Let's call it what it is... this was a silencing of bernie supporters.

[Bubzer]

You can make whatever argument you like about Skinner's newest decree... but at the end of the day, the move silenced the majority here, who supported Bernie, and unsurprisingly, at the same time, pardoned all those of her supporters who'd been on time out... most of them legitimately.

That last point aside, what's blindingly obvious to me is if you're actually a liberal, you're no longer welcome here.

So, it may be time to jump ship and find a more liberal friendly website/blog out there. One where one doesn't have to worry about the admin's blatant pro-establishment-bias.

I know www.jackpineradicals.org is around, and many of the members are former long time members from here... but I haven't been able to adapt to the style of their site. It's a great site, and I highly recommend it for those looking for an actual liberal atmosphere.

In any case, I'm hunting for somewhere else to hang my digital hat.

[jillan]

1. I think we should stay in here and ignore the rest of DU. Let's just post all the stuff we post

out there in here instead?

Thoughts?

[grasswire]

2. might work

I am surprised to hear that all the Hillary folk on time out were pardoned.

[jillan]

4. And they came back as nasty as ever. I have too much respect for myself to read their

crap.

[SamKnause]

7. Not as nasty as ever.

They are even nastier.

They are intentionally trying to start fights.

They are race baiting.

They have turned this site into a toxic pit of hatefulness.

They are proud and bragging about it.

This says a lot about them.

They can not possibly be liberals or progressives.

No liberal or progressive would be glad that Bernie loses.

They will be very happy.

This tells you all you need to know about them.

[jillan]

9. Sam - ignore them. You are better than that. Don't bow down to their level.

It's always the same names that do that.

Stay away - too poisonous

[polly7]

28. They've done this since he first announced.

They were fucking furious about him running. You could almost see the heads exploding.

It was actually a bit funny to watch ...... until they started personally attacking good people here with their vile, putrid smack, whose only crime was supporting him.

Poor things. I hope they realize their comfy status quo they're fighting so hard to keep won't remain no matter which bought and paid for 1%'er represents them. The world can't handle it anymore. Too many countries and economies destroyed for it, too many millions of lives ruined. They can keep ignoring the dead little children washing up on beaches and entire halves of nations' children being malnourished because of the weapons sales and the friendliness with human rights abusers and war-crime committers of their protector, among many other things, but it can't last ......... such cruelty is not sustainable for much longer.

[artislife]

30. They have succeeded in me disliking h even more.

and not caring about their issues. If I could figure them out anyway.

[ladjf]

76. I call it a pre-mature feeding frenzy. Not, about this primary in particular,

but about the measurable outcomes say four years from now. They will have, with full knowledge,
chosen a leader that had suspicious credentials.

If trump wins, it will have been a gift from the greed and stupidity Democratic Establishment.

(I feel a tombstone coming on.)

[Electric Monk]

25. So... I'm not the only one who feels like the ratio was heavily stacked on that side

prior to the Admins amnesty "for both sides".

[Depaysement]

38. That makes this like the IP Group

And I'm not sure it would be permitted. I think criticism of HRC will be silenced. "Stop Trump" will be an incessant theme and anyone not on board will not be here long, despite the latest edict.

Skinner created this so Dems could find a space to regroup and fight back after 2000. Maybe we should do the same thing. But for some reason, I'm not really fond of JPR.

[merrily]

62. Not really. This is all pro-Bernie. Not many fights here. IP definitely has conflicting points of

view. Or so I have seen when I've had to jury there.

[merrily]

53. You can still get juried and hides in this group and this group has bee alert stalked. You may not

get suspended, but your account could be reviewed and, I assume, you could get banned.

[MuseRider]

56. I would suggest doing both.

Jackpine is a place of wonderful posting and no nasty. It is taking me a while to get used to it but I do love the feel of the place. There is NO DU bashing. No bashing of DU posters and nobody plotting there and coming here to nail certain people. NONE of that.

Come here and fight the good fight and then go to JPR and learn new things and share without rancor. JMO.

[JDPriestly]

74. Excellent idea. I'll do that.

[rusty quoin]

3. I say stay longer and see what happens.

I am always curious. Are you?

[MissDeeds]

5. I agree

I'm looking for another site too. JPR is great and has a lot of good people, but like you I'm having trouble getting used to the style or format.

[SamKnause]

8. I am having trouble getting used to the style and format as well.

I joined JP several weeks ago but have not posted anything.

[MissDeeds]

11. There was a thread here last week about it

A lot of people were saying the same thing, that they'd post if they could figure out the format.

As it is, they have a lot of lurkers.

[Old Codger]

18. The format

Also seem to be a little off to me, I go there fairly often but cannot figure out what posts I have already read or not until I get into them and realize I read that last time around...so not there as often as I would be otherwise..

[artislife]

31. Agree about the site. Good people,unfriendly structure. nt

[Babel_17]

89. Click on the little blue button to the left of the thread title to go to your first unread post

If there's also a green arrow it means you've posted in the thread.

The blue button next to the thread title has two tiny white chevrons in it. Put your mouse over it and a small pop-up saying "Go to first new post" appears.

[SoapBox]

12. Me too on the format...

I LOVE the people there...we know almost all of them but that darned format.

And Reddit is awkward too.

[dana_b]

21. me too!!

I should start up over there. Maybe tomorrow

[bbgrunt]

33. yep. Gotta say that the format at JPR is rather off-putting, though I love the posters.

[merrily]

63. Respectfully, the way to get used to anything is to persist.

[MissDeeds]

71. I find your remark condescending

There are numerous posters here who expressed they don't like the format at JPR, yet you chose to address only my post.

BTW, as a lifelong educator and professor, I know the value of persistence.

Respectfully.

[merrily]

73. I'm sorry you saw it that way. It was not my intent.

[Old Codger]

91. definitely

Go there often and work your way around, I will get used to it .. the actual discussions there are magnitudes ahead for sure

[Land of Enchantment]

6. Since I am new here can someone

please explain what is going on? People were banned for a while? Why? I have noticed there has been a lot more vitriol since last night and people trying to push my buttons who I have never heard of---what's going on?

[SamKnause]

10. People who were on legitimate time-outs were given amnesty or a reprieve.

Any one with 5 hides was welcomed back with open arms by this sites owners.

They came back with a vengeance.

Their intention is to run off every Bernie supporter.

Then in their next breath they call for unity.

[Land of Enchantment]

16. Thanks. I think I have a 'hide' because on my third post I inadverdently wandered into Nancy

somebody's snake pit on the HRC group. I did not know about the 'rules' of posting in 'groups' and said something to the effect that if Hilly wins it she will swing so hard and fast back to the right your heads will spin. And they sent me a notice saying I had been blocked and my comment removed. Same thing as a hide? I was on Kos for years and finally got disgusted with them and just stayed away from everything for several more years but liked the feeling I got when I came here not too long ago. Thanks.

[SamKnause]

17. You are most welcome.

Don't go back to Kos.

Starting today you can not say anything negative about Hillary.

They have anointed her our candidate.

To them the primaries are over.

They have moved into the general election mode.

[mrdmk]

24. You have a clean record, meaning no hides. You just wondered into the Hilliary Group

The people in a group can control who cannot post within a group and also delete post there. That is the extent of their collective powers. The Hillary Group has an extremely long list of people who cannot post within there group. That says a lot about the leadership of that group.

[DeadLetterOffice]

51. I just got added to their Blocked List

Thought I was in GDP, posted something about being relieved to figure out I didn't dislike HRC because she's a woman but because she's a typical politician. Oops. Insta-mail from Cha that I was blocked.

Well, it'll keep me from posting something there that'll earn me a hide, I guess.

[mac56]

42. It's really like the Mean Girls over there.

[LiberalElite]

40. Hmmm. I was skeptical

of the changes and thought I'd see if "the other side" liked it first. If they did, then... Sounds like my suspicions were legit.

[merrily]

65. I'm not getting that only from people who were suspended, though. It seems to have been

some kind of consensus to go ugly that is more widespread than only the suspended posters.

[Kip Humphrey]

13. Was Manny pardoned?

[JonLeibowitz]

15. Not that I am aware of -- he would have to ask for a review of reinstatement. n/t

[merrily]

59. I don't know if Manny has requested that. However, everything I've ever read on other

boards is that people who have contacted the admins repeated for reinstatement received no response at all.

IMO, banning someone after ten years with no warning is not the way to go, but this is not my board.

[Docreed2003]

27. If he wasn't...

Then the entire "pardoning" system is horseshit. Manny getting a tombstone was bullshit.

[Le Taz Hot]

39. The "pardons" were timeout pardons.

People who were banned, Like Manny, are still banned. But here's the difference, in almost every case, banned people have been Bernie supporters or people who criticized the Democratic Party once too often. As opposed to Hillary supporters who could say the most egregious things and walk away with nothing more than a hide or timeone and never be banned.

The admins have ALWAYS sided with the Party Establishment because they used to be part of that establishment, albeit in a very minor way. It also explains the authoritarianism in their actions (and the candidates they support).

[riderinthestorm]

44. I Specifically asked about Manny and Loonix. Crickets from Admins

Someone else asked specifically about NYC Skip

Crickets.

[merrily]

58. They were banned, not on 90 day suspensions. AFAIK, the amnesty is only for the suspended ones.

[merrily]

57. MannyGoldstein was banned, not on forced 90 day posting vacation.

AFAIK, there has been no amnesty for banned people.

[wundermaus]

14. Thanks Bubzer for the link to a progressive Democratic discussion forum.

Just joined Jackpine Radicals.

Progress don't come easy...

[slipslidingaway]

19. I'm Moving Out

It may take some time, but I see the writing on the wall, just registered at jackpineradicals.org for when the time comes.

[jillan]

22. Alright then. I will have to register over there. I would miss you. Let them know

to make lots of room for all of us.

I'm about done here as well.

Great song btw.

[dana_b]

20. I think I'll just hang out in here with you guys but I have to tell you

something funny. I can;t actually see most of their nastiness. i have put SO many Hillary people on ignore during the past few days that I will look at a post and I may only see 13 replies when it says that there are 45 replies. LOL!!!

Ignorance IS bliss!

[jillan]

23. Sounds like a plan. Life is too short for nasty people.

[hopemountain]

35. and, i thought i was the only one

who had done this.
i've paid my dues in life with nasty people so - no mas pantalones - "ignore" is my friend.

[dana_b]

46. yes it is

I can imagine the nasty things that are said when I see that I am post #112 and then the next one that I see is post #120. But oh well!! It's much better for our health NOT to see that stuff.

[StandingInLeftField]

43. The Ignore function is the only way I can stay on DU

I have 231 posters on the list as off this morning.

Edit: 232...

[dana_b]

47. lol..

yep! It goes up all the time

[Blue_In_AK]

87. I've just started using the ignore feature, too.

I didn't feel the need for almost 12 years, but some people have just become impossible to tolerate anymore. Life is too short.

[dana_b]

92. yes it is!!

enjoy your time here encountering good and positive people - on DU and Earth!

[arcane1]

26. I'm glad I'm now theoretically eligible to serve on a jury again.

[ladjf]

77. Hey, I just noticed, I haven't been on a jury for quite awhile. Hmm. that sucks.

[silvershadow]

29. i'm going to hang around a bit. I want to see the mea culpa. nt

[hopemountain]

36. yes, it will be

great when bernie is elected! go bernie!

[Scootaloo]

32. Who's silent?

Just 'cause all the inmates have been released from Arkham, doesn't mean anyone's being silenced.

[bbgrunt]

34. So what is the point of hides or juries?

[polly7]

37. Just so there doesn't have to be any moderators, imo.

Posters get locked out of threads - that's about it. Nobody else is needed to oversee things but the juries, and MIRT, wrt trolls. It's now a free-for all! Could be fun, except that Sanders supporters seem to be a lot more polite, so probably won't subject themselves to much more of it. Maybe that is the real reason for it and Bubzer is absolutely right.

[merrily]

67. I think you can still be banned?

[TSIAS]

90. Enough hides gets you flagged for review

I believe if you have too many hides in a short period, or receive a 7-0 HIDE (not sure about that one), you are flagged.

Supposedly that account is reviewed by Admins and they cannot post until it is resolved. I've seen people flagged for a week or more, so can be something of an indefinite timeout.

[Cobalt Violet]

41. hang in there everyone, next week should be hilarious.

Things will start to look much better for Bernie. We've made it though the worst part.

[surrealAmerican]

75. You know that will not make the Hillary supporters friendlier.

That just not how they roll.

[xiamiam]

45. I registered over there this am..thanks

I should have done it a long time ago. Lots of familiar names..some of my favorite and most informative posters actually. I think I'll get used to the format. What i cannot get used to any longer is bs, and this latest move by the admins just pushed me over. I could no longer give money after no one was allowed to criticize anything the president did after the afghanistan surge but I cannot subject myself to the nonsense. Need to move forward and that will not happen here.

[amborin]

48. hi, everyone, i was banned, too,

until May 23; that ended w/ the announcement; just peeked at GDP just now and it's mostly all anti-Bernie rants;

[dana_b]

49. put most on ignore then it looks

much better.

I know that sounds childish and it probably is BUT, in my defense, thse who are making the most racket are not worth listening to anyway. They rarely say anything productive so why even bother? Secondly it lowers my blood pressure NOT to see that stuff.

Btw - welcome back!

[amborin]

50. thanks!

[merrily]

68. You were suspended. AFAIK, the banned remain banned. Welcome back.

[amborin]

82. thanks!

[Jackie Wilson Said]

52. Seems to me the actions they took erased the rule

that required everyone to openly advocate for the nominee, whoever it is, which is the exact opposite of what you just said.



If anything, what Skinner did was make it so you hundreds of Bernie supporters (I am also but I dont consider myself in the same camp as many of you) who rabidly dislike Hillary can stay here and not support her.

How in the world did you come away with your version of it?

Amazing.

He obviously doesn't want to lose the traffic, income, from having you all here so he changed the damn rules so you dont have to do what I will do, support Hillary when that time comes.

[Bubzer]

54. You're missinformed. There was no rule that required open advocating for the nominee.

"He obviously doesn't want to lose the traffic, income, from having you all here so he changed the damn rules" - And yet, it's going to happen... is happening... anyway.

Since you've not been here very long, you wouldn't have the last election cycle for point of comparison... if you had, you'd know he is playing a double standard.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

55. What is it he did that made it so you cant advocate for Bernie?

[Bubzer]

66. He limited the venue. And, unsurprisingly, he did it just as the pro Bernie states are comming up.

Hailing back to 2008, the rolls were reversed... and Obama was claimed as the presumptive nominee, and he refused to do the same as he's done now, citing that Hillary was still in the race and that it would be inappropriate to silence her supporters. Here in 2016, he has no problem silencing Bernie supporters.

Therein lies the aforementioned double standard.

[merrily]

72. The issue is not advocating for Bernie. It's criticism of Hillary.

[merrily]

70. Respectfully, this group is for posters who want Bernie to win the primary. If that is not you, why

do you post in this group?

[Jackie Wilson Said]

83. Oh I very much want him to win, what i dont want and wont do is trash Hillary to achieve

that.

As Bernie will do IF he loses, I will also then support Hillary without reservation, as he will.

[merrily]

84. I must have misunderstood your post. Calling Bernie's DU supporters rabid didn't help, tho.

Neither does referring to "trashing" Hillary.

This group is supposed to be a safe place for DUers who want Bernie to win the primary, not a place to post the same kinds of things Hillary's supporters post about Bernie's DU supporters in GD: P.

[merrily]

79. "rabidly?" Wow. Also, I disagree with your view of the way the rules have changed.

[Bjornsdotter]

60. Shades of 2008

In 2008 I supported Hillary and DU was a nightmare.

Many left and posted elsewhere, similar to JPR. While there, some Obama supporters would report back here with screen shots and as a result some of those posters were banned. They were banned for things they posted outside of DU. I would not be surprised to see the same things happening this time around.

Fyi, yeah I Understood exactly what that post said. Shades of 2008....


NB....if anyone here finds somewhere other than JPR please PM me. I like JPR, I've registered there awhile back and I assume I will be spending more time there in the future.

[JDPriestly]

61. Please read my post #4 on this thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1381926

Please read my other posts there.

I have been on DU for many years, have a very high post count, refuse to remove posts just because I do not agree with the political sentiment expressed and have had almost no posts removed in all these years.

Something very odd is going on. I'm still waiting for Manny to be allowed back.

People come to DU because of the pro-Bernie posts here.

What is going on?

Repression of opinions and speech?

I wish the admins would be honest about their views on the future of this site. The post Skinner posted was rather hypocritical perhaps? Perhaps the intent is to give visitors to the site the impression that Bernie supporters have given up? Perhaps the intent is to force us to support Hillary?

Neither will work.

This may be my last post for a while. I have not made up my mind.

Full disclosure and something to think about:

My likelihood of serving on a jury is diminished because I have had 2 posts hidden in the last 90 days.

See this:

Jury
Willing to serve on Juries: Yes
Chance of serving on Juries: 60% (explain)
2000 or more total posts: +20
200 or more days of membership: +20
20 or more posts in the last 90 days: +20
Star member: +40
2 posts hidden in 90 days: -40
TOTAL: 60

So I will not be serving on juries. It isn't just a matter of having a post removed, but if those who have not had posts removed can somehow get your post challenged and tried by a jury of perhaps people who support the candidate you do not support but who only post uncontroversial perhaps very short posts, then that is the way to remove vocal people, perhaps persuasive and effective voices for one or the other candidate from DU.

This jury system stinks.

[dana_b]

64. I have that sense too and so does another person

that I spoke to.

[PeoViejo]

69. I welcome their Hate.

Those lickspittle apologists get nothing but laughs from me.

What's next, threats of retaliation from Hillary Camp?

[xloadiex]

78. I must have them all on ignore.

They are alert stalking this group also.

Where is Manny?

[improvingthecountry]

80. I had no idea this was happening here too

I just left dailykos because of how we were treated there by the vile Clinton supporters, which include the site's owner. I was hoping this place was better.

[RiverLover]

81. jackpineradicals.

org

Truly for progressives who are truly progressive

[Raster]

85. Ever been to the Wikipedia Democratic Underground page?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Underground

Owners
The website is owned by Democratic Underground, LLC (a limited liability company), and run by David Allen, who posts under the screen name "Skinner" while on the boards and handles most of the issues relating to the forums. The other two administrators are Dave Allsopp, a co-founder, known as "EarlG" (of Washington, D.C.) and Brian Leitner, known as "elad" of Portland, Oregon. Allsopp and Leitner handle the articles and technical issues, respectively. Previously David Allen used to design websites for Blue Dogs/Third Way Democrats in Washington, D.C.

[MissDeeds]

86. Very informative

That explains a lot. Thanks for the info, Raster.

[Rebkeh]

88. I'm looking at JPR now nt