I've started two positive threads today about two candidates and they're both getting hijacked

[StarfishSaver]

with criticism and snark

I'm sure if I started threads critical of any candidate, I'd be jumped for being negative, attacking candidates, being a troll, etc. But positive threads aren't received any better.

Is this one of the reasons we can't have nice things?

[Thekaspervote]

1. don't know about the later. But I find the same, or if I just state + facts no one likes that either

[democratisphere]

2. What are you talking about?

[femmedem]

8. see these threads

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287198476

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287197973

[Bradical79]

25. The Mayor Pete one was asking for trouble

Given the problems he had in his community, and with zero rationale given on your part, there was only one direction that thread could have gone.

[femmedem]

35. zero rationale on my part?

All I did was send you links so you would know what the OP was referring to.

[Bradical79]

38. Oops, mistaken identity

My dumb ass didn't read your screen name lol. Thought the reply was from the thread starter :-P

[cwydro]

3. This is what used to be called a meta thread.

Not aware of your other threads, but this is pure meta.

[hlthe2b]

4. Maybe post with request for "Undecideds" only and "positive discussion only"

Most will probably oblige if you state it in the subject line with something like, "DIscuss name"

I have to think the turmoil from the first debate is far enough in the rearview mirror that posters might be up for it.

[StarfishSaver]

7. Thanks, but why should that be necessary?

[hlthe2b]

10. Primaries.. It was that way in all the previous Presidential primaries dating back to John Kerry.

Hillary v Obama got very very heated. Obviously so too, Hillary v Bernie in 2015.

People (ie., DUers) get passionate as they settle on a candidate.

[NYMinute]

5. Positive threads are allowed only for a saintly messiah

otherwise the devotees pounce.

[MBS]

6. Your efforts are nevertheless to be applauded.n/t

[mcar]

9. I've found the same, over the last several weeks

It's the primaries so around here, that means eating our own. I had hoped we could be more collegial, given what we are up against.

I've also remembered that the ignore feature can greatly relieve stress.

BTW, I appreciate that you have positive OPs about various candidates.

[ancianita]

11. I'm glad to see that, too. Just stick to facts, records, statements of candidates to keep it solid.

Readers appreciate when you add new info throughout to help move staying positively informed.

This will pass. It's not necessarily representative of the DU population.

[mcar]

13. I am proud of so many of our candidates

and will proudly campaign and vote for our nominee. The differences aren't that great. I hope we all can see that eventually.

[StarfishSaver]

14. Me, too. We have some great candidates.

[ancianita]

30. I haven't ever read one shade casting commnent from you, no matter what candidate was discussed.

I feel that 95% of this place is generally cool with everything.

Fact is, we've got such great quality, this election is ours to lose.

[TwilightZone]

12. Some people just want to pick fights and sow discord, regardless of the topic.

For a few of them, their motives could not be any clearer. Same as it ever was.

I've been spending less and less time here of late. In the past, I've taken several extended breaks from this place, and it's looking like it might be time for another.

[left-of-center2012]

15. What irks me is ...

What irks me is,
when I post something nice and I get comments like:

"What you're really saying is you hate ______."

As in "I really like the color blue."

"Why do you hate yellow ?!!!!!"

[wasupaloopa]

16. Their just warming up. Wait until posting an OP

means the other side alerts on you and their posse are the judges.

[pnwmom]

18. I got alerted on recently

because a post of mine related to the Mueller investigation (nothing to do with the primaries) was one sentence over the 4 paragraph limit.

It seemed kind of odd since someone posted the same article a half hour after I did, with an 8 paragraph excerpt, and nobody seems to have complained about that.

So I wonder if the posses are out.

[Indygram]

23. They are out and I got a similar alert about copyright

It came immediately after a couple of posters were posting things to intentionally sow discord and try to get a reaction out of me so they could report me. I really wish we could block people so that they are unable to see our posts as well.

[ancianita]

27. I judge a lot every day and am in NObody's posse. Ain't no posses here. Just the Democratic Party.

People lose it sometimes and get too personal, but that's kept down quite a lot.

I'd trust contrary opinions here more than anywhere else. At least I'm challenged to produce rebuttals that get some informative pushback.

[Indygram]

32. I have to disagree when

The same exact 2-3 people go on every single thread a person starts just to make posts that are intentionally insulting and demeaning towards a candidate with the obvious goal of goading someone into having a negative reaction. That is sh!t stirring and thread derailing plain and simple and I have personally seem the same few people do it consistently over and over again and get away with it. I finally just put them on ignore because I honestly believe there are some posters here whose only purpose is to divide and cause trouble. Thankfully I don't think it's wide spread but there are a few who do NOT seem to have this sites' interest or beating Trump in mind.

[ancianita]

37. I hear you.

[pnwmom]

17. Same thing has happened to me. Say a word against the top guy, and be directed to only post

positive things about people you prefer.

Then when you do that, watch that person be torn limb from limb.

[Kaleva]

21. I've noticed that.

[Kaleva]

19. It's going to get a lot worse.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287112606

[Indygram]

20. It seems to be a sport for some around here

There are several posters who clearly really hate my preferred candidate and everytime I post a positive thread about him they are right there trying to disrupt, distract and instigate. So...I decided to finally just block them and now they are just pissing in the wind. I found myself beginning to have overwhelmingly NEGATIVE feelings towards the candidates who they support. Then I was reminded of 2016 and how every corner of the internet was invaded with manipulators and chaos creators. It would be foolish to pretend there are not some such people here, seeking to cause division and hard feelings. So from now on I'm just blocking anyone who seems to be purposely trying to stir sh!t. I recommend everyone do the same.

[ancianita]

29. I'm reading Joseph Menn's "Cult of the Dead Cow" and like him so much these days. Lots on Beto in it

[Indygram]

34. I've never heard of it before

If I get a chance I'll check it out.

[shanny]

22. Nope. next question

[Celerity]

24. a couple days ago, I decided to stop posting anything truly critical about any of our candidates

It is not healthy for me or anyone here.

I will support 100000000000000% whoever is the nominee. Which, atm, I have to say, looks like Biden.

That said, I will defend Pete against unfair and/or false attacks.

I refuse to get drawn into a circle of invective and contentiousness.

[elleng]

26. Very sorry.

Primary-time is the most difficult. Last time, I largely stayed out of 'conversations,' just 'supervised' site for 'my' candidate, whom others chose to ignore.

[chowder66]

28. You're doing great. nt

[EveHammond13]

31. people can be dicks sometimes

[IronLionZion]

33. We have some Eeyores in this forum who probably need some antidepressants

and yes, some DUers are wallowing in negativity and misery.

I hope most of it stops once we have a nominee. Any DUer still trying to take down Dems during the general election would be suspicious.

Don't let any of this discourage you from posting positive threads.

[customerserviceguy]

36. It's going to be

a tough time on the way to getting a nominee. Trump has made winning this next election go from something very, very desirable to something absolutely, existentially essential.

Passions are running high.

[Duncan Grant]

39. Log off, volunteer, do something you love, and/or limit the time you spend here.

I hope you’ll receive this in the spirit intended: Share your positivity in your local community.
You can’t change DU.

[JonAndKatePlusABird]

40. MUELLER REPORT

Remember, we’re in the midst of an information war, one playing out in plain sight on every forum on the Internet.

Also remember that 2016 was the first election where we had smartphones in our pocket. Yes, when Obama was first elected, we had the Internet, but we didn’t have a smartphone with all their apps in our pockets. We hadn’t been stewing in social media rage for years.

Next time a thread gets derailed, it’s worth remembering the year in which we live. This doesn’t mean that everyone who disagrees with you is Russian; just, remember social media interference is a fantastically effective tactic to steer conversation. And since we think in words, well.....