[NIGHTWATCH]

From the DU Rules page...talk about the party of democracy? Isnt democracy about all voices? No, Im not really surprised here but I just thought that this statement said it all. :barf:


WHO IS WELCOME ON DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND, AND WHO IS NOT



We welcome Democrats of all stripes, along with other progressives who will work with us to achieve our shared goals.

This is a "big tent" message board. We welcome a wide range of progressive opinion. You will likely encounter many points of view here that you disagree with.

We ban conservative disruptors who are opposed to the broad goals of this website. If you think overall that George W. Bush is doing a swell job, or if you wish to see Republicans win, or if you are generally supportive of conservative ideals, please do not register to post, as you will likely be banned.

If you have been banned from Democratic Underground, you are not permitted to log on again using a different username. Previously banned members will be immediately banned, regardless of behavior.

People who repeatedly and willfully break the rules, or who generally engage in rude, antisocial behavior, will be banned. It doesn't matter if you are a progressive or a long-term member of this board.

NAZI'S!!! :fire: NO SOUP FOR YOU TODAY!!! :cuss:

[BluesBear]

You were expecting maybe logical social interaction?

[swingset]

Translation: We welcome all opinions, as long as they're liberal.

[semf]

Can you post a link it might be fun to join up for a minute.

[NIGHTWATCH]

You can, but just dont leave any trails to this site. :uhoh:

[sm]

"...all animals are created equal, just some more equal than others..."

[ke6guj]

Here you go:

democraticunderground.com

Don't make link live, otherwise it will show THR as the referrel.


Jack

[BryanP]

Not every site is as generally accomodating as THR. On the other end of the spectrum I've visited a few boards where you'd better be sure to toe the Conservative line or you'll be harrassed off the board if not outright banned. I won't stay on those boards either even if I agree with what they're saying.

One of the great things about THR is that while we may not all agree on every subject, we've agreed to at least be civil about it. And there's the difference. I'm a moderate leaning towards the conservative end (or to be more specific I'm a fiscal conservative and a social moderate). One of my best friends is an outright Socialist. She and I can discuss things without getting upset, or we just agree to avoid certain subjects. And I think that's the THR.

[semf]

Nightwatch I wouldn't go to start a war just to see how the other side thinks, kinda deep cover. It would be fun. Bowling for Columbine was one of the best comedies I've seen in a while.

[Horsesense]

“On the other end of the spectrum I've visited a few boards where you'd better be sure to toe the Conservative line or you'll be harrassed off the board if not outright banned”

now that sounds like my kind of board. Got a link?

[Joe Demko]

Their board and it isn't being financed out of your paycheck. What do you care who they choose to associate with?

[Mark Tyson]

Only a weakling suffers no criticism, as the German saying goes.

[Standing Wolf]

I haven't gone slumming since I was in college.

[Larry Ashcraft]

Some over there have some sense, I just read this post by "Hammie" concerning the AW ban:

"Drive by bayonetings will return to the frightful level that we saw in the '80s.

Not to mention all the Assault Weapons on the street. Hell I can hardly get to my car now with all the Saturday Night Specials on the street. You get too many of them and the footing gets a little precarious. I can't imagine the difficultly in getting around when the streets are awash in Assault Weapons too. I'll certainly need to get a bigger leaf blower to keep them off the driveway.

I might have to move to Bogota, I hear that firearms are illegal there."

:D

[greyhound]

Yet here, views like those expressed over in L&P by folks like W4RMA, are allowed, and indeed though opposite to most, spark quite civil debate.

Trolls are one thing, but why do they shun rational debate?

Preaching to the choir and not listening to the people post 9/11 is what got the Dems in their mess in the first place, and they ain't fixing it by ignoring it!:neener:

[Mike Irwin]

"why do they shun rational debate"

Democrats and rational debate normally don't go together.

[glocksman]

Before I got banned from DU, I had a good debate with a couple of regulars over there that didn't cross any line of civility.

Unfortunately, Mr. Benchley is still on that board despite his routine use of 'rude, anti-social behavior'.

'What a pantload', indeed. :rolleyes:

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

The secret word is "PROGRESSIVE" meaning march toward utopia, aka, socialist paradise, worker's paradise, etc. They only want to hear from PROGRESSIVES. Conservatives resist change and by their nature are not progressive. I wonder what they think of libertarians?

[PAshooter]

Their board and it isn't being financed out of your paycheck. What do you care who they choose to associate with?

Certainly any operator of any Internet message board has the absolute right to define who can, and who cannot post in their site. I just find it very telling that a board dedicated to "the party of the people" finds it necessary to flat out ban "supporters of conservative ideals" and Republicans by name.

Apparently they realize that their views and opinions will not stand up when faced with the logical arguments of those who disagree with them. It's actually quite ironic that the greatest champions of "diversity" are the most repressive of dissent. But that's no different at DU than anywhere else in public and private life.

Makes me proud to be a conservative - one who believes in freedom and responsibility, equal opportunity for all, and the right of those who disagree with me to hold dissenting views.

[Joe Demko]

Do you let everybody into your living room who wants to come in and harangue you about their political beliefs? The guy who foots the bills decides who comes in and who doesn't. Since DU has apparently put up the equivalent of a "No Republicans" sign, it strikes me that you all are exhibiting rather a "sour grapes" attitude. They don't want to hear you. Their choice. Here, Oleg Volk chooses to tolerate opposing viewpoints. His choice, but he is under no obligation to do so.
Get over it. If you have time to worry about DU, you need to find more to do with your life.

[Jonesy9]

more likely thier policy evolved into that after waves of attacks and trolling. I used to frequent freerepublic.com before it turned into a total joke and there were always bulletin board wars and all sorts of stupid crap going on. even FR was banning all dissenters last time I was there. the conservatives there enjoy their little intercine wars as much as going after lefties. but I digress, back to the party!

[PAshooter]

No "sour grapes" here at all, Golgo. I was just making an observation - In all walks of life, from congress to Hollywood, to the sacred halls of academia liberals are the harshest repressors of dissenting (read: non-PC) thought. While certainly well within their rights it comes as no surprise that DU is no different.

I frequent a number of conservative discussion boards, and none of them see a need to "ban" liberals on general principles. While they can often be annoying, they are welcome as long as they keep it civil.

Just a simple observation, nothing more.

[bountyhunter]

That the word "democratic" is in their title which basically means that everybody gets to voice their opinion and then the majority will is implemented. maybe they should call it the "Fascist Underground".

To be fair, they do nothing different than what goes on at most forums, it's just that they are leaning the other direction. Go over to the 1911 Forum's political section and post an article that is unflattering to the Bush administration and a moderator (LW) will apply the standard welcome: he lets the local gang of thugs pound on you with personal abuse, he throws in the last shot, then he locks the thread (so you can't reply) and then he sends you a warning e-mail. I wouldn't mind if they would just accurately label the section: "Bush Lovers Only" so there would be no confusion.

[Bill Hook]

Golgo,

You're right, but the premise that the DU is supposed to represent "progressive" thought and democracy make their actions intellectually dishonest. They should, by rights, be tolerant of dissent and opposing viewpoints. I do agree that going there is a waste of time, save entertainment purposes.

These people are so bizarre and whacked out that going there to actually feed their paranoia and psychoses would be more fun. Post the most outlandish left-wing conspiracies you can think of and slander every Republican with the wildest of accusations. Then sit back and see how many agree with you and if they expand upon it. :D

[Cosmoline]

I was proudly banned from the DU several times. I think what got them most irked was when I said something to the effect that on their website, and in the larger PC universe of the Left, right thinking is rewarded, wrong thinking punished.

It's great to go over there for a bit and really see how low the far left has sunk. I kind of miss the wild-eyed Marxists of old, calling for bloody revolutions on the street corner. I could at least respect them for their courage. The current bunch is more like a crowd of nasty old women.

[Joe Demko]

I went to DU a couple times several months ago. I've never been back. I found them to be an irritating group. That, as much as anything, is why I am mystified by the "Waaaa! They won't let me into their he-man womenhaters clubhouse!" attitude I detect here from time to time.

[bountyhunter]

I think what got them most irked was when I said something to the effect that on their website, and in the larger PC universe of the Left, right thinking is rewarded, wrong thinking punished.

"right thinking is rewarded, wrong thinking punished"

Trek-nerds will recognize that from the Star Trek pilot that never aired in it's original form but was later recycled into a two part story about Spock going to Tallos IV to take his former captain (Christopher Pike) there so he can live out his life in a dream world created by telepaths.