Hello again and why I walked out…..

[BooScout]

Greetings fellow Duers.. My name is BooScout and I would like to tell you why I boycotted for a week. Since I live abroad and my time zone is several hours ahead of the States my return is a bit earlier than others who participated.

For those of you that don’t understand or think my walkout was pointless, stupid or just plain hilarious, may I remind you that a boycott is a form of protest. And I think most of us here can at least agree that we have the right to protest what we think is wrong.

When I didn’t like the tone coming from some whose opinions differing from my own, I chose to leave for a period of one week. It was a non-violent protest. I simply chose not to participate in discussions. It was not meant in any way to be disruptive as some have suggested…. but I suppose at times, silence can be deafening.

Yes I belong to other political forums beside DU. Several of them as a matter of fact. I also have my own board and guess what? We have a political forum there too. There’s nothing sinister in that is there? I would wager a guess that most people here belong to another forum or two outside of DU.

Some people who chose to boycott here will not be returning. They have found that they are happier spending their time elsewhere. I am saddened that we will lose their voices here at DU but I understand why they will stay away…..and I cannot fault their reasoning behind their decisions to make their leaving permanent.

I myself chose to return. I find that if I can wade thru the chaff, sometimes I can find a gem or two of wisdom floating around these pages. I know we are never going to agree with each other on all the issues or all the candidates, but if we silence one another permanently by driving each other away then we all lose.

Raise me up,

Boo

[frogcycle]

1. welcome back

somehow, I don't think you were missed

[gcomeau]

4. Geez...

...that was certainly constructive.

What do you think you just accomplished there? Really? What good did that snarky little comment do?

[berni_mccoy]

18. Hey, you are here policing this thread too, mr. positive posts only.

[gcomeau]

32. Was that supposed to be a criticism?

I don't have anything against people posting things that are just "negative". Go ahead and post away and you'll never hear a word out of me. You want to say something substantial and meaningful against an opposition candidate that happens to be a negative? Go nuts.

What I have a problem is with people posting childish petty crap that has no purpose or potential benefit. That does NOTHING but stir shit up. That I have a problem with, and yeah, when I see it I'll say something. If we're not going to hold our own side accountable for their conduct then we have no right to complain about the opposition. None.

[frogcycle]

45. nice post, Hitler!

:rofl:

[gcomeau]

60. I honestly can't even fathom how to respond to that.

I have never, ever put any person on ignore... but you just came really close. Congratulations.

[frogcycle]

71. I did the same thing the first time someone said that to me

it was patiently explained to me to be an old joke around DU when someone gets a little too pedantic

I figured you'd appreciate it

[sueragingroz]

Ooops... someone just violated Godwins Law

I guess that means we win...

I wonder what the prize is....

oh yeah!

IT'S A PONY!!!!!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law

[frogcycle]

85. Are you saying this place is a steaming pile of...

pony poo?

[ekwhite]

122. OK - calling someone Hitler and laughing about it

Really funny. Would it really kill you to make a positive post?

[frogcycle]

138. I make plenty of positive posts. Then sink like stones

but I still do it. I like watching the ripples spread across the pond - it's peaceful - kind of a zen thing.

But sometimes someone is just so freaking full of him/herself, one just has to stick a pin in them and watch them explode. They spread across the sky - it's peaceful - kind of a zen thing.

Now why don't you huff and puff and go blow somebody's house down?

[Two Americas]

52. oh...

And your post here would be "something substantial and meaningful" as opposed to "childish petty crap that has no purpose or potential benefit?"

Just wondering how I should "hold our own side accountable for their conduct" when they post things like this - I don't want to lose my "right to complain about the opposition."

[ekwhite]

121. Someone needs to do it. N/T

[frogcycle]

oh get real

nobody knows who is here or not, amidst all the babble and shit-flinging.

It was a broadside at the entire frigging community.

But check out response #3! :rofl:

[gcomeau]

35. Get real about what?

Can you not answer the question? What did your snarky little comment accomplish? What good did it do? What point did it have besides taking a personal shot at another poster for no particular reason?

[frogcycle]

43. good gravy

read my response

then get a life

[dogday]

54. What a loser post!!!!

[frogcycle]

73. no, just a commentary on the attention span and

level of self-absorption of the people here in the past few months. It ain't a community; it is a seething mob. Who misses anyone in the middle of a streetfight?


But thanks for your opinion. I will cherish it.

[dogday]

77. I think I owe you an apology

I understand now what you are saying and I do owe you an apology... Sorry

I agree with everything you said... This used to be a great community, and you are right, it is take no prisoners here now.... :hi:

[frogcycle]

80. apology? naaahhh....

let's move on to the next brawl

Tastes Great!


Less Filling!


:rofl:

[LisaM]

2. Welcome back!

And I'm sure you WERE missed.

[KAZ]

3. No poem, not interested.

You need to understand, nobody GIVES A SHIT, except for the fact that you not puke up the board upon your return. Get over yourself.

[leftstreet]

6. LOL

[BooScout]

7. classy n/t

[KAZ]

11. adult n/t

[JoFerret]

83. Why bother to write crap like that?

What is missing in your life that you have the time and the need?

[barb162]

134. I don't see any poetry in your post. Not interested.

[housewolf]

5. Welcome back!

I noticed your absence, I'm glad you will continue to participate.

:toast:

[Adelante]

8. Nice you're back and all

But, honestly, a protest? :shrug:

[Hawkeye-X]

72. A Hillary supporters protest that noone cared about in DU.

As one of them stated appropriately - Hillary's board will be a ghost-town in 60 days.

[frogcycle]

76. You mean it was an organized thing?

With, like, multiple participants? I must have been absent that day.

No wonder I got slammed for being flip about it.

Did they all, like pack their stuff in a handkerchief and tie it to a stick, march out together saying they were never coming back?

ooops, there I go again.

[JayFredMuggs]

9. Let me guess, I never met you before... but you're for Hillary, right?

[leftstreet]

10. ROFL!! "It was a non-violent protest" ROFL!!

:rofl:

[frogcycle]

31. yeah, how do you violently not log in, anyway?

maybe lean toward the keyboard and growl, hiss, spit?

[leftstreet]

38. ...

[frogcycle]

41. that would do it

might not be returning in a week, though

[sueragingroz]

82. you do realize that this is a liberal message board?

Just checking....

[Bonobo]

12. What were you protesting? Losing?

[Yael]

13. Is the week up already?

:cry:

[goldcanyonaz]

14. Great to have you back, BOO!!

:loveya:

[Erin Elizabeth]

15. I'm curious.

How would it have been a violent protest?

[BooScout]

19. I could have tossed my puter at the nearest Obama supporter...

But there weren't any handy.:evilgrin:

[greguganus]

24. Damn! I coulda used a new computer! n/t

[Forkboy]

16. This whole thing is like an episide of Buffy without the humor.

Really, a bunch of high school level shit.

Both sides have serious issues. Anyone that make ME look mature needs help. :P

[frogcycle]

47. "an episide of Buffy without the humor"

what imagery! :rofl:

That is twice that we have agreed on something!

[sueragingroz]

86. actually the best buffy episode ever made had very little humour

Episode 16, season 5 - entitled "the body"

[frogcycle]

92. I hope it satisfied your apparent yearning

for a humorless world

[Barb in Atl]

139. Nah....

The best, without a doubt, was "Once More With Feeling".

Gotta love Xander and Anya doin' the whole Fred & Ginger thing (or whomever)

And Giles!!! Loved the voice

And welcome back BooScout. I hope your week was peaceful.

(I had a supervisor back in the day named boo - no caps. I used to drive her nuts! But I was younger and snottier then.)

[The Night Owl]

17. LET IT SINK!

:sarcasm:

[Skidmore]

20. Boo, quite honestly I think the

boycott was pointless. I've read many things on these boards which I didn't agree with or like over the years, but I stayed. I didn't pitch a fit and leave, slam the door as I went, then peek in to see if people missed me or were shocked. This is what I think some of these folks are doing and doing so just to generate conflict. I believe that we are free here to express our opinions within the parameters set by Skinner and Co. I will continue to express mine, as I'm certain you will as well. I will also choose not to respond to threads or posts which do not warrant a response. It is my perogative, as it is yours. I'm glad you decided to return. Now let's all proceed with the discussions at hand.

[greguganus]

21. Shit, my computer was broke for 2 weeks! My protest lasted longer than yours! n/t

[JVS]

22. "Some people who chose to boycott here will not be returning."

great news :woohoo:

[greguganus]

29. They're on ignore anyway, so I won't know when they return. n/t

[frogcycle]

50. DUzy

:rofl:

if a tree falls in the forest but it is on ignore, does it make any noise?

[sniffa]

70. I've already heard some of the names

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[JVS]

81. PM me. I gotta know who is staying away!

[sniffa]

89. Sent. Check your PM.

Most, not surprising, but there are some shockers. :o

[JVS]

91. Oh wow, that's great! Those posters were such horrendous assholes!

:happydance:

[sniffa]

94. Indeed

But at least 2 were rather puzzling. :idea:

[Crunchy Frog]

96. Which ones?

Can you PM me too? I'm intrigued. :)

[JI7]

104. i think they will come back under different names

[bigtree]

23. welcome back

:hug:

[susankh4]

25. Welcome back!

I missed ya!

K&R.

[susankh4]

26. Welcome back!

K&R.

[MonkeyFunk]

27. Welcome back

I thought the boycott was silly, personally, and didn't participate, but the plethora of assholish responses in this thread makes me understand why people did participate.

[Awsi Dooger]

98. Same

Until a couple of days ago I didn't know there was a boycott but I wouldn't have participated regardless.

DU is in a slump right now. The caliber of discussion and analysis is down, certainly compared to when I joined in 2002. Not unlike the NFL when the level of QBing is generally pathetic.

But that doesn't mean you boycott or ignore. You wade through it.

[Ichingcarpenter]

28. You need a permission slip from your guardians

in order to come back, please go back to the office
and have the secretary give you one.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

30. kick to the greatest page ....glad to see you back!

[littlebit]

33. Welcome back

:hi:

[krawhitham]

34. LET IT SINK!

[1620rock]

40. DU is a lot like my state of Michigan. A lot of people leave when

the weather gets nasty, but most of them return in the Spring.

[gateley]

48. Great analogy! nt

[sueragingroz]

79. is that your answer to everything?

can you think of anything constructive that you'd like to say?

anything at all?

[sueragingroz]

87. boy this is really starting to sound like a one hit wonder

seriously - does anyone else have any other material?

[phrigndumass]

36. Welcome back!

:hi:

[jillan]

37. Welcome back!!

[jgraz]

39. Hello again and why we don't care….

"Obama and some of his supporters are about the most whiney assed bunch of crybabies in recent memory."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4174104

"Obama is a Transformer?! Seriesly :wow: :rofl:"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4298623

"Obama is no JFK...."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4272039

"Why doesn't Obama concede?"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4574437

"I finally figured out the 'Obama Change' thing....
Obama wants 'change' .......Yes he does........he wants to change the primary rules."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4647200

"If you are going to blame someone....blame Obama"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4762374

"That Obama.........he's such a Uniter........."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4824235

"Face it .....Obama screwed up big time......get over it"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5177355

Immediately following Obama's speech on race:
"Hope and glory and moonbeams and yes, fairy tales."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5140572

Still flogging it on March 22
"Where is Reverend Wright???"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5205488

And my personal fav
"Why John Lewis supports Hillary Clinton"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4387251
:rofl:

[whatchamacallit]

55. "a gem or two of wisdom" eh?

If OPer considers those wheat, I'd hate to see the chaff...

[ecstatic]

64. Ha! I love it! nt

[Window]

67. Damn. I almost posted welcome back.

:rofl:

[sniffa]

90. Way to cherry pick

:eyes:

[wellstone dem]

42. This Obama supporter says

welcome back. We need all points of liberal, progressive views.

[Two Americas]

56. voice of sanity

Thanks wellstone dem.

[BooScout]

59. Thank you

Glad to see you again.:)

[tekisui]

44. Welcome back. I am glad you are back.

I hope you stay, and that we can progress in the dialog.

:hi:

[Two Americas]

46. ironic

So many people saying that what you do doesn't matter, what you say is irrelevant, that you are not important and your contributions not worth much, etc., yet here they are posting on your thread.

Welcome back. I understand why you did what you did, and I think that you are important, as all members of the community are, and I think your action has had an important and meaningful impact.



Fine print:

* I am not a Clinton supporter

* I will vote for and work for the eventual nominee, as I have for 40 years

[BooScout]

53. It's because of people like you....

That I came back. Thanks for the welcome back.:)

[emilyg]

49. Welcome back.

[gateley]

51. Welcome back!

It's my hope that we can all work together and support our nominee in the near future. LOTS of good, intelligent, politics-wise people here on DU!
:hi:

[TheDonkey]

57. Hillary supporters that want nothing more than to bash Obama should stay away

if you are willing to conduct yourself with class then that is great but for the other haters and their sock-puppets who fled during snipergates climax should stay in their caves.

[saracat]

100. Hmm but Obama supporters that want to do nothing but bash Hillary are welcome?

[sellitman]

58. I've taken vacations from DU before

I just never thought anyone would be interested either way so I never announced it.

Welcome back anyway.

Time off is healthy.

[Uben]

65. You have?

What's it like.........a vacation from here I mean? I haven't been gone for as long as a week since I started back in 2001!

Oh, I've tried, but dammit, it's like a frickin magnet!

And, I don't get the "annoncement thing" either. Wanna leave? Leave! But don't write a frickin essay on the reasons you are leaving.

If I were to leave for an extended period of time, folks would stop seeing my stage name, which is "ignore", up on their screens.
Nope, can't have that!

I think we need a damned essay page for those people who seem to take the time to compose what could easily pass for a short book!
Yeah, I know you have an opinion, but you are the only one who considers it important, so try to limit posts to a few cheap shots and a couple of cuss words...please!

[sellitman]

99. I heard voices and came back.

I was away for about a month when this little voice in my head said......


No wait that was another day....


Anyhow I lasted about a month. lol

[usrbs]

61. Welcome back!

[Tatiana]

62. Hey

Welcome back :hi:

[grantcart]

63. did you bring us any presents back from your vacation?

[BooScout]

68. Some vacation....

I have been working on my tax returns.:cry: Ya want to help? :evilgrin:

[here_is_to_hope]

69. I doubt it but then again, maybe this time a donation is in the works....

[Autumn]

66. Boo nice to see you again

welcome back.:applause:

[stop the bleeding]

74. From an Obama supporter

Welcome back BooScout

:beer:

[BooScout]

103. Thanks

:toast:

[Danger Mouse]

75. welcome back...

though i disagree with the premise behind your walkout.

[LiberalAndProud]

78. Welcome back BooScout.

We all have our hip boots on (it's worse than chaff).
:toast:

[NJSecularist]

84. What site are you referring to? Link? n/t

[JoFerret]

88. Diversity is good

Welcome back.

[Catherine Vincent]

93. You're too nice.

Don't explain anything to the assholes here. Welcome back!

[Pastiche423]

95. Can you say, "Drama Queen"?

[Two Americas]

111. yes, but I wouldn't

The taunting and ridiculing - no matter how good you imagine the cause to be, and no matter the provocation - have absolutely no redeeming value whatsoever. Indulging in this is to place your own personal emotional needs and urges above those of the community. It is never justified.

I am becoming more and more convinced that this attitude, now that it has a rallying point around a candidacy, will be carried over into the general and dominate the campaign with disastrous results.

The ethic of self-actualization - the notion that improving oneself is the only avenue to solving social problems - has come to dominate modern liberalism and sabotaged the political left. It is destructive to all attempts at building solidarity and community. It is the liberal version of the Reagan "personal responsibility" and "bootstrap rugged individualism" - each individual's personal preferences and feelings trump everything, and when one person decides they are "right" they have license to trash the community and members in that community.

We can see here at DU how this ethic soon descends into schoolyard bullying and taunting and destroys the community.

[Pastiche423]

112. Well, I would and I did

A one week boycott of one forum of a web site, does nada to effect anything you spoke of.

Drama Queens do not help the situation.

[Two Americas]

114. yes you did

I think that the OP has had a very positive impact. Here and there Obama supporters are making some great posts and we are starting to have thoughtful and intelligent discussions again.

Calls for civility and mutual respect aren't as emotionally satisfying and flamboyant as name-calling and ridicule, but most DUers will respond to them when given a chance to do so.

The OP's only "sin" is that he disagrees with you as to which candidate to support.

[Pastiche423]

115. Bullshit

She did nothing to tamper down the mudslinging in this forum. It went on before her little Drama Queen "boycott" and it is still going on now.

Btw, how in the hell would the Drama Queen or you know who I am supporting?

[Two Americas]

116. I don't care

You are attempting to justify your behavior. I don't care what your reasons for doing it may be. I didn't say that you didn't have good reasons, I said that in my opinion no reasons justified the behavior.

[Pastiche423]

117. MY behavior?

I wasn't the one pulling a silly self centered "boycott" which has done nothing but make the Drama Queen sound like an idiot.

Btw, you did not answer my question. How in the hell did the Drama Queen or you know who I am supporting?

[Two Americas]

118. yes, your behavior

I don't know and don't care whom you support.

[Pastiche423]

120. Then why did you say

my reaction was because she doesn't support the candidate I supported? Did you just throw that line in there for the hell of it?

What, precisely, is wrong w/my behavior?

[Two Americas]

124. it was a guess

Calling other DUers names is what my complaint was about, and ridiculing and taunting others in general.

[Pastiche423]

125. She earned the name Drama Queen by her very own actions

I simply called her on it.

[Two Americas]

126. more rationalizations

"She had it coming."

Might I remind you that two wrongs do not make a right?

Justifying malicious behavior by saying that the target "earned" or "deserved" it is truly morally depraved. Every cruel act in history has been justified with that argument.

I thought that perhaps in the heat of passion you had slipped and written without thought. Now I see that you are defending and justifying it. What was initially a minor complaint by me, and a simple request for civility, has now grown into something more important and significant.

Little cruelties may seem inconsequential, but they lead to greater cruelties as sure as night follows day. It is by these "little cuts" that the principles and ideals for which the political left and the Democratic party once stood are murdered, and our strength is steadily eroded.

[Pastiche423]

128. As I've said...

she posted it, not me.

[Two Americas]

131. right

"Mommy she hit me first."

What is with the bolding of the letter "s?" What difference does gender make?

[Pastiche423]

132. From your post #114

"The OP's only "sin" is that he disagrees with you as to which candidate to support."

What is w/"Mommy she hit me first"? Someone makes an original post. Others respond to said post.

It's called Free speech.

[Two Americas]

133. lol

OK.

[AllentownJake]

97. Welcome Back

That being said if you say anything inflammatory or stupid...expect a response. I'm new and I don't know you but just giving you a heads up.

[thevoiceofreason]

101. Welcome back.

[TLM]

102. Not a very effective protest / boycott...

if you have to come back a tell everybody, "Hey did you see I wasn't here posting for a week."

Like standing out in front of the walmart saying, look look look at how I'm not buying anything in your store... look at me not buying stuff.

[rodeodance]

105. I raise a glass to you BooScout:-)

[cali]

106. I'm sorry but

I really don't give a shit about any of you self-important little critters, and it has nothing to do with whom you support.

[quakerboy]

107. Welcome back

In all candor, however, the impact of a boycott, which is a wonderful form of protest in my opinion, would have been much greater if there had not been a large contingent of scabs crossing the lines. There was no lack of diversity of opinion heard in the supposed silence, merely a slight diminishment in a rather odd dominance by a small group over this board.

[Seabiscuit]

108. Welcome back, BooScout! Here's what helps me "wade through the chaff":

Put the offensive posters on ignore. There are so many of them that without use of the ignore function, their numerous threads push all the good stuff off the front page. So in January when it started to get really bad in here I began putting them on ignore. I now have about 800 of them on ignore, and this forum is almost readable. At least I can see some interesting threads on the first page by now. I still have a ways to go, as there are always new posters putting up garbage that needs to be taken out every day, but this practice has at least allowed me to find the civil and interesting threads without my eyeballs aching from all the crap that would otherwise be cluttering these pages.

Hope this helps.

:toast:

[grantcart]

127. 800 wow that must be a record lol

[barb162]

135. Great tips, thanks Seabiscuit.

[JI7]

109. i still don't get what the "boycott" or "protest" was about

[rodeodance]

110. Time for the soul to heal from the crap here in gd-p

[bunnies]

113. And all this time I thought the boycott thing was a joke.

Are you saying that people were actually gone? How could I not have noticed?

[Marrah_G]

119. Much love Boo!

[Raine]

123. Welcome back...

the more the merrier! :hi:

[Joe the Revelator]

129. Nobody......cares....quit with the swan songs

[Joe the Revelator]

130. Only a Hillbot would put themselves on a Ghandi-like pedastal

Pathetic. It would have been more effective if you didn't feel the need to pat yourself on the back when you came back.

[barb162]

137. That's a red herring premise and a silly conclusion.

[Joe the Revelator]

140. This entire bunch of bullshit is a red herring

Give me a fucking break. This entire "boycott" and bullshit whining is a red herring.

[barb162]

136. Welcome back!