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For several weeks I've visited this forum and have occasionally contributed. At first I thought perhaps there might be some serious, informed discussion of political issues. I've come to realize that is generally not the case.
Most of the threads are full of flame throwing, name calling, ill informed contributions. There seems no positive goal of trying to further a conversation to perhaps reach a common goal. The threads, generally speaking, seem to go nowhere.
This could be a great forum if only it could attract contributors that are curious enough to go beyond the simple rhetoric so pervasive in a culture driven by division and distaste for other possibilities. Perhaps it is nothing more than a reflection of our current political leadership. At one time I posed the question which now seems more relevant after reviewing content here; can't we do better?
For several weeks I've visited this forum and have occasionally contributed. At first I thought perhaps there might be some serious, informed discussion of political issues. I've come to realize that is generally not the case.
Most of the threads are full of flame throwing, name calling, ill informed contributions. There seems no positive goal of trying to further a conversation to perhaps reach a common goal. The threads, generally speaking, seem to go nowhere.
This could be a great forum if only it could attract contributors that are curious enough to go beyond the simple rhetoric so pervasive in a culture driven by division and distaste for other possibilities. Perhaps it is nothing more than a reflection of our current political leadership. At one time I posed the question which now seems more relevant after reviewing content here; can't we do better?
I utterly agree. I first came upon City-Data while googling for data about a small town we were thinking of moving to. As time went on I would come back to CD and look at various topics until I came upon the political topic one (this).
Occasionally a person will provide some very interesting insight into a political or controversial situation.
More rarely, a person will begin a new thread in which he or she will provide their own actual thoughts about something, without recourse to 'copy/paste' from some outside source. I truly appreciate those posters. Even if I disagree with their position or their thought process, I will usually 'rep' them just for uttering their own thoughts.
Otherwise, CD has become simply an 'entertainment' stop for me. I will look in during my work day or on weekends, simply to see the various silly threads posted by idle people (you know, the ones who will post, on this one website alone, thousands of posts each year, even up to 10,000 posts per year, all the while decrying those whom they view as 'lazy', etc).
People think a forum is a place to have conversations towards a common goal? Really? You think whatever you say here will solve any real world problem? I think that thinking is silly, but you are right, the threads do eventually lead to nowhere. There is a lot of insight directly and indirectly, if you don't see it, then perhaps you aren't trying to look which would put you in the group where they keep repeating themselves with their ideological rhetoric... Have I changed my mind on topics? Yes and if you didn't, then perhaps you are more ingrained in your belief structure and are part of the problem. CD will always have its following by mindless threads and useless posts like any forum in the internet. I wouldn't be so "elitist" to condemn others of the same. A log in the eye and splinter yadda yadda yadda....
As you've seen, few come here to truly discuss politics. Most are here to fight and cheerlead for their side, w/o resorting to the political realities of the day. On the whole, it's a humorless but still entertaining and revealing forum.
It continually reinforces my assertion that for some people, their ignorance is their most prized possession and they'll fight like hell to hold onto it.
As you've seen, few come here to truly discuss politics. Most are here to fight and cheerlead for their side, w/o resorting to the political realities of the day. On the whole, it's a humorless but still entertaining and revealing forum.
It continually reinforces my assertion that for some people, their ignorance is their most prized possession and they'll fight like hell to hold onto it.
politics bring out very passionate people with very strong views most of the time. Actually I have been here for ages and I see both: yes, a lot of flaming, a lot of misunderstanding but I have learned a few things as well. I believe it is an outlet for many frustrations. There are a few on here that are so close minded it is a waste of time to even respond to their posts, most do contribute in some way or another.
For several weeks I've visited this forum and have occasionally contributed. At first I thought perhaps there might be some serious, informed discussion of political issues. I've come to realize that is generally not the case.
Most of the threads are full of flame throwing, name calling, ill informed contributions. There seems no positive goal of trying to further a conversation to perhaps reach a common goal. The threads, generally speaking, seem to go nowhere.
This could be a great forum if only it could attract contributors that are curious enough to go beyond the simple rhetoric so pervasive in a culture driven by division and distaste for other possibilities. Perhaps it is nothing more than a reflection of our current political leadership. At one time I posed the question which now seems more relevant after reviewing content here; can't we do better?
Hell, look at Washington. Those people get paid to be professional in their politics and they behave like children.
You cannot have a political discussion with people who deal in emotion.
That is exactly the problem. We all know which party "feels" and doesn't think critically. Situational relativism runs rampant with them, and they rarely think through the negative unintended consequences of what they advocate even though there are many examples of such over the years.
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