UnOfficial History of DU - Democratic Underground forums

[Twyla LaSarc]

I'd been hanging out on DU, active and not-so-active, for a long time. The transfer to the new format left me cold. The choice of the new mods reminded me for all the world of Clockwork Orange when you find out little Alex's droogies became policemen in the end. There's been some other mention of board hosts that were openly hostile to the actual board topics. Boloboffin running the former dungeon, what a hoot, I hadn't heard of that yet.

I still pop into DU2 using an old sock. There might have been enough people and drive there for organization into a new board, but the ones who were spearheading keeping the site together seem (at least as of a week ago) to be fixated on Skinner either giving them the old board (hah!), or being allowed some dungeon board on DU3 to post in. Whatever momentum they had is IMO gone.

Been reading the Burtworm history. It's interesting. I hope he expands on it. There's a lesson in this somewhere. Maybe a few.

[Hugh Manatee Wins]

Wow! So the troll has become the moderator!

Spectacular!

And, well, transparent!
.....

It happens at...all...websites.

[barracuda]

Wow! So the troll has become the moderator!

Spectacular!

And, well, transparent!
.....

It happens at...all...websites.

That remark's not very highly appreciated, Hugh, and it's not going to help you achieve the goals of your program here, I'm afraid. At all. Really.

[Hugh Manatee Wins]

Wow! So the troll has become the moderator!

Spectacular!

And, well, transparent!
.....

It happens at...all...websites.

That remark's not very highly appreciated, Hugh, and it's not going to help you achieve the goals of your program here, I'm afraid. At all. Really.

I've been at RI spotlighting CIA for over six years. Seen it all. Got the troll gang-bang at DU before I came here, too.
I'm being discrete and not naming names. A little cred for that, ay?

[barracuda]

Your idea of discretion doesn't cut the mustard, pal. Nope. Slice your own throat, shoot your foot, hoist your petard if you want, it's all the same to me.

[Hugh Manatee Wins]

Nice violent imagery.

A real sign of intellectual freedom.

[barracuda]

How's about I free you to pursue your intellect somewhere else for a while?

[Jeff]

I'm being discrete and not naming names. A little cred for that, ay?

Your insinuation's noted and it's unwelcome. No more or you're beginning the year with extra holiday time.

[Nordic]

Hugh Manatee Wins, everybody else Loses.

Another thread disrupted.

[slomo]

I'm being discrete and not naming names. A little cred for that, ay?

Your insinuation's noted and it's unwelcome. No more or you're beginning the year with extra holiday time.

Was this one noted?

Fuck no. Don't fucking lie about this subject. It is the death of the Enlightenment and millions of people.
I'm not taking it from superficial trolls for one second.

Why do we have to put up with the almost constant abuse?

[Jeff]

Was this one noted?

Noted, slomo. With apologies for the lateness.

I have an aversion to perma-banning, and use it sparingly; chiefly now for spammers, sockpuppets, fascists, and those threatening the safety of members or security of the board.

What I find fascinating about DU is the perverse delight its administrators take in purging much of the membership that built their community business. Streamlining the elimination process seems much the point of "DU3." The new Terms of Service is a vague snare written deliberately to alienate "extreme-fringe left-wingers," "kooks" and "crackpots." (I expect the bulk of its membership of eight years ago could have been banished under those terms. Which is likely why most of them are no longer there.)

The only thing I occasionally read over there now is the meta-discussion forum, to see how some old familiar names are faring. Gentle Spiralhawk, a veteran of 10 years and tens of thousands of posts, was just summarily banned without warning for mildly responding to a post deemed "woo." Ixion, too, for suggesting, IIRC, a certain continuity from Bush to Obama. There's the sense of an administration at war with its most devoted and thoughtful posters, looking for the slightest excuse to send them to the cornfield.

It's irrelevant, other than the aggregate years members have invested and wasted, and for its admin's squandering and ruin of something that once could have been a force. But it turns out that's exactly what they didn't want.

[slomo]

Was this one noted?

Noted, slomo. With apologies for the lateness.

I have an aversion to perma-banning, and use it sparingly; chiefly now for spammers, sockpuppets, fascists, and those threatening the safety of members or security of the board.

What I find fascinating about DU is the perverse delight its administrators take in purging much of the membership that built their community business. Streamlining the elimination process seems much the point of "DU3." The new Terms of Service is a vague snare written deliberately to alienate "extreme-fringe left-wingers," "kooks" and "crackpots." (I expect the bulk of its membership of eight years ago could have been banished under those terms. Which is likely why most of them are no longer there.)

The only thing I occasionally read over there now is the meta-discussion forum, to see how some old familiar names are faring. Gentle Spiralhawk, a veteran of 10 years and tens of thousands of posts, was just summarily banned without warning for mildly responding to a post deemed "woo." Ixion, too, for suggesting, IIRC, a certain continuity from Bush to Obama. There's the sense of an administration at war with its most devoted and thoughtful posters, looking for the slightest excuse to send them to the cornfield.

It's irrelevant, other than the aggregate years members have invested and wasted, and for its admin's squandering and ruin of something that once could have been a force. But it turns out that's exactly what they didn't want.

I would not advocate a perma-ban for Hugh or anyone else here I can think of. My problem with Hugh is not his content per se (although I disagree with much of his interpretation). It's the style, and the derailment of other threads that have nothing to do with KWHJ. If Hugh could be persuaded/encouraged to be more respectful of others on this board (who tolerate him more than most boards would, I think) - which means keeping the insults ("troll", "disgusting") to a minimum and not pooping in others' threads - then I think he would be perceived by more regulars here as a valuable contributor. That's just my 2c...

[Nordic]

I was banned from DU very soon after sending them money, which seemed a bit strange.

[StarmanSkye]

^^^^
My GaWD ...
I admit to being a *bit* flabbergasted at the kind of ham-fisted discrediting and sheer vengeful, rude, discourteous and outright disrespectfulness those actions are. The lack of simple civility and tolerance it demonstrates is nothing less than a repudiation of 'democratic' principles. While I once used to visit there and even posted there fairly regularly soon after it was established because it drew some pretty interesting & articulate free-thinkers, I haven't been back in years -- I simply couldn't stand the apparant sabotage, censorship and manipulative steering of 'approved' subjects and opinions. Seems like the site has fully vindicated those who criticized it as a diversionary energy-sink and an instrument of socio-political opinion/perception management working against progressive, liberal and democratic goals.

A poster of apparently long-standing cred & integrity was banned simply for acknowledging that obama is a continuation of Bush's neoliberal, corporate and Empire-building policies? Another for politely responding to 'woo'? Incredible ...

I guess this underscores just how poisonously skewed the 'level' playing field of American politics is, with layers and layers of distraction and hidden right-wing agendas, intrigue and subversion and betrayal and sabotage.

Seems 'underground' is a polite euphemism for the unwary meaning 'subterranean black-hole dungeon where parasitical Vampires lurk & prey'.

[Searcher08]

I was banned from DU very soon after sending them money, which seemed a bit strange.

Nordic, you, you SUPPORTER YOU!

This sounds like an organisation intent on shooting itself in BOTH feet.

Upping the Obamaniac ante, perhaps justdrew could register DU4 and wield the ban hammer just for the very act of REGISTERING!