Dear Skinner, DU Admins, Mods, posters and friends

[xultar]

I will admit that DU has changed for me. I will admit that the primary season hurt me very deeply. To witness the ugly overt actions of some who banded together to harass some to the point where they got themselves banned was unbearable. I said that I was never going to donate to a place that would allow so much hurt to their members. I realized though that I got right down in the dirt too and I said and did some ugly things as well. From then on DU wasn't the same for me. Everyone was accusing everyone who didn't agree with them of being a troll and from there it just went down hill. Yes this place is a mess but in being a participating member I realized that I had a huge part in creating the mess. So I continue to donate. I don't post as much as I used to but you'll see me around every once and a while and I certainly lurk and read because DU still provides great LBN.

Since those Jackasses at Righthaven are threatening DU I would ask anyone who has not donated to please donate to. Fight those sonsobitches. If you didn't see my thread last week the fund drive is as good as any reason to fight those fuckers. DU will not be silenced.

I get angry at DU but I still call it home.

X

[joeybee12]

1. Agreed...we're all to blame somewhat...

...that said, where else would we find so many other animal lovers?

[peace13]

2. When DU initiated the insane un-recommend feature I said...

I'm outta here. But when Valentines day came around I decided to support to the best of my ability. I still think UR is very divisive and I don't post much but...like you, I came around. Peace, Kim

[shireen]

34. +1

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Greatest Page for you, my dear xultar!

I applaud your thinking...

[Jack Rabbit]

4. K/R

!!

[one_voice]

5. K & R.

[me b zola]

6. I meant to hit rec...and instead I hit unrec

If someone would be kind enough to rec for me I would appreciate it.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

7. I'll rec.

[calimary]

26. I will, too!

Don't know much about this Righthaven reference, but I do recall some pretty fierce tumult here. We're a passionate bunch! But we do indeed have more that unites us than what might divide us, and it seems to me that now is when we could use a whole lot of reminders about that. We have to unite for our Dems in November, even as much as they've disappointed us and broken our hearts (and their promises - or what we hoped were their promises). Just remember this: what's the alternative? Speaker boner? sharron urkel over Harry Reid? carly fuckedHParina over Barbara Boxer??????????????? Would you REALLY be okay with seeing that IDIOT james inhofe taking the gavel back on the Senate committee on the environment? You want HIM telling people "elections have consequences"????????

edit - to add

[xultar]

13. That is ok. I don't get hung up over that. Since it is family dirty laundry it may be better

For it to stay in the forums.

[meegbear]

8. I've seen you get slammed both in '04 and '08 ...

hang in there girl!!

[xultar]

15. I will admit finding out I was on that banning list stung. But hey those are the

Breaks.

I still love DU cuz I know there are some great people here. I also love the very idea I'd a DU. It stands to reason that a place like this will have ups and downs. Well get angry and diss one another but we will come together in the end.

[hlthe2b]

9. Good post.. I agree.

I think one problem we are facing is that it is often hard to distinguish trolls from the most vehement critics--whether it be in reference to Obama or other Democrats, Democratic policies, or whatever... I guess we give those who we have some knowledge of--in terms of following their previous posts--some benefit of the doubt, but certainly not the newbies. I'm guilty of this as well.

On the other hand, there are some very long term disruptors, who like OMC have managed to fly just low enough under the radar to avoid a t'stone, yet managed to get many others banned whose frustrations get the better of them. I know we have DUers who have sown dissent on other websites then come back to do so here... I don't know what the answer is to that, but agree that we have all been part of the problem at one point or another.




But, for all the problems, I do think the economy is most to blame for the slow fund raising right now. I have never been less secure financially in my life than I am now and I haven't splurged on anything in a very long time.

[malaise]

10. Nice post sis

[Fire1]

11. Agree. Just can't do it, this time around. Son returns to

college this fall and I've got classes, myself. Things are tight all around.

edit to add: K&R

[xultar]

16. I'm tight too. I'm scrapin to pay my Amex and pet sitter. I'm on the road for 11 days

I only spend 2 nights @ home every other week. The only assignment I could find requires me to pay my airfare to CA and my rental car. So I walk and only go home twice a month. It is rough. I barely have enough to pay bills.

So I know how u feel

[femrap]

40. I hate these

damn Corporations for what they are doing to the Working People of this nation.

I truly believe they are the TRUE root problem...not the dems vs. the repugnants. The political system has become a Circus...a distraction of sorts.

The Elites/Corporations are the problem. I believe most of DUers would agree with that. It's so sad that one has to accept Harry Reid (whom I think is an asshole) because it's the only choice we have. The Elites set it up that way.

Oh well....yeah, the primaries here at DU made me sick. I left for a long time. I couldn't take the misogyny and ageism. And some good people were banned which I believe should be reinstated. But, like you, I find DU a good source for LBN.

In two weeks, I become a 99er. A Masters Degree in Indus. Eng. and all I can find are jobs for $7.70 to $8/hour. Plus I'm over 55 and female with a mouth and a brain. No one wants that shit around. I'm not a good sheeple.

Good Luck....and 'hi' to the pets.

[Soylent Brice]

12. EXCELLENT.

K&R

[mzmolly]

14. K and R

[Subdivisions]

17. Seems that band of harassers is avoiding this OP. Maybe there's hope for them yet. n/t

[xultar]

23. ROFL. they have me on ignore!

[existentialist]

18. "And he asked me if I belonged to any organized

political party.

And I said 'No, I'm a Democrat.'"

Will Rogers

[jesus_of_suburbia]

19. I totally agree with you, Xultar. The Primary season hurt me deeply, but I still love DU!

I love our differences, and I love 90% of the regular posters.


Even when I get angry, I still find myself coming back, because we have more in common than we do differences.

[Caliman73]

20. Great post Xultar

I still consider myself a newbie since I have been active on the site for only a couple of years. I started reading the site in early 2008 during the primary season so I don't have the original context of the united anti-Bush DU so take this as you like. We all contribute to it. I know I certainly do at times. Passions run high and people write things based on the emotion of the moment. Others just like to cause discord. I enjoy debating points or trying to clarify information if I can, but I know that sometimes I get too into the argument. I try not to call people trolls or smear them as right wingers, but I am sure I have done it too.

I agree with you Xultar DU is an interesting place. Frustrating as all hell sometimes but worth the visit nonetheless.

[theFrankFactor]

21. We Make This Fucking Site!

And we would "make" another one. This place went the wrong way. That nanny shit is for DemocratincNannyground.com. I guess the "free market" is at work.

[NYC_SKP]

22. Tell it, xultar!!!

Thank you!

[Catshrink]

24. Thanks, xultar.

BTW, how's the ipad?

[mmonk]

25. Amen to that.

[DeSwiss]

27. K&R n/t

[rosesaylavee]

28. I always loved how you dished the dirt back tho...

Wait, that was wrong?

I love this place too. And I don't post as much either these days but lurk a lot to catch up on what's happening.

Can't imagine it NOT being here.

[David Zephyr]

29. K&R.

!

[seabeyond]

30. good for you xultar. what a woman you are. nt

[BrklynLiberal]

31. Great post.

[Withywindle]

32. You're one of my favorite posters, xultar.

I've been here since '04, and yeah, it's definitely changed. The '08 primaries were such a low point, I actually think it's been better since then.

Haven't donated yet because the money in the bank just isn't there, but when it lands, I will. I still believe in this place.

[femrap]

41. I agree....

it's much better now than during the primaries. But I do have a very loooooooooooooooooooong Ignore List which really helps me cope.

I'd really like to know who has the longest Ignore List. And the poster who is ignored most. And I want omega minion (I think that was her name) back here at DU.

[Winston Wolf]

33. It's Like...

...you picked something straight out of my brain and said what I felt I never could. And for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[TygrBright]

35. Love your "voice" on DU, xultar! Keep posting! n/t

[deacon]

36. Great points. The sniping needs to stop and thats up to us. Anger needs to be directed towards

the issue(s)and not a fellow DU member. And we shouldn't allow the right wing nut jobs to destroy DU.

[donheld]

37. Some of us aren't mad, just flat broke.

[Granny M]

38. I just donated.

Not much, but every little bit helps, I hope. I like this place, and I don't mind too much if people disagree. Would like to learn more about how to argue nicely (not one of my talents, alas). I log on nearly every day, and learn a lot about the issues. I'm shy about posting, but that's just me.

[Chipper Chat]

39. I've been in debt for 26 years

but I still donate to DU. And my college. And my fraternity. And to the girl scouts. God help me.

[SharonRB]

42. I donate every month automatically

and have ever since I joined in 2004. I don't even think about it -- it just shows up on my credit card every month. I'm not around as much as I used to be, and limit where I go, but it's still the first place I go when a big story is breaking and where I get a good part of my news.