No more LOL cat pictures (From GD) re:SalmonEnchantedEvening...

[madinmaryland]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021933459

[Lady Freedom Returns]

1. I don't understand! What happened?

[madinmaryland]

2. I have no idea.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

3. Is this over the silly superman comic?

The one where superman try to make a flying joke and dumb enough to dump lois.

[NYC_SKP]

4. WTF?

Been gone just three days.

Fuck! What a splendid DUer.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Wish we knew why. This is sad.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. link, please. thanks.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. This is really sad news. Edited to add link to the problem.

Someone took exception to his pictures of Superman and Lois Lane, and snarked about it in last Sunday's Lolcats thread. I'll look for a link.......BRB.

Link to Post 53, where the trouble began:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018246717#post53

[progressoid]

11. Thanks CP

I was just doing a search.

Gonna miss Salmon.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

13. that is more than snark. that is a screed. thanks for the link.

[madinmaryland]

14. That's what this is all about??

[Tuesday Afternoon]

16. - is there more?

[madinmaryland]

22. Huh? More what??

[Tuesday Afternoon]

23. well, I can see where this might not seem like enough for GBCW thread but, I think it is for SCE-

I know it takes a lot of time and effort on his part to compile this thread week after week.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

67. It does!

I have been working with the Fido Friday and it does take some time to find pics that mesh and can keep interest. He has it down to an art form! I have used LOL as a template but it will take a lot of work to get it to measure up to LOL!

[meti57b]

69. Not only that, but when you post to him a "thank you", he always replies back to you.

I will really miss him.

[6000eliot]

10. This is so stupid.

This guy made so many people happy every week with the LOLcats. What a stupid thing to attack.

[pink-o]

12. I think it's starts here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018246717


From post 53 and onwards.

Seriously, WFT? I'm a woman, and I grew up strong, tall and athletic in the 60s so you better believe I'm a proud feminist and will defend our equal rights till I die. But freaking out over a silly comic strip (which men can interpret shows Superman as being a stupid Himbo, all brawn but not smart enough to know his own spatial place in the universe) just is a bit extreme.

And for that exchange to drive Robert from the site where he's universally loved and enjoyed breaks my heart!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

15. agreed.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

21. I'm surprised so many would get upset that someone would show Superman being stupid.

Does he have that big of a following here?

[Chan790]

25. Only one person got upset...

that person went on to say they think it's hilarious when hunters get mauled by deer. I'd consider their POV suspect at best.

I support SCE. Their singular critic can blow away.

[hifiguy]

41. IMO that vicious attack on SCE

deserved an IMMEDIATE tombstone, not just a hide. No appeals, no second chances.

[eppur_se_muova]

59. "Superman as ... a Himbo", that's exactly how I took it.

Superman is so freaking perfect, you just have to make fun of him sometimes. THAT'S what that cartoon was about.

(Of course he went right back to being perfect, and caught Lois before she hit the ground. He always does. So if someone is upset about a woman "falling to her death because she tried to communicate", well, I missed that part.)

I've joined the many people ignoring femrap (check out that Transparency page!).

[LeftOfSelf-Centered]

72. Am I the only one who read the cartoon differently?

The whole kerfuffle seemed to start when it was alleged that the punchline of the cartoon was the woman going "splat", and was therefore offensive. But to me it seemed like the cartoon expresses the opposite of that.

I'll repost something I wrote in SCE's goodbye thread, because I'd like to hear what others think:

The joke is not about women always wanting to talk about their baggage at all (after all, she only mentioned she used to be afraid of flying, as far as "baggage" goes that's not even carry-on). [On edit: it's also not about her falling.]

It's all about Superman jumping to conclusions, and completely dismissing a priori whatever the woman was going to tell him, de facto saying that, because she was a woman, whatever she was going to say was not worth listening to. An attitude that many men held in the era that the comic is styled after, and that some still hold to this day. And on top of that he is so self-satisfied with his own "joke" that he doesn't even notice that he dropped the woman while laughing self-servingly.

So the joke is not at the expense of the woman, but at the expense of Superman and the attitudes and opinions he represents in this cartoon. Of course I can't look into the cartoonist's mind, but that's the message I got from it.

So I interpreted the joke as actually calling out sexism, and not making light of it.

Am I reading too much into that cartoon? Or am I just stating the obvious? Or am I waaaaaaaayyyy off track here?

[frogmarch]

17. Because of someone who

would prefer to see LOL Deer Mauling jokes instead of LOL Cats.

[Throd]

18. This is why we can't have nice things anymore.

I resent how the most thin-skinned and humorless in society are allowed to set the bar.

[Lugnut]

71. A-fricken-men!

[ohiosmith]

19. I'm SICK OF THIS SHIT! Attacking DUers that have never harmed anyone on this site by word or deed.

If assholes could fly DU would need an airport!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. I really hate to see people bullying others like that

and I hope Salmon will reconsider.

[Flaxbee]

24. huh

The attacker was way, way, waaayyyy out of line. A bizarre response, in my opinion. In light of all of the happiness that SCE brings, to attack about one comic that she found offensive is extreme.

But I really wish SCE would look at all those who love and value him and his posts, as well as those who rallied around him when he was attacked, and not let some nasty overzealous comments drive him away. That is a shame. And it is very disappointing.

I wish liberals would realize we're not at war with each other. And I really wish some people would just lighten the fuck up.

[EastTennesseeDem]

70. This is my opinion.

Maybe SCE has gotten a lot of shit thrown on him or has had some drama on DU in the past, but I don't see leaving as being a good idea. Of course, as I said, maybe there are other things and this one just pushed him over the edge.

Femrap is a horrible person, that much I do not doubt, but for him to let her drive him away is just a shame. I wish he would reconsider.

[JohnnyLib2]

26. Makes me think of "collateral damage" in somebody else's war.

Sad loss.

[Curmudgeoness]

27. Well, I now have an enemy at DU.

I never thought that I would be pushed so far, but I now have a deep disgust for one of our own.

SCE was one of the brightest spots on DU, and I could never imagine attacking him.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

33. Me, too. I usually don't use the "ignore" feature

but for that person I will make an exception.

[Curmudgeoness]

37. Oh, I will not ignore her.

I intend on keeping my eyes on this one. There are already 21 people ignoring her, seems that she may set a record---and will probably be proud of it.

I am so sad.

[kiva]

28. This is so sad.

SCE brought Sunday morning smiles to us - he took the time to gather the pics, post them, then respond to all. The few times I ran into him outside of the LOL threads he was always nice, a rarity in an online world.

[riderinthestorm]

29. I suspect this is a "straw that broke the camel's back" issue.

I'm guessing SCE has gotten flack via PM that's not public.

And now? Its just too much.

Honestly, there's a "purity test" kinda thing out there in DU. Any innocuous thing is ramped up into this enormous drama. You can try to re-explain your position a million times but nuance is severely lacking lately.

Very frustrating.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

64. I think he got some bad PM's too.

I just want to make sure he is OK. I don't know how to contact him to make sure.

[MrsBrady]

30. can't he just put her/him on ignore

and move on?

I'm not being sarcastic.
Why give up posting just because of ONE person.

I'm confused.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

65. I have been looking around DU and I think there is more to it.

I think he was getting bullied out of sight as well. Can't prove it yet, but when I do...

[fishwax]

31. I don't agree with femrap's reaction, but I think there are now people overreacting to her post

I certainly don't think it's worth SCE leaving over (though perhaps there were other things that built up to it, I don't know). I also don't think this is something worth PPR'ing femrap over, as some have suggested. The most egregious post was hidden, along with another that was borderline at most.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

34. I guess I have to disagree on that point -

there's a level of meanness and assholery that just shouldn't be tolerated, and IMO the line was crossed. And if you look at their transparency page, there seems to be a trend.

[kiva]

39. I also disagree.

Sometimes it's less about specific language and more about a pattern of behavior. femrap could have made her point in a respectful manner, but chose the nastiest possible way to attack SCE and everyone who defended him.

She could have later deleted her comments or apologized, but did not. She probably won't get PPRed. And honestly, I have no problem with people letting her know how they feel about her diatribe.

[fishwax]

42. I think the whole cycle of meanness detracts from DU, personally

I think her initial objection (while, imo, inaccurate) wasn't in itself out of line, but when she was rude in how she escalated from there her post was justifiably hidden. (Though it apparently took four days before anyone bothered to alert.) That's all well and good.

"And honestly, I have no problem with people letting her know how they feel about her diatribe."

I don't mind people attacking her diatribe either. I don't think calling her an asshole or a bitch or whatever serves any useful purpose, on the other hand. But to each their own.

[hrmjustin]

32. This is just a shame. We have to stand up to bullying!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

36. All this bulling started in Meta!

Now it is spilling over into other forums and groups!

[hrmjustin]

40. Yes it does.

[hifiguy]

43. Yes it did. And yes it has.

And the sources of the bullying are readily apparent to all who can read. Yet they are allowed to remain here. Why?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

46. Anybody want to take this to Meta?

Or will that just make it worse? (Meta scares me. ) Somebody really needs to get 86'd out of DU.

[hifiguy]

47. I hope someone does.

I've been trying to stay out of the insanity that's been going on over there the last week or so. The Usual Suspects are on an all-out jihad - and I use that word very deliberately - to purge DU and impose the reign of the Purity Police as rideronthestorm called them. And I am not talking about the Hope Hoops dustup. He earned his PPR honestly.

There are about 8-10 people who desperately deserve tombstones yesterday. The asshat who attacked SCE is one of them.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

48. Yes, it's been weird there lately.

Maybe "train wreck" would be a better description.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

49. Renew Deal started a thread about it and self-deleted rather quickly - change of mind.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1240179586

[kiva]

50. Me too.

I've never posted in Meta, or at least I've never started a thread there. But if someone starts a thread, I'm there.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

51. I sorta did.

More of a rant, but I just needed to say something.

[progressoid]

53. I rec'd your OP.

Meta makes me cringe. If I'm chosen for a jury, 50% of the time it's in Meta. There is a lot a hostility in there.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

54. I don't think some of them likes my thread over there.

good.

[logosoco]

35. Noooooo!!!!!!!!!!

This is awful news. The LOLCats brought such joy to my Sunday mornings. There is so little of that in this world sometimes.
My life is full of people who enjoy taking the joy out of life...and it was so wonderful to have someone I did not even know in real life (or even at this board because I am a low poster long time lurker) take the time to bring so much happiness to everyone early on Sunday mornings.
Thank you so much SalmonEnchantedEvening. I wish I would have given you more appreciation while you were here.

I just don't understand humans, that's why cats are so great.

[Yavin4]

38. There are Posters who want to Sow Dissent

It's a ploy to divide and conquer DU.

[In_The_Wind]

44. That is sad.

He was a special part of Sunday. Like reading the sunday funnies.

[rrneck]

45. This shit sucks. It makes DU suck.

I am, believe it or not, upset behind this shit. SCE did nothing but bring joy to people - and he worked at it. Week after week he made people's lives a little better.

This fucking joint is infested with self important assholes who live to feed off what little kindness is left in the world.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

62. And that's not right!

The Lounge expressly! It is a place t relax. Yet here comes all this nasty and in the end a really nice guy like SCE gets hurt. Why? For no reason at all!!!

Nothing ticks me off more than something like this!

Oh and it is not just one person! This has been brewing for over a month! I did not think someone like SCE was going to be the next victim. This must wake people up!! Good guys are getting hurt now!

It just rips me up.

[snagglepuss]

73. Exactly.

[applegrove]

52. Salmon you are welcome back if you ever get the itch. You start our week

out with joy and humour. You will be missed.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

63. please come back!!!!

PLEASE!!!!!!

[lost-in-nj]

55. Really???

this suprises you??? after what has gone on this past month??? what passed as an "ok" post.. the admins have not said anything about the decline of DU or the horrible posts... ... they don't care, your on your own


lost

[Lady Freedom Returns]

56. I finally had to post something in meta.

I think some of them don't like what I had to rant about.

good.

[rrneck]

57. And it's well you did. nt

[NYC_SKP]

58. And I see some bullying in that thread, targeting you.

Teasing, taunting, dismissing you.

It is sickening to see.

Some members should be re-banned.

[Hayabusa]

60. That is horrific

and also sickening to me as well. Wish you didn't have to leave SCE.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

61. Bring them on!

I don't bully easy. And they just prove my point over and over again!

[OmahaBlueDog]

66. Aparently, this whole dustup is just Lounge drama

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1240&pid=179960

By the way, I'm bizarre for pointing out that there's plenty of other drama.

I'm sure I'll have a higher ignore count by this time tomorrow.

[GreenPartyVoter]

68. I haz a sad. :^(

[Panasonic]

74. I think he is back.

I think we'll see him this coming Sunday. Check out the open letter to SCE for his response.

[annabanana]

75. yes.. see here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018249856

(down in the thread)