The future of the politics forum.

[Chupacabra Hunter]

The problem is that some dont know how to discuss an issue without the namecalling. Politics and religion will always be hot topics. It is best to respect others' opinion if you will wish to have a conversation. Name-calling and throwing insults never end in a win/win... where two members exchange ideas and learn another's point of view.

 

[jgalvanatx]

The problem is that some dont know how to discuss an issue without the namecalling. Politics and religion will always be hot topics. It is best to respect others' opinion if you will wish to have a conversation. Name-calling and throwing insults never end in a win/win... where two members exchange ideas and learn another's point of view.

+1

 

[scgstuff]

I love poltical discussions, because you can learn alot from other people's opinion and understanding of an issue, both for and against your beliefs. Some people, however, know that their knowledge and assumptions trumps all others and won't "discuss and debate" politics. They would rather dictate what is accurate based on their opinion (not facts) and everyone who disagrees can go to a place hotter than the weather we have had lately. I think having people opt in is not a bad idea, but with a warning that if their skin is too thin or they are the dictator personality, they will be univited immediatley.

 

[shortround]

Yeah, I guess I can see your point. I didn't realize that this forum had grown to the point that media were starting to take notice. That changes things a bit...

That is the point entirely, that media take notice of sites like this. Why should we be afraid?

We should never fear the media but confront it for its hypocrisy and shallow one-sided reporting at every opportunity.

Most journalists never lived in the real world. They went from academia to reporting. All they learned in College is that guns are bad, white people are racists, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson owned slaves, that Capitalists are devils, and that America should be more like Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Sorry. I don't buy that crap.

The "new media" such as forums like this will spread word of original thinking outside the conformist thinking of the MSM.

The Austin American Statesman is not interested in Statesmanship, nor is it a voice for people who drive trucks, SUVs, tote firearms, make a living off the efforts of their hard labor, and folks who believe in shared American values.

It is expected for thinking people to disagree, but to resort to personal attacks only serves to reinforce the Leftist/Socialist Model: Don't attack the idea: Attack the messenger.

As for attacks: don't make personal attacks on your fellow gun owners, attack his arguments.

Be well.

 

[London]

As for attacks: don't make personal attacks on your fellow gun owners, attack his arguments.

Exactly. It's a lot easier to turn someone on to your ideas when you present yourself as an intelligent gentleman. If that doesn't work it's usually best to move on.

 

[jgalvanatx]

My wife is going to school for journalism at UT. She has been a copy writer for years and is definitely not a lib. She also knows the problem with media today is that it's over editorialized and agendized. Hopefully, people get sick of poor reporting both on the left and the right. Here I go again. I just can't bite my tongue.

 

[Dsparil]

"tin foil hat nonsense" is not all nonsense. Most of it is DOES have a lot of factual relevance and the willingness of people to research information. I'm not doing to say that there aren't certain radio show hosts out there who go off the deep end and dramaticize it for profit, though. People who post information that can be easily checked up or followed up have just as much say as anyone else. Just because this a gun forum, don't expect everyone to jump on board the mainstream conservative bandwagon and not stop and question things on both sides of the political spectrum. Remember Bush's original promise of limited government and non-intervention? If there wasn't disagreement then what would the point of a political forum be? I posted a few articles I wrote, which I do back with information that can easily researched (i.e. CNN, Fox News, C-SPAN, Drudgereport. debating posting EVERY single link I used, but that shit gets old) and all it was, was nonsensical childish posts from a select few on this board (kind of like what this thread is getting now). Heck there was even a moderator taking part in some of the senseless factless posts. That's not a big vote of confidence in the management. I also KNOW they didn't even try in the slightest bit to look at the information. I'm in full agreement with Chupacabra Hunter. People do not know how to be mature. The supposed anonymity of the internet is affording them that.

 

[TexasRedneck]

"tin foil hat nonsense" is not all nonsense.

Did you ever consider that folks aren't here to read that kinda shit? That we may well understand what's going on, but we don't need some self-appointed overseer to "prove" it to us? That we're here to relax and enjoy ourselves? That we wish you'd get a clue and back off about 20 steps?

No......didn't think so. Oh, yeah - it'd ALSO help if so much of what you write wasn't plagarized and/or paraphrased off of OTHERS hard work. As a former (formally) trained journalist, that kinda shit really pisses me off.

 

[ROGER4314]

I read the entire thread and see several sides of the issue.

1) We are guests here and should abide by the rules of the house. Most of us participate here without paying a dime and I truly appreciate the chance to kick issues around with like minded individuals. I'd hate to lose that.

2) When a post gets nasty, it is a reflection on our host. Just as the behavior of a child reflects on the parents, fair or unfair......it's true. That has to suck when a member takes his/her frustration out on a fellow member, it makes our Mods look like crap.

3) Our sponsors help pay the bills and when we act like barbarians, we make them look bad. They, no doubt, wonder why they support us when we rip each other to pieces.

4) Our threads on "whining" have illustrated that we have some members who stir up a fight then PM the Mods to complain. This one is my pet peeve! When someone gets in my face, I simply walk away, scroll down, turn on the TV or blow it off. I don't have the need to bitch about every slight, real or imagined. In my memory, I have NEVER made a complaint about any member or post. I've never been informed that I have had a complaint filed on me, either. I keep it polite and don't sling mud. If trouble gets stirred up, I hit the "off" button and go play with my dog, Jake.

Whining seems to be a major sport today. We see it every day as someone gets cranked off about what another person says. When teaching was still fun, we had an end of the year party where we got a stock tank filled with water, ice, Cokes and we had lots of food. Several of the big Seniors thought they would throw Flash in that stock tank. It didn't happen that way as each one of the four Seniors went in the tank, one got back out for another "go" and wound up back in the tank for a second time! Fast forward a decade and I probably would have been fired for that stunt. We laughed, shook hands and there were no complaints on either side. OH.....At the same party, they threw a "suit & tie" Administrator in the tank and he was not amused! The boy needed to toughen up! Hell, laugh it off! I take crap here and laugh with you guys.......not go whining to the Mods.

5) Now here's the "biggie" for me. I live in a rural area and only have one person (Steve...also a member here) whom I can talk politics with. I can't stand Liberals and usually refuse to talk Politics with anyone to keep from choking the sxit out of a Libtard. If someone starts a political discussion, I tell them to stow it immediately. This is the only place where I can get a fairly unbiased (or perhaps biased in an acceptable direction) point of view about politics, candidates, laws and the thieving ways of our elected officials. It would be very unfortunate to lose that.

It seems that we get into trouble when we start using the word "YOU" in a post. It turns into a personal attack or it is perceived as a personal attack from there.

That's my 2 cents worth.

Flash

 

[Rum Runner]

We are guests here and should abide by the rules of the house. Most of us participate here without paying a dime and I truly appreciate the chance to kick issues around with like minded individuals. I'd hate to lose that.

That pretty much sums it up for me. (emphasis added) I have actually learned some things here and had great discussions via PMs with some really great people that I have disagreed with.

My recommendation would be be very firm in moderation and issue a short temporary vacation from the politics forum on the first offense and a lone one on the 2nd and permanent on the third.

No personal attacks. Attack the issue all you want.

 

[Clockwork]

Alright, alright... I'm sorry for calling Clockwork a "Devil-worshiping closet Rick Astley fan." I promise to behave myself from now on.

Hey, hey... There is nothing closeted about my love for Rick Astley.

 

[Clockwork]

YUP!! and the BeeGees,AbbA and anything else sung by 3-dollar bills!!

Freddie Mercury is my favorite.

 

[M. Sage]

Roger: I've never had someone "whine" to me in a PM... We can usually tell who started what since it's all right there on the board. Believe me, if someone came to me saying "this guy is being mean to me!" and I go back and find out he got yelled at because he was trolling? I'm going to ban the guy that trolled and came to me looking for "help".

 

[Dsparil]

Did you ever consider that folks aren't here to read that kinda shit? That we may well understand what's going on, but we don't need some self-appointed overseer to "prove" it to us? That we're here to relax and enjoy ourselves? That we wish you'd get a clue and back off about 20 steps?

No......didn't think so. Oh, yeah - it'd ALSO help if so much of what you write wasn't plagarized and/or paraphrased off of OTHERS hard work. As a former (formally) trained journalist, that kinda shit really pisses me off.

Well first, as for reading shit, well DON'T read it? Nobody's forcing you to open that link.


As for the plagiarism on Roberts quote, that was not intentional. I did not lie when I said I did not realize that Paul Craig Roberts had said that. A friend of mine really did tell me that and I thought it was a good way of summing things up.

Be pissed off all you want but the website isn't intended to cater to just people who think like you. Furthermore I'm not a journalist or a professional writer, I'm just summing up what I'm observing, ok? Also, most of what is written today is usually paraphrased from something else someone wrote or saw. I'm not a field journalist out in the middle of a warzone getting information first hand. I'm not CNN or Fox News. I'm merely observing things in various articles and stringing them together to paint a picture for others to see. Get off your high horse.

 

[M. Sage]

And here we go again.

 

[Clockwork]

Get off your high horse.

Can this be a pony thread now?

 

[TexasRedneck]

I'm not a field journalist out in the middle of a warzone getting information first hand. I'm not CNN or Fox News. I'm merely observing things in various articles and stringing them together to paint a picture for others to see. Get off your high horse.

I think all of us are adult enough to understand giving credit where it's due - and that trying to cut an' paste or paraphrasing is not only wrong, but illegal. Having had to proof articles, I've come to be able to recognize such things - and that's what bothers me about your "writing", because you attempt to pass it off as your original thought/words. Beyond that, it's boring - sorry - because if you really know the subject matter at hand, you CAN make it an interesting read.....at least, to an extent.

 

[Rum Runner]

 

[Glockster69]

Can this be a pony thread now?

It coulda til RR came in

 

[Dsparil]

I think all of us are adult enough to understand giving credit where it's due - and that trying to cut an' paste or paraphrasing is not only wrong, but illegal. Having had to proof articles, I've come to be able to recognize such things - and that's what bothers me about your "writing", because you attempt to pass it off as your original thought/words. Beyond that, it's boring - sorry - because if you really know the subject matter at hand, you CAN make it an interesting read.....at least, to an extent.

ok I had written a lengthy reply but I'm sure it'll be tl;dr. Here's the skinny:

1. Paraphrasing is legal. Check your law.
2. As for passing off as my own: I don't care even about my credit ok? I'm just here to convey information. I could care less if people copy/pasted it. I have little care for ego, if any. Chest-thumping is really not my thing. I have better things to do with my fucking time.
3. As for making it entertaining? See #2. I'm not here to entertain you. I'm just providing information. You don't HAVE to read it.


I'm done with this thread.