I regret to inform

[Popol Vuh]

That after taking some time in giving serious consideration to remain a member and a reader of DU. In light of recent days with respect to the content of another member's thread and its allowance to remain (for days) unlocked despite its obvious race baiting.

And in the light of being informed by PM that links to news sources will be judged on a "case by case" bases instead of a uniform standard with respect to whether or not they will govern a thread being locked.

And since with my personal experience concerning these two issues during this last week has been one that displayed a bias against brown skin. I regret to inform that I can no longer with moral clarity remain a member and a reader of DU even though I know there's many very decent liberal persons here.

To those of you who are truly liberals and truly colorblind, I wish you the best of luck.

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. I'm sorry to hear that...BUT, as a member of DU who not always

agrees with what is posted here, instead of running off, I choose to stay. To perhaps change a few minds...perhaps not. But running away never got me anywhere... or this country either. Do what you must. It always amazes me when people write these.

[shadowknows69]

2. Mrs. Grumpy is good. Mrs. Grumpy is wise.

Don't let a few get you down if you still enjoy the many. Hope you'll change your mind.

[rfranklin]

3. Perhaps you could enlighten us as to what offended you...

I have seen that sometimes posts meant to taunt or chide the rightwing whackos are misinterpreted as being an attack on a particular group when no such thing was intended.

[rosesaylavee]

4. Not sure what thread so negatively

effected you - but consider for a moment the many many corporate and govt moles on the site too. Perhaps it is the intent of some to make it unpleasant for others and cause them to feel discouraged and leave? There are the handy options of putting certain noxious individuals on ignore and hiding noxious threads. Or just taking a few days off from DU does the trick for me sometimes.

And then there is the fact that humans are imperfect and some may not weigh their words properly before committing them to a post...

Sorry to see you leave but hope you reconsider.

[Cleita]

47. I know which thread it was. For anyone who has been on

the receiving side of bigotry, even though it was couched in deceptive language about allegedly illegal immigrants, recognized that all the racist points were there. For anyone who was alive before the civil rights movements of the sixties, the same things were said about African Americans back then. The two main points that stood out was the bathroom habits of the immigrants and they fact that they were law breakers.

The post was purely ancedotal so there was no way to verify the truth. Some of us suggested that unless this referred to a story in the news, it had no place on DU. The complainer, or original OP was politely advised to call the authorities if such a thing was happening in this neighborhood to investigate, but why smear a group of people on a public internet when the story can't be verified?

Back in the sixties the same accusations were made about blacks as well as saying they were responsible for all the crimes committed everywhere. Some things never change. Those of us who found the thread racist and objectional alerted as much as we could but the thread went on for more than three hundred posts of some really vile hatred against people who weren't here to defend themselves and set the record straight.

[Philosoraptor]

5. bye

[MethuenProgressive]

6. Pointless post?

Without linking to the thread being complained about?

[LostinVA]

12. Agreed -- what thread?

[ProdigalJunkMail]

7. you know...I hate to say it, but 'just leave'

What is it with people who decide to part ways with a discussion board that they feel the need to announce it? Just go...I am sorry that you are offended and couldn't find a way to fit in...heck, I have felt that many times (and people familiar with my background will understand why) but I find there is more valuable to this board than not. If you are done, then just be done. The ego that creates these sorts of posts must be tremendous to feel that they will in some way affect this board.

I am sorry you have to go...but, just say bye to your friends and be done with it...

sP

[lukasahero]

36. Perhaps they wish to inform the "community" of problems they deem

important enough to address? If this poster feels there is discrimination towards "brown skin" here on DU, don't you think that is something that could/should be addressed? Maybe there's a better way to do it but it seems to me that this person is pointing out what he/she considers to be a serious problem here - serious enough for him/her to leave the community. Perhaps they feel in saying exactly that that perhaps the remaining community will deem it serious enough to do something about it?

"The ego that creates these sorts of posts must be tremendous to feel that they will in some way affect this board." Too bad there is this kind of view on a board like this. It has always been my opinion that changes only occur by the very idea that one person can, indeed, "affect" change in a community.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

40. sorry...if you have a problem

mention it...but don't leave over it. Try to fix it. If you have to leave...then just go. Spare us the goodbyes. There are a million ways to ignore the 'injustices' these departure-announcers could choose to implement...but no, they have to annouce their departure. I guess they think someone will be hurt by it or maybe someone will beg them not to leave...but it ain't likely.

sP

[lukasahero]

43. And here I thought you might actually be interested in a possible answer

to your question: "What is it with people who decide to part ways with a discussion board that they feel the need to announce it?" Strange how "discussion" has one meaning to some and another to others.

Forget I mentioned it.

[acmejack]

8. I wish you would enlighten us as to what has so offended!

A vague accusation of bias certainly does no one any good, other than to leave everyone scratching their collective heads.

[AtomicKitten]

9. I look at the mods' decisions like any court decision.

I don't always agree but it is binding nonetheless. A lesson the Republicans could learn when they poo-poo "activist" judges' decisions. Appeal to the top. If that fails, do what Judge Judy recommends - put a period at the end of it and move on. Take a break. Let your head air out. Expand your horizons. Your input here is as valuable and valid as anyone else's; don't forget that.

[bowens43]

10. Don't let the door hit you in the ass etc.etc.....

[durrrty libby]

11. I would like a link where this so-called skin bias happened

It is absurd to accuse people without some proof

These goodbye threads disappear quickly, so I guess it does

not matter much, except for your own integrity.

Toodles........

[LostinVA]

14. I'm wondering, too -- the Mods tend to lock race-baiting threads

Really quick.

[ClassWarrior]

13. Every post I've seen by you has bordered on flame-bait.

Maybe it's better if you leave - but it's your call at this point.

NGU.

[LostinVA]

15. Self Delete

[Sugar Smack]

29. Hey, pretty lady.

Let's flirt.

[Sugar Smack]

31. D'you come here often?

You smell nice. What's that cologne you're wearing?

[LostinVA]

44. You're riled up this morning

[Sugar Smack]

48. How'd you guess?

[bluerum]

16. PLEASE do not take this as baiting in any way - it carries a simple

but profound thought: Don't let the seeds keep you from enjoying the watermelon (or fruit of your choice).

[ima_sinnic]

17. it appears that this is just a pity party, since you have not responded

to the many requests for a link to the offensive thread.
have you considered counseling?

[Make7]

18. Could you at least tell us where you plan to post next ? So we...

... can continue to be enlightened by such profound posts as yours explaining how to give up in the face of something disagreeable and/or perhaps even slightly difficult?

Thanks...

- Make7

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

19. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

If you posted this looking for pity, you're not going to find it from me. I have none for the self-righteous.

[robcon]

20. ANOTHER drama queen/king!!

Announcing the leaving of DU over some perceived slight has an old tradition here at DU. My response: just go, don't announce that you're going. Just leave.

[H2O Man]

21. yawn

[SmokingJacket]

22. Good luck in your search for a more perfectly censored/moderated

web site.

Trying to maintain enough freedom of expression on an internet site without total breakdown into chaos is a very, very difficult task, and I'd be very surprised if you found a web site that does it better than DU.

I too am often frustrated, angered, etc. by this site -- by the trolls, the members, and even the admins. But it does succeed MUCH more often than it fails in its attempt to provide an open forum for Democratic and liberal dialogue.

[sendero]

23. If you wish to hang..

... on a message board, you have to develop a thick skin. There are all kinds here, you are not the only one who get offended. Believe me, there are all kinds of isms that are allowed to stand here. Racism, sexism, classism - it's not hard to find examples of each.

It's up to you - you have a right to post in the thread and make your best case, you don't have a right to make the mods take it down because it offends you.

I've been on a lot of internet message boards, this one's not perfect but it is about as close as humans are likely to get. Good luck finding a better one.

[Lochloosa]

24. I believe this is the thread the OP is referring to.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Inflammatory? Maybe
Differing Opinions? Yes
Reason to leave? Their call.

Bye.

[havocmom]

25. If one wants only agreement and validation rather than rational debate

one can open a couple of email accounts and become pen-pals with one's self. That way, there will be no risk of opposing views which might broaden one's thinking, or sharpen one's skill at constructive argument. Discussion boards tend to have discussions, and debate.

When I want to just hear my own voice, I write in my journal. Try it.

[Javaman]

26. You know, I'm always mystified when I read posts like this.

Two things spring to mind, they never sight an example and two they never have a follow up when questioned on their motives.

I'm not saying this guy is a fake but I sometimes wonder if it's part of some odd personal disinformation campaign.

[Vickers]

27. And the Academy Award goes to...

and

Later, tater.

[magellan]

28. I wouldn't want to be colorblind

Is there something wrong with different skin colors that I should pretend they don't exist? That seems disrespectful. We should all be proud of our cultural ancestry and the physical cues that point to it, not expect others to intentionally overlook that we're African American/Native American/Latino/Asian/Slavic/Anglo/etc. I prefer to appreciate and respect all the little things that make each of us individuals and take a person as a whole, not wear blinders to certain aspects of people just because there are bigots and other intolerants out there. If it's important to them, if it's part of who they are, then it's important to me.

My closest friend is a proud self-described Mexican-American. If I had tried to ignore her ancestry, two things would've happened. She would have kicked my butt, and we wouldn't be best friends for 19 years. Okay, three things. I also wouldn't know bad words in Spanish.

Honestly, colorblind? And miss some of the most interesting stories and lessons others have to share, along with the little things that bind us together? Not on your life.

If it's the thread I think it is that's prompted your departure, then I think you read into things and got yourself worked up over your own interpretations...but oh well. Bye.

[survivor999]

30. Zzzzzzzz....

[MissB]

32. Usually I say "Welcome to DU"

when I welcome people to DU.

What is the standard for pointless goodbye posts? Don't let the door hit you on the way out?

Whatever.

[Nutmegger]

33. While others are insensitive,

I will offer this little piece of advice: take a break. I had to take a break a while back. Perhaps a "break" will be beneficial instead of leaving?

Either way, good luck.

[meisje]

34. The day you let an internet discussion board affect you, see a shrink

[Nikki Stone 1]

35. A propos, why do we have a google ad for NAZI ring tones?

nazi Ringtones
Send this ringtone to
your cellphone at no charge


Right next to three Democratic ads at the top of the page. How can one alert on an ad?

[karlrschneider]

37. Ads?

What are those?

[Avalux]

39. .

[Avalux]

38. DU is a message board with rules.

You were explained the rules concerning news sources. Of course it is your choice to leave DU if you don't agree.

[I Have A Dream]

41. I'm sorry to hear this, Popol Vuh. I've greatly enjoyed...

many things that you've posted.

[Cleita]

42. Popul Vuh.

When you leave it shrinks our numbers. Stay and fight the good fight. We need you.

[aikoaiko]

45. recommended as the most attention seeking thread of the day.

wtf?

[countryjake]

46. I understand...

but you giving up won't help bring the problem to light; it empowers those who feel there is an "obvious" threat to their "culture", their jobs, neighborhoods, homes, their American "dream", by the rise of any minority. Quitting this forum only increases their power to make what they perceive as "the problem" go away. With both parties set to make into law a set of discriminatory policies, this is not the time to give into such hate-filled legislation nor the people who are promoting it, who are obviously vocal on this board. That topic you refer to was a ruse and a lost cause for the poster and allowing it to remain for all to see just how ridiculous that argument is, can only strengthen our fight, making their true concerns starkly apparent. Don't let it get you down...we won that one!

[rasputin1952]

49. Locking

I wish Popol Vhu the besat of luck in this future endeavors, and hope he finds what he's looking for.