A Profound Disappointment about DU

[Chasstev365]

This discussion thread was locked by EarlG (a host of the General Discussion forum).

Yesterday and a week ago, I was reminded why I stayed off DU for almost 9 years.

Twice on my posts I was rudely treated by members who eagerly waited to criticize me. When I am wrong, I don't mind being politely corrected. However, to be attacked in a manner where the purpose is to make one feel stupid and the other superior is just unnecessary.

Furthermore, some here live to argue about small trivial matters. For the record yes; I am human and occasionally have made errors on details, but I am not an idiot. I am a retired high-school teacher, who spent 35 years teaching low socio-economic students AP government and AP US History where my students hsd a surprisingly high success rate on the AP Test.

I came back to DU has a place for support during this horrific chapter of American history not to enter into a pissing contest about hairsplitting minor facts.

What is the goal of this post? To remind all they we need to support each other, not tear each other down to feel satisfied about winning so small technical point. We need to be on the same side now more than ever.

PS: I suck at texting, but will always correct my typos!

[hlthe2b]

1. Well, I can't think that anyone on DU has not both experienced this (and perhaps been guilty of it themselves)...

So it never hurts to remind all that that is self-defeating for all of us who share the same general perspective on the obscenities of RW MAGA actions and policies.

Still, some days we must have more patience than someone like me finds easy.

[UpInArms]

2. I am sorry that you have had negative experiences

I have been corrected on various small points over the years. Sometimes, it feels nitpicking, other times, it has been a learning curve …

We are all human and we are in this together

[Hotler]

3. You're lucky you didn't bring up spending boycotts.

[Onthefly]

4. I agree with your feelings. I appreciate you sharing it.

I have felt the same way a few times. People can be harsh and insensitive. Each individual may express or respond to a post differently. I accept the person’s opinion as their own when I don’t agree. We coexist as a community of varied perspectives. I hope the few rude and insensitive commentators will pause a few minutes to consider their responses and how it could be hurtful before posting.

[Walleye]

5. I agree. Some people have to be hurtful in order to feel better about themselves. Petty and unnecessary.

Welcome back and please stick around, we need you

[EarlG]

6. Thanks for expressing your disappointment

I don't disagree with your goal of reminding everyone to support one another and not tear each other down. DU remains one of the few places on the Internet which actually has civility rules, although obviously the level of civility will never satisfy everyone. That's why we also provide tools like the Ignore List, which I highly recommend you use if you find that a couple of people have been less than pleasant to you. Simply place them on ignore and you will not see their posts again.

Now, since this OP is just a general complaint about how a few other people on DU have behaved towards you personally, and since the only possible outcome of this thread will be a meta discussion of a) the rules, and b) other DU members, I'm just going to lock this now before that happens.