META, BETA, VHS... META, BETA, VHS...
I'd like to start off with the fact that there are a LOT of DUers that used to post here regularly, and do not any longer.
You'll just have to trust me... I have it on background.
And while I understand it, it's still a fucking shame.
Evolution, Devolution, age, change, trolls...
Who knows.
But I know several DUers that posted on a regular basis, that choose not to so much anymore.
One used to call, set-up, and organize NorCal DU Meet-Ups in S.F.
Whether it was marching against the Iraq War, or picnicking in Golden Gate Park, smoking dope, and throwing frisbees. We met, got to know each other, and inevitanly, had a lot of fun.
There used to be a section on the DU home page that would let you know if there was a DU meet-up near your area.
I miss those days...
And although the critics of DU will tend to blame the Admins/Hosts/MIRT/Whatever...
It's really us. And me too...
The one thing that has disappeared over the years I've been here, is humor and camaraderie.
We can argue all we want, use our rapier wit to slice one's opponent, and still remaining gracious and friends.
And have a laugh and a beer at the end of the day.
..........................................
Have we become so small... that we can no longer see each other... either face to face... or pixel to pixel... that we set up encampment on the dark side of our souls?
Let alone discuss important issues/happenings here and around the world?
= new reply since forum marked as read
It is up to all of us to make it a change for the better.
And at 65, so do I. 
Just not as high as I climbed as a child. 
J/K.
I lived in Danbury for many years, and my wife came from upstate NY (Poughkeepsie).
Yeah, working in Manhattan tuned me into that joke!!
You do know that Poughkeepsie is only about twelve miles from here. 
Right?
When I was attending college in Sheepshead Bay, my best friend and I traveled by train up to the Peekskill Dude Ranch for singles weekends. We thought that was upstate.
Do you own a boat ?
when I was a kid I loved climbing trees, but while I had no problem going up I was very scared coming down - I cannot tell you how many times my dad had to retrieve me from trees....he'd say IF YOU CAN'T COME DOWN DON'T GO UP but I never listened 
in retrospect, it was probably vertigo - I'm not afraid of heights but do sometimes have difficulty looking down from a height
Ugh! I can't believe Skinner allows your type to post here! All real Progressives only watch Laser Disc!
Good to know I'm predictable as ever
Agreed
Hell spent 600 bucks a a tape deck that played DAT, thinking (or not) that I would beat the rush. Now it's in my shop playing the standard cassettes I have left. 
... as the stakes have escalated. Every day we are closer to the tipping point where the oligarchs will have so much power and control that we will be unable to wrest it away through elections. DU members seem to know this and respond as you would expect them to do - less patience, less tolerance, less understanding.
I also think DU has been infested with very clever shit-stirrers from the right, using issues like guns and gender rights to try to divide us. I think this has eroded our communal sense of trust, which might be why we see a reluctance to face-to-face meetups.
(Note: I also see a lot of phishing - picture threads, and requests that DUers categorize themselves geographically or whatever.)
Despite these issues, there's still no place as good for liberal/progressive/Democratic Party types to converse and exchange ideas.
Yay!
I wants a Happy.
Good to see you.
and was reading well before.
I don't even have it bookmarked now on my toolbar (or in my bookmarks). Maybe I just force myself to type it in as penance for being straight and white and male or something
Before we seemed to have this idea that there was a common enemy and we had one goal we all shared, get rid of that idiot in chief, bush. Sure we had other ones, and yeah we had fighting amongst each other to be sure, but at the end of the day when we logged off we knew we were at least among allies. And that tomorrow we would suck it up and be back together for the larger picture.
Now? It's all about who is the best progressive. Like a competition on issues and purity. I know at the end of the day I am on the same side on some big issues here (and when I say issues I don't mean a magazine....) but we don't always agree on the same things.
Folks are not seen as allies anymore. We are either for or against something. Reminds me of ole bush and his war on terror. Instead of trying to fix the country some want to fix everyone on du who does not agree with them on every little jot and tittle of an issue. We have always had, as noted, heated discussions on lots of things but on some things people just want to throw out the baby with the bath water (as mom used to say - and I am not quoting her because she was just some person who could say things I liked, I like the actual quote as well. Ma was more than just a quote maker. Can't be too sure these days so have to qualify everything).
The 'wars' we have on here...well you cannot win them because they are ideological. You can be on the same side, have same core beliefs, work together to vote in the right people, etc and so on. But unless you leap from your variation of the faith totally to someone Else's version you are an enemy combatant who hates liberalism and your shoes will be checked before you board this flight. It is like the TSA is checking every post and someone raised the alert color around here.
"Let alone discuss important issues/happenings here and around the world? "
Reddit might be a better place for that these days. Not every issue is piggybacked for other wars and issues.
DU still has it's charm, though now it seems more that folks read it to be entertained. Like watching a slow train wreck where all the cars are filled with clowns and circus tents.
Hell, I can't remember the last time I saw a DUer in person.
One person who deserves some of the blame is Obama, for getting elected. DUers' similarities vastly outweighed their differences when Bush was president. There was a LOT to rally around. And I think that even today, we are all much more similar than different. Our perception is totally warped without that focal point that Bush gave us, and with the actions of our party when it's in power..
But I still miss those days
Had a bunch of good food, and drink, and friends, and talked to CatWoman on the phone...
Damn Arcane... I cannot remember his name now.
While in the midst of argument...
Retain a sense of decorum.
And yeah, although I've violated this dictum, too...
It's still worth the reminder.
This place started small, and has grown exponentially...
And to me, EVERYONE is welcome...
But not everyone is ok with being on the recieving end of Internet "Comments"...
Which like it or not is what we are sometimes. And although we were warned when we joined up...
"Thick Skin"
It feels pretty fucked up when a place you felt was your home, seems to have not only been invaded, but never defended.
Me ??? I don't give a shit. I know I'm correct.
"We used to be able to discuss any topic without demanding credentials and published essays to back it up."
Yes, I remember that.
