For the past few months we have lost many good kossaks. They either are tired of getting slagged in their diaries (bondad comes easily to mind) or they've watched others getting pummeled (Phill S 33 is the newest to leave over this).
In the process this community is diminished. Loosing bonddad, for example, we lost someone whom, if you read his diaries, you were well ahead of the curve of the whole financial meltdown. How much more are we loosing?
But don't mistake this diary as a "kumbayah, can't we all just get along" call.
It is not.
I've been on the internet for 25 years. Back before blogs, back before graphical user interfaces (well for everyone but Mac users), back before pictures, back when the only method of communicating with people all over the US and world was through USENET newsgroup, and back when a "chat room" was a rogue program written by a guy in Finland that you'd secretly upload to your computer account and then argue with the system administrator to keep it up and running.
I've been around for a while, I'm an old lady on the internet and have actually been part internet history.
Flame fests happen. USENET flame wars are legendary.
We always said that before you post anything make sure your fire insurance is up to date and that you have asbestos underwear.
But blogs are not USENET newsgroups. A lot more time is spent in writing and researching many of the diaries posted here. That doesn't mean that one cannot disagree with what someone else has written, but is doesn't mean one has to go personal.
So what if someone writes a glowing diary over someone you don't like. Grow the fuck up. Post a substantive disagreement and leave the personal attacks behind or DON'T POST AT ALL.
So what if someone has a differing opinion on an issue that you don't agree with. Post a substantive disagreement and leave the personal attacks behind or DON'T POST AT ALL.
You don't need to cast aspersions on that person.
You don't even have to read the diary, rec it, or respond. You can pass it. These are things you are all in control of.
While your shouting and trashing a diarist may make you feel good, it risks this community loosing people. And we lost some really good people.
Yeah, sure, if you write a diary you might want to look into looking into some skin toughing agents. BUT sometimes, and there are those days, for whatever reason, you just aren't that tough.
One doesn't need to personally go after a diariest. Disagree yes, that's actually important, we don't want to have to be lock step in agreement. But you can do that without trashing someone personally, and if you can't (grow the fuck up), get the fuck out of here.
Either that or read and don't post. (Put your keyboard somewhere else)
You see that's what grown ups do.
Otherwise, what are you accomplishing? Purity trolling to make sure everyone at Dailykos agrees with you?
That's going to be real fun read./snark
If it really bothers you, don a helmet and defend the person getting pummeled. This is politics (it's a political blog) and unless your Evan Bayh, it should have become obvious long ago that it is a blood sport.
And for those of you who think the flame fests here are bad, USENET in the 80s and 90s would have sent your screaming for cover.
In short, GROW THE FUCK UP!