Can we go ONE DAY on DCUM without any mean posts?

[Anonymous]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

All of this banter is why I hate DC...

[Anonymous]

This type of banter is why I love DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure you will consider this mean, OP, but that's not why I'm writing it. It just strikes me as odd when people come on here asking everyone to be nice when that is clearly not the character of this particular message board. Who are you that you expect everyone else to change just to make you comfortable? We can check with Jeff but I really don't think the mean posts are written by a few disgruntled people. I think a lot of people like DCUM the way it is. Nobody has a gun to your head to read the mean posts, or to even come on here at all. (Once you've been on here a while you will be able to tell pretty quickly whoch threads are likely to get snarky.). There are thousands of other message boards if this one is not right for you. But coming on here and expecting something different from what it is seems either very naive or very entitled, or both.

This.

NOPE. The mean spiritedness detracts from the purpose of DCUM. It's intended to be a support forum from what I see. So how does snarkiness help? One can write to vent about their struggle with weight loss and can expect to be called a cow. One can write and grieve about their deceased child and be told to stop being whiney. That's what DCUM threads can turn into. So how is that helpful? Yes, the mean posts are often times written by people who are angry.

Genuine curiousity: Where do you see this? How do you glean this "intention?" I just looked at "About DCUM" and don't see this theory validated at all.

It absolutely was created with the intention of being a support forum. It's probably also for entertainment but entertainment for the purpose of providing or giving support, not for mocking other members or insulting them for your entertainment value. Here is where you see it validated by the way:

DC Urban Moms Online: Click for Support, Advice, Home Remedies, Gossip, Political Rants
By Shannon Henry
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, May 3, 2005; HE01

While 4-year-old Michael spins circles around the toy-filled living room and 4-month-old Evan bounces in a baby seat, Mom and Dad peer at the screens of nearly identical silver PowerBook computers. Maria Sokurashvili and Jeff Steele, home for the evening after work, are tending to their other baby -- the online parenting support group called DC Urban Moms.
[i]

[Anonymous]

Who cares: it is whatever we make of it. People come here for support, entertainment, a release, whatever. If you are a dainty flower, maybe don't come in here. Shrug.

[Anonymous]

PS Even if someone writes something that appears barbed, remind yourself that they don't even know you in real life, so what do they know? So glean the advice/support/whatever you need, and leave the rest. That's what I do. Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3rd in your top 20 law school, sad thing is, you don't know what's important in life. You've got tunnel vision. I can read it in what you write and how you write. You bend over so far backwards to congratulate yourself because you are afraid nobody else will, even anonymously, online. And if that's not enough you seek validation via strangers. You try SO hard, and everyone sees it. Ask yourself: who is smarter, the college dropout who gets people, reaches out, and tries to genuinely connect, or the Important Feeling Lawyer who spends hours -- great chunks of time out of every day -- on an online site filled with strangers, laboring over the perfectly crafted comeback for nothing more than the imaginary high fives of the few online strangers you've managed to impress? It's possible you're perfectly nice. It's possible you're a great person with a bad habit of seeking validation for your ability to "zing" someone. But MOST people don't really think it's clever. Most people are not impressed. So why bother with all of that hard work for such an imaginary and sad payout?

Wow, you totally missed 3rd's point. She said that smart people DON'T reach for the gratuitous zinger and that intelligence is DIFFERENT from dropping the fbomb and strafing other posters. She only provided the 3rd datapoint when somebody questioned her smartness. Guess there's no question about your lack of smarts.

I don't think you are correct.

Here is the exchange. Please point to what I missed with my "lack of smarts."

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"The problem with DCUM is it's frequented by very smart and witty people whose smarts and wit are often laced with snark and cutting humor because, well, that's who they (we) are. They (we) also have strong opinions, and being D.C., most of us are former debate champions, law review editors, or the like. Yes, it would be nice if they (we) could check ourselves more often. But it's hard denying who we are. And, it's also liberating to truly let loose every once in a while. "

"I would seriously like stats on that assertion. Cuz I don't buy it. DC is like any other large-ish city, and I don't think it has the market cornered on the exceptionals."

"Ok, I'll start. I graduated 3rd in my top 20 law school class and clerked for the US Supreme Court. Now your turn."

----

She was responding to either her own post or another post that said the reason we can't check ourselves is we just "can't deny who we are," which is supposedly people who are just SO SMART that they have to let loose with snark and cutting humor. (never mind the total lack of any impulse control she also seems to embrace). I think it's gross to be so proud of yourself for being an asshole, and I think it's humorous to then follow up with how awesome and exceptional you are for being a lawyer with decent credentials, which are a dime a dozen in this city. Truly exceptional people are known for their actions, not their almost first (well, almost second) finishes at almost first (well, top 20) law schools.

Whoa, Dr. Phyllis. No dissertation required. The premise is that lots of us are former debate champs, law review editors, US Supreme Court clerks and the like. Disagree, sure, but wow, don't get your panties so bunched up. It's really unbecoming.

Are you one of the posters worried about nobody reciprocating your invitations? I'm going to whisper this, so lean in close and listen carefully: It's not them, it's you. If your personality is this dragass in real life, you might want to consider an overhaul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am half assuming that someone will post something mean in response to my post. Please resist the urge. Just for Memorial Day?

come here and let me hug you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am half assuming that someone will post something mean in response to my post. Please resist the urge. Just for Memorial Day?

come here and let me hug you

(((Group hug)))