Think JU's Restrictive?

from JoeUser Forums

Every once in awhile, I hear people whine about how JU is allegedly a "right wing" site, and squelches liberal bloggers. While it is true that liberal bloggers have been squelched here, they have NEVER been squelched because of their politics, but rather the nature of their interaction with others. And conservative bloggers have been silenced as well.

Sooo, on with the story.

I decided it was time to register with Democratic Underground. Not because I agree with their ideas, mind you, but to read and post the articles that were written. I didn't get very far, though, before I realized that DU intends to be a cloistered community and to disallow anyone from outside their ranks. This from their TOS underscores my point:

. Who We Are: Democratic Underground is an online community for Democrats and other progressives. Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office. Democratic Underground is not affiliated with the Democratic Party, and comments posted here are not representative of the Democratic Party or its candidates.

(emboldened type added by author).

See, technically a GREEN should be disallowed by DU's TOS. And as a Libertarian, I don't stand a chance. Because, you see, DU's concern is not about discussion, it is about control, and it is about spin. It's a virtual guarantee that a DU regular won't see much of an opposing viewpoint in what they call "news".

By contrast, one can always find opposing viewpoints at JU. It's what we're about. While one side puts out a story on evolution, another is equally busy constructing a story on creationism. And in the 2004 presidential election, Bush, Kerry, Cobb, Badnarik, Nader and Peroutka ALL had articles written about them on the site...in fact, the platforms of the three prominent third parties were posted to this site WITHOUT editorial content in the body of the article. There was a genuine opportunity to obtain information far beyond that available in regular media outlets.

So, if you want a site that severely restricts its content, go to DU. If you want a site where free expression's pretty much intact, JoeUser's the right place for you. After all, very little's out of bounds on your own blog site.

blogging
5,997 views 32 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

I read their TOS at one time.  And yea, I basically said no way.  If I was to post on that site, I would fully expect to get flamed.  But their TOS says, nope, you would get booted!

It is their site, and they can do what they want.  But by using that TOS, they are basically making sure they will remain stupid and ignorant.  And on that, I cannot help them.  I dont think anyone can.

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I read the democratic underground time to time when I need a good laugh, it's kind of like reading funny books when I was a kid,
but much funnier,, i say the d.u. is a good thing because it shows once again that so called rightwing sites at least allow opinions not in line with conservative values, while the democrats while buisy espousing freedom, is not free at all, another typical democrat illusion, freedom.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
They probably put that there because they started getting trolled by rabid republicans (yes, I know there are rabid democrats too ).
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

They probably put that there because they started getting trolled by rabid republicans (yes, I know there are rabid democrats too ).

If you have ever read the site then you know that a troll to them is a moderate democrat.  Rabid republicans hell!  Anyone who does not kiss Babs a$$ is a troll to them!

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
How boring it must be for them not to have someone to argue with cuz they all think the same? Hey dr Guy?
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Although I have never tried to, I've heard the rightie sites are just as restrictive. If you post dissent, they'll ban you, same as the leftie sites. One of the reasons I come here is because this site bills itself as a blogsite for the "average joe". Then, it asounds me that the righties seem to really not just debate, but hate me for doing so, and hate me for being rather forceful in my arguments. That's what really galls me. And, though some are worse than others, some of the worst are the worst of the worst, yet seem to be the most coddled here. I don't get it. I'll not name any names, unless you ask.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
There's nothing wrong with actual debate. The problem is some people don't seem to know the difference between debate and insults, personal attacks, rhetoric, profanity, and mockery. A true debate contains none of those things. It seems that when facts are absent the others are in abundance.

As far as people getting grounded here, from what I've seen it only happens when someone becomes openly abusive towards other bloggers, not for presenting their views. But for some, I suppose they view freedom of speech as the freedom to be abusive toward others.

Some can't seems to tell the difference between disagreeing and personal attacks, between a well formed arguement and a string of profanity. And then they cry "no fair" when they get grounded for being unable to tell the difference.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Zink, you don't know what debate is, I'm afraid. In your universe differing with you is antagonistic, arguing with you is hate, and keeping your mouth shut seems to be the best way not to offend you.

I find it hard to believe that all your flavor liberal here, if combined into one giant mass of pink goo, would be noteworthy enough to spend 5 minutes of hate on...
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
6 by zinkadoodle
Monday, June 27, 2005


Although I have never tried to, I've heard the rightie sites are just as restrictive


I heard!!! someone mentioned it, could be, might have, the words of the left all crap no real substance..
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
What is your freakin' problem. I heard. So what? I wrote about what I heard. Like no one else here does that.

This is exactly the crap I'm talking about. I post, and get nothing but derision, just because I am a liberal. All I am saying is that this site is not a Rush Limbaugh blog or a DU blog. It's an everyfreakinthing blog. That's my point. I do not have a problem debating, except with the likes of you two %^&#s. You're both patronizing, sanctimonous, and totally boring.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Haven't most of them moved to Canada by now?
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Eh, I haven't had any problems. I write what I want. Sometimes people laugh, sometimes they say, "hey, that happened to me, too," sometimes they tell me I'm wrong, and sometimes they say, "right on."

JU is as politically even as possible considering that the site owner is a staunch conservative. I've heard many complaints that lefties are run off or silenced and that they don't get featured, etc., but were the site to be run by a staunch liberal, people would be complaining about the exact opposite.

I think Draginol works hard to be fair. Sure, sometimes he comes off as biased, but we all have preferences, and if it were my site, I'd have some folks saying the same thing about me.

The point is, we're all free to post whatever golden bits of wisdom or complete nonsense that we want so long as we're not obscene or abusive...and even then he usually only expects us to keep it on our own blog and off the forums.

Works for me.

I don't even bother with DU or the like. Who wants to be told what to think and say?
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Haven't most of them moved to Canada by now?


Nope. Well, maybe most, but not me.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
#13 by zinkadoodle
Monday, June 27, 2005




Haven't most of them moved to Canada by now?


Nope. Well, maybe most, but not me.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree with TW.....
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top

How boring it must be for them not to have someone to argue with cuz they all think the same? Hey dr Guy?

Yea, this would be a dull site without our Liberals!  They are sane rational, and wrong.  But at least we get some good debate!

Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top

That's my point. I do not have a problem debating, except with the likes of you two %^&#s. You're both patronizing, sanctimonous, and totally boring.

Over the weekend, I accidently insulted Joeknowledge by not including him in the sane rational left.  I corrected my oversight.  Now you do the same by excluding me from your tirade?

I am insulted!

Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply By: Dr. GuyPosted: Tuesday, June 28, 2005That's my point. I do not have a problem debating, except with the likes of you two %^&#s. You're both patronizing, sanctimonous, and totally boring.Over the weekend, I accidently insulted Joeknowledge by not including him in the sane rational left. I corrected my oversight. Now you do the same by excluding me from your tirade?I am insulted!


aw zink is kinda cute when he gets his knickers inna bunch, I do lkove tweaking his nose, and I do not find him boring at all, just blind.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
The most intolerant, hate-filled, racist bigotry comes not from the religious majority of the southern conservatives, but from the agree or die political left. Anybody who preaches tolerance must allow even the intolerant to have their say. Instead it's "Stifle the dissenters, silence the religious, ban any who do not think as we do"... I despise that mentality. There's no room to agree to disagree..


--Out of the two , i consider the republican party to be the most tolerent.....
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't think DU sees themselves as a blog or 'discussion' site.

They see themselves as a launching point, a grass roots organizational tool. It's like a huge 'young republicans' meeting only... a little more pink.

For that reason, they don't want to waste time arguing with people who don't have influence on their agenda. They want to hash out their own agenda, and frankly I don't fault them for it. If I wanted to plan out a grass roots movement for Republicans, I wouldn't want dabe skulking around diverting from the focus either.

Granted, I think they are a bunch of ignorant, insulting bigots with no clue, but hey, it's their life to live.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top

They see themselves as a launching point, a grass roots organizational tool. It's like a huge 'young republicans' meeting only... a little more pink.

I think that is what they started out to be, but they have become a caricture of that.  And totally useless.  The site exists for one reason and one reason alone.  To hate that which they cannot control.

Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
Zink... you don't get dumped on because you're a liberal, you get dumped on because you don't know the first thing about debate or argument. You should know by now that if you're going to assert ANYTHING here, you need to come with something real. Saying "I've never tried it, but I heard..." is just a flat-out ignorant statement. You have no actual knowledge beyond something you might have heard someone say about some site you've never been to. Don't be surprised when you're called on that.
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
"I think that is what they started out to be, but they have become a caricture of that. And totally useless. The site exists for one reason and one reason alone. To hate that which they cannot control."


I'd describe it more as "To control what they hate". You might believe it is totally useless, but that is pretty naive I think. They are a big magnet for the coveted "youth" vote.

Much of the idiocy we have to combat here at JU is born either there or moveon, or the "alternative press" sites. If they were so ineffectual, I don't think we'd have nearly as much trouble overcoming the constant stream of filth they belch out into the world...

Know your enemies. Understimating them is the last thing you want to do.
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
Whoa, Zoomba! Didn't know ya had it in ya!


You haven't been reading my stuff for the past 7 or 8 months have you?
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top

Much of the idiocy we have to combat here at JU is born either there or moveon, or the "alternative press" sites. If they were so ineffectual, I don't think we'd have nearly as much trouble overcoming the constant stream of filth they belch out into the world...

Know your enemies. Understimating them is the last thing you want to do.

Knowing them does not mean you cant laugh at them.  And I am not worried about the youth vote.  They will attract some of the more rabid ones, but even moderate liberals (oxymoron I know, but you get my drift) will soon see the rabid hatred and leave.  I dont think it will sway any of them more to the left.  I think it will just distance themselves from the rest of the party.  Or of their potential constituency.