Is anybody posting here anymore?

[QC]

Seems like this forum started off really active and is now dwindling.

Is that because more Southern progressives are deciding that there's no place for us at DU anymore? I'm leaning in that direction now, but I've been here since not long after the site opened and I'm still a bit reluctant to hand the place over to the knuckldraggers.

If you're still here, please sound off!

[Longhorn]

1. I was wondering the same thing.

Perhaps this group is a place to come to vent when others are picking on us? To be honest, I haven't been going outside of the groups much because I'm just not motivated politically right now and I didn't want to get caught up in all the bickering after the election. :shrug:

[quaoar]

2. I'm still here

but I've been wondering just how welcome we are here.

I realize it's not everyone, but the few can make things unpleasant for the many. And there seems to be little effort expended to rein them in.

In this thread today, for instance, it was suggested that the entire state of Alabama, where I have lived for nearly 20 years, be tossed into the waste:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1072769&mesg_id=1073253&page=

[carolinayellowdog]

3. Here (obviously)

and wondering if it would be wiser to discuss South related issues here rather than engaging in GD or LBN with those who enjoy inflicting pain and humiliation on fellow Dems.

[dbt]

4. Still here. Still marveling

at how it seems impossible to have anything approaching a rational discussion of the South anywhere on DU. Case in point: this locked thread over in LBN today (12/15/04).

Ya think maybe "rational discussion of the South" is an oxymoron anyhow?

:hi:
dbt

[Ripley]

5. LOL!

I'm sort of here. I've been checking DU's LBN for news fixes for years now. But it's getting difficult to even want to do that anymore!

Is it just me, or is there a very different approach most Southern DUers take to race issue threads? I mean, every time I see a horrible incident happen in a "blue state", I marvel at others (and myself) for our restraint. For example a recent thread about the group in Eugene OR where they threw racist threatening notes in weighted bags into peoples driveways. Yet if that same story happened in Dothan, AL it would be filled with how vile the South is and damn why didn't they just secede?

Maybe yall just have more manners. :)

[BamaGirl]

15. Why'd you have to pick Dothan for that example lol!?

You make a good point though. I never read any threads outside the Bama boards that have Bama in the title (or any Southern state). You just know it will be a free for all bash post. The Reps I know here in Dothan would be horrified at what happened in Or, especially if it happened here. It's just as much a mistake to assume all Reps are racist as it is to assume no Dems are. That's a common mistake made in the bash the South posts on GD/LBN.

[doni_georgia]

7. People who aren't southerners will never understand us

They have their preconceived notions about us (e.g. prejudices) and they aren't willing to let go of them. We can tell them that race relations are better in the south than the north until we're blue in the face, but they won't believe us. Let's face it, the south only ever gets press for horrible things. The good that happens here goes unnoticed by all except for our own. Never mind that some of the greatest advocates for peace, justice, and equality have been southerners - doesn't matter. The anti-south crowd will continue to believe we are a bunch of white-sheet wearing, roadkill eating, illiterate, Bible-thumping morons, because it makes them feel better about themselves.

[doni_georgia]

6. Haven't signed on DU in about a week

Just haven't had the time, nor the inclination. When I have posted, it has mostly been on the religion forum. I'm pretty sick of the southern bashing on the GD forum, so I have been very selectively reading posts and staying away from any red/blue state threads.

[LDS Jock]

8. still here

just haven't been in this group much lately

[RedEarth]

9. Here, but not as much......

Still looking for another political board....if anyone knows of any please post them.

[Frogtutor]

10. Helllloooooo....(listening to echo)

I've wondered about this, too. Frankly, it seems kind of difficult to come up with topics that are south related, rather than related to a specific state (in which case people post in the state forums) At least, I think so. Maybe because we "enlightened few" have never thought of ourselves as separated from the north until all the bashing began. I always thought we were one country of citizens with the same issues in common no matter what geographical region you live in. If you look at the election results, it's no ONE region or state's fault that Kerry lost. People ALL OVER the country voted for Bush. If barely more than half the voters voted for Bush, that means that almost half the voters voted for Kerry; kind of like the glass half-empty-half-full kind of thing.

If you think about it, there haven't been any "northern issues" discussed either unless you consider making broad, sweeping generalizations and enforcing negative southern stereotypes a discussion of issues...I certainly don't. What would be a "northern" issue or a "southern" issue, anyway? Do we have so little in common? I guess some people just aren't happy unless they have a scapegoat, no matter how flawed their arguments.

I do come in here everyday and check for activity, though.

Frogtutor

[CottonBear]

11. I check in several times a week.

I've been very ill with the flu and then catching up on missed work so I've not had time to post at all. It is good to have a forum for all of us Blue Southerners.

[aquaman]

12. I'm still around........

But DU has changed for the worse since I joined in 2001. So, I don't log on as much as I once did.

[DemBones DemBones]

16. Ain't it the truth? nt

[wildeyed]

13. I still check in occasionally.

I post in my state forum and in some of the other groups. Have been avoiding the GD forums 'cause people are so contentious. I am still down about the election and I don't feel up to donning my flame proof undies and fighting with other dems.

I guess I don't take the south bashing as personally because I was not born in the south.

[BamaGirl]

14. I've been in the Lounge and the Alabama board

and the groups. GD and LBN are pretty unpleasant these days.

[DemBones DemBones]

17. What's worse than being a Southerner at DU?

Being a Southerner and a Catholic. Like me.

It do get a mite discouraging.

[Rowdyboy]

19. Southern and Episcopalian is nearly as bad!

Damn, are we filthy scum or what?

All of us southern Christians go around dressed just alike....



at least in the minds of some of our more "enlightened" and "progressive"
brethren here at the good old Democratic Underground.

[Frogtutor]

21. Where is your sense of southern decency?

You should know you musn't wear white from Labor Day until after Easter!

LOL :silly:

[Rowdyboy]

22. God Dammit, you caught me!

My mama is spinning in her grave and you
are 100% correct....You do NOT wear white
after Labor Day. My shame is enormous!

If you'd like a neat related story about
proper behavior, read this...

http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20020913.html

[Dzimbowicz]

18. Still here

and check in several times a week.

:hi:

[quaoar]

20. Some Southerners are more hated than others

I've noticed, for instance that Alabama and Mississippi might as well be in the 9th Circle of Hell at DU. South Carolina takes a lot of shit, too.

Arkansas and Virginia don't get as much grief since they were sort of battleground states. Louisiana gets a break because people like New Orleans. North Carolina caught a break because that's where Edwards is from.

[Rowdyboy]

23. Trust me, friend, if you're from Mississippi you just brush off the hate

It comes automatically to all who live here. Just by virtue of our geographic birth, we are fundamentally evil. Those of us who are liberal are merely ugly step-children in the Democratic party. We should learn our proper place early so we don't ever offend anyone important.

[QC]

24. Looks like this forum has slowed down again. n/t

[NC_Nurse]

25. I just forgot to check and see what's happening here recently...

have mostly been hanging out in the Lounge and GD forums. I haven't gotten used to all the new groups I joined yet.
Plus, I lurk a lot lately since things got ugly after the election....I guess I'm just a chicken. :shrug:

[radric]

26. Just became a donor..

so up to now all I've been able to do is lurk here. Just hope the place gains a bit of life.

[RoyGBiv]

27. I just found it ...

I missed the creation of all the new groups as they were happening. I was taking a break from DU at the time, in part for reasons mentioned in this specific form.

I was just randomly wandering DU the other night and found this place.

[Dob Bole]

28. I just found it, then waited 3 days for my star...

but I'm here!

[southlandshari]

29. Fashionably late

But I'm here and ready to join what I hope is a vibrant and active discussion group!


I look forward to getting to know ya'll!