What I miss about Democratic Underground..as it was in the "Old Days."

* International News from folks here who had lived in other countries or who were currently living in other countries.

*DU'er "Gloria LaLumina" who always posted the BEST OF INTERNATIONAL NEWS Stories for us to see ourselves and for us to comment on.. (She's over at Buzzflash.com in case anyone wants to follow her links, though.)

*Our Artistic Community DU'ers who posted Songs, Poems and Literary Reviews and heated Commentary about what was CURRENT or PAST that informed me of "stuff" I wouldn't know about out there in the "working world," in BUSH AMERICA of the UNINFORMED.

*DISCUSSION! (Not that DU has always had "really incredible discussion" but at least in the past there was an ATTEMP TO TRY!)

*Again...Our CREATIVES...like "MoPaul, Symbolman, Stephanie and so many folks who posted in the Lounge with "CUTTING EDGE OBSERVATIONS" of what was going on in our Music/Political Satire/Fashion World. (Since I don't go much to the "DU LOUNGE" ...maybe there's GREAT STUFF GOING ON THERE...that I miss...and it just is encapsulated in a CLOSED FORUM...so many of us just don't have time to get to the Lounge to see all that "good stuff" ...like we used to before DU became such a BIG BOARD.)

*LBN Forum ...which used to be "CUTTING EDGE" and while other DU'ers have done an admirable job of keeping that Forum Up...it's hard to beat DU'er Kephra and Kiska and NNOHL (Don)I when they were "at their Prime" posting article after article that we just "Needed to Read."*

*DU MARKETEER DAILY POST which has been here forever and has kept so many of us informed about Stock Market, World Economy, American Economy, Trading, Shorting, Bears & Bulls..forever on DU! People have come and gone from that Forum but it's been the wittiest and most long standing SERIOUS CONTINUING THREAD on DU! And, it has helped folks for years avoid ....the CNBC MARKET IS GREAT...GOLDILOCKS AMERICA that the "Supply SIDE" (left over Reagonites like Larry Kudlow and MOST OF CNBC TALKING HEADS TODAY...are SHOVING DOWN OUR THROATS!) Kudo's to OZY, "54" and "UIA's..Radfringe, and others who have kept at it...and the New Posters there...who carry on TRADITION, though!

*DU Oldies like "One Eighty" who always had a following because of his personal stories about Hurrican Survival, his old Boat and what he did during his long life to reach his 80's. I miss the "wisdom" of some of those who could "tell a good tale" and force some of us to "walk in their old shoes" to see life as they saw it and give perspective. There are notable Youngie Oldies like "H20 Man" who are really good ...but he's Pretty Young to fill their shoes even though he's the INCREDIBLE "younger son" to these old warriers. I wish for more "H20 Men" and "One Eighties and others whose names fail me" to come on Board and GIVE US THAT PERSPECTIVE! Those are shoes that few could be big enough to fill...but hopefully some are out there lurking.

*I think there a are more things I miss from the "Old Days" and there are so many good folks like DU'er "Crew Leader" and other folks whose names I would have to dig up from archives but a prod could get me saying how glad I was they were around when this "NEWIBIE" had Baptism of Fire when I joined in late 2001.

I've fought with MANY HERE...including BIG NAMES who have been here longer than myself or about as long...but...I think we are starting to get STALE if we can't get back to more CREATIVES Posting...who expand our minds and challenge our thinking.

I LOVE EVERYONE HERE...even those I don't get along with....but I miss that Great Cultural Creative Clashing that we used to have.

Just a 2 Cents...Nostalgic Post...throwing it out there..... And wondering if there are any here, who can add to my list...to refresh my memory from my "off top of head post" which wasn't very well thought out...but I just got in a mood to post it. :shrug:

respectfully,
koko

Yes, I remember those days....but it is nice to have so many more to talk to now.

I'd add that in the old days the editorials section didn't have satire which was nice, but things do change don't they?

Whatever happened to Kephra?

PB

He was a wonderful person.

DU had a contingent at Kephra's funeral. Skinner was there, as well as other DU-ers from more than one state. Some I'd met before when Will spoke after his first book, some were new to me. After his memorial, we went out and some of his family members joined us.

I haven't posted here much for a while, and didn't read for a while, but I occasionally stop by because DU always has a great list of links. lots of additions since I was here, but I still recognize lots of names...including yours, Koko. :)

his death hit me so hard though.

I always enjoy your post Trumad...even when I strongly disagree and want to put you on ignore. :evilgrin: but you are a "Legacy." Don't want you gone....even when you drive me :crazy:

and I hope to continue driving you crazy..;-)

Speaking of which, I truly miss NSMA--did she ever find her keys?

(Yes, I know what happened--pity)

gotta have their "stuff." There are so many...but so much goes to ARCHIVES these days...

Our YOU TUBE POSTERS and INDIES are GREAT, TOO! The ones who are off their doing stuff that moves us forward! You KNOW who you ARE!!!! :applause: I click your stuff all the time! So do many others!

:blush: Thanks!

:shrug:

I think she was involved in a kind of messy DU love triangle that kept spilling over into the Lounge, and all three parties got TS'd.

I wish I'd seen that however. ;) Feel free to PM with details - anyone.

after not seeing her for some time. I just read the posts and kind of figured out the details. I don't have them bookmarked or anything, but it should be simple enough to find them doing a search in the Lounge.

to contribute to the board and a really nice person to boot. I know. I met her in person and we spent some time bumming around one weekend up in my county.

But I bet the admins sure don't.

:rofl:

It is not the LBN posters fault that the volume of news items have changed. There is definitely a lack of news items out there to post here.

On weekends, one can comb the web from top to bottom and get enough stories to barely fill up page one of LBN.

There are fewer reporters out there reporting original copy. There are many new stories in blogs, but those cannot be reported in LBN.

what you say might be true ...in that it's harder to find things from AP and elsewhere ..since the Crime Family has cut into what can be reported.

Still..I find that so much less from the Guardian, BBC, Asia Times, and other papers all over the world is being reported. My Firefox has International Headlines..links to stories right up in the TABS...and yet little is posted here because it seems we have less international folks who will reply to those posts.

But..I see what you say. We could do better though...do ya think?

Now that would be SWEET!

:hi: and of course Khephra ..It is still hard to go in LBN for me .

Sffreeways lost her son...didn't see her again and notamj...I remember on my Dial Up going to his theatrical review of the show he put together..."QUESTION W!" When we were all out here trying to wake up sleeping America or Rabid War America as to what the BFEE was ALL ABOUT. "Question W"...given what we've seen since...in some ways I'm glad they were spared what we've been through...but I still wish they could see that we've "TRIED" to accomplish much in their memories....:cry:

and helped in ways we can only imagine .

:hug:

:cry:

We had some great "chats" during the Guy James show.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

I always watched for his posts.

Still holds a warm place in my memory, and DU is colder without him.

I think he was from Malaysia.

He had a very unique perspective underneath all that broken English.

Anybody heard from him lately?

It's important to remember that the whole cultural situation has changed and some of the the things we miss are gone now because they are just no longer relevant, also the format itself of DU has changed - changes made to LBN, to the rules, to the look of the front page - they all have subtle effects.

I do miss the emphasis on the arts that used to be here.

Not that I would blame them.

...only been here a couple of months. I just want to say that I really enjoy, and find my mental horizons expanded, by this site.

Part of what has made it such a good experience for me so far has been the willingness of "old-timers" such as yourselves, to welcome those of us who are new to the board. Like any newcomer, it can be difficult to enter an established community and find a place for yourself. It takes time, I suppose, and one never achieves the status of those "born here" (to use the small-town analogy).

And I think it must be difficult for "natives" to watch things change (small-town analogy again).

Anywayyyy...I just want to say thanks to the old-timers for making me feel welcome here. Hopefully, us newcomers will bring something positive to the discussion.

:hi:

I probably wasn't clear in my post that it was "off top of my head" nostalgia for some of the Cultural/Creative enlightenments and arguments there used to be more of here. But, there's probably good stuff in all the DU Forums that gets lost in all the political threads.

Welcome!

Or at least I always do whenever I notice the low post count. But sometimes, the post count doesn't tell the whole story. Some people who have been here for years are regular lurkers but rarely post.

People come and people go all the time, so it's not like there's an established "old-timer club". I'd call it more like a "survivors club". Some respected and thoughtful posters just burn out sometimes. Others lose interest.

We do have our quirks and our inside jokes, but I guess you get that in any long-lasting community.
And we get to know each other's passions and expertise in certain subjects.

What amazes me is our diversity. We have lawyers, writers, doctors and scientists who regularly post. But we also get taxi drivers, retired senior citizens and teenagers who write the most amazing things.

Then, there's people like me from other countries. We're all part of the mix.

So, in that spirit, may I welcome you with my standard "new person" greeting -

Welcome to DU!
:toast:
:hi:

but the best days are still ahead :-)

;-)

Actually, I do somewhat, not because I agreed with him, but because he kept things stirred up.

before Jacinto.

his views were interesting. His opinions were different from the majority, he offered an alternative point of view. I enjoyed his posts.

:grouphug:

:hug:

Eloriel Pallas180 sattahipdeep JohnOneillsMemory dbt stickdog99 God_bush_n_cheney ewing2001 bpilgrim

RainDog

I still talk with NSMA from time to time over the phone
and we fit the occasional visit in now and then.
What a terrible loss to DU both Eloriel and NSMA were.
Damn.
BHN

keeps in touch with her

I owe her an email actually...

:hi::hug:slad
DR

my friendship with NSMA was founded here - but has long lasted beyond her participaion here. I still get some really deep insights - but the forum misses those :-(

I met him in NYC during the most paranoid days right after the towers fell. He's a fascinating fellow.

I miss all those guys, but bpilgrim...

Damn, it's weird how some just fade away.

:shrug:

over posting comments at TPM's site. Someone posting as Billy Pilgrim over there...

Invite the old-timers back who helped make this site what it has become.

DU has changed. I don't think many of those old-timers would be welcomed back, at least not for long. I find DU to be less accepting of some points of view than it was a few years ago. This is why many of them are gone to begin with.

I miss his passion and humor here on DU.
I miss our late night phone fests, snarking
about other DUers...heh-heh.
I can think of a few current members he would have a
grand time shredding, as only Andy could.
Can I get a witness?
BHN

I never heard one unkind word about him here at DU. He sounded like someone I would have liked a lot.

We never met in person, but I felt like we knew each other
like a brother and sister.
We spent hours and hours on the phone-
We were that person you could call anytime,
night or day to eachother,for about a year.
I miss those talks so much.
Especially the late night ones.
Giggling like little kids under the covers
with flashlights.

BHN

Then the Bitch was banned.

RIP Andy, I didn't know you well, but, my life is better having met you.

-Hoot

such a young vital happy friend is gone..

he had a heart of gold..and a laugh that was adorable..

and a smile..damn that smile was georgeous!!

i miss you dear friend...

and i miss Ethel Merman..i can't listen to her anymore without crying!!

fly

:hi:

I don't recognize some of the names and those I do I wish we'd see more often.

I remember her 'T-Rex with a walker' sig pic. She was a fighter. She used to dish it out when she thought someone was talking nonsense. Not bad for a 'lady of advanced years'.

It was sad that day when she left. I think we all knew what it meant.

tallahasseegrannie, :cry:

A poster of great heart.

MKJ

That she died, or went into a nursing home? I thought she was still working. Hate to say, I had forgotten her and didn't notice she was gone, although I remember helping convince her to stay. She's too much of a n00b though to qualify for 'old days'.

Now that was an interesting place, wasn't it??

:hug:
DR

can't bring back the past but here's a link I regularly read for an international perspective on the news: http://www.watchingamerica.com/index.shtml

I miss Tinoire.... Khephra.

You DO know where to find her now, don't you?
PM me if not.
I know where she can be reached, but my friggin
computer takes three days to load the pages
where she dwelleth now.

BHN

:)

.

:thumbsup:
BHN

:hi::hug:
DR

Where did they go???

PM me if you want to know where she spends her time.... :)

DR

There's 100 of them, maybe too much of the good stuff is getting syphoned off to these forums.

I would read all the messages from DUers bitching about other DUers. It was funny.:)

if it was still around.
I miss it too.
Can you blame them for dumping it though?
:rofl:
BHN

I know what you're talking about. It WAS different then, more adventurous, less Establishment, more open to other types of progressives.

laugh. Thanks for digging that one out...:D

sigh.

sigh.

Any counter-cultural organization of any size during a time of unpopular war will be infiltrated and neutralized.

To expect otherwise is to ignore history.

Some of them I miss a great deal, and some of them I miss yelling at...

Kephra was a gift to us all. I miss Scott horrible bad, and I still look for him to be posting in LBN when the stuff hits the fan sometimes--ya know? Sometimes there will be something especially wild hitting the news andI will find myself coming here and looking for Keph.

I was thinking the other day about Walt Star. I miss CoralSea (Who I got cross ways with on a discussion about Cuba about a week after I got here!) and Eloril. I also miss SFFreeways and so many others that made DU an amazing place in the early days. I even miss the Green and Nader Wars and (dare I say it!) the Bev wars.

I think that the characters DO bring a huge amount to this board, and I think we are diminished when they are lost. I miss Andy and OneEighty and so many others that have gone from us, but I think that celebrating and remarking those passings does help us grow as a community.

I think that there really is a lot more "nesting" going on than there used to be. Seems like the Lounge has its denizens and the various forums have their fans and maybe there IS less open interaction than there was in the early days. I also think that in the early days we really didn't HAVE as many choices as we do now. If you stop and consider, we had some open boards and the underground and not much else. There wasn't much sorting going on, really. The Lounge happened later as did LBN and GD and GD Politics--and all the rest.

Maybe we oldsters are feeling a bit like Joanie Mitchell when she wrote Big Yellow Taxi:

Don’t it always seem to go
That you don't know what you’ve got
‘Til it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot...


Regards, and glad to see you hanging in there!


Laura

I have had to put several posters on Ignore not because they were offensive but because they are so g.d. VAPID - there is no need to post a thread every time you scratch your ass fer chrissakes.....and my beloved oneighty, my online dad, I will always miss

But let us not forget those who are still with us, such as Swamp Rat and Symbolman.

Cheers to all DUer "Creatives".

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=435801

Kind of a Light Classical Music for small Rock Combo on TV.:silly:

Oops, almost forgot. The Mods used to get in fights here. With each other sometimes. Now that I kind of miss.

And I do sincerely miss all the DUers who have passed on over the years very much. I don't handle death well. Never did.

But it is basically the same here. My opinion only. Everyone has one.

Don

it seems. I got here on the tail end of the "good old days" and I remember some good and some not so good. I hated the 04 primary battles, though I took part. ;) Ain't that the way it goes huh?

(with passion)

now, everything seems soapy manufactured

that vitality is tunneling somewhere else (not) present


here
(I've learned to read between the lines, learn the oblique, reach
my own conclusions) around the roadblocks of obtuse, halting...
manufactured


waiting for epiphany
a democracy (if you will) (
apprehending a con
sensus

superseding boundaries

engulfed

I post and run, or lurk for a few minutes....then I'm gone. It's too bad, because I made a lot of friends here.

I check the headlines then go. Don't like flame wars and don't post too often at all anymore. I know where a lot of the oldies but goodies have gone though.

;-)

where's he lately?

And has been poolside ever since.

Tryin to figure out who works best to beat Bush.
Dean! No Lieberman! Clark! Graham! I like Dennis Kucinich! Edwards! Kerry!
Good times....

Yes, I know exactly what you mean! Once in a while I venture outside my favorite forum to check on fellow old timers, but things are so different now, it's like some of us got left behind. Good to see some familiar names in your thread :)

crazy man

From Europe?

Tee-hee.
Those were the days!
Where did he go?
That handsome, intelligent man...
BHN

I thought I had others. What an interesting person. We discussed the Turkish problem with northern Iraq, there was a situation with a dam he was researching.....and I don't remember what this correspondence was about.

"I think that big grassroots action is on the move & will be helped in the US by the current gubernationals & also the already strong civil rights & anti-war movements. I blame globalisation for much of the current ills - especially how that has been strengthened by decidedly anti-people corporations such as big oil, gas, military, biotech, etc. But again, the dots are slowly being made by many people (certainly in the UK & from what I've gauged in the US as well) that a corrupt politician in the 21st century is far further reaching than one from thirty, forty years ago.

I watched a documentary tonight on the "milk wars" in the UK - basically about how our dairy farmers have been going bankrupt because of supermarket price-fixing aided & abbeted by the Government via bodies like the WTO. Although there isn't a happy end to the farmers' story, the sight of several hundred farmers going from traditional conservative belief's to direct action veering on near anarchy was impressive. Indeed, the untold story of the anti-globalisation movement is that on every march or action I've been on, I'm joined by people from 90 to 9 - and not just a gang of my peers with dreadlocks and total body piercings. I seriously believe that dissent is inching close to critical mass. Certainly in the UK, Tony Blair could not be more unpopular & if he approves of any action in Iraq, there will be some serious political fallout.

The grand irony is that the UK and the US do have a "special friendship" -- our citizens are united in the hating of our leaders!!!

Keep the faith!!"

johnhorne 2002

I love the last sentence. Whatever happened to his website...burning bush or something like that.

I hope he is alright-
I used to worry that he might be "disappeared"
for expressing his views.
I will dig through my old PMs and threads and
see if I can find anything.
BHN

Wonder where he is.
Hope he is okay.
BHN

hopefully put a little 2Cents in that stated MY Position, too! Much more interaction back in "those days." But..that was BEFORE BUSH AMERICA KICKED IN...and MOST HERE are Scrambling for Jobs and aren't allowed enough "free time" to HAVE A LIFE... and..that cuts down on Free Time for DU Posting..

That's part of it...I think ...in change from "old days." :shrug:

from the primaries. A lot of good people are no longer with us because of that.

http://elitewatch.911review.org/
A MUST SEE.
I emailed him just now.
Again, because of the things he put together,
I sincerely hope he is okay.
There was definitely a web scrub on much of his work.
Wonder why...
NOT.
BHN

That is amazing. Heading there to take it in now. He was right about so much.

Took a few passes, but eventually I found the site-
Looks like it is mirrored somewhere, but no actually
activity from John himself, that I can tell, for
several years.
Like I said,
I hope he is okay.
BHN

Some of the links on the page to organizations are dead already. I hate that. I wanted to see them.

Sent one to her, asking about John, and so far, no bounce.
Keep your fingers crossed.
I really hope he wasn't disappeared for the stuff he was posting....
:scared: :scared: :scared:
I mean really, he simply vanished from the net about
3 or 4 years ago!
BHN

Some topics stayed on the front pages for days.
People had time to read an entire thread, and compose a logical, thoughtful comment. As a result, the threads were more cohesive and tended to follow a more logical progression with each successive poster adding to the body of ideas.

Now, the threads seem to be dominated by shallow quick draw artists more concerned with snark or last words than accuracy or worthwhile contributions to the community.

DU changed forever the day Rush Limbaugh first mentioned us on his radio show.

I appreciated all of your observations and especially this great shout out to the Marketeers:

*DU MARKETEER DAILY POST which has been here forever and has kept so many of us informed about Stock Market, World Economy, American Economy, Trading, Shorting, Bears & Bulls..forever on DU! People have come and gone from that Forum but it's been the wittiest and most long standing SERIOUS CONTINUING THREAD on DU! And, it has helped folks for years avoid ....the CNBC MARKET IS GREAT...GOLDILOCKS AMERICA that the "Supply SIDE" (left over Reagonites like Larry Kudlow and MOST OF CNBC TALKING HEADS TODAY...are SHOVING DOWN OUR THROATS!) Kudo's to OZY, "54" and "UIA's..Radfringe, and others who have kept at it...and the New Posters there...who carry on TRADITION, though!


Hear, hear!! :toast: :toast:

Julie

and I get them confused. I remember you being one of the "Originals" who held up Ozy's post...You were the "Bond" Guru..if I remember correctly...but you started to "leave" when I just started to read the "DAILY OZY." ...so I might have it wrong...but I Believe you and "MAEVE" who wrote the Irish Book were the EARLY ONES there with DU'er "Radfringe?"

Lots of good stuff there since with those who filled in..."54" and "UIA's" who along with Ozy kept that forum going and SAVED ME MUCHO MONEY...all THIS TIME!

There are some Great New Posters on that FORUM..."Ghost Dog...AnnieD" and "others"...
who have FILLED IN LATELY...I wish I could give them the GREAT CREDIT they deserve for carrying the BATON in the RELAY RACE...But figure THEY KNOW...who they ARE...and that they know that those of us who READ that FORUM..but don't post anymore appreciate them for being a carry on of the tradition.

:toast: to those who CARRY ON!!!

I did post regularly for some time but was never a major contributor as so many others. When I started posting in the Stock thread Radfringe was kicking it off daily. If I remember correctly Beetwasher may have been the originator.

We are fortunate to have so many great posters here. I always appreciate being aboe to do one-stop-shopping for financial news. Our Marketeers never disappoint!

:toast: Julie

but seriously I miss those great old Kerry vs. Dean discussions on why Kerry was electable and Dean wasn't.

Oh wait, I guess DU is about the same as it always was except now it's Obama is unelectable because he's black.

Actually we have lost many fine friends on DU over the years. Bless them.

your "irony" is appreciated! I LOVE IRONY!!!!

She was a fellow Gore supporter back in the day....

Her son is so grownup now! I can't believe so many of us here have been around so many YEARS!!

:hi: :hug:
DR

Among the "regular lurkers" crowd (like twice a day? :D). Decided to register in 2005 or so, posted like 20 times since.

DU was more open-minded back in the day, in general. Still, a lot of interesting members joined over the years so it's hard to really be THAT nostalgic.

And yet I have a post count that barely tops 800.

But I lurk.........

....oh, I lurk.

I used to be able to follow just about everything that was posted, and I know that even then it had gotten dramatically bigger and busier than it had been.

It's impossible to maintain that level of intimacy and quality of discussion with the size it is now, except in some of the smallish groups.

lol

:hi:

Note to self: do more culture clashing.

didn't mean it to come out the way it did. Also...typo..NNNOLI...dropped extra N and the it got split when I put {Don) in..... sheesh...I hope he didn't take it the wrong way.

:hi: Yes...do more culture clashing!

:hi:

thread reminded me of a lot of names that I'd forgotten.

I suppose all groups face certain issues, that are like those you describe here. DU is primarily a discussion forum, which has shown the potential for loosely-organized grass-roots activity. In theory, part of that activity can be "spreading the word." When the word is spread, one consequence is that more people will begin reading and perhaps participating on DU.

A consequence of the larger number of people, in my humble opinion, is that some people with a specific agenda begin to read and participate. I do not intend the word "agenda" to be viewed as either negative or positive in and of itself. Rather, it is meant to imply something that has potential. For example, a person might have come to DU to read about the Plame scandal (or to write about it). If they came to help shed light on the scandal, I think that is good. If they came to try to confuse things -- for example, by saying Plame wasn't really covert, Libby didn't expose here, Matthews wasn't doing a good job on the case, Fitzgerald is a republican, etc -- I think that is bad.

The democratic primaries offer an opportunity for a lot of people with agendas to post here. I do not simply mean "operatives" from one camp or another. I will be advocating that DUers go out and register voters from under-represented groups. Young folks. Poor folks. I will be advocating for those who might normally vote for independent or green candidates to vote for democratys in '08, because I think it is vital under the present circumstances. I will be advocating that progressive grass roots democrats focus on investing time and money on those campaigns that involve the most progressive candidates: that includes state races as well as national.

At the same time that I am advocating that we heat things up, there are others who, for reasons of their own that are as important to them as mine are to me, will be advocating that we need to "cool down." Just so long as they aren't looking to advance republicans, that's okay. But it also is, in my opinion, the biggest difference between DU: Yesterday & Today. I think there used to be more people who advocated from the democratic left. Today, there seem to be a heck of a lot more moderates who are participating on DU.

I have nothing against moderates. (I like them, in moderation.I wouldn't mind if a moderate moved into my neighborhood.) But I don't think we are facing moderate problems. I think this nation is facing extreme problems. So I tend to enjoy those DUers who aren't concerned when someone says their position on impeachment is extreme. Or that their position on the environment, on war, or other related issues is extreme.

There are still a lot of intelligent, dedicated, and interesting people on DU. I think it's the best political discussion forum on the internet -- or anywhere else -- in the USA.

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

* International News from folks here who had lived in other countries or who were currently living in other countries.

If you go to the lobby, you will see:

Country & International Forums
Democrats Abroad
Australia
Canada
United Kingdom

I admit that I didn't read the entire OP. Perhaps the concern is simply that those Country & International Forums actually exist separately from GD?

It sounds like many of the reasons of why i miss yahoo chat from the good ole days when we had the user rooms from about 1999 to a few years ago lots great intelligent people discussing things sharing info links etc then the repukes ruined it all botting up rooms booting having discusting child porn rooms and got the user created rooms shut down...They still fill the rooms with bots and boot to keep the free flow of info and a calm and orderly discussion from happening i miss all the old chatters from the "bush is a big HUGE mistake room" some still goto politics lobby 10 which is almost impossible to get into. I have lurked here in du for YEARS but only recently made an actual account so i understand what you are talking about.

I think a lot of us came here because we were driven mad by impeachment, or the stolen election, or the build-up of lies before the war. And we researched and taught each other and maybe we'd always been interested in politics but not like this, we became obsessed. And the more we learned the more terrible it seemed. And in those early days we were paranoid, terrified of losing our anonymity, cowed by the bullies in the WH. And then as we learned more and more we saw what they were, we learned about the Bush family skeletons, the holes in the 9/11 story, the tactics used to steal the election, all of the ugliness. And then many of us stepped away from the keyboard and got busy. We got active. The online election reform researchers became election reform LEADERS, educated driven ACTIVISTS (HeddaFoil!). The policy researchers became CAMPAIGN WORKERS, trying to get good Democrats elected (like me!). We joined local Democratic and peace organizations. We took to the streets. The writers among us moved on to bigger venues, took campaign jobs (Will Pitt!). DU has been a training ground for ACTIVISTS and that's a great thing. Maybe many of the key posters from early on don't have as much time for the in-depth study we used to do here, but it's because we're working the streets now instead of just the net. And that leaves room for the freshly outraged newbies to work the research department, post their discoveries and then take to the streets in their turn. It's great to see the growth in folks here. Along with the sadness for those we've lost, I'm thrilled with those who've made a real life commitment to work for change. It's a real tribute to DU. Thanks, Skinner!

It's not that we can turn back the clock but we can be nostalgic about those times that were my salvation back then. It was a dark period for me with my husband dying, and when Bush stole the election and the media started painting him in god-like tones, I thought I was losing it. Finding DU and those fabulous DUers who picked up the gauntlet that CNN/MSNBC/FOX had thrown down keeping us informed, entertained and from feeling we were crazy saved my sanity and gave me hope. Many of the best ones have passed on or don't post here anymore but my gratitude is to each and everyone of them for getting us through that period.

bhn