If you want to stay sane, stay out of the GD-Primaries Forum

[Cyrano]

Last night I made the mistake of posting an opinion on the GD-Primaries forum. The topic of my post isn’t the issue here. The nature of the Primaries forum is. After my initial post, the thread turned into an ugly, venomous, hate-filled, troll-infested, free-for-all. (I never added a comment after my OP.)

I’ve scanned the Primary forum previously, so I was aware of the nature of what went on there. However, I was enough of an imbecile to believe I could put up a reasonable post which might lead to a rational discussion. After last night’s experience, I hereby pronounce myself a total asshole for believing anything I had to say would make a difference.

I will never again wonder what goes on in the minds of Kool-Aid drinkers. One hour of reading posts on the GD-Primary forum has enlightened me to the fact that political insanity is not limited to any single party.

At this moment, I fear for our party and our chances in the general election. And, if the GD-Primaries forum is any indication of what might be going on in the larger world outside of DU, I fear for the future of our country.

[Cant trust em]

1. no GDP after 10 p.m. is my rule

I learned my lesson. I'm sure that I'll read something that will drive me up the wall and I'll spend the next two hours with my mind spinning rebuttals after I've shut my computer down.

[JohnnyLib2]

2. Sorry to hear what is becoming a common reaction.

"Cyber-bullying" -- a growing force in our lives.

[Justyce]

5. That's exactly what it is. And the bullying needs to be stopped. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I agree with you

I have added some posts trying to call attention to the idiocy and the fact that we may have already lost the election

The classic response is... GD-P is not the real world... thank goodness for that! :sarcasm:

They don't get it that they are playing (in an extreme way) into the media memes

[Cyrano]

15. I totally agree. And I also fear that people like this are playing with

the future and viability of the Democratic Party.

I don't know whether to be saddened or outraged, but after last night, I'm both.

Usually, I don't get that worked up over anyone's posts, no matter how outrageous. However, the GD-P forum is a cesspool and I've been grinding my teeth about it all day.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Stop grinding teeth, but I have to ask cui bono

and why are they are doing what they are doing?

At times I wonder if that whole section of the board should be shut down... shudder at least they are in one place...

But we cannot discuss the primaries in any rational way outside that place, and rational discussion is not possible in there

Oh and yes, we are seeing cult like behavior on both sides followers, and classic kool aid drinker syndrome

[Cyrano]

24. Thanks for the thoughts nadin. Maybe I'll try a valium.

[Mountainman]

53. I've said that numerous times. DU is worthless as far as primary information goes.

We have one forum for primaries and is has been taken over by crazies. DU is not helping anyone one bit with GD primaries other than it keeps them in one arena.

[librechik]

4. sometimes I stuble in there accidentally from the Latest page

talk about your rude awakening.

[SoCalDem]

7. YOU SUCK..

No..YOU suck

No YOU suck.

etc etc..

I dared to post a photo-shop from Mother Jones Magazine, and had some posting links to call the FBI on me for "threatening" Hillary..and one was ready to report me to the "Secrest Service"..

Jokester that I am, I poured a little gasoline :spank: by reminding them that Ryan had his hands full with Paula Abdul..:evilgrin:

Eventually, I tired of the jousting..and the flame-o-rama got locked up:)

[PA Democrat]

20. LOL. I like your graphic. Maybe we need a "Timeout Forum"

for the worst insult slingers.

[SoCalDem]

25. Here's a new one I'm using for every insult reply

snag either one or both

[PA Democrat]

28. Yikes! Mental note....do not insult SoCalDem.

[SoCalDem]

29. I'm almost "un-insultable".. I never look at the screenname

and life's tooo short to hold grudges, so I just shrug it off and never remember who insulted me :rofl:

I play, but I never "keep score".:)

[Cyrano]

40. What's interesting about my OP from last night, is that none of the insults

had anything to do with what I wrote, nor were they aimed at me.

My post was obviously just a fuse that set off an ongoing GD-P war in which there are no winners or loser -- just haters and mindless people who really should have everything but numbers and functions removed from their keyboards.

And as far as "keeping score" on GD-P, it can't be done. It seems to be a madhouse with no rules, referees, umps, goal posts, guidelines, boundaries, or sane people.

[librechik]

23. yeah. Exactly.

no. I just "stubled."

[JBoy]

6. I use GD-P as part of my fitness regime

Gets my heart rate up. 20 minutes in there is equal to 60 minutes on the treadmill.

[JohnnyLib2]

8. LOL! I do 20 min. of Limbaugh at lunch in the same way.

Ummm, let me think this over. :hi:

[JBoy]

10. With Rush you should probably wait an hour after eating. n/t

[JohnnyLib2]

13. Are you channeling my mom?

LOL :hi:

[leftofcool]

11. Wanna lose 5 pounds and a few inches?

Listen to Glen Beck

[JBoy]

21. Glenn Beck makes my weiner shrink.

No thanks.

[Donnachaidh]

35. so Glenn Beck is the antidote to those 4 hour problems with Viagra?

Well, maybe he does have a future profession after CNN dumps his rabid ass. :evilgrin:

[Make7]

9. One absolute truth about human beings.

Dear human beings: If you are not already aware of this fact, let me explain it to you.

AN ELECTION HAS NO CONSCIENCE.

[BattyDem]

12. You know what really bothers me about it?

It's the only place we're allowed to talk about the primaries and the candidates, yet we can't have an actual discussion. I know a lot of sh*t is being thrown by both sides, but some points are valid and some questions need to be asked ... and answered.

We can't have a civil discussion about anything. It always comes down to insults and name-calling. If you dare to have a negative opinion about a comment or a tactic used by a candidate and/or the campaign, you're accused of being blind, obsessed or caught up in "group-think" - and the point you were trying to make gets lost in the battle.

As I said, it's coming from both sides - I'm not pointing fingers. I just wish the freeper-like bullying and arrogance would stop because DU is better than that. :-(

Come on, guys ... DU needs a group hug! :grouphug:

[NashVegas]

38. I Got Yer Hug Right Here, Pal

:pals:

Another candidate's supporter wandered into the HC supporters group and asked us to weigh in on a poll asking for an Extreme GD: P. I'm thinking, "how about we just clean up this one?"

[SidDithers]

14. It's a fetid cesspool in there...

The place needs a warning label at the front door. :)

Sid

[Cyrano]

16. I took a half-hour shower this morning and it didn't help a bit.

[Donnachaidh]

36. Hazmat suits at the door? n/t

[Cyrano]

43. Yep. That's exactly what's needed.

[zorahopkins]

17. OK

Will do.

Thanks for the warning.

Other words of advice --

Don't Smoke.

Alcohol in moderation.

Safe Sex -- Always.

Never look directly into the sun -- even during an eclipse!

Don't spit into the wind.

Don't tug on Superman's cape.

And don't mess around with Jim!

[JuniperLea]

18. Kool Aid comes in a lot of flavors...

And there is some serious ODing going on in that forum!

[SoCalDem]

31. Some are drinking the ammonia flavored kool-aid

:scared:

[JuniperLea]

34. Makes me want to go all Donald Sutherland on them...

You know, point and scream!

[madinmaryland]

19. See my sig line about GD:P

GD:PP

[SoCalDem]

30. mine:)

and my new "don't go there" auto-reply

[KoKo]

26. You're not alone...what goes on in there is like attending a Freeper Revival...

some hatefest that doesn't sound like the Democratic Party I've known. But, then...I've been wondering if this is the face of the "NEW DEM PARTY." If so...it seems we've become what we fought against all these years.

[bobthedrummer]

32. "Inconvenient truths about the New Democrats, the Third Way, Democratic Leadership Council, etc."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2973191

[NashVegas]

37. I Believe That Forum to Be About 88% Trolled

My ignore list is bi-partisan and I have still allowed myself to get caught up in the shit, occasionally.

[KoKo]

42. Trolled....but more likely...

OP'd.... as in "operatives." :eyes:

[NashVegas]

46. I Consider Those Trolls, Too

Some GOParty, some Dem party, some campaigners. Basically they're gaming the board. You can tell when it's someone on the inside; I caught out someone who made 2700 posts within 18 days of signing up, but it wasn't the number of posts that he made was the tip-off, it was the tone of voice in the writing. He admitted he'd been a party op for decades. I don't know if it's that they don't see that they're pissing in the pool by campaigning here, or if it's their intent, honestly.

[KoKo]

49. intent....to destroy

"activist progressives" in the party by pitting one side against the other. Takes the focus off the Repugs and activism against Congress. Could be alot of folks on both sides and the dark side involved in that ...as you say.

Wouldn't be so bloody in there if there wasn't a strong agenda by many. They don't really care about anything except causing street fights.

[spanone]

27. it's a hell-hole. i shower after any visit.

[aikoaiko]

33. The threads in GD-P make me doubt many DUers.

I'm used to the absurdity when its directed toward republicans, but when I hear the same insanity, conspiracy theories, race-ethnic-gender baiting, and generally meanness directed to Obama and Hillary (and their supporters) I realize that they have no credibility whatsoever. Do many DUers just say shit and have nothing to back it up except their hate.

[Elidor]

39. Meh, it's not so bad in there

90% of the vitriol comes from the same dozen or so posters, and they're so unhinged that I'm usually too speechless to respond. Plus, there's not anything to be gained by responding to those people, so I can skip right over their posts and just feel embarrassed for them.

[Terran]

41. Every single thread there

turns into "an ugly, venomous, hate-filled, troll-infested, free-for-all".

What I want to know is, where is all that hate gonna go once we have a candidate?

(Back to Freepland I hope)

[Cyrano]

44. Great question. And the possible answers scare the hell out of me.

[Blue_Tires]

45. i 'nored most of 'em anyways

[treestar]

47. I don't think it reflects the outside world

It is a contest of obsessed v. obsessed.

[kotsu]

48. I honestly believe

that I am watching the death of the Democratic party, at least as it pertains to having any difference from the Republican. I'm seeing two alternatives. One, there may be a fairly strong showing of the Obamalamadingdongs to snag the nomination but nowhere near enough to win the needed states in the general election resulting in yet another loss for the Democrats at the hands of Democrats nailing the lid on the coffin for our party. Two, Obama gets elected and we all see him do the incredible...make Bush look good. A great many Obama supporters have tended to ignore one obvious thing; the next president will have a tremendous mess to clean up. He might give the impression of a messiah, but people will quickly sour on his charisma once gas hits $5 gallon and the economy finally tailspins into a full blown depression.

And we will look back and kick ourselves for pissing away what may be our last chance.

My hope (to borrow a phrase) is that the survivors of this GOP takeover of the Democratic party, liberals, will be able to raise a long overdue third party out of the ashes.

...but it's going to be a difficult few years, for all of us.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

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

[tachyon]

51. Yeah he's a newbie, and thus has no right to an opinion. Whereas you were born with

a thousand posts, right?

[Cyrano]

52. My objection to the post was not that it was coming from a newbie. It had

to do with the insulting content of the post.

By the way, welcome to DU tachyon. (This is not a sarcastic welcome. It is genuine.)

[tachyon]

57. Yes, well I suppose the insult is in the beholder's eye - it wasn't apparent to me.

And thank you for the welcome - I wouldn't presume to speak for the other poster but I don't completely disagree with him either - It seems to me, based on observation and participation in politics for well over 40 years that we are going to have one hell of a difficult time winning the general election come November. I am not impressed with either of our presumptive nominees, although of course I will vote for him or her.

[kotsu]

54. Well...

I know that it's the trend here to shout down any opinion that doesn't toe the BO line. I guess I'll just put my faith that DU still adheres to the first word in it's name and advise you to learn to live with the thought that some people just don't like kool-ade. As for being a newbie....I suppose I don't write many posts but I have been around a while. This thread was about the primary. This is my 10th. How many have you voted in?

[Cyrano]

55. No one here has made any disparaging remarks about a

candidates name. The fact that you saw fit to do so is a tremendous hint as to your intentions and your agenda.

I repeat. Go peddle whatever it is you're selling on GD-P.

[kotsu]

58. I suggest

that you read the first paragraph of the topic post.

I will say that you are right on topic and proving the point.

:hi:

[mmonk]

56. Yeah

This afternoon I took one look at the posts there. Then I posted I wasn't going in there anymore. There's absolutely no discussion of issues there.

[PA Democrat]

60. What's sad is that no one is convincing the other side of anything.

How do people expect to win someone over to their side after insulting them?

[txaslftist]

59. Who the hell wants to stay sane? I say blog on!!!