I think it is time for this thread: What's your beef/joy here RE: DU/DU'ers in general?

[The Straight Story]

I have posted, and seen posted, threads about things which shock us/upset us/piss us off about some things we see here (attitudes, hypocrisy, etc and on).

We EXPECT something, and when let down about those expectations we get a little ticked off. And post things like I have in the past.

I do NOT post often enough how happy I am with this board, it's people, and it's diversity. Shame on me for flowing towards the negative with more passion then I do the positive.

But I know, from reading here hours a day that each person seems to have something that pisses em off they want to get off your chest (and some do with some really well written OP's).

Now is the time. Get it out. And then, if you are able, Donate please. Bitch and moan as needed, but let's not forget we are still here and glad to be here lest we would leave and go elsewhere. Skinner has continued to do a damn fine job to give us a place to talk about things.

Got gripes - let us get them out and hammer away at them. We take power in congress soon and getting some things out of our system now may well help us focus better.

Got praise for the board or others here, let it be seen.

----- Allow me to start:
I love this place, and there are so many good people here I find myself spending a lot of time here reveling in their posts and wit. The knowledge I have gained since coming here is astounding to me - and made me a better man.

I am disappointed at times with the broad brushed methods we all use, myself included - as it tends to degrade discussion and alienate people.

I think we could all do more to be kinder to each other, and take less offense at criticisms - but I think too some could do better at how they word their issues.

I see threads on important issues sink, while those on pop culture rise. But thanks to skinner and crew I can at least see that people do read threads, so replies are not as important. I don't reply to a tenth of the threads I read - but I am damned grateful for so many of you taking the time to post them.

Ok, I will shut up now before I go on all night :)

[MADem]

1. I like it when I learn something new. I hate it when people repeat falsehoods or

inaccurate "conventional wisdoms" or get so wrapped up about one single issue that they can't see the totality of the politician.

I like the diversity of opinion. I hate it when some get intolerant of the diversity.

I like the good natured ribbing. I hate it when people get excessively sensitive and have an overload of high dudgeon.

I like the energetic support for candidates. I hate the wicked bashing of candidates who are not sufficiently ideological pure for some.


There's good, there's bad. These are the internets, ya need body armor sometimes!

[The Straight Story]

2. ideologically pure...heh :)

Reminds me of a lot of things. That phrase touches so many issues it is not really funny.

Such a test covers everything from religion to politics. And I see the two as being real similar. Follow my way, or you are not a true believer.

There are shades of gray in most all things - accepting such is part and parcel to the success of our party. No one will ever be 'pure'. Reminds me of something like this: "I would rather have a baptist as the pope in our catholic church then a buddhist, at least we would have something in common with the baptist."

We may have issues with one another, but a DINO is still closer to where we want to be than a repug or RINO.

[murielm99]

3. There are so many articulate people here that

I find myself trying to express my thoughts and ideas in better words.

I learn something new here almost daily.

I even like the arguments. I think it is great that we exchange our ideas so freely.

I don't like that some of my favorite posters have been banned. Because some of those people thought much like me, I have been afraid to say anything controversial in a long, long time. I post less, and I post innocuous things. I would like to see a general amnesty for some of those people, now that we have new hope for our country.

[The Straight Story]

4. I think Amnesty is a good idea

It is Skinner's board of course, so I leave that up to him - but something worth bringing up now that we have won. Maybe it is time to let past issues go and welcome back old friends.

[William769]

5. The moral superiority here sometimes astounds me!

Another pet peeve of mine is the grammar police sheesh!

[RC]

11. Is 'sheesh' really a word?

:P

[Smarmie Doofus]

13. So you think you're *above * the moral superiority, eh?

FYI, there ought to be 'period'... or at the very least a semicolon after police.

So *there*.

Ans 'sheesh' would begin with..... ahhh nevermind.

[left is right]

6. While, I am always impressed by the bright , articulate

people I encounter here. And it doesn't hurt that most of you agree with me. What really impresses me, is the sharing of joys and sorrows. With very rare exceptions this is a place that feels good for you when thins are going well and is empathetic when the roof has caved in.

And BTW, spell checker helps

[Kiouni]

7. Sometimes I like the criticism

but i agree with you most of the time we go to far and force people to make broad replies to protect themselves against the mass of hate mails. I use the criticism here to test ideas or concepts to see how they might be argued or supported (mainly argued against). Thanks for reminding us of the good.

[Sapphocrat]

8. My beef:

When I struggle to compose a fairly lengthy, well-thought-out, considerate-of-the-OP reply, and the OP ignores my very existence, yet responds immediately to the next 6,000 replies.

WTF is it? My cologne? :shrug:

Sign me,

Not Expecting an Answer to This One, Either,
But Grateful for the Opportunity for Helping Me
Build Up Yet Another Layer of Even Thicker Skin

On edit: late-night typos

[Kiouni]

9. agreed,

most people seem to not enjoy reading, which is ironic.

[Sapphocrat]

10. Kiouni...

That is the coolest avatar on the planet! "Barrel of Monkeys" gives me warm, 60s-childhood fuzzies all over.

All hail Hasbro!

[The Straight Story]

14. It happens, but in cases like mine I do read but don't always reply

So I pick and choose as time allows. I do read em all usually, but sometimes not for hours (like this one for example, I went to bed shortly after posting and am just now checking my replies, and now I have to run in a few minutes to go to store).

But yeah, it sucks :)

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. Oh man...me too...

I call that the truthiness factor. They're not going to reply if you hit a nerve. :hug:

[Greyhound]

17. When that happens to me, I just assume that my point was so well

made that others don't have anything to add, nor dispute. :silly::hi::tinfoilhat::silly:

[Smarmie Doofus]

12. Beef:"I'm not anti-gay, I'm anti-hypocrisy" posts. Hint:

You're anti-gay.

And you're pro-hypocrisy.

[LeftishBrit]

15. That people are so committed to progressive causes

That they are so knowledgeable, intelligent and often very funny.

That even when people disagree, you know they're basically on the same side.

That there are so many places, cultural backgrounds, viewpoints, etc. represented.

That even when we UK-ers butt in with our opinions on American politics, we aren't told to go to hell, as we easily could be!

That the DU administration actually provided a UK forum, on what is after all an American-political board!

That everyone here agrees with me about how horrible Bush and Cheney are!


Beef: Well, bear in mind that one of my main political commitments is disability rights in general, and support for special needs in education in particular. In that context, I have occasionally come across what one might now call the 'Limbaugh vs Fox' syndrome, even here: i.e. people accusing others of faking or exaggerating illness or health needs, or demanding too much support for them, if that clashes with a cause that is being supported. E.g. this has happened ON BOTH SIDES of smoking threads, with anti-smokers accusing smokers of not being genuinely addicted but just being weak-willed or inconsiderate, and smokers accusing anti-smokers of faking or exaggerating allergies to cigarette smoke. This doesn't happen often, and probably sometimes I over-interpret it due to great personal AND political sensitivity on such matters. But you did ask for beefs!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

18. I hate it when two or more people without profiles or substantial journals...

get together on a great OP and start bashing it with innuendo or rumor. They rarely offer any substance to these things that they "heard" somewhere. I really thought we were rid of those types after elections but I saw a couple of them last night trying to kill a good OP by a newby that was headed for the top. I'll be watching out for new posters here at DU that have something valid to say. When I see crap like that trolls better beware. THIS FORUM IS STILL HAUNTED!