I think what has happened at DU lately,

[PatSeg]

is a lot us, myself included, have been posting less often.

If we want articulate discussions, maybe we need to start them. Like many of us, I was burned out and exhausted after the VERY long election. It takes a while to refocus.

[SeattleGirl]

1. Not to mention 8 years of hell under BushCo.

The constant anger of some posts I see here just wear me out.

But articulate discussion? THAT, I can go for!

[PatSeg]

4. Yeah

I am SO tired of being angry! I feel we are in a reconstruction period, like after a war and we need to use our anger wisely and deliberately.

[SeattleGirl]

6. Absolutely!

Anger has it's place, for certain.

But frankly, I don't like being around people whose thermostats are always set on TOTALLY PISSED OFF 24 HOURS A DAY.

[PatSeg]

8. Like the mindless anarchists in Seattle?

[SeattleGirl]

10. Just like them!

They particularly set my teeth on edge.

Their mindset is like, "Hey, there's a protest in X City! I don't know what it's about, and I don't care! I just like to be angry and destroy property! Who's with me?"

:grr:

[PatSeg]

12. And the lazy ones

come to DU!!!

[SeattleGirl]

15. Unfortunately, that does seem to be what's happening lately.

I thought primary season was bad, but GAD!

Some of the posts I have seen here since Obama was inaugurated would be more fitting for FreeRepublic.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SeattleGirl]

3. Do you alert on those posts?

I don't like them either; they have no place on DU (as opposed to posts containing legitimate criticism).

[PatSeg]

7. Surely it can't be too difficult to

head a post with "I'm disappointed in Obama's position on...." or "I think Obama's decision on____is wrong". AND then explain why. The profanity does not promote discussion, it only inflames.

[DrDan]

22. I absolutely agree!!! I am so tired of the middle-school lexicon.

It has certainly grown over the past year. And I do not believe it is as a result of the political climate of the country.

I quit reading as soon as I encounter a post with needless profanity. I don't need it or want it.

[PatSeg]

26. The profanity is a real turn off for me

depending on the context. I swear at the TV frequently, though it is usually at republicans and FOX News freaks, but I'm careful not to put my immediate reactions in writing. I'm afraid too many people don't think before they type, unless they are just trying to get a reaction.

[Joe the Liberal]

5. Or maybe........

a group of Freepers infiltrated DU somehow and are subtly trying to split us up...... Oh wait, I don't think Freepers are that smart, or that clever!

Anyways whatever happened, it's annoying and I hope it stops, I don't come here to read all this bullshit about Obama, if I wanted to read that stuff I would be over at freerepublic. .

[PatSeg]

9. Yep, Freepers usually are far too obvious

and they can't spell for shit!

[SeattleGirl]

11. Whut do you meen Freepers cain't speel?

:rofl:

[PatSeg]

13. But they make really NEAT signs!

[SeattleGirl]

14. Don't you mean, "NEET" signs?

:rofl:

[PatSeg]

17. Oops!

There have been several "moran" threads lately and I'm always amused at how carefully they make their signs, but don't bother to check a dictionary.

[Joe the Liberal]

16. No wait I think I have figured it out.........

It's not the freepers, for obvious reasons but it's something far more insidious......

It's the conservadems! Think about it, there is probably an Evan Bayh fan club that lurks on here trying to stir things up. That's my other theory, it's either freepers or conservadems, lol.

[PatSeg]

18. An Evan Bayh fan club?

That conjures up some very strange images! And they all have weird hair styles.

[obiwan]

19. After 8 years of fighting Bushco...

...battle fatigue.

[lamp_shade]

20. Articulate discussions? Nearly impossible these days. They rarely survive...

You've noticed I'm sure that the scent of an Obama-supportive post immediately signals the disgruntles (pirhanas?) among us and are shredded to the point of being unrecognizable. Why bother.

[redqueen]

27. Exactly.

Reason is drowned in either simpliminded snark or long-winded tilt-at-windmills type screeds.

[PatSeg]

28. The last few weeks

I haven't read that many posts, mostly just check headline news. I really needed a break from politics and I know I'm not the only one. Yesterday I noticed a lot of positive, thoughtful posts and found myself motivated to become engaged again.

[liberal N proud]

21. I just thought we were invaded by the right of center people

[LostinVA]

23. You are correct

Some very appalling views being posted lately.

[JohnnyLib2]

25. And they are sometimes supported by hypocrites.

Gotta wonder if the 2002 IWR would now be justified by some.....?

[bklyncowgirl]

24. I agree. Plus most of us are not members of the "Obama Sucks" or "Obama is God" factions

Speaking strictly for myself, I feel that I own a piece of the guy. He's the first person I voted for in the Democratic Primaries who won the general election and became President. I have a stake in his success. As a result, I'm willing to give him the benefit of a doubt.

Mind you I'm not crazy about Wall Street bailouts and bounuses. I do feel that something's going on there that no one wants to talk abut. That thing could be that many of the counterparties in those credit default swap fiasco could be the same foreign entities that have been buying up U.S. dept and footing the bill for our national excess. They stop buying our debt and we're sunk. Or it could be just Wall Street Greedheads doing what they do best. I like and admire Paul Krugman and I tend to agree with him on the bailouts but for now I'll trust Obama..

I opposed the Iraq war from the very beginning but I never thought it would be easy to extricate ourselves from that quagmire without creating a political and human catastrophe. Since it is now almost universally acknowledged that things are improving there I'll go along with the need to keep troops in there a little longer than originally anticipated. As for Afganistan, I can understand that we need to make up for all of the years of the Bush adminstration's regret. I want to see Osama Bin Laden and Al Queda destroyed.

Any president progressive president has to deal with the POWERS THAT BE. Go to far and the POWERS THAT BE will cut you off at the knees. We're never going to be Sweden. Obama's in the unique situtation that the POWERS THAT BE in this country have screwed up so royally that, like FDR, he may have more leeway to make changes than a president like Bill Clinton did.

That's why I'm giving the guy the benefit of the doubt--and staying out of the "Obama is God" and "Obama Sucks" discussion threads.

[PatSeg]

29. The extremists are often the loudest and most prolific

I was not a big supporter of Obama in the beginning and I was turned off by the hero worship. As the campaign progressed, Obama became more confident and presidential, as if he was growing into the role. Though I don't always agree with him, I am very impressed with his performance thus far. I think he will probably be the best president of my lifetime.

I cringe when he makes a mistake because I sincerely want him to succeed. We can't afford failure at this precarious time, so though I won't follow him blindly, I will support him.

When I have doubts, all I have to do is picture McCain/Palin in the White House.

[bklyncowgirl]

37. Picture McCain/Palin in the White House--yeah I think that about sums it up

You don't have to agree with everything the man does. You shouldn't agree with everything the man does. I'm just seeing things that I've wanted our government to do actually start to happen and damn that's a good feeling.

Now if he could just lose Geithner & Summers I'd be a truly happy American.

[PatSeg]

38. It has been so long since

I've seen anything positive come out of the White House. Eight years of cringing every time our former president showed up on TV - "What the hell has he done now?" It got to the point that I hoped he'd just do NOTHING and say NOTHING. It is unbelievable that one person can cause so much damage to so many people.

[Cha]

31. I know of no one who thinks Obama is

God..he's just a man who was elected our Democratic President and a lot of us worked long and hard to give him a chance.

[PatSeg]

32. Many presidents we hold in high esteem today

were harshly criticized in their day. Sadly Bush thinks he is in that category.......FAIL! If we want a president who we agree with all time, we are sure to be disappointed.

[Cha]

34. Most people I know out in the

real world are thrilled Obama is our President and support him to do the job we elected him for.

[PatSeg]

35. He has that rare combination of qualities

that elicits that sort of support. FDR and JFK had it - intelligence, confidence, charisma, and the ability to communicate with people from all walks of life. Clinton had it, but his moral deficits weakened his image. FDR and JFK, of course, had similar shortcomings, but they weren't publicized during their lifetimes.

[SoFlaJet]

30. we also don't have to be as vigilant

or as pissed off as we were every day for 8 plus years-the adults are in charge again and we have faith that the dems (MOST of them anyway) will be doing the right thing by us. I will be very happy when Al Franken gets that Wellstone seat. It'll almost be like the world is spinning back on it's axis again. My way of thinking about what's going on around now here is this; FUCK THESE PUMA MOTHERFUCKERS. Where were they all when we were fighting every day here since right after the 2000 election...selection? When I started seeing a lot of posts and threads about how great Ron Paul is when I realized a lot of people here now probably never voted for a democrat until Obama.

[PatSeg]

33. Exactly

I'm so tired of waking up every day wondering what Bush/Cheney have done to undermine our democracy, often afraid to check the news. Constant outrage is exhausting and though still vigilant, I am confident that the people in charge now won't destroy the world as we know it. Mistakes I can handle, but blatant day-to-day criminality I cannot.

[bigwillq]

36. DU is what you make of it.

If you're burnt out in GDP, there are a ton of other forums you can post in.

There are extremes on both ends in GDP, and many here get too wrapped up in it. (which is not always a bad thing).

Take a break, chill and breathe! :)

[jillan]

39. Agreed - the primaries were exhausting.

Still paying attention, but don't feel the need to post as often.

[GreenTea]

40. This is just DU always has been always will be the same...silly that people read so much into

things...."burned out & exhausted".....Gee Omama went to work the very next day as hasn't stopped just many have....I was ready to give my all again as I had for years & years the very next day...I think many are far too self abscessed with their own importance.