Is it just the election season?

[eilen]

I don't visit this site nearly as frequently as I used to, particularly since the move to DU3, the new rules and well, many hear are familiar with the nastiness and the purges. However, I have checked a few times in the past week--for different reasons--sometimes just clicking a link from somewhere else and seriously, every time I check in, I am asked to participate in jury service. Now, I know that this site's traffic significantly increases during election season so I am perplexed. Have things been unusually contentious lately? I have no way to measure. I usually always participate when asked because I do use the site and consider myself to be a good web citizen. I also feel I have some impartiality as I have no emotional investment in particular cliques of members. I also have a respect for free speech and discussion (don't like censorship) but at the same time have no patience for personal attacks and bullying. So anyhow, either there is a really high influx of trolling or very thin skin on DU or both--it is a little disconcerting to be asked not once but multiple times to be a referee when browsing the site for about 15 minutes or so ....

[LWolf]

1. I spend less time here

for a variety of reasons.

There's not much to talk about during election season, because the "discussion" is censored. So why bother, unless you want to dive in and wade around in the groupspeak?

DU has changed since I first joined; the left is now fringe, and it no longer identifies itself as "left wing." The board is littered with posts calling neo-liberal corporate policies "liberal" and "progressive." Enough of the "new dems" have joined, or old dems converted, that it is okay to attack traditional Democratic groups like teachers.

There are enough "old dems" and others that I enjoy talking with that I still check in, but I spend a small fraction of the time I used to.

[Howler]

2. I agree with you CompleteLy LWolf.

I have noticed the same change That you have.
Alot of the long time lefty members That I really enjoyed reading Have been tombstoned. I have even read Several Posts here about purging the whole Democratic party of the real Left.(That would be me as well) I guess we are considered the Far Left now but it didn't used to be.
And The ones that are still here get their posts/ O.P.'s swarmed.

I have lurked here since 2006 but registered has a member in 2007 and D.U. has changed alot since that time frame.

[raina starling]

3. Huh? My "Leftist" beliefs were what booted me off in the first place!

The rules here are that we must support Dems no matter what. That is insane. In IL we have moderate Republicans that I would take any day over some of these so-called Dems like Mayor Rahmbo. Wolves in liberal clothing. Like the POTUS. You feel comfortable dissing me just because other people deemed me a troll. Think for yourself. Read what I write and tell me I'm wrong!

[kimmerspixelated]

4. To answer your question...

Yes, there have been many troll visits as of late. Weird and disturbing.

[kentauros]

5. What I don't understand is why us?

Most trolls only show up in the big forums, like LBN, GD and Politics. We hardly even show up on the radar for longtime DUers. Why are we so attractive this time around?

[Sweet Freedom]

6. I think it's just the same person over and over.

[kimmerspixelated]

8. True, and where they've been showing up

is not necessarily on the health remedy threads, i.e. Big Pharma shills stopping by to debunk the junk as they see it. Strange very strange. I can't piece it together.

[Mojorabbit]

7. I used to be asked every time I checked in to be on a jury

Then a couple of weeks ago I got asked five times in one night and then nada. It is weird and has left me wondering if it is something I voted on or if the software is just off a bit.