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Let me count the reasons. And I will include changes I would like to see as well to be fair.
1. I get all the news I need in one place. Not just daily - but minute by minute there are people here who look over many news sources and post stories of interest. Myself I post from a host of places - from American Indian newspapers to small town papers in towns most have never heard of. I get news here on DU I won't find on CNN/CBS/ABC/NBC/etc.
2. Friends and community. Going on 5 years here, over 27k posts, met and made many friends. Some folks don't agree with me, nor do I agree with them - which for me makes for a better experience. I was reading DU since shortly after it came into existence. Have watched as wonderful folks posted here, talked to people in their hours of need, as they have me. Watched as people I respected here have passed on. Posted when I was down and out and had people lift me up. "It is just a message board" - well maybe to some, but to me and others it has been a place that has helped us get out a lot and deal with personal issues.
3. Differing views that make me think and that challenge my own ideals/beliefs. It is not an echo chamber here, I find people all the time who don't agree with my views and often I learn a lot from just reading their thoughts on subjects. I go round and round with folks at times on some issues, while it may seem I totally ignore their views, I don't.
4. The ability to post my thoughts out of the blue. My son is going to Iraq soon, and I can just up and post an OP about how I feel about it. If I am down one night I can throw out an op on that and get some feedback. Ticked off about something? I can rant my ass off and not feel so alone.
5. Changes I would like? More fairness or openness when it comes to moving threads: ie, I can post something about Cadbury and Nestle merging and it gets moved to the UK area, then someone else can post the same thing and it does not get moved. Someone can post a thread that gets moved to the lounge and then later someone else can post a thread on the same topic and it stays in GD.
- My home here is GD. Always has been. Here is a simple solution: Allow people to cross post into more than one area and let people subscribe to those areas. I can post something in GD and Ohio at the same time and will show up in both places. It is all a matter of how you handle data bases. When you view GD let it show all the forums/etc you subscribe to.
I am on unemployment and I will be donating this week as best I can. I check in on DU each day - many times a day. If I can kick down a few bucks to help keep a website like this running I will. I don't have to, I can find other places to rant and discuss - but this one has been there for me through some of the worst times of my life.
I don't know Skinner, Elad, and that other guy who rarely posts :) I do know that I am able to come here each day and toss out my thoughts on things and that folks here have been kind to me. I know I can count on some here to post the latest news, that I can chime in on the fly. I know that I don't have to donate here to be a part of it all - but I want to because so many here have given me light when my life was dark. I know that I have seen people here down and out and you all rose up to make them feel better.
I have watched as members have had loved ones dying and you helped them through the darkest times of their lives - as you have me.
I remember Andy and others. I have watched as others like me have went through a lot and did not feel so alone because we had a place to talk about it all.
Not perfect, sometimes pisses me off to no end. Kind of like a relative or a best friend.
I'll scrounge up a few bucks this week to help keep the site going. Because there are many folks here whom I care about. And if you can, I hope you do as well.
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