My Apology to the fine people of DU

[Heath Hatcher]

Dear Democratic Underground

For those who don't know me my name is Heath Hatcher

I am a fairly new member to DU as I registered last night, but I got to apologize for my behavior regarding several debates I have engaged into regarding the Iraq War. I feel that I was rude, ignorant childish when debating with members go as far as repeating myself over and over. This has caused several members to put me on there ignore list and that I can't take. Look I am a peaceful person who don't like to get into any type of fights with anyone and I have to admit that I was rude because like everyone here we are all frustrated with the Iraq War and it's worse for people like me who have friends fighting there, my best friend Kris is over in Iraq as a navy SEAL. So if I offended anyone i'm sorry.

Also aot of people got angry because i kept saying i'm a party loyalist. You know what, even though I am pretty loyal to the Democrats that doesn't mean your not allowed to buck the system once in a while. After thinking about it, the bill is crap and it's so bad that our own Speaker isn't going to vote for it and this will definitely turn off the anti-war Dems that voted for the other bill just because of the withdrawal plan. Now with the plan gone they will be less reluctant to support it and vote it down along with Kucinich, and even if it passes the House god knows if it will pass the Senate. The withdrawal plan only survived with a razor thin margin lord knows how it going to be with this bill if Dems like Russ Feingold even Kerry and Kennedy will vote it down. I have a feeling that the Dems are getting this one in quick so that they can get to work with there real plan there coming up with in September when the funding runs out.

But anyhow I am sorry for my crass behavior and in the future I will be more calmer when talking with other members, I hope you can all accept my apology.

Have a good day.

Sincerely,
Heath Hatcher
DU Member

[firefox_fan]

1. Thanks! Now DU can go on again.

....

[CreekDog]

2. Ok, don't be snarky towards a sincere apology

It's a rare and admirable thing to apologize.

[IndianaGreen]

8. But has Heath Hatcher bought the traditional DU Lounge round of drinks?

Where's my beer?

:toast:

[Heath Hatcher]

10. Allright

Drinks are on me YEAH!!!!

[Breeze54]

18. Yeah!! It's Happy Hour!!!!

:P Pick your poison!

.. .. .. .. ..

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

3. I saw you on the receiving end of unwarranted rough treatment...

...on my polling thread this morning before you even had half a dozen total posts -- I'm not so sure you're not the one owed an apology.

You can be bluntly honest on DU, just try not to get dragged into personal attack/exchanges, when someone starts that don't feel like you need to respond to it -- you don't.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. I have been around here for a little bit...

And the one thing I have learned is that there are some posts, that were directed at me and quite combative, that were best not responded to. So I didn't.

I have never regretted that, in the long run.

[ccpup]

14. Personally, I feel not responding

is rude, so, in order to respond but NOT respond, I just use humor. Yesterday I was called a wingnut, a wannabe and a Nazi sympathizer. My response? Something along the lines of "with all the wingnut duties I have, the Wannabe Chairman meetings I absolutely must attend -- they're lost without my supreme knowledge and skill -- and the planning of the I'm a Nazi Sympathizer and Proud of It Parade (ok, just me walking down my block with a noisemaker and a flag, but still ...), my days are pretty damn full! Who said I couldn't multi-task?!"

If I can make myself smile through my anger, perhaps it'll lighten the general mood surrounding an obviously tense Net Situation.

[laugle]

21. Yeah....sometimes you have to just not

take the "BAIT."

Sometimes, things are better left unsaid.

If you don't think you can have a productive, civil discussion with someone, it's better not to reply at all.

[Writer]

4. I have no idea what happened, but I did read this, and may I say...

that is takes a BIG person to apologize in this manner. It is a VERY rare occurrence nowadays, especially here on DU.

But because you are new, I do offer a word of caution: don't assume that others here will be as gracious as you, but don't let that stop you from believing whatever it is you believe.

Take care,

Writer.

[meegbear]

5. I've read your posts and you expressed your views ...

thats what it's all about! Usually a post like this is them saying "I'm outta here". Glad you're staying! And ...

:party: WELCOME TO DU!! :party:

[Heath Hatcher]

7. I'm not going to leave

If I leave what would I discuss liberal politics at. I live in a suburb here in the Pittsburgh, PA that is mostly made up of rich Republican(i'm one of the few people here that ISN'T rich)this is the only place that would accept my political views.

[meegbear]

9. Great!

:hi:

[ProudDad]

31. Don't give up hope

You might be amazed at how many others in your area share your views.

The "liberal" view of things is catching on thanks to 6 years of examples from the fascist right-wingers...

[liberal N proud]

11. Welcome to DU

This is an emotional place sometimes. Most of us have gotten heated in our transcripts from time to time.
If like most of us you will from time to time step over the boundary, piss someone off and get flamed. But all in all view points are generally respected here and it is even a good place to check you own view against that of other just to make sure you haven't gone crazy in this insane world.

Good luck with your DU experience, I must warn you though, it can be addictive

[Heath Hatcher]

12. I can tell this is addictive

I have been posting since 8:30 AM and I already have close to 80 posts, won't take me lona at my pace to reach 1,000 posts.

[Ecumenist]

13. Oh, now Heath...see, now I have to apologise profusely.. "I done shot off my mouth again"...

at a fellow American. I was wrong to assume you were one of the legion of trolls who so often go through the threads disrupting and saying the most awful things about those of us who display and use critical and independent thinking. I want to extend a sincere welcome to you and ask that you never give up your independence in thought, philosophy and expression. Sometimes, (and you'll see this happening as you time goes by and you spend more time here), I and many, many other DU'ers automatically respond to folks who seem to be making incindiary comments , who also happen to have low post counts. I will work on my "mouth, even the one I shoot off by proxy and look forward to chatting with folks like you reading your posts. :pals:

[Catchawave]

15. Oh don't apologize and Welcome to DU.....

Oh and make a donation during the fund drive, it helps to have a star :toast:

[Heath Hatcher]

16. I can't right now

Because i'm currently saving up to go to Hartford, CT. Want to go to a Wolf Pack game

[Breeze54]

17. Apology accepted and Welcome to DU!

:hi:

I missed whatever happened but hey? :P

[poverlay]

19. You really have to be careful sometimes as people can easily misunderstand

what you have to say. Plus, some people just don't like your particular viewpoint. We have to argue about minutia and fine points of distinction though because we agree on a great deal.

I have been a member here for a few years and I love it. The people are caring and extremely(mostly) intelligent. You can learn so much and have a fantastic source of information if you watch closely enough.

Sorry you got ganged up on. It happens to anyone with under 50-100 posts who says anything that can indicate trolling. You'll see that catching and flaying a troll is one of the great pleasures here at DU. Unfortunately the good often gets caught up with the trash.
If you really want to have fun, go into the religion forum and mention that you think Christians are crazy, mean, brainwashed, ignorant, stupid, or just a bit "lost". That always gets a big laugh..:sarcasm:

Glad you're here and:
Welcome to DU!

:pals:
:kick:

[Parche]

20. ignore list

There is an ignore list?
How do you find out who has you on it??? :hi:

[Heath Hatcher]

22. You can't

Several people told me that they were putting me on it.

Thank you all for accepting my apology but all I can say that after Shrub signs this Iraq bill or even after the House passes it I think I am going to take about two months off of DU because i'm afraid that after all the hateful stuff I read on DailyKOS about Democrats on Iraq that it's just going to get as bad here so i'm going to take alittle sabbatical, it will be temporary until all the anti-Democratic party feeling die down a tad you know.

[Parche]

25. List

Oh, it must have been a heated debate, that happens sometimes
PM me if you like
Welcome to DU!!! :hi:

[Heath Hatcher]

26. Thank You

I have no idea what i will PM you for but i'll do it.

[annabanana]

23. Aw honey.. don't apologize... If someone attacks you, give it back..

Thick hides are kind of a requirement around here. The place isn't going to get any friendlier (for ANYone) when the primaries REALLY start heating up...

The trick is
1) Don't take it personally.
and
2) Remember that there are probably as many members who agree with you as who don't.

[Heath Hatcher]

24. It's not the primary talk that bothers me

It's Iraq, I rather have us talking about the primaries right now all this Iraq bill talk is making me scared and sick(with good reason)

[MistressOverdone]

27. The ignore lists

are the only reason anything makes it through an hour on DU. Believe me on this and don't worry about it. Welcome.

[Heath Hatcher]

28. Kick

[xxqqqzme]

29. I recently passed my 5th anniversary

in finding DU. I guess I missed all the commotion, but I have to say I have yet to put anyone on an ignore list. There are some here who infuriate me but I won't hit that ignore because once in a blue moon they do contribute a morsel ot two.

Welcome to DU. I am glad you were not driven away.

[Heath Hatcher]

30. I won't be driven away...yet

But I feel when this Iraq bill passes the House I think I will take a month break till all the commotion calms downs and all the Anti-Democrat feelings toward the War passes, then I shall return because it's going to get ugly here real soon. But i'll return, this is such a great board I can't disappear

[ProudDad]

32. To Err if Human

I too get into it sometimes with folks...usually about guns (yuch!)

Sometimes I feel like I shouldn't have hit 'post'.

I usually feel lousy afterwards and know I haven't furthered my argument.

Other times I think about it and realize (again) that you can't change some people's minds but that a strong response can get others to think when they might not otherwise.

We all try our best...

Let the BEST ideas WIN!!!

[Heath Hatcher]

34. Your right

Sometimes though when your angry about a certain post it's not good sometimes to fight back because it's just not worth it, I have learned that on DU you have to pick and choose your battles.

[laugle]

37. I always try to remember that;

"you CAN'T control what people say," but "you CAN choose how you respond to it."

I realize that sometimes it's hard......

[ProudDad]

33. I don't believe in the ignore list

I never use it.

I'm strong enough to read posts from folks with whom I violently disagree.

I consider censoring anyone a form of intellectual weakness and a demonstration of a lack of courage.

[OnyxCollie]

35. I use the ignore function.

When I see the person I ignored irritating someone else, I know I made the right decision. Not everyone wants to debate. Some just want to fight.

[ProudDad]

36. Some do just want a fight,

but most of them don't last too long here.

Generally, there's nothing like having one's ideas tested once in a while...I like that.

For others it's a style thing. One person's sarcasm may sound to another like an attack.

It's hard to read body language, see smiles, winks or shrugs on-line. It's also easier to lash out on-line. Sometimes that's cathartic. Sometimes embarrassing.

But we keep coming back so this must be satisfying some urge in us.