DUmmie FUnnies 04-25-05 ("DU as target of gross misuse by the right")

DUmmie FUnnies ^ | April 25, 2005 | DUmmies and PJ-Comix

[PJ-Comix]

Let us all now take a moment to shed a tear for the poor DUmmies. They feel ABUSED by the Right as you can see in this DUmmie THREAD titled, “DU as target of gross misuse by the right.” Apparently the residents of my DUmmie Ant Farm don’t like being looked at and commented upon. Even worse for them than to be angrily criticized is for them to be LAUGHED at as happens in the DUmmie FUnnies on a daily basis. And guess what, DUmmies, all it takes is for Mary Matalin to give the thumbs up to the DUmmie FUnnies book (with CD-ROM insert for the related comix stories) and an MUCH BIGGER audience will be laughing at you. The DUmmie crybabying about being abused is in Bolshevik Red while the commentary of your humble correspondent, peering even more intently into his Ant Farm, is in the [brackets]:

DU as target of gross misuse by the right

[Sorry but we do have to have our FUn. Continue with your tale of woe, DUmmie cloudythescribbler…]

At least twice now, the Democratic Underground has been the victim of gross misuse by the right. This may have been a topic before and I missed it, but it seems that one of the top people at DU should write a proposed column for the NY Times oped page, now expanded, and get hundreds of not thousands of DUers to sign it, and then send it in for publication.

[And I shall write a DUFU of that very column for the NY Times oped page. Continue DUmmie cloudythescribbler…]

One point that should clearly be made is that this is an OPEN forum, where anyone can express a view -- including quite a few rightwingers and freepers. It may be that the notion of the tsunami as a CIA conspiracy or of the pope as a Nazi are not the most refined of views, but they are expressed in many venues, such as callers into WBAI, and here at least they have a chance to be vetted and rationally debated and countered with facts.

[Trust me. The wacko posts of the DUmmies are NOT isolated, they are the norm. Any visit to Dummieland will prove that right away. Continue DUmmie cloudythescribbler…]

Taking such comments out of context stifles the kind of free discussion forum that this is, and represents one of the many misuses of the internet as a forum in recent years. The notion of the internet as some kind of "authority", as cited by Sorensen and Baraka is part of the mythmaking that conservatives are here trying to exploit. There is also the issue that there are rightwing sites that utter the most unbelievable improbabilities AS PART OF THEIR OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS, like quoting Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Lenin and Che Guevara in the same breath, and these sites are considered respectable and never held up for ridicule -- because progressives don't have the kind of partisan access to the mainstream media to exploit to this end.

[Taking comments out of context? Sorry to destroy your theory, DUmmie cloudythescribbler, but I like to quote my DUmmie Ants fully since it gives full flavor to their rich nuttiness. In addition, each edition of the DUmmie FUnnies ALWAYS provides the link to the DUmmie thread being DUFUed so as to give the readers an opportunity to check out the threads as they are posted in DUmmieland. And now that you are done with your sob story, DUmmie cloudythescribbler, let us give your fellow DUmmies the chance to whine on this same theme.]

NRO for god's sake. C-SPAN let's these people on like they're, uh, a credible organization -- and they say some of the most outrageous things. I actually had a personal communication with one of them, and he was a total know-nothing ASS.

[Believe me, if I had it in my power, I would have a TV program featuring ALL the DUmmie rantings 24/7. Perhaps I should call it Comedy Channel 2.]

I would write semi-long, intelligent letters, and he would write a three-line, misspelled, ad hominem-rife reply. And it wasn't just NRO that was publishing this idiot's columns -- he was actually employed by MSNBC as an "analyst" and, of course, was a big wig in the Bush I administration. I was just stunned at how inarticulate and poorly informed this person was. I just thought, "Wow. So they're like this in person, too? What pathetic losers."

[So you would prefer ad hominen-rifeless replies, my semi-long “intelligent” DUmmie letter writer?]

why not do it back to them start posting ridiculous stuff on free republic and then send it into the MSM

[Go ahead and get the Zot. In the meantime I enjoy reading the ridiculous stuff posted in DUmmieland.]

That's an idea. Post a question in Free Republic to get wackos to come out. Send it to whoever will accept it or just show it on your own website.

[Yes. That post will show up in the thread titled, “I'm so stupid, I signed up and got the Zot.”]

Why aren't these questionable post removed right away, why was the tsunami thread allowed to remain up if the source was in doubt?

[Why was last Friday’s DUmmie thread titled, "Kerry still working on stolen election” allowed to remain up? The source for that thread was a comment posted on a Blog about something a phone solicitor said in order to shake some cash out of the fool who posted the comment.]

And if discussion is chilled by the fear that anything can and will be taken out of context and used against you with a rightwing that has access to the mainstream that we lack, democracy suffers. This point needs to be made in the mainstream media, where the quotes have been used, in a column written by those who run DU

[What about discussion chilled by the fear that you will be LAUGHED at? Oh, and I would love to read a column written by the DUmmie inmates. More DUFU material!!!]

I have a shirt that says You have the right to remain silent, anything you say will be misquoted and used against you. Just wore it yesterday.

[Would you like a T-Shirt featuring a cute, cigar-smoking beaver?]

welcome to DU and please everyone, if you see a post that looks suspicious hit the "Alert" key.

[I always hit the “LOUSY FREEPER TROLL” key.

DU has moderators that follow up on any and all alerts sent by our members.

[Unfortunately many of those DUmmie moderators are often LOUSY FREEPER TROLLS. Hee! Hee! (Note: Except for IndianaGreen. He is not a LOUSY FREEPER TROLL. Please believe that.)]

People are too afraid of ideas and words. I know the corporate media is a propaganda machine for the right and the b*sh regime but expressing ideas is what is going to bring them down. They can't bear the fact that there are people out there thinking thoughts they have not promoted. DU is getting to them and they can't do anything to stop it because it would stop their propaganda machines as well.

[Actually you better PRAY that they corporate media doesn’t publicize Dummieland via a DUmmie FUnnies book (with CD-ROM insert for related comix stories).]

at this stage.. for us... the only bad publicity is NO publicity. In the words of the old show-biz axiom "Say what you like, but spell my name right!"

[D-U-m-m-i-e-s]

There is a problem though. The problem is that DU isn't being given the cachet of being 'banned' or a subject of great publicity -- it is being cited in an entirely unfair way to make it seem marginal, a place where only tin-foil hat ideas are discussed.

[BFEE, LIHOP, MIHOP, PNAC, etc… Now where did we ever get the crazy idea of DUmmieland as a marginal place filled with tin-foil hat ideas?]

The main problem is that DU is being ignored.

[Believe me. I am trying to rectify that. YOO HOO! Mary Matalin! Over here! YOO HOO!!!]

DU Ain't What She Used To Be. A year ago, this place was growing and hopping and getting a good share of mention across the net and even into the corporate media. These days I rarely hear DU mentioned...and not anywhere near I do other sites such as Kos, Atrios and Talking Points.

[When the DUmmie FUnnies book (with CD-ROM insert for the related comix stories) is published attention will be focused once again on DUmmieland as the hot comedy spot on the Web.]

I see DU as full of great people who care about their families, their neighbors, and their country.

[I see Dummieland as a great source for comedy materal.]

Anyone who comes to DU and looks around can see the value of this place. That thrills some and infuriates others.

[And makes most of the rest roll over in laughter.]

Also DU isn't exactly open to all: it is intended as a platform of discussion for democrats, about democratic issues. While RW-ers are allowed, they aren't allowed to discuss/propagate RW issues - if they do, they'll be banned. That's why RW misinformation operatives have to be careful not to go so far as to expose themselves for what they are. In the mean time they'll try and go far enough as to actually influence DU's public mind. That's not easy, and many fall through during their first few posts. Some are clever though, sometimes it can take years and many 1000's of posts before such an operative is exposed.

[I must be VERY CLEVER since I haven’t been caught yet. (Note: I am NOT DUmmie IndianaGreen. Please believe that.)]

on the "bright side" the mere fact that the DU is a "target" means we are viewed as a threat to the rabid-reich means the DU is being read by alot of people - more than we probably know, many people "lurk" for quite awhile before deciding to join in, and many more people just lurk

[And many more yet read the DUmmieland rantings via the DUmmie FUnnies Blog. Plus MILLIONS more if the DUmmie FUnnies book (with CD-ROM insert for the related comix stories) gets published.]

I say DU has no reason to be defensive. DU is successful. It works very well.

[Absolutely, DUmmie marions ghost. Dummieland is the Comedy Gift that keeps on giving.]

[PJ-Comix]

Ah Ha! You will be DUFUing Airhead Huffington and the airhead celebs as well as the DUmmies. Yet another reason to stay glued to my comfy chair in front of my Webtv screen and enjoy! Thanks PJ!

Yup! Starting May 9. Stay tuned!!!

[reformedliberal]

GMTA. I was going to suggest that every few weeks or so, you do a side-by-side posting on particular topics as seen on DU, Kos, Atrios, et al....just to diffuse the idea that DU is an anomaly of nutburgers,

As for FR: PLEASE, folks, make sure to use the sarcasm tag when you are posting tin-foil. Often, someone will post agreement that we *stole* the past two General Elections and it is very easy for someone to lift the post w/o any reference to the thread as a whole. It does give us a poor image. Many people will not check out a reference that reinforces their mind set.

That said, there is always good response from intelligent FReepers to the dolts or trolls among us. And of course, we have the VK and great mods.

[planekT]

I think you will continue to be rewarded with hit comedy material from the left, be it DU or wherever (huffington's blog, NY Times, etc.).

If fact, I predict you will have a whole new book (at least) if the repubs manage the Senate rules change.

[Scothia]

man dont talk about the DUmmy mods too much. I dont want the idiots to find out that I am really skinner

No! No! I am Skinner!

And call me Spartacus, too.

[samiam1972]

Ah, May 9th. Something to look forward to! Can't wait for some fresh blood!!! ;o)

[kevkrom]

I think you will continue to be rewarded with hit comedy material from the left, be it DU or wherever (huffington's blog, NY Times, etc.).

Heck, you could make a living just DUFUing Dowd and Krugman. BTW, I think we need to make DUFU a new word in Webster's dictionary:

DUFU (DOO-foo) (v.): to ridicule or lampoon idiotic or paranoid comments from leftist losers by providing a running commentary/translation.

[beckysueb]

It may be that the notion of the tsunami as a CIA conspiracy or of the pope as a Nazi are not the most refined of views,

Or that our soldiers deserve to die because they are fighting Bush's eeeevill war. or the "IBELIEEEEEEEVVVVVE" threads where you thought you could visualize Kerry into the WH. Or the threads about pumping money into BBV Bev's pockets, and the ones where you think Bush will be impeached and Kerry will waltz on into the WH completely overlooking the people who would step in according to the constitution, just to name a few. You DUmmies are doing a good job all by yourselves to make DU look like the stupid forum it is.

[Mr. Silverback]

I'm going to give this thread a real read later, but let me just say this about the DUers saying they've been taken out of context by us on purpose.

You've probably seen this...At the Wikipedia entry for Free Republic, there's a link to a blog that documents "The Best of FR," which documents the racist and violent posts that appeared on this forum during five months of 2003 and 2004.

There are about 20.

That's 20 "racist" posts out of hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, posted here during that time period.

And the case gets even weaker: Most of them are not racist at all, some don't sound racist on their face, much less in context, see the Native American quote below for an example.

Take a post by Iraq war vet Michael Barnes, for example. The "Best of" site quotes his description of hitting an Iraqi with a rifle butt. What it doesn't quote is where he made it clear that the Iraqi was a POW, in an area he shouldn't have been in, rummaging through soldier's rucksacks in the back of a Hummer. This guy was a known dangerous prisoner, probably looking for a spare weapon, but the quote is used out of context to make it look like Mike just feels like assaulting Iraqis for fun.

Or take the comment where one Freeper points out that the American Indian culture was inferior (technologically) to the Europeans. That's racist? That's like saying I'm a misogynist if I buy an Ipod and say I have better music tech than my wife.

Another Freeper writes that the Japanese deserved a 20 Megaton H-Bomb. Racist? After Nanking, Bataan, etc.? If he'd said the Nazis deserved a nuke because of the Holocaust and the unprovoked invasion of numerous countries, would it have been "racist?"

Hilariously, one of the comments the "Best of" blogger finds objectionable is in a thread called "UK Muslims 'outraged' when asked to condemn terror." So this lib is more offended by the accusation that Muslim countries feature "camel-humping" then he is by British Muslims freaking out over the mere suggestion that they should condemn the killing of innocent people. Myself, I find barbecuing civilians in jet fuel for Allah to be much more offensive than accusations of bestiality.

So, some DUmmie (I presume) watches us for months, and can only find a handful of "racists" on a 200,000 member site, and has to lie to even make a pathetic showing. Meanwhile, PJ posts numerous examples of moonbat craziness, threats of violence, and vicious hatred from DU twice a day, every day.

Sorry DUmmies, look in the mirror.

[Dashing Dasher]

One point that should clearly be made is that this is an OPEN forum, where anyone can express a view -- including quite a few rightwingers and freepers. It may be that the notion of the tsunami as a CIA conspiracy or of the pope as a Nazi are not the most refined of views, but they are expressed in many venues, such as callers into WBAI, and here at least they have a chance to be vetted and rationally debated and countered with facts.

That's why they kicked my butt off for saying things like, beheading people is wrong and maybe John Kerry did in fact lose the election.

.

[Mr. Silverback]

Hey PJ...Believer1 is out of town, but the last time I talked to her she asked me to ask you to put her on the ping list.

[Purrcival]

I would *LOVE* to see Arianna's new blog being DUFU'd! DUFU on, PJ.

[chesley]

You know, I've been thinking the same thing over the last few weeks. I'll post comments designed to elicit a hostile response from the DUmmies and get nothing. Maybe too many people have me on "IGNORE" over there.

But the liveliness of the arguments over there has definitely fallen off in the last two-three months.

[Purrcival]

</font color=red>Also DU isn't exactly open to all: it is intended as a platform of discussion for democrats, about democratic issues. While RW-ers are allowed, they aren't allowed to discuss/propagate RW issues - if they do, they'll be banned.</font>

This DUmmie actually stated the truth, unlike the DUmmie you quoted. The problem is, some of the post they consider to be "right-wing", really are not. They're so far to the left that they don't even realize it. They think they're "mainstream", so "mainstream" actually looks "right-wing" to them. Ain't perspective a funny thing?

[Allosaurs_r_us]

why not do it back to them start posting ridiculous stuff on free republic and then send it into the MSM

[Go ahead and get the Zot. In the meantime I enjoy reading the ridiculous stuff posted in DUmmieland.]

 

Official OK by the Viking Kitty Patrol

Bring IT on!

[Not A Snowbird]

Yes indeed! Interesting that the DUmmie you quoted had the guts to tell it like it really is. Does he get a kewpie doll for a brief moment of mental clarity? (Or is he a LOUSY FREEPER TROLL?)

:-)

[Purrcival]

why not do it back to them start posting ridiculous stuff on free republic and then send it into the MSM Ooooooh, crunchy, tasty troll treats for my little Viking Kitty babies, Purrcival and Skeeter!

[PJ-Comix]

Welcome aboard, PINGEE #660.

[squidward]

"Meant to say "Sorry dude", but "sorry dud" works too."

I think "dud" is actually more accurate.

[Allosaurs_r_us]

That's not easy, and many fall through during their first few posts. Some are clever though, sometimes it can take years and many 1000's of posts before such an operative is exposed.

 

Ain't it the truth! I was gone after 3 posts. Didn't realize they were so far to the left that the "truth" was also banned...LOL

[Purrcival]

I would just LOVE to see another "night of the long knives" over in DUmmieLand. I missed the first one.