Why I love DU

[Mythsaje]

I don't agree with everything posted here and I doubt I ever will. I'm a left-libertarian, which puts me in a slightly different camp than a lot of progressives. But, being a LEFT libertarian, I am for many of the same things most Democrats are. Universal Healthcare, Universal Education, an end to the war, the reformation of the Corporate Media, the end to Corporate Personhood, a strong and supple safety net, progressive taxation, election reform, etc...etc...etc...

And, yes, I have to agree that there's a lot of frivolous crap posted here. But we're WAY ahead of the curve when it comes to the news. We know what's going on nearly as quickly as anyone in the ordinary media. That's a lot bigger that it seems.

We owe a great debt of gratitude to those who plumb the depths of political and other news in order to give us a well-warranted heads-up. This also goes for those who track down and post the great cartoons.

But where I think DU really shines is the sheer volume of really intelligent, articulate posts providing us with morale boosts, ideas for carrying various issues forward, and ways to counter right wing and corporate media spin.

DU is a think-tank, of a rather unique kind. One that's open to all sorts of minds--from the quick-witted and stunningly brilliant, to the deep and slower moving. One does that have to show one's bona-fides to be accepted into this think tank...that's pretty unique.

We're not the Heritage Foundation (thankfully), and we're not any kind of "official" progressive think tank. But we COULD be.

I couldn't begin to list all the contributors I find exemplary, though most people know of my utter admiration for the writings of Nance Greggs. There are so many others that deserve mention as well, but I'm sure every reader has a specific list of excellent contributors here.

But we're something special, all together. Something that has shown enormous potential, despite the frivolous and redundant stuff that's posted all the time.

We're on the vanguard of a new movement, something so far unique.

Our ultimate destination is still shrouded in uncertainty. But I imagine we're going to have an interesting time of it.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. yep.

What you said. :)

[Erika]

2. Yeah, whatever n/t

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

6. Do You Mind If I Request Some Additional Insight On Your Behalf Into Your Comment?

It came off as dismissive or of a tone of disapproval of the OP. If that was the case, I'm curious as to what parts of the OP you found disagreement with.

[Erika]

7. No Comment n/t

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

9. Seriously, I'm Curious. You Must Have Some Reasons For Dismissing The OP. Why Wouldn't You Discuss

them?

If you weren't willing to discuss your dissent what was the point of posting it to begin with? :shrug:

[Erika]

11. What part of " no comment" do you not understand? n/t

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

16. I Just Find It A Sign Of Disrespect And Illegitimacy When One Criticizes Something Without Any

reason given. It portrays an attitude of just criticizing merely for the sake of criticizing, with no logical basis for doing so other than just trying to cause trouble.

I gave you a chance to show an intent that differed than that stated above or a premise with merit, but now I am left only with what I stated above as the most likely intent based on your refusal to provide any reason for having distaste with the OP.

And you have every right to disagree with the OP. I just personally find it to be highly annoying and rude when someone does so with such few words and no explanation or counter-argument. It does nothing to propagate discussion and only serves to cause animosity.

Goodnight.

[Erika]

21. Your opinions and criticisms are your own

I don't buy into them. No comment said it all.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

23. No, No Comment Said NOTHING At All.

But whatever. This debate is useless.

Goodnight.

[Mythsaje]

22. It leaves me in the position of having to guess

and my guess is that some of the discussions recently have really gotten on her nerves...be they the flamebait posts, personal insults, or five hundred threads re: something pointless. So maybe she's just not seeing my point as being particular relevent in the light of something that's really pissed her off.

Or maybe it's something else.

[madmusic]

12. It's biting sarcasm...

With the dentures in the other room in a jar.

[Sugar Smack]

13. "Whatever", Erika.

Jesus.

[cboy4]

27. . . .

:spray:

You crack me up! :pals:

[HeeBGBz]

30. Ooh, brilliant commentary

Do you mind if I write that down and use it later?

[cynatnite]

3. Agreed...

There will always be posts that seem ludicrous, but beyond that are those that make me think and question. There are those that educate me and force me to see another side of an issue. There are those who offer help and support by just giving a smile.

DU has driven me away at times, but that's when I know I've needed the small break. I come back refreshed and find those familiar posters whose insight bring me a new awareness I didn't know existed.

DU helps keep me human.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. Damn Right We Are. And That's Why DU Rocks!

No matter how much yammering, whining, complaining and flamebaiting runs rampant here, the cool part is that the overwhelming majority of us still know the truth to almost every critical issue out there. We are informed to the max without even sometimes realizing how much we truly have learned. When it comes to educating ourselves on what is being spun or what we're not being told, we are all way ahead of the average person: Just by being here.

It's amazing how much truth we all know and can pass forward in real life discussion, just by simply logging onto DU.

And I don't know what my lunch break would be without LBN.

:toast:

[cynatnite]

8. DU's a great motivator, too...

I was never active in much of anything prior to coming to DU. Now, I'm not afraid to pick up the phone, send an email or write a LTTE.

DU taught me that we can still make a difference. I love that!

:toast:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

10. You're Absolutely Right, And That's Awesome To Hear! Good For You!

:toast:

[lvx35]

5. It really does function as a think tank.

If you know how to listen. MAny many things come up here LONG before hitting the MSM.

[Sugar Smack]

15. Hell, yes!

I love it!! :toast:

[SoCalDem]

14. We are in "re-evaluation" mode these days.. We have been trying for YEARS

to win.. and unlike that proverbial dog, we have finally caught the car.. It's got a rusty bumper, it belches noxious fumes, the driver's asleep at the wheel, and somehow we now have to get it under control.

I have been here since July 2001, and stayed through all the valleys of despair we have wallowed in.

When January rolls around and we finally get behind that wheel, things will change around here. Right now, we are all kind of kicking back and waiting to see what happens next.

Nobody's doing much in DC, the presidunce is digging in for the fight ahead, so we just have to wait, not matter how hard it is..

Chins up.. we'll muddle through.

[SeattleGirl]

19. Happy to muddle along with you, SoCalDem

With chin up!

[calimary]

24. Happy to hike along with you, too. We are in sort of a reassessment

mode. Seems like the whole country is. I mean, look at the smackdown that was delivered to the GOP on what I find myself thinking of as OUR 9/11. Specifically, ours was 11/7 - November seventh. Just as many of our opponents pant frantically: "9/11 CHANGED EVERYTHING!!!", we could very reasonably interject: "Well, 11/7 changed it AGAIN." Because it did. A seismic shift is what you could easily argue is a good way to describe the political realignment that occurred with the results of the vote. There have also been reports, mind you, that some three MILLION votes are considered compromised for one reason or other. Most of these questionable "victories" are GOP. It might be a best-case scenario but imagine if most, possibly all would have ended up in the "D" column, but a sizeable number went republi-CON that were widely expected to go Dem. So imagine the size of that seismic shift in such a case. Therefore, I suspect we got a larger and more decisive mandate than what our new majority reflects.

Maybe nobody's doing much in DC because of a) a sense of futility among the losers (them); and b) perhaps a smack of disbelief on the part of the winners (us). After all, the GOP/rove juggernaut had seemed nearly invincible - with a healthy dose of psy-ops on the side (scare 'em and bully 'em). And we were far more familiar with losing than winning lately. Well, nothing stays the same, especially that. When a party that had that kind of lock on power is hobbled to this extent - there goes the House and there goes the Senate, plus we gained, I think, six more governorships. It was better than I myself dared let myself hope for. That's a seismic shift and they usually demand some adjustment time. The psychology is now different. The vibes are different. A majority of voters indicated the status quo has to go, and put all of Capitol Hill under new management. And January, when Pelosi accepts the gavel, we really WILL be "Under New Management." Remember how you felt the last time there was new management at work. Shaky? That's us. Frankly, that's everybody. Since the election, which was bad enough for bush's party, things have grown still more grim. There's been no improvement. Iraq has only grown worse - to the point where it's being openly referred to in/by mainstream media AS A CIVIL WAR. As the civil war it IS. That's happened SINCE 11/7.

BTW - I think strategically it might be fun to start referring to what happened on Election Day as "11/7." Make it an event date. Something set aside, distinctive, of power and significance and substance. Furthermore, if we start repeating this, making it into a buzz phrase simply through repetition ("...kind of catapulting the propaganda"), we will have hijacked the "9/11" screech with a buzz number of greatly significant poltical/social impact. Which, also, changed everything. It even has a nice ring to it.

We will indeed muddle through. What choice do we have, anyway? Might as well do it correctly. Hey, there's every chance we will waltz through it. Or charge decisively through it, perhaps? Well, that's what I'm hoping now - because there's SO much that needs fixing. And we do have to wait because Nancy doesn't have the gavel yet. It's denny hastert's for another month.

And let's remember - this dog DID catch the car.

[SeattleGirl]

17. You know, mythsaje, underneath the frivolous and redundant stuff

on DU, there IS "enormous potential", as you say. And while I sometimes get annoyed at some of the things posted here, more importantly, I have learned -- and continue to learn -- much. Your point about being ahead of the curve when it comes to news is spot-on. I cannot tell you how often I read something on DU and then either NEVER see it reported in the corporate media, OR see it days, weeks, and even MONTHS after I have seen it on DU. Many of the people who post here ARE incredible in finding things that otherwise would go unnoticed, in fleshing something out, etc. A good example of "fleshing out" is the Webb-Bush to-do. Had it not been for a DUer (and forgive me, I cannot recall who it was) who posted the "back story" -- that Webb's son's unit had been under attack and three Marines in that unit died in that attack -- I don't know that I ever would have found that out. That poster, in sharing that with us, also linked to a web site where he/she had found it, said web site to be yet another source of opinion and information.

Maybe we are just going through growing pains. Maybe we've been infiltrated by a high number of trolls. Maybe we just, as you point out, have grown so much, there are so many people with many different opinions here, and like families, even close-knit ones, we have internal squabbling. I don't care. At the core, DU is one of THE best places to be for latest news, "obscure" news, for informed and intelligent opinion, and for some incredible energy. I think I'll stick around.

[BigBearJohn]

18. BRAVO!!! Wish I said that. Eloquent. Just eloquent. LOVE IT.

[Blue_Tires]

20. +1

i've come to love DU as well....it's the only site i visit without fail everytime i'm online

[OneBlueSky]

25. the news aspect is what I appreciate most about DU . . .

whatever happens in the world, it generally gets posted here almost immediately by someone or other . . . we have so many members monitoring so many different websites that it's almost impossible for anything to pass unnoticed . . . same goes for pithy commentary, both from the left and the right . . . and now even videos . . . the only site I have to monitor is DU, because the news from everywhere else is invariably linked by the posters . . . that's how I learn about new websites, new blogs, new everything . . .

in short, I consider DU the most useful site on the internet for anyone wishing to keep up on what's really happening in the world -- and to discuss those issues that strike a particular chord . . . don't know if I'd be lost without it, but tracking what's going on would be a hell of a lot more difficult . . .

[Alamom]

26. DU is many times the only "SANITY " I can find, even with a

little "crazy" thrown in here and there, most days.


It's so sad we can't trust the TV and radio (news) anymore. I remember when you could......or I think we could for the most part.


The "Internets" have turned out to be so much more than I ever dreamed and the best part(here, DU) is always knowing what's going on, the real story, the truth. Knowing our members are out there day and night weeding through the garbage and lies and posting the information we need to know.

Also, the original pieces written by our members are getting better every day.

[GenDem]

28. This site is invaluable to me

This doesn't show by my posts, because alas, I have lurked here since 2004 (just laziness, on my part) and just officially signed up a couple days before Nov 7th - and that was only because a colleague that I was working with on the elections (who is a member) was worried about me being locked out on election night when the traffic was up.

It has been a place where my progressive views are substantiated, where I can link to the pertinent news of the day, and more important this is what has spurred a level of activism (in me) that is way beyond anything that I could have foreseen, even a few short years ago.

Yes, I start and end my day right here and am grateful. Grateful for the brain trust that is this site. Thank you for the post, Mythsaje! I completely agree!

[rosesaylavee]

29. Very much agree.

Wouldn't surprise me if DU is considered a historically significant occurrence when America looks back on this grim and painful era. Can you imagine how much more powerful the 60s would have been with the internet bloggers?

This is a great site for news, progressive opinions and silly but necessary clever humor threads to offset the enormous anxiety we all face knowing the dangers we are in as a country.

Very grateful my sister convinced me to give it a look in 2005.

[madokie]

31. There is some writing and thinking skills here like no other

so many brilliant minds, clear thinkers with honest answers. No matter the subject the answers are soon arived at, might not be what you thought at first but what most will believe at the end.

[dmoded]

32. i agree for one reason..

America is the land of the free and hom eof hte brave which i've travelled over extensively. Only here is where you can find normal discussion about what direction it 'should' be led with. Everything is getting so messy, at least over here on DU you have peace of mind knowing you aren't alone and that the Bush Co. has failed miserably and needs help quick.-dm

[byronius]

33. This place is dangerous.

That's why I love it. So on the edge of human thinkiness. If you learn where to go and how to read it, you're two days to two months ahead of the curve on EVERYTHING, for kpete's sake.

Does anyone remember the thread over a year ago talking about the rumors of congressional page harassment? It even referred to email or IM, as I recall. It was soundly scoffed at, because it was a friend of a friend source.

Goddamn if it wasn't TRUE. When the Foley Scandal broke, my head spun around. You can find things here that do not exist anywhere else on Planet Earth. SkinnerVision, man. FutureInfo.

'Whatever.'

[Mythsaje]

34. I don't remember the thread

but it doesn't surprise me.

[immoderate]

35. It's the humanity, too!

While there are some who complain about the frivolities, the redundancy, and the levity, it's the diversity that keeps this place alive and attractive. If this were all business and there were no diversions, like the lounge, and the groups, we would be wont to maintain the critical mass that is part of our power.

It's also the architecture of the site, thanks to our farsighted and innovative admins, that makes this such an attractive environment to return to. And I'll go with the consensus that there are so many neat and talented people who inhabit this place.

With my friends outside, I am far ahead of the game, and they no longer scoff at what might be seen as off the wall predictions, or tin-foil pronouncements. They accused me of being a conspiracy nut, but everything I've told them has been validated. :)

I like that the issues are mulled over in front of my eyes, so when I talk about a topic, I've already been exposed to several points of view.

--IMM

[Leftist78]

36. True but...

only true for the 30% of DU that doesn't engage in the stupid "'08 who do you want?" crowd. A lot of people can't wait for something to come along and divide them here. They itch to personally attack each other, but there is hope. Some of the most inspiring stuff I've ever read online has been here, and the quality of intellect here is second to none. We have an incredible amount of potential here, and I would love to see us use it more often.

[ConsAreLiars]

37. Agree completely

Although as an leftie, commie, pinko, anarcho-syndicalist, libertarian, socialist, hippie, beatnik, liberal, progressive, humanist, radical, I find labels a bit confusing.

But there are some brilliant and very insightful posters here, and this makes the noise factor a minor inconvenience. There are several whose names I seek out, but equally valuable are the stunning insights brought to my attention by contributors whose name I hadn't noticed before. After I've learned to recognize a few new names, I often discover areas of minor disagreement, but the main thing is that people who don't agree on every nuance or tactic can still help one another get a deeper understanding of "how things work" and what to do.