Monday's Most Active Threads

Probably a week into DCUM's existence there were already posters lamenting that "DCUM has changed" and wasn't as good as it used to be. Such sentiments have been posted regularly ever since. I normally don't find them very convincing but, as a result of the Covid pandemic, I really do think DCUM changed and not for the better. The pandemic created divisions that hadn't heretofore existed such as over school closings, the vaccine, or even the origin of the virus itself. Disputes over these topics have brought out the worst in posters, creating lasting resentments and a noticeably more negative atmosphere in the forums. But, the stupidest, absolute stupidest, of these disputes has been over masking. I can understand being upset that someone is not masking in a situation where you believe masking is deserved. But, I simply can't begin to fathom why people are upset when others choose to mask. I'm dumbfounded by the posters who are irrationally angered by the mere thought of a mask outside of an operating room. Threads about masks tend to be nasty, combative, and — above all — repetitive, simply saying the same things as every other thread on the topic. So, when I learned this morning that yesterday's most active thread in both numbers of replies and numbers of views was titled, "COVID and indefinite masking", I didn't know whether to be happy that the thread had somehow escaped my notice until now or upset that DCUM is still plagued by such threads. At any rate, the thread, which is posted in the "Health and Medicine" forum has already reached 14 pages. I'm not going to read them but maybe you have an enduring curiosity about why others wear a mask. If so, you are in luck.

A thread titled, "Am I being unreasonable and selfish/AITA?" and posted in the "Tweens and Teens" forum was second yesterday in both number of views and number of replies. At least one post from this thread was reported yesterday so I was aware this thread existed. I didn't know, however, that it was so popular. I think this is a case of a car crash attracting attention. The original poster has a small yoga studio in her house of which she has always been the sole user. Her teenage kids have started working out in the studio and the original poster is upset, feeling that her private space is being violated and also troubled that the teens don't share her standards for cleanliness and hygiene. The original poster asks if she is being unreasonable to try keeping the room for her own use. I haven't read all 10 pages of this thread, but it looks like most of the initial responses agreed that the original poster was not being reasonable. However, skimming through the thread I see that the original poster does have her defenders. Also, it appears that the issues in the original poster's household may go well beyond the simple matter of who gets to use the yoga studio. So, perhaps the interest in this thread stems less from sensational drama, which it lacks, and more from the gradual disclosure of intriguing revelations that are keeping readers, if not on the edge of their seats, at least clicking for updates.

With the return to Daylight Standard Time on Sunday, it is fitting that the thread with the third highest number of replies and fourth highest number of views was titled, "Which do you prefer - Daylight Savings Time or Standard Time?" This thread, which was posted in the "Off-Topic" forum, has reached nine pages of discussion of this, uh, timely issue. I haven't read everything in the thread but I see that both Daylight and Standard time have their proponents, with a significant number of posters just wishing that we would standardize on one and quit changing. There are also debates about when the change should occur and, of course, this being DCUM, links to scholarly studies. I'm not saying that we always have threads on this topic twice a year, but I do think some DCUM posters have established the routine of adjusting their clocks, changing the batteries in their smoke detectors, and posting on a DCUM thread about time changes. So, if you have fallen back on your DCUM reading and missed this thread, prepare to spring forward to catch the next one.

The last thread at which I will look was not the fourth most active but was in the top ten for both views and replies. Moreover, it was started late in the day so it amassed those numbers in just a few hours. The thread, titled, "I took a job at an Amazon warehouse for 2 weeks because I was curious. AMA." was posted in the "Off-Topic" forum. The original poster describes himself as a small business owner who decided that rather than take a vacation he would work at an Amazon warehouse for two weeks. Posters pose questions to which he replies, giving what appears to be a first-hand account of the work situation inside one of these warehouses. Multiple posters accused the original poster of being a troll, but I have no evidence to prove that one way or another. The thread does ring true to me with the original poster providing details that I don't think could easily be invented. I did remove one post that originated from a foreign proxy server that was impersonating the original poster. So, at least one person considered the thread worthy of disruption. Assuming this thread is authentic, the picture painted by the original poster is fairly harrowing. The way the turnover of workers is treated in this account is more like what you would expect for produce at a grocery store, not living, breathing, human beings.