When did it start being inappropriate to start excoriating Bernie? At the beginning of the year,

[Akamai]

seemed to me that people were regularly writing in terrible criticisms of him with the statement, "He's not a Democrat so we can criticize him." This went on a long time.

When did the TOS change to state that it was inappropriate to criticize Bernie? (I sure as hell never got the message but am very, very pleased with that evolution.)

Or who the hell do I ask about this? (And I sure will publish how difficult it is for me to get the information.)

Thanks!

[Grassy Knoll]

1. Right Here..

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1259

[Akamai]

3. I sure agree with you "secret message" -- Fuck Trump :)

[bettyellen]

2. You should delete and ask the admin- or look up their previous statements. This is flame bait.

[Akamai]

4. I remember tepidly supporting Bernie after the election was over and getting a ration of you-

know-what on my head, with the message repeatedly being that as he was not a registered Democrat, he was open to excoriation.

So, I wonder when that worm turned? And does anyone else know it turned?

[bettyellen]

5. People have reacted to Sanders sowing doubt over the Russian investigations, also his constant

Criticism of other Dems. He's not been much of a unifying figure- even during that unity tour he slammed other Dems. So yeah, none of that seems helpful.

Questions about moderation here should be in another forum.

[Ms. Toad]

7. More than a year ago.

There are a bunch of people who don't read the TOS.

[Akamai]

8. Wow! I remember how even several months into this year people were criticizing Bernie for not

being a Democrat, repeatedly doing so, and there was nary a bit of protest I heard about those attacks. Nary a shadow of criticism...

So even while those supportive of some of Bernie's ideas were getting their butts kicked, no one mentioned that this issue had already been decided in Bernie's favor.

Hmmm....

Ms. Toad -- I thank you for your straightening me out on this!

I am, Your servant!

[emulatorloo]

9. Bernie says he is not a Democrat. Is he "bashing" himself?

I think maybe you can't distinguish between tepid criticism and bashing.

[Akamai]

10. No -- but people on DU said that they could bash him BECAUSE he wasn't a Democrat, and now we know

that wasn't true -- that the DU would say that it was inappropriate of them to have done so as he was associated with democrats, etc.

You remember those months?

[emulatorloo]

11. They were wrong to say that. Clear violation of TOS.

In most cases that I remember they were corrected.

[Akamai]

12. Holy effing sh..! And they did it over and over in such a superior

manner. Those of us supporting Bernie here were clearly second or third class citizens, often getting a full bowl of umbrage when we praised his ideas.

[emulatorloo]

14. There aren't a lot of people who said that. 4 or 5? They were just loud about it.

As to his ideas, Some of Bernie's ideas and statements are controversial here.

For example, I am a Bernie primary supporter but was uncomfortable over his endorsement of Mello and his older statement that Planned Parenthood is 'establishment'.

I also don't think the 'Trump won because of economic anxiety' theory matches the reality of the 2016 exit polls.

I agree w Bernie's core positions, but the only person I am going to agree with completely is myself lol.


So ideas are gonna get discussed, I think that is a good in the long run.

[Akamai]

13. Maybe I wasn't paying close attention because I don't remember

them ever being corrected.

[cwydro]

16. Thank you Bettyellen.

Spot on.

[Ms. Toad]

6. June 8, 2016, at the latest.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10136548

Don't bash Democratic public figures
Do not post disrespectful nicknames, insults, or highly inflammatory attacks against any Democratic public figures. Do not post anything that could be construed as bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for any Democratic general election candidate, and do not compare any Democratic general election candidate unfavorably to their general election opponent(s).

Why we have this rule: Our forum members support and admire a wide variety of Democratic politicians and public figures. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but our members don't expect to see Democrats viciously denigrated on this website. This rule also applies to Independents who align themselves with Democrats (eg: Bernie Sanders).

(Try the announcements forum, or the TOS itself for important information about what is permitted here.)

Whether or not you (or others) got away with, it has been a violation of the TOS for more than a year. The question is frequently asked in Ask the Administrators, and Skinner always points people to the TOS.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/125912822

Recently, for the first time I am aware of, he answered directly:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/125912810

[Akamai]

17. Thank you very much for the clarification! You answered my question

perfectly!

[Hekate]

15. Ask the Admins is your best bet

[Akamai]

18. Thanks! I didn't know there was such a site. I do now. Thanks!