OMGracious enough already...

[Corylea]

Hmm. I was less concerned with violence than with disputing in the company of others. There is a general tendency, when in physical company, to be rational and considerate rather than borish and demanding. Just as Stella allows that the Internet levels the physical playing field, it also excuses the necessity of consideration.

But that's another thing about the Internet. When in a room with others, if one engages in an argument, the others hear what is being said. On the net, if I don't like the political threads, I can simply not read them.

I'd like to see "Political" in the subject line of all the political threads, "Silly" in the subject line of all the silly threads, and "Writing" in the subject lines of the threads that are actually about *gasp* writing, so that people who dislike one kind of thread or another can sort quickly.

I get drawn into the political threads because some of our most interesting people post there. If Stella and Doc and Belegon and Sweetsubsarah would shut up, I wouldn't get drawn in, but I won't hold my breath for that.

 

[Guest]

First, It was not just the political threads that I have been reading that caused such an uproar... remember just because I don't post doesn't mean I don't read just about every thread up on the boards when my truck isnt moving.

Second, Roxanne, its not your posting that had me muttering it was your 'attack' mode that did... but you were not the only one.

Third,

There are many things that are still entirely worth saying, regardless of someone's impulses towards violence. This is a pretty fucking important election to most of us Americans, on both sides of the fence. It really-- REALLY is.

*musing*

One of the beauties of the internet is that it levels the playing field muscles-wise. A physical wimp is every bit as powerful as an athlete-- in the virtual world. And it changes many other dynamics as well-- I know men who can roar like a hurricane when they want to stop a discussion. Online, their shout-loud technique just doesn't work. Or if you've spent your life pouting to get your way, you learn an awful lot about diplomacy when your quivering lip is invisible...

The internet flips the power dynamic. The physical bully is the loser-- the articulate communicator wins. Then, of course, you end up with verbal bullies, and new ways to combat bullying.

Stella I also agree that this is a very very important election that will change so very much even if its not immediate. This is simply a LARGE boulder being thrown into the middle of the pond and everyone will feel the ripples. My point being since we are all going to have to learn how to ride the waves, wouldn't it be better to try and lend a hand to that person that doesn't know how to swim then push them under the water when the waves start?

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/funny-pictures-goats-are-in-time-out.jpg

TYVM Starrkers I kept that picture I may need it.

To take delight in another persons anquish....is apalling......

Hmmm This female is wanting to push women's rights and their individual sovereignty back into the stone age. I have NO sympathy for her putting the lives of my (future) children, their children, my nieces, or the daughters of my friends in danger because of her views, beliefs, and the crap that she wants to institute. And yes.... watching her get egg on her face for her stone aged views gives me HOPE that she will NOT be allowed to ruin the lives of future women.



Thank you to the ones that actually read and UNDERSTOOD where I was coming from.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Elizabeth - I respect your views and your opinions, but I think that people who regularly engage in vigorous political debates see them differently from those who don't. What you call my "attack mode" is me just playing the game all-out, but still within the rules. This makes non-polticals uncomfortable because to them it really looks like an "attack," but it's not because it's not personal, and the other "politicals" don't take it as an attack. Nor do I when they are "on offense."

What makes the difference is that I don't accuse my opponents of being motivated by bad will, but I do challenge them in no uncertain terms for what I believe is being misguided. And they do the same to me. We all use all the rhetorical skills at our command to to so, sometimes including sarcasm. It gets heated sometimes, and when passions are really aroused sometimes someone goes over the line and says something nasty on a personal level. But with one or two exceptions who are always vicious and mean on a personal level whenever anyone disagrees with them, most of us aren't deliberately mean and quickly back away from any excesses.

To repeat though, if you are not one who regularly plays in this arena and gets some satisfaction from doing so then it's usually mistaken as being personal, which would make it genuinely nasty and violent. That's why I characterize the activity as a form of "pollution" to those who don't participate. And why I complained about there being too many political threads. Not too many political posts, but too many threads occupying too much AH real estate.

 

[gauchecritic]

Irony.

I think there's too many threads complaining about there being too many political threads.

I think a huge amount of the argueing and posturing that goes on in any thread has a lot to do with being able to finish your sentence and knowing that far from a group of 5 or 6 people you are actually addressing a potential audience of hundreds. Everyone is playing to the audience but what few understand is that what you say can be re-read and examined in minute detail before 'listening' to the next interruption.

Knowing that blurting out something mean or rude won't actually stop the group conversation and draw disdainful glances gives liberation to glibness and sound bites (and screeds of cut'n'paste) and that a poster need not even pay lip service to listening.

Being international does not help.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Irony.

I think there's too many threads complaining about there being too many political threads.

I think a huge amount of the argueing and posturing that goes on in any thread has a lot to do with being able to finish your sentence and knowing that far from a group of 5 or 6 people you are actually addressing a potential audience of hundreds. Everyone is playing to the audience but what few understand is that what you say can be re-read and examined in minute detail before 'listening' to the next interruption.

Knowing that blurting out something mean or rude won't actually stop the group conversation and draw disdainful glances gives liberation to glibness and sound bites (and screeds of cut'n'paste) and that a poster need not even pay lip service to listening.

Being international does not help.

The important thing is that in spite of all that there are valuable, insightful, civil debates between thoughtful people who are passionate about many political issues and have sharp disagreements with each other. That should not be taken for granted.

 

[Stella_Omega]

...
Hmmm This female is wanting to push women's rights and their individual sovereignty back into the stone age. I have NO sympathy for her putting the lives of my (future) children, their children, my nieces, or the daughters of my friends in danger because of her views, beliefs, and the crap that she wants to institute. And yes.... watching her get egg on her face for her stone aged views gives me HOPE that she will NOT be allowed to ruin the lives of future women.



Thank you to the ones that actually read and UNDERSTOOD where I was coming from.

Lizzie, I sure do know where you were coming from. And I think Misty's concern for the hurt feelings of a politician, here, is short-sighted at best.

But you have to know she'll react this way, and figure it into her personality, yanno?