Why are you here?

[3.14]

Originally Posted by Captain Trips

Yes, I use that a lot now

I think I should start using it too ...

[moon]

So does the government, and look where that's got us.

[3.14]

Originally Posted by moon

So does the government, and look where that's got us.

LOL! True enough, Sir ...

[Rakkasan]

Originally Posted by jpsartre12

I, originally, came here because, unlike other forums that I posted to, this one had more of an international flavor. Unfortunately, along with that international flavor came a large dose of anti-Americanism. At first, it was an occasional Bush bashing excursion and was easy to ignore. But as time passed, it became the mainstay of the forum. Now, we have the anti-American French delegation, the anti-American Australian delegation and the anti-American liberal American delegation. It appears that everyone is quick to blame the US for every ill in the world but damn slow looking in the mirror to see their own human weaknesses or their own country's selfish interests.
We may not be perfect, but at least we aren't standing idly or worse, cutting illegal deals, with every two-bit despot in the world that wants to wreak havoc on the West. And since I reached my saturation point, my ability to let those throwing stones go unchallenged is gone. I'll challenge anti-Americanism every time I see it now.

great post

[gem]

Originally Posted by Pi Jiu

I see your point, and you'd be right if we're referring to sensible posters such as yourself, but for some on here, you could challege their opinions/thought processes all day long, and nothing would change ... It's pretty much going around and around in circles. I think thats what PJ was trying to convey (if I got it right).

Now, if you were referring to debating the root causes by themselves and WHY people think they way they do (ex: WHY do some posters constantly use racial epithets, for instance), then it could certainly turn out to be an interesting philosophical discussion!

Yah, but you got to be careful how you- or I or anyone- do that. Get too close to the truth and you get 6 points for implying an insult- even if no posters are referred to. I guess sometimes the truth gets a little too "threatening", if you know what I mean!

Gem

[gem]

Originally Posted by Rakkasan

great post

Rakkasan, what happened to your sigline? It disappeared!

Gem

[Obama08]

It really is a sad time for any forum when a discusion misses out on posters who want to share there imput because a few people like to bait people into arguments that sometimes have nothing to do with the topic that is being discussed.

I havent been here long but i have seen that already.

[Rakkasan]

Originally Posted by gem

Rakkasan, what happened to your sigline? It disappeared!

Gem

after the hub bub again about me being voted "Most Patriotic Poster for 2006"

I removed it so as to maybe let that person let it go and get the fuck over the "partisan vs patriot" bullshit that was derailing threads

so now i have just my name, no sig no nothing , and i read alot

[Captain Trips]

Originally Posted by Obama08

It really is a sad time for any forum when a discusion misses out on posters who want to share there imput because a few people like to bait people into arguments that sometimes have nothing to do with the topic that is being discussed.

I havent been here long but i have seen that already.

You'll see TONS of it. The only way around it is to use the ignore function, or realize that when you see the name "XZY" it's just easiest to quickly scroll past what they've written, because you know what "XYZ" consistently writes.

There are bored weirdos in/on EVERY internet forum whose only goal is to cause trouble. Without very tight restrictions, that's just the reality of it.

[SamInTheSouth]

I have never really understood why so many people get so upset over someone insulting them over the Internet. Nobody here knows each other in person and most people here use an alias that doesn't even include their own name. So, nobody here even knows who anyone is. Therefore, if someone posts an insult toward you over a difference of opinion, so what? It doesn't bother me and I simply ignore those kinds of responses toward me.

As far as why there are excessive occurrences of hostility, I think that is just human nature. I have read and participated in some other message boards on occasion and the level of civility is no different. They all have the same kind of arguments and such. Everybody has certain opinions that they staunchly hold and everyone gets frustrated sometimes at another who refuse to agree with us when it's so obvious that our opinion or idea is the correct one.

As far as inflammatory posters, everyone knows who they are. There a handful of people that come on here with no other reason than to start an argument. They post their daily bias knowing full well that it will anger people. A good example was Eurosocialist, who used to come here and post his "Why America Sucks" thread of the day. You always knew what to expect when you clicked on one of his threads. You knew what his point would be before you even read it and knew it would be full of bias and ridiculous insinuations, yet people would constantly respond and fight with the guy. Hence, he continued to come back day after day because he knew that he could get attention. People like that need to be ignored and they will eventually go away and that will cut down on a lot of the issues.

[SamInTheSouth]

Originally Posted by Captain Trips

There are bored weirdos in/on EVERY internet forum whose only goal is to cause trouble.

Yes, exactly! These are extremely bored people who have little social life going on and they get a rise out of pissing people off on the Internet.

Who cares about them?? Ignore them and they will go away. Give them a reason to stay and they will.

[Mark_Twain]

Originally Posted by Dilettante

I found this site when I was working in a padded cell (i.e. "cubical") trying to find something to keep my sanity and fill my hours. Due to less than perfect company organization my work tended to come in waves seperated by extended periods of having very little to do.

Nowdays I'm here primarily because my wife really doesn't like to talk about politics or philosophy and I need an outlet for that kind of stuff. I enjoy the way the format allows us to have "discussions" while still giving us time to seriously think out replies and arguments before presenting them. I also like the chance to get international perspectives.And of course there's the fact that this place is freak'n addictive!

I've actually been very impressed by this forum. It has its trolls and annoyances, but there's a good member base capable of some serious and enjoyable discussion. If you can learn to ignore the trolls and not fire back when you get flamed, it can be a good deal.

I too am here because most of my friends are ideologically so far right that thre is no point in discussing anything with them, and my wife, for the most part, doesn't share my interests in the political process, and she has zero interest in philosophy or history.

And I'll be the first to admit that I do flame back with the best of them.

This thread has made me reconsider that stance.

PERHAPS I'll try to be a lil' bit more civil.

(But, realizing my human failings, that may prove a difficult maneuver. But I'll try. . .)

[Mark_Twain]

Originally Posted by jpsartre12

I, originally, came here because, unlike other forums that I posted to, this one had more of an international flavor. Unfortunately, along with that international flavor came a large dose of anti-Americanism. At first, it was an occasional Bush bashing excursion and was easy to ignore. But as time passed, it became the mainstay of the forum. Now, we have the anti-American French delegation, the anti-American Australian delegation and the anti-American liberal American delegation. It appears that everyone is quick to blame the US for every ill in the world but damn slow looking in the mirror to see their own human weaknesses or their own country's selfish interests.
We may not be perfect, but at least we aren't standing idly or worse, cutting illegal deals, with every two-bit despot in the world that wants to wreak havoc on the West. And since I reached my saturation point, my ability to let those throwing stones go unchallenged is gone. I'll challenge anti-Americanism every time I see it now.

Alright, I'm going to attempt civility in responding to this asini. . .

(DO OVER)

Alright, I'm going to attempt civility in responding to this steaming pile of. . .

(DAMN, THIS IS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT)

Alright, I'm going to attempt civility in responding to the gentleman who goes by the oxymoronic moniker of Jean Paul Sartre.

I only want to touch upon the part in bold above. A picture speaks a thousand words:

http://www.globalpolicy.org/images/p...q/rumsfeld.gif

[Captain Trips]

Originally Posted by SamInTheBurgh

I have never really understood why so many people get so upset over someone insulting them over the Internet. Nobody here knows each other in person and most people here use an alias that doesn't even include their own name. So, nobody here even knows who anyone is. Therefore, if someone posts an insult toward you over a difference of opinion, so what? It doesn't bother me and I simply ignore those kinds of responses toward me.

As far as why there are excessive occurrences of hostility, I think that is just human nature. I have read and participated in some other message boards on occasion and the level of civility is no different. They all have the same kind of arguments and such. Everybody has certain opinions that they staunchly hold and everyone gets frustrated sometimes at another who refuse to agree with us when it's so obvious that our opinion or idea is the correct one.

As far as inflammatory posters, everyone knows who they are. There a handful of people that come on here with no other reason than to start an argument. They post their daily bias knowing full well that it will anger people. A good example was Eurosocialist, who used to come here and post his "Why America Sucks" thread of the day. You always knew what to expect when you clicked on one of his threads. You knew what his point would be before you even read it and knew it would be full of bias and ridiculous insinuations, yet people would constantly respond and fight with the guy. Hence, he continued to come back day after day because he knew that he could get attention. People like that need to be ignored and they will eventually go away and that will cut down on a lot of the issues.

Very good post. Damn nice description of internet "goings on" and why we shouldn't let other online "characters" upset us.


Had to laugh at the "Euro" reference What a character HE was. Now that he's disappeared and left the "vacuum", it was quickly filled of course

[Captain Trips]

Originally Posted by SamInTheBurgh

Yes, exactly! These are extremely bored people who have little social life going on and they get a rise out of pissing people off on the Internet.

Who cares about them?? Ignore them and they will go away. Give them a reason to stay and they will.

Very good advice of course. It's hard, in the beginning, to ignore these types because you really beleive they are being SERIOUS. After awhile though, the consistency of the garbage, baits and suggested insults gives it away.