...appreciate what we have here yet?!
So, I was surprised today when I saw there were no longer any comments on the Huff Po. Perhaps y’all knew this before me. Don’t know when it happened because I long since gave up on the HP for anything but a fast read of the headlines now and then.
Made me sad, because I got my start SO MANY years ago, commenting and taking a part of the national political discourse on the Huffington Post---which was an entirely different animal then than it became.
Still, I have some great memories of bonding w/other commenters on the HP before I knew much about the Daily Kos. Like here, way back then, there were several commenters I developed a bond with. The one I remember most was a lovely woman, so smart, so avid. She taught me a lot about a lot.
And on the night that Barack Obama was first elected in 2007, after celebrating w/democratic neighbors and friends, I came home to the HP, knowing she’d be there. And sure enough, she was, and we cheered and toasted into the early morning, together.
I don’t know what became of her after a point, because the HP became a gnarly awful place to post, wherein one wrong word got your post deleted, particularly if that word contained anything about Arianna Huffington. I got bored and frustrated with it.
About that time, I started to check out other sites, including the DK. I lurked on them and then commented on several of them looking for a place to “call home” in terms of giving voice and having political conversations on the net. Eventually I gave up on all of them for one reason or the other, but HERE I stuck, HERE I found that “home.”
Now most of those other sites I used to comment on, no longer accept comments. There are many of those, big name sites that no longer accept comments.
Reminds me of when I was growing up, and giving comment consisted of writing your local newspaper and competing with who knows how many others for a half of an “opinion page” to get your comment printed. NO interchange whatsoever.
So, when I found my way around this place, finally, I thought, wow, this is great. I still think that. And I have been here thru all the pie fights and a lot of nonsense, but SO MUCH GOOD STUFF as well.
These days it seems we are in a bit of a good time here. People still disagree regularly, and get flagged, and push arguments to the limit. But not so much as it was at other times. Who knows why the lull in the bad stuff, I have some ideas about that, but it’s not what my diary is about.
What I am about here is that I am so thankful for this place, not only to come to and comment---which I do, but I read many more comments than I comment myself. But when I want to speak up, the option is there. And not just comments, but the whole freaking right side of this site, open to those who want to write a diary, and those who want to comment on them.
This is not only rare these days, but in fact, I can’t think of another site like this one. If anyone out there knows of one, and I mean one that gets huge readership and lots of action on the progressive side, please share.
So, you might have your picks and poops about this site, you might have your negative feelings about Kos himself. For me, I’m glad he’s stepped back from writing more here---not for me because I always enjoy his posts. He’s full of vim and vigor and doesn’t waste words, and I like that, even when I disagree with him. But for him, I’m glad he’s not putting himself out there so much anymore as a sure fire target, and has found new things to ignite his mind. He’s pretty much left this place up to his talented and dedicated staff, and yep, up to us.
Last time I looked, there was a big and active comment section on the HP. Then one day, lights out. So, here’s to us as a community, and here’s to Kos for giving us the platform to do so.
You never know when it might be lights out.