Poll. DCUM regulars. Who are you?

[Anonymous]

I’ve been active here for about a month. Lots of fascinating topics.

Wondering stuff like:

1 What field are you in? Seems to be a lot of attorneys
2 Where did you grow up?
3 At what age did you move to the DMV and why?
4 Did you or are you planning to retire here?
5 Does the tone on here bother you?

[Anonymous]

OP here
1. Engineer. 15 years private sector, now public
2. Western Canada
3. Early 30s. Transferred here for work.
4. Probably. I like it here and the weather is much better than where I’m from.
5. Mostly no. There are a few people that just post something like “idiot” that seems pointless and junks up the thread. But l do appreciate better written snark (fun to read) and a surprisingly high amount of helpful and thoughtful responses.

[Anonymous]

1. SAHM but since you mentioned the attorney thing I’ll say I used to be one
2. A small town in the intermountain west
3. Moved at age 30 for DH’s job (also an attorney)
4. Not planning to retire here, but we will stay if our kids do
5. YES it bothers me and the worst thing is that it has rubbed off on me. Sometimes commenters are just very kind and level-headed and I try to emulate them.

[Anonymous]

Attorney
New England
20s, for work
Probably
Dislike the outright rude/not clever snarky posters. Appreciate the clever snarky posters and don’t mind the blunt posters if not intentionally unkind

Think it’s interesting you didnt ask male vs female

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been active here for about a month. Lots of fascinating topics.

Wondering stuff like:

1 What field are you in? Seems to be a lot of attorneys
2 Where did you grow up?
3 At what age did you move to the DMV and why?
4 Did you or are you planning to retire here?
5 Does the tone on here bother you?

1. None. I live a life of leisure
2. Moved around a bit but mostly California
3. 31, spouse got a job here
4. You can't "retire" from a life of leisure. As I get older I'll probably move down to Florida, at least in the winter.
5. No.

[Anonymous]

What field are you in?
- administrative specialist at a medical non profit
2 Where did you grow up?
- Europe, Africa and Asia; diplobrat
3 At what age did you move to the DMV and why?
- 2003 due to my father’s posting to Washington
4 Did you or are you planning to retire here?
- hopefully. I love the DC area.
5 Does the tone on here bother you? What field are you in? Seems to be a lot of attorneys
- people here are so rude and impolite!

[Anonymous]

1. Associations
2. Moved a lot, both coasts, never middle of the country
3. 21, day after graduation. For a boy. Sigh.
4. Probably not. Maybe Richmond, but also depends on kids
5. Sometimes, mostly when it’s dicks being dicks for no good reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Attorney
New England
20s, for work
Probably
Dislike the outright rude/not clever snarky posters. Appreciate the clever snarky posters and don’t mind the blunt posters if not intentionally unkind

Think it’s interesting you didnt ask male vs female

OP here. Didn’t leave it out intentionally, just wanted to keep it to 5. I’m female.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. SAHM but since you mentioned the attorney thing I’ll say I used to be one
2. A small town in the intermountain west
3. Moved at age 30 for DH’s job (also an attorney)
4. Not planning to retire here, but we will stay if our kids do
5. YES it bothers me and the worst thing is that it has rubbed off on me. Sometimes commenters are just very kind and level-headed and I try to emulate them.

Interesting that it bothers you and has rubbed off on you. Why not leave then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been active here for about a month. Lots of fascinating topics.

Wondering stuff like:

1 What field are you in? Seems to be a lot of attorneys
2 Where did you grow up?
3 At what age did you move to the DMV and why?
4 Did you or are you planning to retire here?
5 Does the tone on here bother you?

1. Psychotherapist, Consultant
2. DC
3. I was born here. My parents were born here. My grandparents moved to DC as young adults.
4. That’s the plan.
5. Yes. I don’t mind, and even enjoy a bit of snark. The gratuitous, mean-girl middle school nastiness gets to be a bit much.
The casual racism is disgusting. The false innocent-seeming questions that consistently parrot Tucker Carlson’s talking points are
noxious.
I idealistically had thought that this type of forum could provide space for different types of people to have different types of
discussions, including topics that are often difficult to discuss in real life. That does happen quite often, but, for me, the positives
frequently get overshadowed by nastiness, and I take a DCUM break. I keep reminding myself that the healthiest way that I
can use DCUM is as a resource — rather than as a community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. SAHM but since you mentioned the attorney thing I’ll say I used to be one
2. A small town in the intermountain west
3. Moved at age 30 for DH’s job (also an attorney)
4. Not planning to retire here, but we will stay if our kids do
5. YES it bothers me and the worst thing is that it has rubbed off on me. Sometimes commenters are just very kind and level-headed and I try to emulate them.

Interesting that it bothers you and has rubbed off on you. Why not leave then?

Because of all those great comments! I have gotten so much good advice here, like when people told me to host a “Instagram made me buy it during the pandemic” party as a way to make use of an unfortunate dress I bought. But also I have gotten good advice on a bathroom remodel (it turned out so well thanks to DCUM), parenting, my marriage, etc. The snark doesn’t spill over to real life, so I just work on being kind when I comment.

[Anonymous]

1. Engineer
2. Born poor, small rural red Rust Belt area, was a Republican
3. Moved here for a job, learned the truth about American cities
4. Will stay unless GOP brings autocracy in 2022-2024, but unfortunately I think that’s likely and I will probably move to MA or Canada and fight from there
5. I don’t mind the discussions here. There’s lots of good info. I am so grateful for Jeff’s moderation. I do social media work for work and DCUM shows all the signs of being manipulated by rightwing trolls. They repeat the worst lies of the right. And DCUM would have ceased to be usable if not for Jeff. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I idealistically had thought that this type of forum could provide space for different types of people to have different types of
discussions, including topics that are often difficult to discuss in real life. That does happen quite often, but, for me, the positives
frequently get overshadowed by nastiness, and I take a DCUM break. I keep reminding myself that the healthiest way that I
can use DCUM is as a resource — rather than as a community.

Good perspective. As a newer user l appreciate that, thanks.

[Anonymous]

1 What field are you in? IT program management
2 Where did you grow up? Colorado
3 At what age did you move to the DMV and why? From 30-38, then moved again for job, but still post here.
4 Did you or are you planning to retire here? No.
5 Does the tone on here bother you? Eh, at times. I usually avoid the really bad threads.

[Anonymous]

1. SAHM
2. Chevy chase
3. Been here except for college
4. Going somewhere warmer
5. Not usually