Originally Posted By WorldDisney I know this will get slammed into 'Community', but it REALLY belongs here, so I have a question about my (admittedly) favorite section on LP. But, do you guys think that World Events is a harsh place to post? I'm only asking this, because without naming anyone specifically, a poster had made the decision to leave LP (only temporarily though) and many of the posters automatically blamed this section and posters in it. Anyway, didn't turn out to be true, but I notice a lot of comments in the thread saying they would NEVER post here and it's a tough place to post and so on. Well, is it REALLY that difficult here? Do you guys think it's anymore or less difficult to post in DL: Expansion or General? Personnally, there doesn't feel much of a difference other then our emotions may get carried away sometimes. Also, I REALIZE that some posters can get TOO personal and even insulting at times, believe me. I had my own personal experience here with that, but I didn't rack it up to the section, just the stupid poster who is free to post ANYWHERE on the website, not just relegated to World Events. So, I wonder if people see this place as 'confrontational' and even cold. NOTHING could be more cheerier than the Community section, but I still think it's quite civilized when you go to a REAL political site. Also, it would be nice to have others come and post here without the SAME twelve people day in and day out with an occasional 'guest star' who post once or twice a week. What do others think? Do you think it needs to be toned down? If so, how?
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Well, this is only my 3rd ever post in the section, specifically because I consider WE to be a hositle place to post. The attacks are more personal (that's part of the nature of WE, though). From what I can tell, the majority of people who have taken breaks from LP or left all together have been people who posted in WE. I read a lot of the other sections on LP and people frequently seem to take on whole different personalties in this section.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 I dont think its a tough place to post. I dont hold grudges against those I disagree with and I dont let my issues with people here move over onto other topics. But if you are a newbie to WE I can see how overwhlemed you'd be. Alot of bickering over the same topic over and over again and it can get nasty but overall I think Elkay,RoadTrip even World Disney (My democratic nemesis here), respect me for my opinions as I respect them for theirs.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 From what I can tell, the majority of people who have taken breaks from LP or left all together have been people who posted in WE. << I wouldn't blame WE. Nobody is forcing anyone to post anything here , so to blame WE for someone leaving is unfair. It is their personal choice to come here and if they don't like it they don't need to post here.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Ouch , rereading my post I noticed I was a little harsh, sorry Suzie, didn't mean any harm.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Ouch , rereading my post I noticed I was a little harsh, sorry Suzie, didn't mean any harm.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 I don't think it's a bad place to post. As long as people don't bring personal insults into the fray.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 WD, I do think this is a rougher section of LP than others. A bit more "confrontational" than DL:Gen'l or DL:Expansion, even. (But, yes -- we are TOTALLY wearing kid gloves in WE when compared to non-LP political discussion boards.) In my own mind, different LP sections have slightly different rules of etiquette (all with the LP code of conduct as a base, of course). In PlayPen, it's more acceptable than elsewhere to post silly things and to take a topic off track. In Trip Planning, "good" posts are typically pithy or at least content-rich. Here in World Events, the gloves kind of come off. We can challenge each other or make comments without having to engage in the social niceties that we'd use elsewhere on the site. That's how *I* look at it, anyhow. But it appears to me the mods also adjust expectations according to the section they're reviewing. People DO get hot here. We talk about issues that are very important to people, issues that society at large hasn't been able to reach consensus on. It makes absolute sense to me that people might leave a discussion here feeling bruised. None of that excuses the few who have been totally inappropriate here, of course. I agree, SuzieQ -- you do sometimes see a different side of people here. That's part of why I like WE. You get to know fellow LP'ers more three-dimensionally.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder Well, I continually make pleas for certain posters to show a little more respect towards the person or topic being written about, only to essentially be told that the posters in question will do whatever they feel like. For example, this "Dubya" nonsense just isn't necessary. What's so hard about writing "Bush"? I've also posted on occasion that the lack of decorum shown towards other posters would never be tolerated in a courtroom setting, where I operate all the time, only to be met with indifference. It's bullying many times, not true debate. There's quite of lot of express sarcasm towards other posters and indirect things such as "LOL" when trying to belittle another point of view. Many people here hide behind their keyboards, so to speak, and say things they'd never say to someone's face. A lot of stuff would be considered fighting words. No one person has a monopoly on this type of behavior. And I'm not saying I'm perfect, either. I think the vast majority of us try very hard to stay respectful, but there are a few people whose posts have caused me to stop posting in a thread, or avoid one entirely, simply because I don't feel like getting into another pissing contest. So yeah, long story short, I can definitely see why this could be considered the toughest place to post on LP. I can also see why some people would get apprehensive if one of the WE regulars showed up in a thread they wouldn't normally. Admin is a bit looser here, but now and then I wish they weren't, and this comes from someone who used to get admined a lot.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I don't find WE to be hostile at all. Sure people are very opinionated, but the disagreements are political, not personal. Some of Beau's posts make me crazy, but I think he is probably a pretty interesting person that I wouldn't mind sitting down and having a beer with. I actually find many of the WDW: General threads to be much more volatile. If you go against the prevailing point of view there things can get pretty heated. In WE I expect the discussion to be heated so it doesn't bother me; in WDW: General I don't so it is sometimes a bit of a shock.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I pretty much agree with the above. I read in here all the time. I just don't post much because it doesn't feel like a debate, it feels like "straight to the throat." IMHO, it doesn't seem like people are trying to learn and understand from one another in here - it's all about push my point and that's all I care about. I guess for me I can do this all day with my various friends, collegues and family. I try to come onto LP for fun, so I generally just read and post only when I feel very strongly about something posted. Most of it is so repetitive, quite frankly it gets boring.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ <<IMHO, it doesn't seem like people are trying to learn and understand from one another in here - it's all about push my point and that's all I care about.>> Exactly my take on the section, too. WilliamK99 - no offense taken! I come to LP for my 'superficial in the grand scheme of things' fun. So, I avoid this section most of the time. I do think it was great that the section was created, though. It provides another dimension to the community.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 <<I pretty much agree with the above.>> That was suppose to go with STPH's #9 post.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<Here in World Events, the gloves kind of come off. We can challenge each other or make comments without having to engage in the social niceties that we'd use elsewhere on the site. That's how *I* look at it, anyhow. But it appears to me the mods also adjust expectations according to the section they're reviewing. People DO get hot here. We talk about issues that are very important to people, issues that society at large hasn't been able to reach consensus on. It makes absolute sense to me that people might leave a discussion here feeling bruised.>> Wow, I guess this IS a hot topic. I posted this topic maybe 20 minutes ago and already got 12 responses. That's an Al Lutz thread . Also Inspector, I certainly understand what you and the others mean. W.E. IS more loose in terms of how civilised we can be towards each other and even the language (though still no harsher than what most kids were saying when I was in the 4th grade ). I guess I was a little "nieve" in the sense that WE isn't that much worse than some of the other sections. Also, personnally, I like the 'frankness' we can have here WITHOUT being rude and mean to each other. I KNOW it's easy to get to those points (and they have), but I think for the most part, it's only 1 or 2 bad apples, most which come and go anyway. For me, PERSONNALLY, I don't think I have felt attacked or disrespected in any way since the-poster-who-we-shall-not-name was unceremoniously booted off here last year. Of course, I always try not to let the other stup-uh, fellow poster who I am disagreeing with feel that way also . For me, I feel people respect me even if they don't disagree with me (but I was rasied in Compton, so I have thick skinned to start off with lol). So yeah, it's a BIG concern when I don't see others getting (or feeling) the same respect. We can be combative without being offensive. It IS a fine line though. I can't tell you how many times I read a sentence over and over again before I hit that little "submit" button, because I am trying to make sure the tone doesn't come off as an attack while STILL trying to make a strong argument. Not easy on the internet . I think it's safe to say many of us erase sentences left-and-right here before we post. <<Well, I continually make pleas for certain posters to show a little more respect towards the person or topic being written about, only to essentially be told that the posters in question will do whatever they feel like. For example, this "Dubya" nonsense just isn't necessary. What's so hard about writing "Bush"?>> You know, I think that's PART of the reason why W.E. has the reputation it has, because we DO take a subject (or person) VERY personnally at times. The fact that saying "Dubya" is an issue to some speaks to the core of how much what another say affects us---even if the insult isn't even about us!!! Personnally, I am a democrat, but never get peeved when someone takes a swipe at Clinton about his character or his sexual exploits because it's a joke---a lowdown dirty joke---but a joke nevertheless . But, I know some of us see it differently and that's okay, I just wish we didn't get so emotionally involved over the little swipes we give the other side from time to time---JUST AS LONG AS THE SWIPE ISN'T ABOUT YOU!! Just for the record though STPH, I AGREE with you. I don't think it's nice to call Bush all these silly little nicknames no more than I like it when people called Clinton "slick-willy" and other nonsense. It's just trying to take these guys a notch, but it also shows a bitterness that seems to go beyound a leader's stand/policy on an issue. Sometimes we DO personalize these people a little too much I think. Also, I have NEVER called Bush any of those silly names nor ever will on these boards. Just Bush or hater-of-the-free-world will do. (You KNOW I'm joking ).
Originally Posted By gadzuux Right now we americans are a polarized electorate with a presidential election coming up. Tensions are a bit higher than usual. And many of the points we discuss are much more important than "pooh" or exit signs. We also tend to stray into topics (sex and religion) that don't normally fit in with the warm fuzzy "disney" atmosphere found in the other rooms. If people are looking for cheerful chat about inconsequential items, this room will seem a bit heavy. But this room is also pitched to a more adult oriented vibe. Many of LPs (and other sites) rooms are frequented by our younger members who are drawn to the 'family friendly' atmosphere of disney sites. That's not the case in here. But then it shouldn't be. We can't very well hash out the politics and controversies of the day, while at the same time being completely appropriate for every age group.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Actually, Dubya is one of the NICER names I use for George W. Bush. I could never post half of what we call him at home. ;^)
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka There have just been a lot of negative threads lately. Threads telling others how to parent, where or where not to parent, that good parents don't bring their children out after dark, what people should wear, what people should NOT wear, (especially if they are fat or ugly), implying moral bankruptcy if you have premarital sex, if you vote for Kerry, you have an abortion, if you are a democrat, etc. Basically, "you are a horrible person if you aren't EXACTLY like me." I see a lot of judgment without any knowledge about the circumstances involved. People seem more interested in their opinions, beliefs, and political theories than the actual application or the people they are judging. The negativity can be overwhelming even when there are no personal attacks.
Originally Posted By friendofdd Before I retired, my life was filled with a series of crises on a daily basis at work. I didn't need to raise my stress levels even higher by spending much time in WE. Now, in retirement, with a low anount of stress, I mostly choose to stay out of WE. The times I have participated, or even lurked, I was struck by how often a discussion about serious, important topics became personal. Name calling or even innuendo about a persons intelligence, or lack thereof, tends to destroy the ability to listen to each other, and the tendency is to talk past the other. Rudeness need not be used to make a good argument for one's opinion, but it is frequently used in WE. The political views are "never changing" on both sides, and tend to become boring after the nth repitition. The topic titles change, but the content is excruciatingly familiar. Some people get so defensive that they are unable to accept one's lame attempt at humor as part of the dialogue and even reject sno-cone offers. I am interested in opinions, but not in superiority complexes or rudeness. So, I mostly stay away. Of course, in a post such as this, I am generalizing and not all applies to every WE poster. If any of you feel offended, have a sno-cone. Flavor of your choice.
