Very true. I know when I was younger, I was far more zealous when it came to arguing positions I felt were true. As I got older, it's not that I cared less, but I became far more tolerant of opposing views, and didnt mind when people disagreed with me on issues. Sometimes I get the impression that most of the posters on here are young. Not because they dont have intelligent positions, but because of the general dogmatism on display- some posters would rather go 10+ pages arguing an issue (that's really not that big an issue to begin with), parsing each others sentences, feigning indignation, etc. rather than stepping away and agreeing to disagree. Another thing that I learned is that partisanship really is the new racism- Slate ran a piece on this topic a few months ago and said, "We love to criticize it, and we love to claim we've transcended it. We recognize it in our enemies but not in ourselves. We use it to discriminate against others. And increasingly, we find sophisticated ways to mask it in a veneer of open-mindedness." Lastly, I think judoka said it best when he/she said: definitely agree (for the most part.... )
1. Agree with rocketsjudoka -- posters who give respect get respect, and that's not true in other on-line venues. 2. D&D has helped me look into the minds of those who see the world very differently than I do. I've learned a lot. 3. It has given me hope sometimes; I won't name posters, but some people are very sane, well-intentioned, and still having very different conclusions than I do. That gives me hope, just like my students do every day. 4. It's shown me that no conversation has a memory with the excellent fidelity of a long-term BBS. That's even true when a member passes, like Landlord Landry. 5. More than anything, though, I've learned that politics and world events are every bit as depressing as I ever thought. They are depressing because the issues are as important as we are powerless to really make a significant difference. I think people get so testy exactly because of this frustration. We're typing madly on keyboards because we're not the people who can actually do anything, even though we care. I plan to go back to a once per week check in. I'm much happier with my BBS experience when I don't stop by every day.
Rep x1000. Weslinder and I may disagree, for example, on a particular solution - but we both have a solution as a goal. It's not the same for those in Washington and the mass of troglodytes that adhere to every word spoken on the 24 hour news cacophony machine. They're in it for political advantage. The cynic simply sees human nature for what it is.
Let the record show that rhad did not, in fact, rep me even x1. Just more lies and distortion and posturing in the D&D. My cynicism grows.
Dude, it ain't just us... http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=5521134&postcount=1 Sometimes, jabs are more than warranted.
I personally attack no poster unless they deserve it because of their stupidity... and I think you are stupid for even suggesting such. What, mommy never cuddled you after you wet the bed? Seriously though, I kind of begrudgingly, reluctantly, uncomfortably like some of the posters on the other "side" and this is the only political board I participate in because it does have a certain level of civility even though our pop culture-obsessed know-nothing brethren in Hangout think it is a cross between an abattoir and a clown car.
Consider me chastened. How about "Fine, upstanding, patriotic Americans who have their hearts in the right place but proffer a slightly misguided approach to the nation's problems?" (Of course, I did put it in quotes which means I don't particularly agree with the common definition.)
Ignoring the bating of New Yorker in the OP... ...some people take what they learn here very seriously -- LL took to heart many things discussed here particularly religion and gay rights.
Also, I've learned that if this forum had more active; neutral moderation it could be a very good place to discuss politics, religion, etc.
Showstopper— right here. He did take it to heart (one of the few who ever did), which makes it all the more tragic that it ended the way it did.
The thing is, if I remember right, this place wasn't created so that everyone would have a place to talk about politics, religion, etc. It was created for the sole purpose of keeping politics, religion, etc. out of the rest of the forums. I don't think it's moderated at all because having a political forum was never the goal. The goal was just to keep the other forums on topic. And for the most part, it's been successful at doing that. Why bother moderating it (which is a full time job in and of itself...) if it's already accomplishing it's goal?
there used to be some really good conservative posters. not that there aren't many now, but i agree there is an imbalance.
Every political sub-forum I've seen (that wasn't directly related to conservative topics) has had more self-identified 'liberals' and 'other' than conservatives. I'm not sure why this is the case, but I'd guess it's because 'liberals' (and otherwise) seem more willing to actually debate the merits of their ideas than conservatives.
