts, I think this is the place

for airing the differences in our campaigns. The title is "Politics and Campaigns". You're supposed to talk about the campaigns. If we were all in agreement, we would all have the same candidate. Then we could concentrate on just bashing Bush. The reality is that we have 10 candidates for one spot labeled "Democrat". We all sincerely want someone we can be proud to be behind. Bringing up their differences just helps us to make that decision. AWD says that he notices we never bring up the good points of other candidates. That is up to the people who are supporting that candidate. They are not going to bring up the bad points of their candidate so the rest of us do.
We'll have plenty of time to bash Bush with more regularity after the primaries.

[LynneSin]

19. I partially agree with your statement

But there is a difference between bashing a candidate and debating the issues.

If someone calls a candidate "Bush-Lite", "Dino", "A Loser who will cause us 4 more years of Bush", "Another McGovern" or many of the other negative terms out there - then give me a reason, statistics facts.

Why can't we argue the issues. This IS the best place for airing the differences with the candidates but I'm sorry the negativity isn't anywhere close to that.

[goobergunch]

18. kick to the top

And yes, I am now kicking all non-candidate bashing threads in P/C.

[Rhiannon12866]

20. I like this one too, goobergunch!

BTW, I LOVE your sig line. I have my favorite candidates, as well, but I would vote for my local dogcatcher if I felt he could defeat Bush*!

[w4rma]

21. yes (n/t)

[incapsulated]

22. I don't have a problem with honest questioning...

of a candidates positions or record. It's important air these things and not bury our heads in the sand because whoever gets the nomination is going to get the same in spades.

But so much of it is nothing but trolling. Repeating the same attacks in thread after thread. Outright hatred of other candidates masqurading as "criticism". Intercandidate fighting. "Your guy said this lie about my guy", "Here's what my guy says back". Who gives a shit?

[Rhiannon12866]

23. I don't, incapsulated!

Welcome to DU! I will vote for whoever can defeat George Bush*!

[GOPBasher]

24. Great post.. Very true.

Yes, the negative posts get way more responses; I've noticed that too. I hope this thoughtful post gets the 100 responses. And I agree by the way, we should spend much more time bashing Chimp.

[Padraig18]

25. I have *repeatedly* said this

I completely agree with you! However, there are those here who cannot refrain from bashing and flaming Candidate X, because they support Candidate Y and mistakenly assume that their bash/flame 'helps' their favorite.

What 'morans'...

[Rhiannon12866]

26. I agree that there has been too much negativity

and bashing of certain candidates. But we'd better get it out of our collective system now so we can get united behind whoever can defeat George Bush*!

[GOPBasher]

27. Absolutely

Some on this board only like to bash the shit out of people.

[veganwitch]

28. if you need any help....

with the title question, give me a ring

just joking.

[robbedvoter]

29. "We'll end up working together" I told the Dean supporter

who scowled at my Clark literature. "As long as we get rid of W" he smiled. It's all it takes. Remember the big picture.
I'll promote my candidate energetically - I'll occasionally contribute to issues on other candidates -ISSUES IMPORTANT TO ME - not because it's a "gotcha".
I learned a lot from many of you supporting your respective candidates. There are only a handful people who post NOTHING ELSE on DU except how great guy their man is and how the other guy blew it. This goes beyond being passionate - and begs the question if these people are on a payroll rather than activists.I hate being manipulated!

[Rhiannon12866]

31. That's the most important point

and you deserve bonus points for making it. We all have to stick together, once there is a nominee. We are all on the same side here, though the bashers do tend to forget that. I am hesitant to criticize any candidate, since I just may end up voting for him/her!

[FubarFly]

30. Well, this thread deserves 100 replies.

The bashing had quieted down for a while, but has been cranked up now that the trolls have adjusted to the new rules. There are a lot of bitter, immature children on this board with far too much time on their hands. I honestly think many of them don't give a crap about the candidate they to propose to support, and just get off on causing division and strife. I believe the solution is to only respond to people who are expressing honest concerns, and ignore the trolls no matter how incendiary the flame. Of course this is easier said then done. Especially if you post an honest reply and get flamed as a result. Oh well. I guess we all could use a dandelion break now and again.

Thanks for the post.

[Rhiannon12866]

32. I agree with you

There are candidates I prefer more than others, but our ultimate objective has to be to vote for whoever can unseat the squatter-in-chief and reclaim the White House. That's all that's important!

[FrenchieCat]

33. I don't know what my status is on this board....

I am a defender of and a promoter for my Candidate, Wes Clark.
I don't bash unless bashed.

I can get excited....but I am usually speaking on the issues (although I have been naughty once or twice)....and I do offer attribution and documentation with any remark I make in support of my candidate. I try not to use documentation against other candidates to make a negative point about them....cause I don't really bash!

What I like most of all is when posters responses make me laugh, which happens very frequently.

What I dislike the most is when a particular poster go all over the place repeating the same accusations about my candidate....and then I have to chase him/her all over the place posting the same defense behind him/her over and over again. also don't like it much when when the candidates bash each other. I think it's just giving fodder for Bush with whomever wins the nomination. I don't want to do the GOP's dirty work...and don't like to repeat their nonsense, and don't like to use their tactics. If I did, I would be no better.

[Rhiannon12866]

34. We can bash all we want to now

But when there is a nominee, who can, hopefully, depose Bush*, we have got to stick together, whoever he is.

[Tom Rinaldo]

35. Positive cnadidate appeals

It seems that way to me. Either bash a candidate, or promote one who already has a strong following on this forum. I tried starting a thread where everyone can make the case for why they support the candidate of their choice. I back Clark and said so in my personal message, but I intentionally did not start it as a Clark thread. I thoght it would be a good exercise for people backing different candidates to post positive reasons for supporting their candidates on a thread not devoted to attacks and promoting a single candidates agenda. I mentioned it at a Clark site and got a few Clark backers, but as yet no backers of other candidates seem interested in participating in an open positively oriented campaign thread. Oh well...

[Rhiannon12866]

36. I am interested! There are several candidates I could support,

and I am not in the business of bashing the others as anyone could be the nominee! Welcome to DU, Tom Rinaldo! We need posters with your kind of attitude. I know several people on here who would be willing to participate in such a thread. I'd give it another shot! Again, welcome to DU!

[Tom Rinaldo]

37. "several candidates I could support"

Thanks for the welcome. No need really to give it another shot since the first one is still running though neglected. It currently is on the second page of threads of "Politics and Campaigns". I think the thread is called: "Why do you support your candidate? Give it your best shot!". I think there are 6 posts so far. You can make it seven and get it back onto the front page! Thanks again for the encouragement.

[Rhiannon12866]

38. Okay, Tom Rinaldo, I'll see you there!

Anytime! We need more encouraging posts on this forum and less bashing. We all have our favorites but when someone finally gets the nomination we are all going to have to work together to see he is elected this time and not just gets a majority of the vote!