Hey DU'ers, Before painting with a broad brush.....

[HardWorkingDem]

First, I'm far from perfect and make plenty of my own mistakes and be the first to admit I roar just like many other (but usually that takes getting poked with a stick first)still...


When it comes to controversial comments, when you are about to paint with a broad brush and condemn a group of people for the actions of one or a few, try putting the one thing that best describes you or your main identifier in replacement of the group you are about to criticize and see if you would not be offended.

If you would be, it might be best to temper your comments.

There are too many times here when someone hammers an entire group of people because of the actions of one or a few. Which is really baffling because if someone did this same thing toward more favorable DU groups, the person would be labeled things like "racist, sexist, homophobe,Rethug, fascist," or other things.

Just a few thoughts...

[SunnySong]

1. Self- Deleted post nt

[leftofcool]

4. Inferring that another DU member is a facist violates the rules.

[Recursion]

5. Even fascists know the difference between "imply" and "infer" NT

[timtom]

10. Thanks.

I stiffened a bit at that, as well.

[SoCalDem]

2. hmmmm

http://www.democracynow.org/2003/7/15/the_greatest_hits_of_ari_fleischer

[leftofcool]

3. I think we should now just call everybody "poor misunderstood folks."

[blondeatlast]

6. I'll lockstep my disagreement with those that bow to the corporate masters

in doing something or other with your fine post.

(In other words, nail, meet head. Kudos on a great post)

[AndyA]

7. The best thing to do is just hit the Alert link.

Let the moderators decide if there's an issue. Why put up with someone attacking you, or a group you identify with?

Instead of adding fuel to the fire, click the Alert link and explain to a moderator why you feel the comment is inappropriate, and let them do what they're trained to do and deal with it.

I haven't always agreed with the moderators, but once you Alert somebody, you can walk away from it and save yourself the anguish. Overall, the mods here are pretty good.

[HardWorkingDem]

8. Well....we are supposed to be...

the adult ones here not afraid of ideas or to discuss difficult topics with courtesy and respect. When I see a DU member call another DU member something nasty or not even ask a follow up question it's ridiculous.

This is especially true because so many of us have grown up with PCs and know tone, meaning and intent is so hard to portray accurately in a message forum and when there is room for interpretation differences, then the polite way would be to ask first and not call a person a name or infer a person is a particular way.

[moriah]

9. "Do unto others..."

While I'm not Christian, that piece of wisdom from their Bible is a universal truth.

[KonaKane]

11. Excellent observation. For the most part, people here are good about this

but there are a few who like to go on the attack against entire groups for whatever reason. As EarlG said, the rules are not all that new. What remains to be seen is how they will be enforced. I get really tired of seeing the same bigotries from the same suspects popping up all the time, to spotty moderation.

[gratuitous]

12. +1

C'est tout.