The DemocraticUnderground is the Marine Corps of discussion boards.

[kentuck]

Not everyone has what it takes to withstand the physical and mental anguish of posting on the underground. Unlike other blogs and discussion boards, DU is for Democrats and like-minded independents only. That is the reason it is so passionate at times - it a fight amongst family. And no one fights with as much passion and anger as our own family.

In the last few days, we have seen a few people decide they cannot take it here. They say why they are leaving. Most of them have been here a short time. Those that have been here for a longer time understand that we have these squabbles and battles from time to time. It is no place for the faint-hearted.

If they gave medals for everytime someone has been wounded by words or the the ideas of others or the actions of the weakest within our own Party, I would have a chest full of medals... But we stay because, in some undefinable way, we think we are making a difference. Maybe we are and maybe we aren't, but we continue to fight. Not everyone has what it takes to be a member of the DemocraticUnderground. :-)

[Philosoraptor]

1. No place for the faint hearted.

[DS1]

2. well. at least it doesn't stink of CLP all the time

:D

[crikkett]

3. I think they'll all be back. This place is the Marlboro of discussion boards: Addictive n/t

[unblock]

4. boo-yah!

[mopinko]

5. boo- yah!

maybe we need a basic training forum.

[zeemike]

6. You need thick skin to be a Marine

And I know I have made some here mad at me, but in the end I know they love me a lot more than they do Boy George. And that makes it tolerable.

[boobooday]

7. You can't HANDLE THE RHETORICAL BATTLE!

Drop and give me 20 metaphors and 5 minutes of invective crunches!

:bounce:

[NJCher]

17. The invective crunch

...20 metaphors and 5 minutes of invective crunches

This English teacher loved that!!

:rofl:



Cher

[The Stranger]

8. What a stupid fucking post. Worst. Post. Ever. GIVE ME A BREAK!

:7 :P :sarcasm:

(I had you going for a minute, now didn't I?)

:woohoo:

[spanone]

9. i'd rather think of it as the peace corps

[Romulox]

10. These boards have taken a turn to the right since I began reading them

Unquestionably. On some days, this board reads like Center/Right underground. In addition, this board is the home to more cheap labor "progressives" than any other site I have been on.

[go west young man]

20. As a former marine and 5 year DU'er I totally agree with you.

The board has swung centrist/right if anything. There are people on here advocating for the death penalty quite a bit. They say hateful things to each other as right wingers tend to do and they support beliefs that are not liberal quite a bit of the time for what appear to be mostly political reasons. 911 discussion is relegated to the basement. Election fraud/manipulation is rarely a hot topic. Long term DU'ers do hang out because all discussion is good discussion. I just wish the board was as relevant as it was 5 years ago. It had umph then. It had fire. Many Du'ers then seemed more of the Noam Chomsky/Gore Vidal mindset. Now I think many Du'ers probably have no idea who they even are. Mostly it's just a bunch of cheer leading for the nominee by people who are often angry and bickering with each other. Issues should surpass politics. That's what the board needs to return to. Discussion of important issues.

[kentuck]

21. I hope we someday...

change to democraticunderground, with all progressive ideas welcomed.

[Runcible Spoon]

36. me too. I'm sick of hearing shit like linking a Mother Jones article is "too leftist"

:wtf: :bashhead:

[undergroundpanther]

50. I agree too

Too much Libertarian swaggering here,Too much,centrist mealy mouthing and rightward lurching.

Du is sometimes homophobic,trans-phobic,fat-phobic,poor bashing,sexist and cruel to people struggling or in pain.

Du isn't for the trolls,bullies, thick skinned, cold hearted and asshole people.The right wing has TONS of those..Although DU has a few still.. much to it's shame...
DU isn't for manipulators,intellectual cowards,bystanders or hypocrites about politics.
It isn't for libertarians, centrists,all those varieties of rightist politic dragging people to the right ..It's no haven to wing nuts dressing up as Dem's for a day..Or social or fiscal conservatives.

It is for those of us on the LEFT.

The left that is TRULY LEFT..the LEFT that seeks equality, respect for human rights, for fairness,justice,equity, integrity and freedom for ourselves and others who do not abuse freedom in the name of freedom.And DU is for those who understand WE have a right to be who we are.

It is for the tender hearted,after all where did bleeding heart liberal come from?

It is for the radical,who seek to transform society into a more liveable social arrangement.
It is for people who are awake politically and pissed at the erosion of our rights,the environment,the social safety net, and our countries ideals.
For those who are creative fearless and open minded but who also know bullshit when they smell it..
It is for people who really want a better world not just for themselves but for everybody.
Du is for ,creative lovers of a good debate,and who desire to work it out.

DU is for people radical enough to offend shock the complacent and irritate the deluded wing nuts,with glee, but a Duer should also be capable of FEELING and caring,about the welfare of other human beings too,if they are capable of being a humane being that is..and not be afraid to slaughter whole herds of sacred cows. this imperialist culture built on narcissism, fantasy and lies that is the evil heart of elitism that is the core beliefs of the right wing that saturate every other media out there..

DUers should know you cannot reason with psychopaths.
Especially those psychopaths that create the evil value system of a political party called the GOP.

[roguevalley]

34. Its hard to be a flaming anarchical leftie on this board. they blame

lefties for everything. I hear the san andreas fault line is our fault. :)

[undergroundpanther]

52. Flaming?

Hey I be a anarchist with fire in my belly,I know it's hard to speak to people here, So many people are so scared of us and don't comprehend us or think we make no sense, but remember this,we say the unvarnished truth most people won't dare even THINK about let alone POST online..In this way we are the true radicals ,the future of the left, here NOW.


It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.
Samuel Adams

(if that is true, I admit have been such a pyro here..Lulz..)

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Mohandas Gandhi

(yeah I know Gandhi was murdered ,but his quote still speaks to
some truth here)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

37. Are you upset about that "english only" thread?

[Romulox]

38. I am a bit put off that this is a home away from home for CHEAP LABOR "progressives"

Many of whom use the language of the Left to defend corporate exploitation.

You wouldn't be one of those sort, would ya? ;) :hi:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

41. No.

I'm pro-immigration, and anti-English only nazis.

[Romulox]

44. Right. You're against worker exploitation.

(you just forgot to mention it.) :silly:

[Runcible Spoon]

39. I guess some would say that happened as a result of so many more users...

I however don't see that as necessarily a good thing, since so many here use the prevailing mood at DU as somehow a litmus test for Democrats in general. The boards have indeed gone to the right, and I think a big part of that is a loud sector clamoring for unquestioned loyalty to the nominee...this goes unchallenged a lot...it's not enough to hate Bush anymore.

[Romulox]

43. I guess the bigger issue is that "reaching out" to the right just drags the party right

Do you notice that the right is never asked to drag is ass over to the left? Never.

[Runcible Spoon]

45. fucking seriously!

I am sick of my government catering to a bunch of intellectually ingrown selfish DICKHEADS!

My one vote and countless hours of spamming everyone I know with political stuff isn't even making a dent :cry:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

47. Pardon me?

I guess you didn't notice all that stuff about how John McCain is suddenly in favor of electrics cars, and affordable health care, and bringing troops home, and all that left wing jazz?

Or are you just being obtuse?

[Runcible Spoon]

49. self delete

not worth it.

[Tindalos]

46. It's not just DU

There has been a move to the centre/right in the US and other countries, such as Canada. I hope things are moving leftward again. Time will tell.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Well, the expertise in the use of profantity is similar.

Other than that, I see little resemblance. Although, there are some wannabee D.I.'s who want to instill discipline with loyalty oaths.

[TahitiNut]

25. Don't forget the blanket parties.

:shrug:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

28. Conform!

Yeah, we had them. There was one guy, who was threatened with a blanket party by the "good" marines who were going to get him because he "disgraced" the squadron (I was in the air-wing) by screwing up an inspection.

He slept with his entrenching tool next to him and told the ass-kissers to try it. They never did.

[TahitiNut]

29. Peer pressure on steroids is a tried-and-true tactic in the military.

No matter which branch of the service, punishing the whole unit and blaming it on a single person is quite common.

[Runcible Spoon]

42. COMRADE! Your avatar is NOT Party-Approved!

Report to base for reeducation procedures!

[JohnnyLib2]

31. Yessir!

With emphasis on the wannabee.

[IDemo]

12. Nah. This place is more like the Cub Scouts than the Marines

If you were ever involved in an unmoderated Usenet discussion group, you'll know what I mean.

[bdamomma]

13. believe it or not this place keeps me sane.

[Froward69]

14. Hear Here!!!

I seriously think those whom would say we cannot make a difference, are either freepers or never tried. or BOTH.

either way that thinking is defeatist and undermines the power of the people.

[skooooo]

15. Sometimes in the midst of arguing...in the heat of battle....

....someone will CHANGE YOUR MIND about something.


oh snap!

[deaniac21]

16. You mean the Marines on Gomer Pyle USMC?

[kentuck]

19. Gomer never quit...

:-)

[thewiseguy]

18. No, DU has turned into a MTV reality show with so much drama

[windoe]

22. Like my family

we have a freeper, a republican, 2 pagans, an athiest scientist, and 2 catholics. Somehow we can sit at the same table long enough to have a meal but doooooon't bring up certain subjects or you'll be sooooooory. Lively!!!

Good thing we all have a good sense of humor though B-)

[EstimatedProphet]

23. This isn't even the Cub Scouts of discussion boards

[LSK]

24. if people think this is bad, they should try getting on a board with freepers

GDP somewhat resembled that a few months ago.

[TahitiNut]

26. Drop and give me 50!!

:P

[paparush]

27. SEMPER FI BABY!!!!

Luv my DU!

[ensho]

30. the disruptors cause a lot of trouble - always trying to change subjects

trying to make readers look in a different direction.

but in the end the truth wins out.

discussion is good. even heated discussion.

[JohnnyLib2]

32. I think maybe the definition of "disruptors" has changed

in the past few months. ?????

[Runcible Spoon]

48. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^This.

"purity trolls" "concern trolls" :eyes: Give me a fucking break.

[anonymous171]

33. Semper Sollicitus

Always Concerned.

[Wcross]

35. As a former Marine I disagree, there is no physical challenge.

I would rather equate it to "the south park" of boards. So many people say "Screw you guys, I'm going home".

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. Actually Kenuck this place is slowly becoming Free Republic

no dissent to be tolerated or doubts

Think back to 2004 and then go take a peak at GD-P where even a news report brings the worst in people

And you know what? It saddens me as the you are with me or against me thinking takes over... like a virus

[undergroundpanther]

51. The right wing bullshit never stops

Insidious it is.That is why we must FIGHT for OUR space to be FREE of that shit.And the people who TALK that shit.
We are in this together.We will not have a left side voice anywhere if we give up and shut up.
So even as Du seems more like free republic some days remember the people you KNOW who are on the left still here and passionate about it.Speak up for The people who are still here and still left.Do it for their sake.Show the fuckers on the right that radical fire that the right wingers try to put out of the debate.
Use your keyboard like a sword,let your heart bleed truth and never ever stop giving the right wing the hell they so richly deserve.

[UTUSN]

53. Uh, the Maries *BELONG* to the Navy Department!1 n/t