Newsflash: This is a Discussion Board.

[Armstead]

At a Discussion Board you discuss.Think out loud. Bat around ideas. Challenge others' ideas and place your own on here for challenge or agreement. Try to convince and remain open to being convinced.

Praise, criticism and objective observations are allowed, within the obvious parameters of DU as a place for Democrats and Independents who share the basic goals of Democrats.

Lockstep is not necessary, or even desirable. An "Amen Chorus" is boring and useless.

[H2O Man]

1. Amen!

Er, I agree. Kind of.

[Armstead]

13. No you must agree totally that total agreement is not necessary

One of those existential conundrums :crazy:

[rhett o rick]

64. I had a conundrum once, but my mom took it away. nm

[Armstead]

74. No, that was a condor you had

[rhett o rick]

78. In all condor, I have no idea what we are talking about. nm

[No Elephants]

17. Waaaahhh. I wanted to post "Amen to that," but you beat me to it. Waaaahhh.

[mtnsnake]

2. That's funny. I thought this was a place where people lived.

:shrug:

[Armstead]

6. Only electrons and digits

[Whisp]

8. just 0s and 1s, basically. some are zeros, others not.

:rofl:
byte me

[No Elephants]

18. LOLOL

[Moochy]

83. Word!

double word?

[nichomachus]

86. There are 10 types of people in the world

Those who understand binary and those who do not.

[Whisp]

3. so then you're lockstepping for open discussion?

harumph!!

:rofl:

[bunnies]

4. STFU.

I'm SERIES!!!111!! :evilgrin: :hide:

[Renew Deal]

5. Bullshit!

:D

[AtomicKitten]

7. Amen.

[H2O Man]

49. sexist!

[AtomicKitten]

57. schmexist!

[rhett o rick]

58. How do I get me some "sexist"?? nm

[AtomTan]

9. Whatever, freeper troll

We're just here to post pictures of Obama with a single tear rolling down his cheek, or emerging from the surf in his bathing suit. Or kissing his wife. If you're not with us you're against us.

Edited to add: Oh noes!!!11! Thank you for your concern.

[Number23]

38. ROFL!!

We're just here to post pictures of Obama with a single tear rolling down his cheek, or emerging from the surf in his bathing suit.

Don't you just love the 6000 picture threads a day! Oh, I just love the ones that show Obama... sitting. Or smiling. Or getting out of a plane/car. He looks soooo cool doing stuff that us regular folks look so dorky doing. :)

Good laugh. Thanks for that.

[CTyankee]

44. Hey, does it just KILL you that some of us just LOVE seeing the guy?

I mean, what harm is done, really?

Sometimes I wonder about, well, youknow, that kind of envy...?

[Number23]

51. Did anyone say that any harm was done?

Some may think it's hilarious that there needs to be 5 threads of pictures every day. And you have no problem throwing out the word "envy" and yet, I have no doubt you'd scream bloody murder if I accused you or others of "worship."

I've never posted a single critical or nasty thing in any of the picture threads nor would I ever. But I thought the comment I was responding to was funny and spot on. And after reading your response, it honestly just got that much funnier.

[CTyankee]

77. After 8 years of our abusive relationship with GWBush, it may be that we

go a little overboard in gushing over Obama. I am probably just as guilty as anyone. It's the only bright spot for us, given the way Bush has wrecked everything in our lives that he could touch.

Actually, I didn't like to single tear photo but I do like just about all the other photos of him. He acts like and carries himself as a strong, decent, intelligent and yes, handsome, man. Wow, haven't had many of those adjectives attached to GW Bozo...a relief...

[FormerDittoHead]

80. At least he's not a HILLBOT.

Unless "Hillbot" isn't SUPPOSED to be insulting.

[QC]

10. You mean this isn't AOL Britney Spears Teen Chat??? n/t

[No Elephants]

20. Why, yes, it is. What made you doubt?

[QC]

36. I think it was the thread where someone described his dream date

with Henry Waxman that made me wonder.

[yardwork]

11. Strong disagreement accompanied by veiled accusation of trollism.

Egregious insult added minutes later, after receipt of supportive posts.

[Armstead]

22. Followed by one-on-one insult contest creating long sub-thread

[rhett o rick]

61. I hate posts that require that I use wiki dictionary. nm

[Mark E. Smith]

12. What? No laughing?

Is making fun of the fatuous opinionist?

[SweetieD]

14. I agree!

[Sebastian Doyle]

15. LEAVE HILLARY ALONE !1!!1!11!11

**insert 100 "Yeah, what he said! Hillary is GOD(dess of peace)!!!11!!!" posts from the usual suspects** :evilgrin:

[Armstead]

21. LEAVE BARAK ALONE!!!!!

[Sebastian Doyle]

23. What the Hell does the former prime minister of Israel have to do with this thread, you anti-semite?

:sarcasm: !!11111!!!!

[hopechange2008]

16. I agree

Totally!

[NJmaverick]

19. Some advice for you

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4525755&mesg_id=4525755

[No Elephants]

24. That's

hot.

[roguevalley]

26. she gets a tax cut. where the *hell* is my pitchfork!?!?

[last1standing]

25. It's the conflation of valid criticism with personal insults that annoys me.

There are certain posters who come into a thread they don't like, hurl personal insults and snark, then when we complain about intimidation cry that we're trying to stifle criticism. These are usually the people who justify their actions by saying that someone did it to them once so now its their turn. :eyes:

Anyway, your post is spot on. Let's debate the issue and call out each others opinions, but let's leave the hateful remarks for the freepers and trolls.

Oh! First to recommend.

[wyldwolf]

27. right, so people shoudn't whine about being "stiffled" when they're disagreed with

[last1standing]

31. I can call you a troll or an asshole but not necessarily disagree with you.

And before you get upset, I'm calling you neither.

The point is that disagreements are welcome on a political discussion board. I say something is as such, you claim it is not. I counter with my opinions and evidence while you do the same. That is debate and it is a good thing.

However, if the discussion takes the form of I say something is such, you call me a troll and PM your buddies to come in and do the same, that is not debate, it is intimidation. It stifles debate because most people do not come here for the enjoyment of trading insults or snark. For those who do there are always other, non-moderated sites to choose. And for those who cannot handle the concept of reading that someone could disagree with someone they adore, there is always the Barack Obama forum or Hillary Clinton forum for them. Those are safe havens where people can discuss favorable views without being contradicted.

Or are you suggesting that you feel personal insults and snark are acceptable?

[wyldwolf]

32. so true, but that still isn't stifling.

[last1standing]

33. I have to disagree with you there.

It stifles debate if people resort to insults and creating flamewars because threads get locked, readers decide they don't want to wade through personal attacks to gather information, or the poster who expressed his opinion to begin with doesn't feel comfortable posting in a personally hostile environment.

Once again, this isn't to say that a strong disagreement can't be emphatically stated, but there is a big difference in stating that an opinion is stupid versus calling a poster a moran.

[atimetocome]

28. Lockstep sounds Republican to me. But

some on DU do the Repug bit when discussion is shut down.

[ulysses]

29. he's not even in office yet, hoser!

:hi:

[Shiver]

30. INSULT!

:P

[greguganus]

34. Link?

That's what I figured....talkin' out your ass. :hi:

[Orwellian_Ghost]

35. K&R

Sometimes stating the obvious is essential not only as a reminder but in this case to promote the notion that folks should always challenge their own assumptions.

The degree of censorship and self/censorship is quite high now all around the country. People should be speaking freely. Now is not the time for caution as it is very late in the game.

[bvar22]

37. But you're hurting the Democratic Party.

Asking questions and offering critical opinions will destroy the Party and bring down the Obama Administration!

All you Debbie Downers with all your ISSUES and other NERD STUFF need to just shut up and get in line!

NEVER question Authority, and NEVER think for Yourself is what I always say, and look how good I turned out!



HOORAY! Where's the Parade?

[question everything]

39. What? Not a single criticism of Obama or Clinton or Emanuel?

I don't think your post meets the standards of GD=P.

[TahitiNut]

40. Don't give me that, you snotty-faced heap of parrot droppings!

M: What?
Q: Shut your festering gob, you tit! Your type really makes me puke, you vacuous, coffee-nosed, maloderous, pervert!!!
M: Look, I CAME HERE FOR AN ARGUMENT, I'm not going to just stand...!!
Q: OH, oh I'm sorry, but this is abuse.
M: Oh, I see, well, that explains it.
Q: Ah yes, you want room 12A, Just along the corridor.
M: Oh, Thank you very much. Sorry.
Q: Not at all.
M: Thank You.

[fascisthunter]

41. Well Said

[QueenOfCalifornia]

42. It's pretty

damned crazy isn't it? This is no place for ideas and discussions. You want a discussion? Go fuck yerself.

[emilyg]

43. k

[Skittles]

45. THANK YOU

fuck all you worshipers who deride the free exchange around here

[davidpdx]

46. "worshipers"

We are back to the kool-aid mantra huh?

The primaries are over knock it off.

[Skittles]

48. when someone cannot stand the slightest bit of criticism

they WORSHIP

[davidpdx]

55. Get over yourself

the primary is over

[Skittles]

65. LOL - is that your standard answer?

pathetic

[davidpdx]

79. Hey I'm not the one calling people names?

Maybe you need to take care of those psychological problems of yours.

[Occam Bandage]

47. "objective observations"

:rofl:

[Dragonfli]

50. I Trust Him Her Them It - No Matter what!

Now is not the time to disagree with decisions made yesterday!!!
Next quarter maybe, and I do mean MAYBE!

It's too early to have any opinions.

Stop all your whining, ya know, we are all sick of it.

If you want to question decisions being considered and decided now, you are just stupid!
Everybody knows you wait until it is a done deal.
YOUR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN NOTED !!!
Please stop expressing them.
There is a freep board for that sort of thing ya know - go back there so I can celebrate.

This is sort of fun! I can see the attraction to it.
Now that I have tried it, and even enjoyed it, can someone please direct me to where one may discuss the possible implications of decisions being made within my party and my government as a whole? I simply wish to continue learning the pros and cons of varying governing philosophies that are shaping my party and my country right now. I have never been much of a blind follower - for good or for bad. I very sincerely wish to know if there is such a place somewhere at this site. Or should I look elsewhere for that sort of discussion? (I am not kidding about this part)

[Armstead]

69. You can find it here if you time it right

Those dull stretches when nothing much is happening on the political scene can result in a reasonable mood around here.

I sorta remember a couple of weeks when that was the case. :)

But more seriously, it's more a matter of finding the wheat among the chaff on DU.

[HughMoran]

52. And I thought this was a car wash

Doh! No wonder my car never seems to get clean while I'm here :(

[Armstead]

70. Naw, it's a laundromat

You try to wash your car in a laundromat?

[rucky]

53. Um, a little too much information, there.

maybe you should keep things like this to yourself.

[Dragonfli]

54. It appears you are mistaken

Else someone would have been able to answer the question I posed in italics (see post 50).

It was not rhetorical. After a two year break from here due to a very serious illness in my family. I can only conclude from recent observations made after my return, that it has become something entirely different. The definition of which I do not know.

Timely discussion of current political events is not encouraged if said discussion appears critical of current decisions made by our leading politicians. This unwritten rule appears partisan, as critical discussions of our opposing party do appear to be open.(understandable I suppose)

I no longer know where to go to discuss, and learn about, the pros and cons of varying governing philosophies within my party.
Perhaps someone can PM me with information of a site that could be defined in such a way as described in the OP.

It is hard enough to learn through discussion, without having to tip-toe around all of the new unwritten rules forming here.
From the perspective of one that had left for two years, I can assure you there is a marked difference.

Peace

[Armstead]

71. I posted a reply up above

You can still find the type of discussions you are seeking. But you have to pick through the other stuff to find it.

The special topic forums also tend to be more focused than the GD ones.

[AuntPatsy]

56. True enough but this is also not freeper ville so though concern should be noted...

the behavior of umm those people should NEVER be allowed..if I wanted to read such trash I would have signed on to another board..there was a reason this board was found and named appropriately..

[rhett o rick]

59. Yes, but what is your point?? nm

[thewiseguy]

60. Freerepublic is also a "discussion board"

[rhett o rick]

62. How would I know, I have been kicked of 3 times. nm

[thewiseguy]

63. And Freepers get kicked off DU when caught

[rhett o rick]

66. Yeah I know, but I am such a nice and polite kinda guy, honest. nm

[apocalypsehow]

67. Boy, that's funny. When I first signed in here, I was told REPEATEDLY that my "newbie" status

rendered me (1) Suspect, (2) Irrelevant (3) Unworthy of being heard - all because I was an (converted)* Obama supporter. This was straight from the "cool clique" which quickly PUMA'ed out this past summer.

As I recall, you were part of that grinning toad herd. Why the fuck should I listen to you?

:shrug:



*I initially supported Edwards.

[JVS]

72. LOL

PUMA'ed out! Great verb

[Armstead]

73. I think you recalled incorrectly -- But maybe I did slip

I try to practice what I preach...But I'm not always successful at holding back my inner grinning toad either.

(PS I was originally also an Edwards supporter who switched to Obama.)

[Divine Discontent]

68. shhhhhh - some would rather play being THREAD GUARDS!

they can go fuck themselves... I cannot believe the amount of "why are you posting" and "what are you doing, this isn't a story" or "you're dumb" sort of feelings are abounding - what the crap has gotten into some people?


DON'T LIKE DISCUSSION, don't spend time on the site - it's pretty simple!

[L0oniX]

82. Thread Guards ...good description

:thumbsup:

[JVS]

75. Nobody wants lockstep, except for their own causes.

[terrya]

76. This is also not some pipeline to the Obama/Biden transition office.

David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel aren't going to be poring over every post in GD: Presidential, and acting on your whims and wishes. Sorry.

[L0oniX]

81. I thought the sign said "Tina's Adult Entertainment"

:evilgrin:

[Armstead]

85. Those Sarah Palin photos must have gotten you confused

[phantom power]

84. Mega-dittos!

Oh shit, did I just say that?