Hi. I'm new here.

[Silver1]

Silver1, AKA hoi polloi.

Not sure what else to say except I'm happy to be here, and thank you all for being here too. I hope I never offend anyone ... I'll try my best not to. But I do intend to speak for the hoi polloi at any cost.

Lets talk while the 1st is still in place. And lets stick up for it so it stays that way unabridged.

[Skittles]

1. if you offend someone, learn to use IGNORE

welcome to DU

[Silver1]

4. Thank you!

I'm not sure I could "ignore" someone. It would probably be too irresistible and I would have to take a peek. If I start loosing sleep though ....

[kiri]

92. Please please offend someone

No timids.
If you never offend anyone, your voice/values are weak and ephemeral.

Progress is made by squeaky wheels.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Hi, Silver1!

Welcome to DU! It's great to have you with us!

[Silver1]

6. Thank you.

I've been following for a couple of years and finally joined. i wanted to comment so many times. Glad to be here.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. Glad you finally signed up!

DU has been an oasis for so many of us throughout the Bush* years and we need it so much more right now! And as long as you don't lose your temper with anyone, LOL, and continue to support Democrats, you should be just fine.

[Silver1]

24. I thought the Bush years were bad ...

Who knew it was just the start??

[Rhiannon12866]

30. I know! Who could have ever predicted this???

I remember how devastated I was after the 2004 election - was so grateful for the support of DU back then. Little did we imagine how much worse it could get! But you'll find the latest news, kindred spirits and even some humor here!

[Upthevibe]

3. Hi Silver! - Welcome!

This is a special place....

[Silver1]

10. Thanks.

I really appreciate it. I've been following for a while. So many people posting ... hard to keep up with the names. I appreciate the warm welcome.

[lunamagica]

5. Hi Silver! Welcome to DU!

[Silver1]

12. Thanks!

Glad to meet you!

[LuvLoogie]

7. Offend away...

mother fucker.

[Silver1]

14. Hello.

Not my style. You go right ahead though.

[LuvLoogie]

16. Style shmyle. Welcome anyway.

[Silver1]

25. Aw thanks.

[A HERETIC I AM]

9. DUCK!

[Silver1]

19. Hello.

And hello duck.

[pandr32]

11. Welcome

[Silver1]

26. Thanks!

I'm glad to be here.

[MLAA]

13. Welcome aboard 😊

[Silver1]

27. Wow

So many people saying hello. Thank you.

[Phoenix61]

15. Welcome!

I hope you enjoy DU as much as I do.

[Silver1]

22. Thanks!

I've been reading for a couple of years, just took a while to join in.

[AJT]

17. Hi ho Silver1.

[Silver1]

20. Ha ha!

Thanks!

[MFM008]

18. Hi

[Silver1]

21. Hello!

[Beartracks]

23. Well hello!

And welcome!

========

[Silver1]

28. Thank you!

Yes to the doughnut and the beer.

[secondwind]

29. A warm welcome to you, Silver1, you will love 💕 it here!

This site is a haven for many, it is rich with information from all around the world, and it never gets old.

[Silver1]

31. Thank you.

I relay on it every day, both for news and for the discussion. Better by far than anything on the mainstream.

[WhiteTara]

32. Welcome to DU!

And no doubt, you will offend someone, but no worries, so does everyone else

[Silver1]

33. Thank you!

I know, it's inevitable. But I also know from experience it leads nowhere, or worse, so I'll try really hard to avoid it. I don't mean to say I won't speak up. I will.

[WhiteTara]

34. Good. We need our voices

to mingle and share thoughts.

[Aristus]

35. Welcome.

Don't worry, the DU-ers who offend easily hang out in General Discussion and the Gun Dungeon.

You're safe here...

[Silver1]

37. Thanks.

So the Lounge is mellow. I will keep that in mind.

[sheshe2]

36. Welcome, Silver1

[Silver1]

38. Thanks.

I'm glad to have finally joined. It's nice to be welcomed.

[raven mad]

39. Hi back atcha!

[Silver1]

44. Tahnks.

That picture is so beautiful.

[hwmnbn]

40. welcome, Silver1...

[Silver1]

45. Thanks!

Glad to be here finally.

[Fla Dem]

41. Welcome to you.

We're a pretty friendly bunch.

Never hurts to just review DU's Terms of Service.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=termsofservice

They're pretty straight forward, and helps keep folks from stumbling in their 1st few months.

Hope to see you post often.

[Silver1]

46. Thanks.

And thanks for the link. That was helpful. It all sounds good.

[malthaussen]

42. Welcome to DU.

Be careful out there!

I find that it is impossible to assure that I offend no one. So when it happens, just consider the source and the substance of the complaint. I also find that they are usually baseless.

-- Mal

[Silver1]

47. Thank you.

I've seen the pointless, angry, insulting conversations. Not interested in getting sucked into that. Discussion yes, always.

I'll be careful -- and not fall for the bait! (Well, I'll try. )

[hlthe2b]

43. Welcome, but odds are against any of us NEVER offending anyone

--even if only a misunderstanding. A laudable goal, though.

[Silver1]

48. You are right.

There's so much we're all stressing about right now, it's a good thing to have a place where discussing the issues gets us away from that, instead of piling it up more.

Thank you for the welcome.

[TNNurse]

49. Welcome, speak your mind.

People may misunderstand what you say and you may have to clarify yourself. If you offend, I suggest your politely explain your point again. I have been slapped down a couple of times but it is a great place to speak up.

[Silver1]

50. Thanks for the welcome TNNurse.

I fully intend to speak my mind! No worries there.

[pbmus]

51. Welcome aboard matey...

[Silver1]

61. Hey there.

Thanks for the welcome!

[bullimiami]

52. Welcome and dont worry, youll offend someone.

[Silver1]

62. I know it.

Between you and the others who have said the same, I'm already building an immunity.

[ploppy]

53. Welcome to DU!

You will like it here!

[Silver1]

55. I do like it here ...

I have for a while ... as a lurker!

[Amsterdammer]

54. Hello Silver1

...and welcome! Kinda a newbie here, myself.

[Silver1]

56. Hey.

Thanks. Are you in Amsterdam?

[Amsterdammer]

65. We were in Amsterdam last week...

...this week with in-laws in and near Prague, Czech Republic.

Sunday night we're back stateside, we live in a suburb of Atlanta.

How 'bout yourself?

[Silver1]

83. Never been to Amsterdam

but I know a lot of people who have and who really love it. I look forward to going one day.

Right now I'm facing the Noreaster that's come our way. I think it'll be gone by the time you fly in.

[Amsterdammer]

84. Sorry, I meant

Where do you live?

[Silver1]

91. The northeast.

[rurallib]

57. howdy doody

once you come in you may never find the way out. I am still looking.

BTW what was Howdy Doody's twin's name? - and it wasn't Trey Gowdy.

[Silver1]

59. I see that ...

I'm already up later than I should be. And it's only day 2.

Howdy Doody -- Gaudi?

[rurallib]

67. Double Doody

[yuiyoshida]

58. Welcome! Yokoso! Irasshaimase

よこそ！ いらっしゃいませ！！

[Silver1]

60. Thank You!

ありがとうございました

Hvala!

[yuiyoshida]

63. most welcome

ど いたしまして!!

[steve2470]

64. Welcome! nt

[Silver1]

72. Thanks.

I've been flogged already.

[True Dough]

66. Welcome Silver1

One day you'll be gold!

Enjoy the camaraderie of the DU!

[Silver1]

69. Wait, what does that mean?

I already got majorly attacked. Because I didn't like a billboard message. And I said so. Now I'm standing accused of being a Putin troll.

My husband warned me.

[Silver1]

70. I'm being sarcastic.

I hope that's obvious. But still, OUCH!

[True Dough]

73. My post was just in jest

But I have seen people, particularly newcomers, abandon this site rather quickly due to having their opinions attacked. It can be a rough ride at times. Sometimes the accusations made by other posters are plain ridiculous: overstated and unsupported. I've been targeted by that a few times. I just let it slide. If there's a real concern then someone will "alert" on your post and a jury will remove it.

[True Dough]

74. My post was just in jest

But I have seen people, particularly newcomers, abandon this site rather quickly due to having their opinions attacked. It can be a rough ride at times. Sometimes the accusations made by other posters are plain ridiculous: overstated and unsupported. I've been targeted by that a few times. I just let it slide. If there's a real concern then someone will "alert" on your post and a jury will remove it.

[Silver1]

75. Thanks for the welcome and the thoughtful advice.

What you said makes a lot of sense. I'll keep it in mind next time someone pounces on me.

[Squinch]

85. Hi, Silver. Welcome. Just to put your experience in context, though,

DU is continually attacked by trolls who come with the sole purpose of disrupting here. You'll see it soon enough, and it will piss you off as much as it pisses the rest of us off. They go back to their conservative sites and gloat about the nonsense they pull here. So we are all wary.

It tends to be low count posters (though some are good at it and have lasted to become very high count posters) so you might be getting a little bit of a side-eye for a while. But I think as soon as you see a true troll in action, you will understand the caution around new people.

In the meantime, glad you are here.

[Silver1]

88. Yeah, I think I've noticed that.

I've been following DU for a long time, and have seen really nasty comments out of nowhere.

I was accused of being a troll just a couple of days ago. Really pissed me off.

[kooth]

68. Hi-Ho, Silver!

I hope I'm the first with that pun!

[Silver1]

71. Hey thanks!

I really wasn't thinking of the Lone Ranger when I came up with that name. Something silverish was nearby! But I always liked the Lone Ranger, so it's OK. Hi-Ho!

[Laffy Kat]

76. Welcome.

Here in the Lounge it's all good.

[Silver1]

80. I checked out the Lounge today.

It does seem nice.

[Freelancer]

77. Oh yeah? What do you mean by that?!! -- Just kidding -- I kid -nt

[Silver1]

81. Ha ha.

I got lambasted for an opinion already. Therenwasn't much 'constructive' dialogue.

[Freelancer]

87. The first rule of DU is that you do not talk about DU...

The second rule of DU is that you do not talk about DU.

Just remember that you're not going to win. You can't.

Just like this reply -- after rereading it, I realize that without knowing the pop culture reference to the movie "Fight Club," that little joke could be taken in any number of different ways. So, I add a bit here to explain that I was referring to "Fight Club." That pushes down on some people that were ready to flame me, but ignites another group, who are insulted I would think they were so stupid that I needed to add the explanation. And, by adding that sentence, now I've just reignited the bunch who actually didn't get the reference and that I've now called stupid.

Oh well, "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends We're so glad you could attend Come inside! Come inside." --That's ELP (Emerson Lake and Palmer).

Damn it! You see -- I just did it again.

[Silver1]

89. Haha!

Thanks. You're right. Really, I might just stick around in the Lounge. Just following the news is stressful enough! I don't want to fight about it.

By the way, I've always been a freelancer.

[Glamrock]

78. Welcome! Glad ta have ya!

As far as offending people, some don't take it to heart and let it roll like water off a ducks ass. Some are just waiting to be offended. Give it time, you'll figure out who they are.....
Some buddies of mine sum it up pretty well

[Silver1]

90. Allright.

I'll try to keep cool. The thing is, I'm thin skinned, and I can shoot my mouth off pretty well. Then I feel bad.

Nice song. Made me think of Tied To The Whipping Post.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

79. Howdeedoo!

[Silver1]

82. Hey there!

[Sienna86]

86. Welcome to DU

Nice to have you.

[niyad]

93. welcome to du--this place has been saving what is left of my sanity since chimpy. these

people are the BEST!!