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abqtommy

(14,118 posts)
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 08:19 PM Apr 2019

Long-time newbie here...

Last edited Wed Apr 3, 2019, 12:09 AM - Edit history (1)

I started out doing the read-only thing on DU, 'way before registration was required. My thought was to avoid controversy/contention/bickering but I've seen so much of that here over time that it's become normalized for me. I have a strong reliance on facts and sometimes those facts overlap with my opinions and I'll stand up for both facts and opinions.

I'm an old guy and I have lots of experience. That doesn't necessarily translate into wisdom but
survivability should be a clue that I've done a few things right and have been lucky a few times.

From my age 2 to age 6 I was with my parents and sister in West Pakistan, now Pakistan. That was a good experience and taught me a lot about other people, society and religion. During my time there I never felt threatened and have many fond memories.

I like to maintain perspective and a sense of humor helps me do that. My main influence is in
one-on-one contacts. I think the large majority of people in the world are ok or at least neutral. Very few people have the stamina to maintain the high levels of hate we see. That's good and bad but it's a hard fight. Still, it's a worthwhile fight.

While I'm set in my ways, I think they're good ways. At least they work for me and I look forward to hearing what works for others. I've been around the world and 99% of the people I've met I have judged to be good or at least neutral so since we have the majority let's kick ass and take names!

I look forward to my expanded role on the DU website!

38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Long-time newbie here... (Original Post) abqtommy Apr 2019 OP
great to finally meet you :) samnsara Apr 2019 #1
Welcome. I lurked for years too, but finally dove in this year. vsrazdem Apr 2019 #2
welcome to you too! WhiteTara Apr 2019 #29
Welcome. I was a lurker too. Liked it too much (DU) to stay hidden and now want to support the... SWBTATTReg Apr 2019 #3
... handmade34 Apr 2019 #4
It's nice to meet you! happybird Apr 2019 #5
As a long time lurker here mercuryblues Apr 2019 #6
I thought abqtommy Apr 2019 #12
Hi, glad to finally meet you! Yonnie3 Apr 2019 #7
Welcome! FM123 Apr 2019 #8
Welcome abqtommy. We have much in common. badhair77 Apr 2019 #9
Pleased to meet you! TruckFump Apr 2019 #10
Red, Green or Christmas? JDC Apr 2019 #11
My preference is for the green abqtommy Apr 2019 #13
As is mine. JDC Apr 2019 #15
Howdy du blm Apr 2019 #14
WELCOME!! bluestarone Apr 2019 #16
Welcome - jumping in at primary time not always advisable rurallib Apr 2019 #17
Or Dirty Don's abqtommy Apr 2019 #20
Welcome Skinner Apr 2019 #18
Welcome abqtommy backtoblue Apr 2019 #19
Bien venidos world wide wally Apr 2019 #21
Glad to hear it - KT2000 Apr 2019 #22
Welcome! Mountain Mule Apr 2019 #23
I"ve gotten the same treatment Tribalceltic Apr 2019 #24
Welcome! Mr. Evil Apr 2019 #25
Welcome to (two-way interaction) DU! JHB Apr 2019 #26
Welcome, abqtommy! We are all here in defense of democracy. We will find our strongest candidate. The Wielding Truth Apr 2019 #27
Welcome! kentuck Apr 2019 #28
Welcome to DU! WhiteTara Apr 2019 #30
I've been a long-time lurker, too, but just took the plunge recently and joined. Sogo Apr 2019 #31
Another former lurker here Ananda62 Apr 2019 #32
Welcome! So glad to have one more perspective! I tried posting once, but it didn't take. Karadeniz Apr 2019 #33
There's a balance abqtommy Apr 2019 #34
As soon as I saw abqtommy, I had to click Kind of Blue Apr 2019 #35
Thanks to all for the warm words! abqtommy Apr 2019 #36
I thought it was just me.. Blue1963 Apr 2019 #37
Welcome to DU Niagara Apr 2019 #38

SWBTATTReg

(21,859 posts)
3. Welcome. I was a lurker too. Liked it too much (DU) to stay hidden and now want to support the...
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 08:24 PM
Apr 2019

site (DU) wholeheartedly and with open arms. Yeah, sure the discussions can be intense, but we are intense people out here in DU. Again, welcome.

mercuryblues

(14,491 posts)
6. As a long time lurker here
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 08:28 PM
Apr 2019

then you know about the primary wars. Keeping your sense of humor is paramount.

abqtommy

(14,118 posts)
12. I thought
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 08:50 PM
Apr 2019

that Paramount was a movie studio! Isn't it a cruel twist of fate that we all fought the good primary fight in '16 and then Trump The Grinch stole it?

Yonnie3

(17,376 posts)
7. Hi, glad to finally meet you!
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 08:30 PM
Apr 2019

and thanks for all those DU recs you've given my posts. They were noticed.

badhair77

(4,191 posts)
9. Welcome abqtommy. We have much in common.
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 08:37 PM
Apr 2019

I lurked for a long time and I now try to avoid the bickering back and forth. I’d rather just have an exchange of ideas. Ok, I do complain from time to time. Only after DU was down after the 2016 election did I realize how much I relied on it.

abqtommy

(14,118 posts)
13. My preference is for the green
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 08:53 PM
Apr 2019

but I maintain equal chile opportunity and accept red or both/Christmas tree! I've lived longer here in the "Q" than anywhere else in my whole life...

JDC

(10,081 posts)
15. As is mine.
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 08:58 PM
Apr 2019

I am in Barellas Coffee House every 2-3 weeks. I land, get my rental and head there straight away.

Welcome again.

rurallib

(62,344 posts)
17. Welcome - jumping in at primary time not always advisable
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 09:17 PM
Apr 2019

but you only live once!

May you, I and all the others here keep our good health so we can enjoy the day that Benedict Donald is marched into his own personal space at Leavenworth.

abqtommy

(14,118 posts)
20. Or Dirty Don's
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 09:39 PM
Apr 2019

personal space could be under a bridge in El Paso. I'm flexible concerning his accommodations!

Mountain Mule

(1,002 posts)
23. Welcome!
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 10:14 PM
Apr 2019

Everyone thinks I'm a newbie too because I tend to read more than I do post. Now that the primaries are upon us, I'm trying to become more active. And couldn't agree more with what you posted! I have to think that people are mostly decent, but sometimes you do have to wonder, and I'm better at one on one myself!

Tribalceltic

(1,000 posts)
24. I"ve gotten the same treatment
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 10:21 PM
Apr 2019

I'm usually a quiet guy anyway, it took me ten years of paranoid lurking to even register.

Mr. Evil

(2,746 posts)
25. Welcome!
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 10:31 PM
Apr 2019

I too, believe that most people, regardless of where they're from, are basically good people. Most just want the opportunity to live their one life on this planet with relatively few adverse life altering or stressful environments forced upon them. But, in this present environment, we can't have here because of cruel, indifferent shitbags like Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell. It's beyond time for the likes of them to start feeling much more stress than they're accustomed to.
Post often and prosper! _\//

WhiteTara

(29,676 posts)
30. Welcome to DU!
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 10:57 PM
Apr 2019

I've been here for a very long time and I find this is great board with great people. The primaries can get really heated, but we are still here with the intent of focusing on the best democratic candidates in the country.

Sogo

(4,963 posts)
31. I've been a long-time lurker, too, but just took the plunge recently and joined.
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 11:08 PM
Apr 2019

I find the discussions here very informative and much more civilized compared to other forums I've been on that included Trumpsters. Man, they are nasty!

Ananda62

(256 posts)
32. Another former lurker here
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 11:28 PM
Apr 2019

Hi, I. only learned about DU in 2015. Eventually I registered, but still don’t post much. I enjoy reading the threads and am heartened by the thoughtful and intelligent comments.

Karadeniz

(22,270 posts)
33. Welcome! So glad to have one more perspective! I tried posting once, but it didn't take.
Tue Apr 2, 2019, 11:34 PM
Apr 2019

I can, however, manage replies, so that's where you'll find me. ❤

Kind of Blue

(8,709 posts)
35. As soon as I saw abqtommy, I had to click
Wed Apr 3, 2019, 12:50 PM
Apr 2019

because for sure I've seen many of your Recs.

So nice to meet you at last!

abqtommy

(14,118 posts)
36. Thanks to all for the warm words!
Wed Apr 3, 2019, 05:06 PM
Apr 2019

If only our Democratic candidates would function with such regard for one another!

Blue1963

(77 posts)
37. I thought it was just me..
Thu Apr 4, 2019, 04:52 PM
Apr 2019

I lurked for 8 years then registered during Obama admin, read here everyday but rarely post.

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