Discussion.

AspenValley wrote:

SS109 wrote: It would be nice to see reasoned replies instead of attacks or resorting to cliches.

Few posters are going to keep trying to give reasoned replies when they are drowned out by idiots hurling stupid insults.

Or when half the threads are disgusting trolls.

Or when a forum has degenerated to the point where the idiots and trolls don't even seem to realize they are idiots and trolls.

I'm amazed anyone with half a brain even tries to post here anymore.

I noticed your absence. You are one of the people with whom I've had delightful and informative dialogue. And, it is not because we always see things the same way.

Once again your observations are spot on.

I love this chart! Folks have strong opinions and defend them passionatly and that's great. And thanks, 285 bound, for allowing everyone to express their opinions. My MO is to read and consider the best and ignore the rest. But I must admit that some of the trolls are pretty amusing at times! tongue:

AspenValley wrote:

SS109 wrote: It would be nice to see reasoned replies instead of attacks or resorting to cliches.

Few posters are going to keep trying to give reasoned replies when they are drowned out by idiots hurling stupid insults.

Or when half the threads are disgusting trolls.

Or when a forum has degenerated to the point where the idiots and trolls don't even seem to realize they are idiots and trolls.

I'm amazed anyone with half a brain even tries to post here anymore.

Don't give up AV! I've read your posts for a few years now and they started over at PC. We've disagreed most of the time but I always appreciated that you had intelligent posts and never made me want to lash out with counter insults. I also remember you leaving PC a time or two when then things got ugly. WE CAN DROWN OUT THE TROLLS! (and maybe even convert a few).

CinnamonGirl wrote:

Irenic_Bill wrote: Never saw this..GREAT POST GIRL!!!

I found this about 6 months ago and this is how you have great discussions! If a member continually injects posts that are not worthy of discussion, we have this great feature where you can foe a member. All that does is block their posts but there is a link left where their post would have been. At any time you can click that link very easily to see what they said, if you get curious. I think that is your best bet to make the board readable and customized for each person and they get to choose who's posts they read rather than a forum deciding who and what is worthy.

It is a tricky situation for a forum to decide who and what can be said. That was always our way of dealing with this problem and I like it. One person may want to see what someone has said and another may not.

Just my two cents.

I've used the foe button a few times, but end up turning it off. There are just too many posts made by some of the trolls, and there are enough trolling posters & responders, that it makes the threads almost impossible to read if posts are missing.

I really think there is no solution to this problem. Requests for self-moderation will probably be heeded and will last for about 12 hours, then it will go back to the insults. This courtroom forum has become a tame version of an online fight club, where people slap each other and then run away laughing.

You know kate, it only takes a few people on each side to turn this place into a hate fest. It will only change if the adults from each side stop backing up the haters...even if they happen to share your same political ideology. If you decide to agree with, and expand on some nasty troll's post, you become as bad as the troll.

Irenic_Bill wrote: You know kate, it only takes a few people on each side to turn this place into a hate fest. It will only change if the adults from each side stop backing up the haters...even if they happen to share your same political ideology. If you decide to agree with, and expand on some nasty troll's post, you become as bad as the troll.

Which is why my postings have been reduced in the last few weeks. I'm tired of the vitriol. Nothing ever changes and there is little, if any, "discussion."

Irenic_Bill wrote: You know kate, it only takes a few people on each side to turn this place into a hate fest. It will only change if the adults from each side stop backing up the haters...even if they happen to share your same political ideology. If you decide to agree with, and expand on some nasty troll's post, you become as bad as the troll.

The problem with this is that if you agree even a little with the trolls you won't see the insults as being as corrosive as they are to their targets. When we start off arguing from such different bases of assumptions is it even possible to find middle ground?

I think the the second box down is faulty. I don't think you should have to drop your argument, just bring more evidence.

This chart might serve for "discussion" but it is not useful for "debate". These are two different animals.

Well said Arlen - debate is conducted between two opposing and often incompatible points of view with each sides offering a premise and supporting argument to defeat the premise and supporting argument of their opponent in the debate. It is a contest between two opposing forces, not a search for common ground.