There are no 'Elite DUers'

[WilliamPitt]

That's balderdash of the purest ray serene.

There are people who post a lot. There are people who post sometimes. There are people who read.

There are people who have been here a long time. There are people who got here a few months ago. There are people who just showed up.

'Elite' suggests separation, that one person here is better than the other, that one person's contributions are better than someone else's. I reject that out of hand.

I came here in May of 2001 to find shelter from the storm. This place has gone through 5,000 iterations since then, people have come and gone (and sometimes happily returned), bullshit has broken out and subsided, but this is still my shelter from the storm. The idea that some one or another is 'elite' in this shelter defeats the whole idea.

Yeah, the place changes. I give you Leto Atreides II on that subject:

"In all of my universe, I have seen no law of nature, unchanging and inexorable. The universe only presents changing relationships which are sometimes seen as laws by short-lived awareness. These fleshy sensoria which we call self are ephemera withering in the blaze of infinity, fleetingly aware of temporary conditions which confine our activities and change as our activities change. If you must label the absolute, use its proper name: Temporary."

There are no elite. There is just us, withering in the blaze of infinity, clinging to one another as we fight the absolute in this temporary sphere.

So shut the fuck up with that bullshit. :P

[RevolutionaryActs]

1. All Hail Lord Will!

:P

[SheilaT]

2. Darn! and here I thought

I was among the elite.

Sigh. Another illusion shattered.

[mistertrickster]

83. Okay, YOU are because you campaigned for Dean in Iowa. But

everybody else is in the same pile, hehehehe.

[xmas74]

3. Did I miss something (again)?

[latebloomer]

42. Yes

Only the elite know about it.

:D

[sniffa]

43. check your pm

:P

[Terran]

59. Heeheehee

:rofl:

[AuntiBush]

91. LOL - Always the last to know "anything..;)"

Loved Will Pitt's definition as a place to hang one's hat while weathering a storm.

Thanks Will.

[Radical Activist]

4. At least that's what the DU elite would have us believe.

;)

[WatchWhatISay]

5. And thankfully, somethings always remain the same here

Like Will Pitt, who will always show up sooner or later.

[yvr girl]

6. You have to admit that some people are funnier

...but I agree on principle

[BikeWriter]

7. ROFLMFAO! Well said. Bottoms up!

[Texasgal]

95. Serving drinks again I see!

YOU ELITIST BARTENDER YOU! :P

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

8. Thanks Will, but I really do think of you

as one the "elite".

:yourock:

[knowbody0]

9. you are blessed

[lady lib]

10. Glad you said it.

That class shit is so Republican!

[cry baby]

11. Ooohhhh, I love the Dune series.

I guess I missed something with the DU elite thing. I saw it a few days ago, but most everyone pounced on that DU elite thing as just plain silly.

Will, you are sounding inspired lately. I thought for a while you were getting kind of depressed or something. Sounds like you are optimistic again.

[WilliamPitt]

14. I was

Now I'm not.

:)

[cry baby]

17. I could tell...

Glad to see the "happy" you back. I enjoy being inspired by your thoughts.

[Bouncy Ball]

12. OH MY GOD YOU ARE A TOTAL GEEKAZOID.

A DUNE quote? Are you KIDDING me with that?

Oh and by the way, speak for yourself. With my new adorable puppy picture, I'm even more elitier than ever!

:P

[hfojvt]

29. not only that but it is probably from the fifth or sixth book

I think I stopped reading after book 4. Maybe not. It has been so long that I have forgotten almost everything about Dune except the inflated opinion that one English TA had of it while spitting on the rest of sci-fi.
What is Dune if not the sci-fi elite?

[Bouncy Ball]

30. Good and very ironic point! LOL!

[Bok_Tukalo]

101. Dune is more allegory through fantastic fiction than sci-fi

Also, worth a read considering the current geopolitical climate.

[NewJeffCT]

36. on top of Dune

I remember some quotes from (gasp) Star Trek, too. Not old Trek when he was a kid, but Star Trek, the Next Generation.

[Mutley]

51. that really is adorable

that poor puppy... :rofl:

[Bok_Tukalo]

100. "Fear is the mind killer"

<ope>

[SarahB]

13. Good post.

(Personally, I think the Dune quote makes it better. :P )

So many of the people some might consider "elite DUers" are just normal, laid-back people like anyone else, either the ones I know IRL and ones I just know online. The common bond for almost all of us is brains and truly being one of the last vestiges of people who give a damn as to what happens to the future of this country. That's what it's all about.

[jpgray]

15. I hope you get et by a sandworm

But then I'm just a crummy DU prole.

:cry:

[Bouncy Ball]

19. It's the Quizzart's Hadarack.

(Or however you spell that shit.)

[jpgray]

20. So long as Will doesn't use "gom jabbar" to describe part of his anatomy

I'll let the Dune references slide.

[Bossy Monkey]

23. I thought it was the haddock's Cuisinart

Actually, I saw the movie before I read the book, so I really did think it was the haddock's Cuisinart!:D

[geniph]

103. Kwisatz Haderach

Crap, did I just out myself?

Hey, we're the Duneist elite!

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. Well someone did suggest that there is an elite group on DU.

I was confused by it. Nice to know it doesn't exist! :eyes:

[FuzzySlippers]

18. I worship you

for your egalitarianism, Will Pitt.:D

[jus_the_facts]

21. FEAR of the elite is the MIND killer.....

.....LMAO...I'm just sayin'!!! :D

:hi:

[In_The_Wind]

22. There was a thread for all of the non-elite DU people to sign in.

Sorry you missed it.

Nice to see you back.

[Festivito]

63. I missed it. Do you mean they DID NOT vote ther own as GREATEST?

...while they complained of little exposure?

Or, were there only two of themselves?

[In_The_Wind]

89. gee ~ I really don't know

Sometimes there are multiple threads with the same topic - I don't read every thread :shrug:

[bridgit]

24. "purest ray serene..."

you need to tap das neo-pope on the shoulder while he's blessing driven, snow white spring lambs for new cardinal threads; 'persuade' him from his balcony "on any given sunday" and deliver that line to the masses :thumbsup: somewhere from within a homily regarding high speed internet access imo

[Kerrytravelers]

25. People wo quote Dune are elitists.

:P

[DoveTurnedHawk]

26. Speak for Yourself!

You're lucky I don't ban ALL your asses!

:evilgrin:

DTH

[Zuni]

27. Exactly what an elite Duer would say

I am not fooled :crazy:

:tinfoilhat:

[arwalden]

48. Heh-heh.

:hi:

[Zuni]

58. Hey buddy

:hi:
Maryland forecast: temp ok, pollen bad, overcast

[SOteric]

28. I heard you get to be an 'Elite Duer' by boinking Will Pitt

and that explains a lot about that photo of you and matcom. :7

[Abelman]

31. Damn straight

Thank you for that not, Mr. Pitt.

We may not have elites, but I think we have sages.

[Hardrada]

32. S'geht alles VORUEBER

S'geht alles VORBEI.
Nach jedem Dezember
Kommt wieder ein MAI!!!




ROTFRONT GENOSSEN!

[Swamp Rat]

33. Oberhammer!

[Hardrada]

34. Ja, sofort.

[LynzM]

44. Nice captions

Dig it :)

[LynzM]

45. Nice captions

Dig it :)

[KG]

35. um, yeah, sure thing.

:eyes:

[GalleryGod]

37. It's a very natural reaction to some of the threads, Will, that's all.

That's why Skinner invented "hide the thread" :silly:

As opposed to "Hide the Baloney Pony" :woohoo:

[sniffa]

38. pffft! don't Listen to wiLL

he's just mad we kicked him out of the eLite cLique.

[kick-ass-bob]

41. freeper.

you're next.

:P

[bettyellen]

39. ray serene??? okay you served us bud light, which DOES prove your point...

but doesn't taste like beer.
:beer:

[johnnie]

40. Yeah right

Did you forget about me? Pfft, I'm so elite, I won't even allow myself to look in the mirror at myself.

[arwalden]

46. Of Course There Are Elite...

Elite doesn't suggest "separation" to me. It suggests elevation (whether deserved or not).

It doesn't suggest that someone is actually better than someone else, or that their contributions are actually more valuable. Instead it's whether or not they are THOUGHT OF and perceived by others, (or by themselves) as being better, smarter, faster, more involved, more funny, etc.

Sure... DU has it's "elite". You make it sound like it's a bad thing. The "we're all equals" and "we're all in this together" rhetoric is a nice sentiment, but it doesn't really match reality.

[sniffa]

50. i'm better, smarter, funnier, and gosh darn it, peopLe Like me

[Madrone]

85. (or by themselves)

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[the Princess]

96. Thank you Allen

I was gonna say that. Not nearly as well tho.:)

[BeFree]

47. Indeed

Luckily the elite have no power on DU. They can't get someone banned, they can't make slaves of us, nor can they ridicule anyone - at least not publicly. Therefore, being elite here has no value, hence, there be no elite, because without value what is there?

So, "Elite" may not be an apt description for those among us who are, to test out a term - are "Someone" - while the rest of us are just anonymous observers free to speak our minds within the proper DU mores.

Distinctions, while not required, are desirable, and, since we are human, will be made. Maybe the non-elitists should come up with the proper term to be used to make the distinction?
-----------------------


Sometimes, one throwith out a term - like casting a fly - to get a rise, and the ensuing splash doth make for good entertainment, eh?

[Thtwudbeme]

49. We don't even know who you are anymore

That guy that wrote "everyone is WillPitt" (WHO was that??? Worst, stupidest Freeper ever in the history of online blogs and message boards!) might just have been right!

Stephanie
or Michael

[Misunderestimator]

53. LMAO!!

Stephanie or Michael :rofl:

[blondeatlast]

52. I saw that post and I thought it was out of line.

No one who'll share a beer with me is elite, dammit!

[Fovea]

54. Is that your sand worm

or are you just happy to see us?

When I think of American Politics lately, Dune is as frequent a point of reference as Orwell.

It fits so handily into this situation, and this cast of characters.
Thanks for the post Will. It needed saying.

[El Fuego]

55. "Elite DUer" is a redundancy

Because we'll ALL elite! That's why we're here! :P

We're seeking shelter from bush's yokel nation.

[intheflow]

56. Begging your pardon, Will, but that's BS.

I don't have any gripes with this place, but there most certainly IS an elite at DU.

There is a vocal, high-profile minority whose posts will always get responses, no matter how silly or stupid or twisted, and they usually only answer posts from other high profile people. Hanging in the Lounge can be very lonely to those of us who feel like we're in the "out" crowd. (On the other hand, I prefer my relative anonymity to having my name mentioned in every other Lounge post as sometimes happens. Kleeb! JimmyJazz!) Still others get on the "Greatest" page no matter what they post. (Some dude named Will Pitt comes to mind... :P )

I don't post a thousand threads a day, so my name is not well known. My responses to posts are more ignored than not. You will probably ignore this post as you have never answered one of my responses to your posts. But I have never once seen a post by you ignored. Not once, Will.

There most certainly IS an elite at DU. Doesn't make you (or anyone else I referred to) inherently better or smarter than me, just more popular. Hence, more elite within the "walls" of this forum.

[jonnyblitz]

57. exactly

people who are part of the "elite" will always deny there is an "elite"...

[Bouncy Ball]

61. intheflow

first I wanted to say I know your user name and I always notice your cute bird nest avatar (I know people by their avatars, mostly!).

And I'm better than Will because at least I admitted there is an elite and that, because of my intensely cute puppy picture that no one can resist (look into his eyes!), I am elitier than ANYONE! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!

Just kidding!

:hi:

[intheflow]

68. Bouncy Ball

Your intensely cute puppy has no power over me! In fact, I see your cute puppy picture and raise you a puppy and a long-suffering adult dog:




:silly:

But thanks for the "familiar" sentiment, BB. I enjoy your company, as well. :hug:

[Bouncy Ball]

69. AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

STOP TRYING TO OUT CUTE ME!!!!

:rofl:

(Those babies are SO cute!) Check your PM, too.

[Dora]

65. Hear! Hear!

I couldn't agree with you more. Brilliantly and succinctly put. Thank you for posting.

I have finally changed my settings so that Lounge postings are hidden on the "Latest" page. Since I've joined DU I've enjoyed the Lounge, and I frequently took comfort in the humor and goodwill available there. However, in the last month I have become more and more dismayed at the high level of rank insiderism spilling out of the postings. The gross quantity of inane copycat threads and exclusionary inside joke threads finally drove me to change my settings to block the Lounge from my Latest page.

I was sad to do so, but I came to DU so that I could remain well-informed and find comfort with all the like and not-so-like-minded thinkers here. But, with its sophomoric post-spams crowding the Latest page every hour, The Lounge BS was getting in the way of that.

DU Rocks! Now perhaps I'll dare to enter "General Discussion" one of these days....

[katinmn]

71. that's perceptive, Dora

Exclusionary and inside jokes have made the Lounge off-limits for some folks.

[Zomby Woof]

84. Best post I have read in here all year

Seriously. Thank you!

"Sophomoric post-spams", "exclusionary insiderism", and "and inane copycat threads". Couldn't have said it better myself. :-)

[geniph]

104. Hey, I see one of my elite friends!

Howdy Laurin, long time no post at! :hi:

[Zomby Woof]

105. GENI!!!!!!!

:bounce: One of my old SEATTLE ELITE friends! ;-) I am full of pan-chromatic resonance! :D

[geniph]

109. Ah, the SEATTLE ELITE!

We're the elite-est of all! hahaha!

I just finished the run of my first play, and got cast immediately in another one, so I'm already in rehearsals for the next. Am I nuts, or what? :D

[Terran]

66. I think what Will is saying..

is that, despite the very real situation you describe, everyone who involves themself with DU ('cept the trolls) is a valuable part of DU--even those who just read DU. The popularity of certain persons is meaningless. What has meaning, and power, is that we're here at all, effecting change in whatever big and small ways we can, and sharing what we do and supporting each other.

I got over being ignored a long time ago. Now I just say what I think. Not everyone likes it, but that's how it works here.

(Thanks Will. May your water make the desert bloom.) :spray:

[intheflow]

72. I recognize the truth in what you're saying.

But I'm saying that if a portion of DUers consider themselves "outsiders" as measured against an "in" crowd, then a stratificaton of DUers has been established. There is not just one reality working here; many members make many perceptions. If there is a preception of elitism, then elitism exists in those minds, and therefore becomes a reality.

I got over being ignored a long time ago. I have also enjoyed having several of my posts make the greatest page, so I'm certainly not a complete outcast. I'm just saying that to say there is no elitism working at various levels on DU is to deny the reality many members perceive.

[Coexist]

67. Darn, now I have nothing to work for...

seriously - I nicknamed myself "the black anchor" when I first began posting at DU - because every time I finally posted an opinion, the thread immediately fell from the page! Not so much any more, but just because I said that...

Watch this one drop, baby!!!

[SiouxJ]

87. You have a point

I've been here for years and seen this progress. There ARE those here who enjoy an elite status and that's perfectly fine. I don't have a gripe with that either. It's bound to happen when they spend so much time here. And, the people who really make major contributions here, like Will, deserve the attention (I really enjoyed your "Stand Up Next to a Mountain" post this morning Will :thumbsup: ). The annoying thing is when some of them are outright mean and they get away with it because of their "status." That bugs me more than the sillyness. There's an easy solution to that though, you can just ignore them. And if you're looking for people who will talk to you, you might want to try hanging out in The Groups forums, more than the Lounge; you'll find like minded people there who WILL talk to you I'm sure ;-) .

[nonconformist]

98. Well damn.

I thought that because I am the queen of the threadkill that meant *I* was elite, in a loving "pull on your pigtails" kind of way.

Whatever shall I do now?

[intheflow]

102. You aren't the queen of threadkill.

As evidenced by my reply to you. If there's gonna be any threadkill around here, I'll do it damn it!

:evilgrin:

[JohnKleeb]

112. Do you think I chose to have people obbess about me?

Believe me it annoyed the hell of me when all those posts were about me.

[curse10]

60. Shit. My whole self esteem was based on being a DU Elite

Now what will my poor self esteem do?

[gordianot]

62. Soon we should know what Leto Atredies II golden path truly is?

The Atredies genes have had time to spread through the Dune cycle universe.

When the final two books are published (from Frank Herbert's notes) my bet is all humanity will have a developed a parity of potential, eliminating the need for an elite (real Democracy) , but we will have to wait and see.

In another age and time Frank Herbert would have been a prophet.

[Mutley]

64. I agree about 'Elite DUers'

But I do think that some are more popular than others as in any social situation on the net or in real life. And I think some people get snubbed, maybe intentionally, maybe not, but that it can be a little hurtful.

[katinmn]

70. The word that come to mind is "clique"

To me that just means a group of people that like to hang together and enjoy being part of a group. Some members of the group are inclusive and others aren't.

There's nothing to stop other like-minded folks from forming groups.

It's human nature and they will always exist.

[progmom]

76. thanks

I always feel really weird when people talk about cliques. I have found some friends in the Lounge who I have come to love, and am unsure how to develop these friendships without a certain amount of what might be perceived as insiderism. That being said, I do my damnedest to respond to everyone who posts to me.

Then again, maybe I am being paranoid in thinking that anyone is even talking about me when they talk about this....

:shrug:

[Mutley]

77. Oh I'm not talking about anyone in particular

I'm just saying that I think of it more the way I described than as any one group being elite.

[Tsiyu]

73. Pithy post - as usual, Will

Cuttin' to the heart of the matter. The gist of the jest...

It's my guess that most DUers play the "secret club" game only to have a little fun. Many of the 'elite' seem to be here incessantly- kind of like regulars at a bar, so of course they have more time to think up silly shit. Most of the time they are hilarious.

Some may be more bored than the rest of us. Obviously one ( or two) in particular had enough time on their hands to adopt strangers as nephews and to pretend to be something they're not. But I think the majority of this stuff is harmless fun.

Nevertheless, if we are here to build a community spirit (and only a troll would say he or she wasn't - because why join a board with 68,000+ members if you aren't looking for community?) then we should be aware that excessive elitism, secretiveness and favoritism destroy communities.

"Once we give up searching for approval we often find it easier to earn respect."

Gloria Steinem

[SmokingJacket]

74. Some people HAVE to find a hierarchy -- even if there isn't one.

And some people will always feel left out it.

Anyone can choose to post big thoughtful essays that come to big, universal conclusions... or to post little snarky comments, as I do.

Your experience is what you make it, around here.

[redqueen]

78. Your experience is what you make it, around here.

I agree... except IMO that applies in a sense to the entire planet, not just DU.

[SmokingJacket]

80. Yes... except DU is even more democratic than real life...

It's free, so you don't have to be rich to join. You don't have to be young and good looking.

Everyone on DU starts with the same deck of cards, for the most part.

[stevedeshazer]

75. This whole thread screams elite

Nice sentiment, then you read most of the posts:
"Yay Me! I'm not elite!" :eyes:

[Ellipsis]

79. Maud'Dib

[valis]

81. Love you Will!!!!

[mistertrickster]

82. Famous anecdote--Stranger thinking of settling in a new town:

"Are people friendly around here?"

Answer--"were they friendly from where you came from?"

"Yes."

"Then they'll be friendly around here."

********

How can there be "elites" on a message board that prints anything people post on it? By it's very structure, it's wholly democratic and egalitarian.

If some people seem to be reacting to each other in an especially warm way, that just means they've built up a relationship for one reason or another--it doesn't mean you're the DU geek because you don't have that kind of on-line connection to other members.

[confludemocrat]

86. Dontcha know the difference between elite and elitist?

Guess not. One is good and positive, the other (the latter) not.
I was on the outside looking in for a long time, and noted some things: this is an uncommonly savvy bunch like it or not, it took awhile before I could see that there were enough like me, not as witty, not as urbane, and not as funny as most here, that I would not stand out for being only average, so I joined.

[davsand]

88. People sort themselves.

I don't think DU sorts people into stratas any other than any other social setting (except for maybe beauty pageants) I think people actually sort themselves. It is just part of the entire human interaction.

From the time a kid starts to interact with other kids you see one kid or another that plays well with everybody and you see kids who play well with only a handful of others or maybe even only themselves. (Of course they get yelled at for playing with themselves--but that is for another discussion...)

At about first or second grade, the kids themselves begin to realize that certain kids play with more people and are "popular" and it starts to cause some kind of angst. That social angst carries on for life for many people in some form or another.

I have been amazed on here at the number of times people will send me a pm or respond to something I said--and until that point I thought it was probably unremarkable. I think we ALL have impact on a reader (or readers) that we simply don't realize most of the time. I think a LOT of what goes on here has meaning to other people simply because it is a form of interaction, and we are all starved for ANY kind of positive or affirming interaction in our daily lives--especially in a political sense.

DU is a microcosm of social interaction and all our human behaviors are there to see if you are looking for them--both the good ones and the not so pretty ones. I see a lot of kindness and support here at DU. More often than not, if you are in pain or in trouble and posting about it on here, somebody will reach out to you and give you a hand. That speaks volumes to me and that is why I'm still a member after all this time.

Will, you are right--we ARE all equal here. There are some who are MORE equal than others (ya gotta love Animal Farm!) sometimes, but overall, DU is no more stratified than any other group of people in a social setting.

Just my two cents.


Laura

PS: On a silly note, we are ALL equal for one major reason that was made clear by that freeper so long ago. We ARE all Will Pitt!
:hi:

[gordianot]

90. Succinctly correct. "DU is a microcosm of social interaction ". n/t

[BeFree]

94. That's almost scary....

You've got this place figured out, girl! I saw some of myself in your words, and a lot of the rest of these liberal do-gooders we are all so fortunate to share our time with.

Besides, so what if there is an elite? Don't we all need someone to look up too? I kinda started this thread last night by thanking Will, and the rest of the DU elite, for hanging around so long. Will took it a bit too personal, I'd say. Hell, Pitt's practically a hero in my book.

[nini]

92. I agree..... BUT there are factions here that think they are

:evilgrin:

and they will be the ones offended by your post and my comment here. I can almost predict who will answer this.


I've seen a lot more mention of the clique mentality that has permeated the board lately from older posters. It appears there are many who have simply avoided the lounge because of this. Sad really as there are so many great people here to share stories with etc. I guess they got tired of seeing threads sink quickly so the 'I'm drunk ask me anything', or multiple copycat threads, etc.. can dominate the 1st page.

[bobthedrummer]

93. There are some groups of DUers that run in packs like a mob

and they use high-tech here to advance their agendas.
Skinner brought that to our attention recently.
Hey, this place IS part of information warfare-like it or not.
No one nor any group is elite here.

[NorthernSpy]

97. that's depressing

What do they hope to gain by doing that?

[bobthedrummer]

107. Promote potential POTUS candidates and skew polls way beyond

any meaning, get on Greatest Page, lots of stuff. Even targeting other DUer's and posting about them.

[Lilith Velkor]

99. You name is a killing word.

No matter how many times you tell these mehums there's no such goddamn thing as the Illuminati, they keep reinventing 'em.

fucking bees....

[Mugweed]

106. Have you smelled my shit?

Of course you haven't. That's because I'm elite....OK! I admit, it smells like fresh-cut roses.

[khashka]

108. And Will Swoops In On His White Horse

and takes all our toys away. Bastard.

To an extent I agree with him. I'm not the easiest person to get along with, but lots of people have extended the hand of friendship. And that's so damn cool, it's why I keep coming back.

But if he thinks there isn't separation, there aren't cliques, there aren't us and them, there aren't the in people and the out people. Then, well, Mr. Pitt you are simply delusional. You can't change reality merely by saying it ain't so. Cuz it is.

It isn't as bad here as lots of other places, because as a group we make a concerted effort to reach out to each other, to find common ground, to find common beliefs, to find common jokes. It doesn't always succeed - but what the fuck, we're liberals, it's what we do.

But rather than denying there is an elite - and there is - we should try to make everyone a part of that elite. Even that bastard Will Pitt.

Khash
(actually I have a huge amount of respect and admiration for him)

[enigmatic]

110. You get the "Best Post In The Thread" Award

At least from me.

[Arkana]

111. I don't know--I think of you as an l337 DUer

:P