You could try to prove otherwise, but I'd prefer it if you didn't or if someone does, not posting it into the comments.
For years my father refused to get the Easy Pass (bridge & tunnel toll device) here in New York because he didn't want "them" to know where he was at any given moment. I always thought he was nuts and then the Idiot in Chief moved into the Oval Office and now I know, like my father did, who they are. He doesn't like to talk about $$ on the phone or details about his business or when I'm too "distraught" for fear I might say the wrong thing about what I'd like to do to them.
I can also now be called somewhat paranoid myself (mostly by myself!) and can only laugh at myself now when I start thinking of ways to live more covertly or hide the money I don't have from the government that hasn't collapsed yet from underneath it's own corruption and hate or the anti-spy devices I plot and research with the intent on buying some day. Since I haven't, I guess that means there's still some hope!
Anyway, I've been dismayed at several things that I have seen recently here in this community which I admit, I'm pretty new too (compared to many of the regularly recommended diarists).
More below the fold.
The first is about the strange diaries that have been showing up on here lately about:
(1) Military devices diaries and diaries from those debunking the validity of those military devises (along as well as the tactics supposedly used by the company who makes these said devices and the way they use people like us to push their agendas) and then of course those debunking the debunking.
(2) Soldier's stories and their fear of being tried for treason for revealing them along with dairies from those who don't believe them and now diaries from those who do
(3) "Hijacked by Rethuglican" diaries (just today in fact) which because of numbers 1 & 2 I'm now beginning to wonder whether it warrants more attention by the powers that be here in Dkos-land.
(4) The Thank you. Kos - Fuck you. Kos, read my diary Kos - Kos was once a Republican rants (accompanied with the "this diarist should be banned" commentary).
Again, I'm not linking to specific diaries or diarists for fear I might be banned (or at least yelled at by those reminding me (from their mountain top) of my horridly bannable offense of naming people).
Which leads me to the second issue: The level of disdain some here have shown diarists they don't like.
I'm not talking about disagreeing with what they've said or what they believe.
I'm talking about the ones who swoop in like vultures, right into someones diary (almost immediately upon it being publish it sometime seems), some with regularity, to ask a "question" or make a comment or statement (well written mind you) that is clearly meant not to question or put forth their own opinion on a particular subject, but to demoralize, demean or rip to shreds the validity of the diary and/or the diarist for something they perceive to be about them, about someone they like or more likely, and worse... to take the conversation to their narcissistic selves. Then there are those who pop is to say fuck off, fuck you or their compatriot's who troll rate the same diarists for naughty language. I'll call it OPOL Hunting.
Of course, I can't link you to any of these people because to do so would be breaking the rules.
I will say this though, OPOLhas been a light in MY otherwise dreary life (well, it's not that dreary, but politically speaking it has been - until I found DKos). That's "One Pissed Off Liberal" for those of you who don't know. He is that for MANY MANY MANY of us who lack the ability to voice our rage in such vivid, legal and perfectly Democratic ways. Because I don't think he'd mind, I mentioned him by name (fro those keeping watch).
The result: my time spent here has been less and less frequent. I can't stand wondering if someone is really a Republican, why military hardware is being pushed (real or not) on the front page, watching my fucking language or watching the same tattle-tales and hate-mongers I could swear I knew in high school once, do the same now from their end of the internets.
It's exhausting. I'm exhausted. And, while I'm not quite ready to give up, I needed to vent. Otherwise, I'd have to leave.
I do however want to know some things:
- What are big gobbersmoochers and muckity-mucks doing to ensure this is a safe, rethuglican free place. (And yes, I'm not naive enough to believe it can be 100% free of these scumbags, but I would like to see some input, to hear from the Kos's of DKos as to what measures they're taking on our behalf to combat this issue. Maybe I'm just making more of it than I should, but already I'm paranoid enough! I need some reassurance! ;-)
- How about them Troll Rating Abusers? The higher-ups must know who they are. Do something. Remove their power to Troll Rate. It's ridiculous. There must be an algorithm or something Kos can use to seek these people out and see their patterns (and in which diaries they apply this abuse to regularly), no?
These guys/gals are usually the same ones who can be construed (at least in my mind) as the hateful hate-mongers who use their hating powers in LONG TIME and BELOVED diarist's diaries (with alarming increase), spreading their hate like the Ann Coulter's and Rethuglicans they simply must be (channeling).
- Since when is pushing military hardware OK, even if it's to protect the troops? Or, did I miss something? Especially in the form it took yesterday. Doesn't make sense to me. That's not to question the diarist (on this one) - just the product, the seller and the motives others have brought up in great detail. Well, maybe the diarist a bit in the sense that as FPers, they should have known better, no? Yes, I know we all make mistake, but this one seems really OUT there.
Well, I've said too much, I'm sure. So, I'll shut up now.
Thanks,
A Gay, HIV+, Single (42 - wink wink), N.Y., Jewish, Liberal/Progressive/but Fiscal yet angry Democrat. No. Really. I swear.
UPDATE 1: Adding manic-depressive, recovering addict. I can't believe I forgot these guys! I need to get to a meeting soon. Damn.
I also have permission to use this picture. The artist gave everyone permission during the 2004 elections. I actually turned it into a 4' x 6' banner and flew it from a flag pole (at the Gay & Lesbian store I was working at at the time) for the Republican National Convention here in NY. The artist, who was marching up 8th avenue during the big protest saw it, loved it! He eventually gave me a signed print (lithograph I think)!