Seriously...
I've been an active member of the online progressive community for almost a decade. I began my internet activism with a little project called Moveon. Following my experiences there, I was an avid participant at Alternet, until the trolls moved in. At the time, Alternet had no rating system, and boy, those trolls were hungry. This led me to the discovery of an online community called DailyKos. The characteristic that drew me to Alternet was the rating system and the ability of the community to collectively starve the trolls, or, when trolls persisted, feed them... donuts! Then, in the year of 2007, primary season fit the shan...
Factions were formed, passions ran hot, the general and the doctor became the southern populist and the boy faced Constitutional scholar with the big ears, opinions were shared, talking points were stuck to, good Democrats were smeared and the community became acrimonious.
For the record, I may have had my arguments at that time, and I said some things I regret (I'm sorry TomP!) but I NEVER passed out a donut unless a comment went over the line, either in false information or racist/sexist overtone. Yet somehow, I got caught up in some algorithm that has deprived me of my ability to rec or hide comments. Keep in mind, I rarely handed out donuts, so my privileges were revoked for rec'ing another community member who had passed out felonious donuts. Not really a big deal, so why care? Here are a couple of reasons:
For example, there was this diary by haremore that presented this thought:
I missed my father the most when I sat in front of my television with tears running down my face, listening to Barack Obama give that speech. I knew as he was speaking that the world was tilting on its axis, that things were going to change for the better, that this was one of those seminal moments that are born out of turmoil and strife...
That diary really hit close to home, as my Jewish parents from New York were also good people who made comments and stereotypes that would make me cringe. I really wanted to be able to tip the diarist, but no, I got caught up in some random pissing match that didn't even involve me.
Then there was this diary by Helenann:
It has really been bothering me - the charges that Obama is all talk and no action. Those of us who support him and have reviewed his record know there is no basis to this charge, but just to make sure, I went to the Congressional Record (www.thomas.gov) and did a search for bills sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Obama in his three short years in the US Senate. I searched the 109th and 110th Congresses which cover the years 2005-2007.
In a nut shell I found:
Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.
Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.
Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.
His record is in fact quite impressive for a junior Senator from Illinois.
Details below the fold.
Yes, details after the fold, a thorough catalogue of the hard work performed by Barack Obama for the public good. What a great diary, considering the pissing matches that didn't concern me usually contained charges of the empty suit media creation type.
I could go on and on. Economic discussions by Bondad. Boots on the Ground diaries by iceberg slim. Discussions of campaign finance by Adam B. Anything by Meteor Blades.
And that isn't even considering the thousands of ideas expressed in comments that I would love to recommend. Who doesn't deserve mojo for engaging little old Mannabass?
So, I guess what I'm saying is, I really don't care about the hide privilege, keep it. But....
Restore my #$%@$#$@@$#% rec'ing privileges, so I can give respect to effective civic discussion within our community!