Tips for Surviving Primary Season on Democratic Underground

[MADem]

48. Again, I can't argue with the points you're making--you are right.

There are plenty of people here who plainly aren't Democrats, and I've served on juries with them, too. I've seen those same sorts of comments. You're supposed to be able to alert on the jury results, but it doesn't make any difference if you do. The atmosphere doesn't change. If anything, it's getting worse--they're emboldened.

Also, I am not a genius, but I'm not stupid either. When I joined here, it took me a little while to get the lay of the land, learn the "culture," try to fit in. That's normal. Also, it took me a while to learn how to use the site tools, avatars, sig lines, highlighting paragraphs in that little box, etc. And when you run into someone with three posts, an avatar, a sig line, and the understanding of how to change the color of their posts, I mean, come on--don't tell me that's not a zombie-sock-troll (pick one or all three). Same too when you see a post from someone you've never heard of, talking about some DU drama from years ago, and then you click on their profile and they've been here for a week. Of course, if you say too much, it's YOUR fault. I don't blame MIRT, they work their asses off for no compensation, but it's just not working. It's like they're trying to shut the door against a tsunami, and the door is hanging by a single hinge.

I am starting to get the feeling that we are witnessing the end of the Golden Age of Discussion Boards, and now, the pointless hundred and forty character ramblings at twitter are the way people will communicate in future. No need to know how to spell or put a sentence together--and there are no conversations, just shit-flinging or rah-rahing.

Discussion boards were kind of like having a "pen pal"--well, hundreds of them--and everyone could read everyone else's mail, no need to buy stamps, and the mail was delivered continuously. You get to 'know' people online, you share opinions, argue a bit, enjoy a laugh together--all of that kind of cameraderie is just GONE from here. It's all "Mean Girls" -- only most of 'em aren't girls. And a lot of 'em sound way too much alike.

It's kind of sad.