What is the difference in DU now vs when we started?

[kentuck]

I recall that there were some very heated discussions. At that time, it took a little more provocation to get tombstoned, in my opinion. And it seems to me that the original DU was probably a little more vocal about their most leftist ideas. After all, everything was relevant to what we were experiencing under the Bush years. Also, I think DU has probably become more "moderate" in the last year or so? I don't know if that is good or bad?

[leftstreet]

1. Now: More Influence, hence more scripted Talking Points

I lurked for quite a while before joining and the only difference I see is that DU has gained much more InterTubes influence, which brings out the more M$M and entrenched PTB talking points.

But essentially the small forum discussion 'feel' is still the same.

[Bicoastal]

2. Is this surprising to you?

It's the first time since this site began that we had a Democrat in the White House.

[gratuitous]

3. I think more people recognize my unparalleled brilliance

But other than that? :shrug:

[ThomWV]

5. That, quite correctly, went without saying by your many admirers.

How else could it be?

Hail to the Chief

[The Straight Story]

10. I always thought you posted best when you posted nothing at all

:rofl:

[gratuitous]

13. Indeed

Many's the time I've made a post, and it is so obviously, patently brilliant, that nobody even responds. A lot of people don't even look at my posts, they're so good.

[ThomWV]

21. One can only suspect them to have been stricken with awe.

[ThomWV]

4. The difference is clear, now we are in power so the focus had no choice but shift

It is a much different conversation that must take place between the times one is excluded from power and when one holds it.

[The Straight Story]

6. I would venture a guess:

That folks were willing to move to more moderate positions so as to gain something back, in other words - compromise.

Kind of the like the pot issue - we think it should be legal to grow and use, but instead of simply pushing for what we think is right we push to legalize medical and/or legalize it general but tax it like silly.

Issue after issue people see taking smaller steps as the way to get to the top of the stairs, I think many folks still hold the same political ideals but find the way to achieve them is to scale back the main goal and break it into smaller ones. It's just the way politics seems to work and I think maybe that is reflected here in ways.

With bush in power we were moving backwards, now the fear is that if we move too fast that what power we have gotten will be lost as the many in the middle tend to sway rather easily if things change too quickly. It IS frustrating when you know what the right thing is to do but people don't do it out of fear (keeping powder dry). It might WORK in the long run, but it does not make it right.

Practicality versus idealism causes people to get upset, especially when both are right "It should be now" and "It won't happen because of how the machine works, so go slow".

Gays should have the right to marry and serve. We should be getting out of the wars more quickly. We need a lot of reform and have the power to do it. And yet it will take a long time. Shouldn't. But it will...sigh

[Warpy]

7. I'm still vocal about my leftist ideas

I've seen the site grow to the point I find I often miss a lot of great posts, thanking the people who point them out later in GD or elsewhere.

If more people have become moderate, it's just because it's Obama's honeymoon period. I'm sure we'll all rake him over the coals in the future for the mistakes he is undoubtedly going to make.

[kentuck]

8. It will be the degree of his mistakes...

When people die because of a decision...

[QC]

9. We knew one another in the early days, so we were generally more civil.

After all, it's harder to get ugly with someone you know and usually agree with.

Not that this place was ever Rainbow Brite's Happy Meadow, mind you, but DU has definitely gotten meaner as it's gotten bigger. And I think that there is just not as much to be learned here as there used to be--one could get an amazing political education back then, but now we see a lot more shouting, bullying, and, just to call it what it is, outright trolling.

[emmadoggy]

19. I haven't been here as long as you

or many of the early DUers, but I agree with everything you just said, 100%. I have seen this change even in the few years I have been here.

[QC]

25. Thanks! I am #2,785. Been here a while.

And it has truly hurt me to see the turn this place has taken, especially in the past two years. DU was always contentious, but it wasn't always so hateful and void of substance.

The particularly sad thing about it is that the bulk of the ugliness is the work of a small but very loud group of posters.

[mudesi]

11. More People, Less Content

[KoKo]

12. Seems it was more diversified years ago...

That's what I miss.

[ConcernedCanuk]

14. 138,781 user registrations and 43,866,379 posts

.
.
.

:silly:

[MiniMe]

15. There is a democratic President

[LostInAnomie]

16. More people complaining that DU isn't what it used to be.

I've been here for years and I haven't really noticed a difference. People only really bring it up whenever their "brilliant" idea, belief, hero, cause, etc. gets swatted down by the rest of the forum.

[bigwillq]

17. I agree with you.

DU is what you make of it. My day-to-day posting has not been affected at all since I've been here. People come and go. They bring different ideas and viewpoints, etc, etc, etc. But it's basically the same place since I've been here.

[SoCalDem]

18. Day-Night

People used to be able to discuss..and even disagree..

and there were fewer people just looking for an opportunity to slam someone.. back then, people usually opened and participated in threads they were interested in..

these days there are so many people who participate in threads by starting out saying they are not interested in "x", and anyone who is, is nutz ..but they just have to reply anyway :rofl:

[Mike 03]

20. SoCalDem, I can't agree more with your post

No matter what people are saying, you are right. This place has changed enormously, and the tenor and tone of disagreement is totally different than it used to be.

It use to be "us" against them, and now it is "us against each other."

[DemBones DemBones]

22. +1

[Egnever]

23. Quality

there used to be a ton of actual investigation going on here and a desire to get to the truth. Now its a game of gotcha and a race to see who can post the most inflammatory headline.

[Stephanie]

26. The stolen election, PNAC, Diebold, the lies before the Iraq invasion

We were united then in our disgust and outrage.

[Forkboy]

24. Honestly, I don't think it's that different at all. It's just MORE.

Still a lot of leftists ideals here, and I remember plenty of moderate Dems in the early days as well. The volume of everything is bigger, but the ideals being expressed (from the left or center), and the issues being talked about are all still basically the same.