Originally Posted By Ursula I think we've all learned a lot here. We all have our own versions of trolls. We should ignore those who we each decide display trollish behavior. I don't even read the posts now of those I consider trolls. I would make a list, but that would be against the community standards, in my interpretation of them. If LP had an ignore feature, I'd be in heaven. Wouldn't it be cool if you could just tell the boards, "Whenever there is post from POSTER, just put daisies in where their words would go." I love reading different points of view; I find the discussion of heated topics very interesting and I love hearing how other intelligent people can present their case. A lot of times, I have had my mind changed or at the least, opened to a different take on something. Thank you.
Originally Posted By ecdc "A lot of times, I have had my mind changed or at the least, opened to a different take on something. Thank you." I used to take a rather lax view on the current torture question. I frankly had a hard time caring all that much if potential suicide bombers or those involved in 9/11 were put under duress and pain. Then I read a post by Kar2oonMan. It was beautiful and it was about how our values separate us from them. Don't know why that one spoke to me, but it did. I've never felt the same way about torture since.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip What Beau doesn't seem to realize is that the Rush/Hannity smackdown/woodshed/lib/moonbat style of communication works on their shows because by and large they are preaching to the choir. They don't worry about changing anyone's mind. Their sole purpose is to entertain and invigorate the base. That style will not work when you are speaking to a more diverse group. It's like how a bunch of college guys sitting at a bar will talk about women in an entirely different way than they would if there were women in their group. You should always communicate in a way that is most appropriate and effective given your audience. Beau seems to have overlooked that. I don't think Beau is a typical internet troll. Unfortunately, he is as rude and as combative as one, so it is easy to put him in that class.
Originally Posted By jonvn When you start to talking about acting in a violent manner towards another poster, then it is no longer just being rude.
Originally Posted By ecdc "By that you mean to say you are all for it?" It wasn't so much that I was uber pro-torture, or anything. I just couldn't muster up the feelings to honestly care. It's easy to think about bin Laden or the Sheik hooked up to a car battery and not much care. But 2oony's post was right. It's this kind of thing that separates us from them. So even though I don't much care about any kind of pain bin Laden or his ilk might experience, I will say, we shouldn't be the ones to inflict it. And there's a larger picture, too. Every study ever done says torture, and indeed, violence in general, just doesn't get the desired results. Sure, sometimes war is a necessary evil - Hitler and his regime needed to be wiped from the face of the earth. No way around it. But torture is a good way to guarantee that the people you do it to will tell you what you want to hear in a hurry, whether it's true or not. /threadjack
Originally Posted By peeaanuut good points are only taken by others if the presentation is good. Basically, alot of peoples presentations on here suck, libs and cons.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Dabob2 is brilliant and thoughtful and never makes it personal.> Thanks, ecdc, and I wish it were true, but unfortunately I have fallen into that trap at times. I try not to - don't always succeed. But thanks for the thought. <Tip of the hat. > Back at ya'. And happy birthday to DlDug. It just so happens to be my unbirthday today.
Originally Posted By DAR <<What Beau doesn't seem to realize is that the Rush/Hannity smackdown/woodshed/lib/moonbat style of communication works on their shows because by and large they are preaching to the choir. >> Yesterday I was running some errands and usually I listened to either ESPN or Fox Sports Radio. Both were on commercial, so turned Hannity on for a minute. Now I haven't listened to him or Rush in at least a year, Rush even longer, but it sounded like the same show I heard the last time I listened.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy <<Beau, trust me when I say this is the last time I'll bother to respond to you directly. I made it clear that I don't read Ed's posts either. You're both on opposite sides of the same pathetic fence.>> Ed gets a pass from the board because he is so out there he can't be taken serious. I get lots of heat because what I say actually hits close to home and I am correct in my assesment of liberals. Liberals don't like to be called out for their lack of patriotism and lack of ideas. Why would you guys get upset that I say you are not patriotic and anti American if you can't even show us a thread you started proving me wrong? I get called rude all the time on here, but all I ever do is stick up for strong family moral values, being pro America, not slamming Christians, being optimistic about the future, and being tough on terrorists. Yes, people that slam the country, slam Christians and give terrorists a "bill of rights" deserve to get harsh words sent their way. Especially when they can never disprove what I have said over the years about them. Have a great day.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy << When you start to talking about acting in a violent manner towards another poster, then it is no longer just being rude. >> I never did this jon. Why lie? I told Shooba he wouldn't want to meet me in person. I never said anything about a physical threat even though he told me my kids should have been killed. STPH, however did come right out and threaten me once.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan There are several posts in this thread that illustrate why some are considered trolls, and why communicating with them is basically an execise in futility. Leopards can't change their spots any easier than a troll can change their M.O. Most LPers are reasonable folks, and they expect that by presenting a reasonable case, they can get through to a troll. But trolls are incapable of absorbing the point. They may promise to change, announce that they see the error of their ways, etc., but it never lasts. Never. Soon or sooner, they return to form. It's the rest of the world that is unfair to them, in the eyyes of the troll. It's normal to feel some compassion for their plight. It must be miserable to be so disliked by people across the spectrum. But trolls are amazingly one-dimensional beings. Their first and foremost goal is to cause upset and dischord. Don't pity them. Just ignore them. Anything else nourishes them.
Originally Posted By ecdc "I've reported Jim in Merced to the moderators." Hey, so did I! It's about time, too.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Most LPers are reasonable folks, and they expect that by presenting a reasonable case, they can get through to a troll. But trolls are incapable of absorbing the point. They may promise to change, announce that they see the error of their ways, etc., but it never lasts. Never.> I'm coming around to this position. I've been tempted in this thread and others to respond to certain things, but... must... resist.... must... resist... <I've reported Jim in Merced to the moderators.> Who hasn't?
Originally Posted By Beaumandy <Most LPers are reasonable folks, and they expect that by presenting a reasonable case, they can get through to a troll. But trolls are incapable of absorbing the point. They may promise to change, announce that they see the error of their ways, etc., but it never lasts. Never.> Most people can see that there is a huge double standard being pushed by you K2man. You seem to think we don't get the fact that you are only offended by people who don't share your world view on certain issues. If I was a big moderate and supported your point of view, whatever that view may be that day, you would not be going down this road of calling me a " troll ". Neither would any of you other liberals who can't seem to admit you are all very, very, negative people who can't provide a single positive American thread you have ever started here at the Laughing Place. If I was slamming Bush, slamming Christians, calling the military torturers, saying the economy sucks or I support France, there would be no such thread as this one regardless of how " rude " I might have been. If I would have been a liberal being rude there would not be a single word said to me about my " offensive behavior ". Want proof???? Just look at how you all think Ed is not only fine, but he is funny to you guys! Yet he goes a lot further than I do. This is so obvious it's actually pretty funny. But K2man, you just go on acting like you are a fair person simply calling out all "trolls". We see the hypocricy and I have had emails from people on here telling me this exact thing who didn't want to get invloved.
Originally Posted By DAR <<Want proof???? Just look at how you all think Ed is not only fine, but he is funny to you guys! Yet he goes a lot further than I do.>> Ed's not funny, just ridiculous. And he has also been taken to task for his comments(look at the Steve Irwin thread) or just ignored.
Originally Posted By mele <<Want proof???? Just look at how you all think Ed is not only fine, but he is funny to you guys! Yet he goes a lot further than I do.>> This just proves you are either NOT paying attention or truly are unable to comprehend what you read.
Originally Posted By cmpaley If anyone reads John Dean's book, "Conservatives without a Conscience," they will see a case study into Beau's personality. It's really amazing.
