Originally Posted By dshyates I was forced by work to attend about 20 teabagger rallys. I even had the pleasure to cover sister Sarah. It wasn't as bad as what we're covering now..... Casey Anthony
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I just don't understand the jump to "shut it down" if you don't like what someone posts. There are a number of posters in WE who I have found offensive over the years. As far as I can recall, I've never reported anyone. I see those names and I simply move on to the next post...not reading what they have to say anymore. I think WE is "stagnant" right now because we are in an off year for elections. But, I like the idea of WE for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that in confines the discussion to one area of the website. Additionally, as soon as a significant World Event takes place...and you can be sure others are to come...we will have a location to discuss it whether it be a natural disaster, an important world election, or whatever. But, I still talk quite a bit in WE with folks who I have differences with and most of that conversation is engaging. Dare I say some of the folks likely influenced me over the years to open my eyes a bit which resulted in my leaving the Republican party and registering as an Independent. This isn't my sandbox, but I think the WE section still serves a desirable purpose.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I totally understand Skinner's frustration. I've felt the same thing myself recently. But I honestly have come to believe the only way to deal with a troll is report 'em and ignore 'em. Kill this section and they'll move on to some other section of LP next. The LP mods do a great job, and I believe they are on top of this. Doobie and Dave in the past have explained the difficulties involved, and why trolls can creep back in. But silence is truly the only tonic. It is tough to not take the bait, but paying ANY acknowledgement is a compliment to a troll. They just want to be the center of attention and screw around, so starving them is the only thing that works. I like when a troll posts some idiotic rant, and the very next poster engages in the previous conversation as if the troll posts are invisible. It's REALLY tough to do that, I know, but it's the one weapon everyone can use. I enjoy discussing the issues of the day with my fellow Disney fans. I always learn something, or at least it causes me to keep rethinking my own opinion on things. I'd hate to let some lonely little boy take that away.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I like to have some of my thinking challanged. How boring would life be if I was, after all, always right? And, I'll credit the previous two posters along with Mr X as being amongst the strongest at making me rethink my positions on certain things.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Well I'll add that when I discuss things with Wahoo, I too always leave the conversation with a new perspective. That's what I like about WE, at it's best, it's like a spirited discussion with a group of friends and family. >>How boring would life be if I was, after all, always right?<< I can tell you, it is exhausting. ; )~
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Kar200nMan...I'm almost entirely convinced now that you are actually my wife.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 a little late to this one because I don't come here often anymore.. but as much as personally I could care less if they shut it down - I also think that would be wrong. It doesn't work forme anymore as I was tired of being one of the few moderate to conservative posters left. And if one of the only others right of center was Beau in one of his persona's- no thanks, don't want to be associated with that either. There are a few posters on the far left that irritate me almost as much as Beau ( but not quite) - so I chose to only visit once in a blue moon. Maybe if a topic like this comes up- or something on Chiago/Illinois politics since I have a lot of first hand insight into how it works here having been a participant for a number of years. But again - because it doesn't work for me doesn't mean it should go away. It is somewhat better now than just as little as a year ago where no thread could go 10 posts without it's Bush's fault. But I also remember back when it couldn't go that long without it's CLinton's fault. Both were annoying approaches..and neither was usually exactly true. But I digress- I vote for freedom of speech- and freedom to participate or not - leave the section up
Originally Posted By Labuda Please stick around, Dave... we need sensible moderate to conservative voices here, and you're one of them!
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Originally Posted By vbdad55 I am fully aware Ann is left of center -- so what ? Does that make me some kind of traitor > It's that kind of idiot talk that has this country screwed up beyond all belief. Listen I live in an area - coty /state that has been controlled by one party for 50+ years- and it is a freeakin' mess or corruption, one of the most expensive places to live- highest taxes- least back for them etc.. not because that party is Democratic- but because only one party controls everything. I have full faith that if the GOP ran everything for 50 years - where the money and entitlements are spent might be different- but the level of incompetency and corruption would be no different. I abhor the far left- but guess what - I also abhor the far right. Call me crazy but I still thing from a standard deviation calculation most people are no more than 1-2 from center. I can happily live with that... so does that make me proud- you bet it does and Labuda- radical ? really? sorry, don't see it
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Originally Posted By Mr X ***Call me crazy but I still thing from a standard deviation calculation most people are no more than 1-2 from center*** You may be right, but here's the thing...lately we've seen one of the two major parties be virtually taken over by a vocal minority of instigators who live about 5 clicks to the right of you and any other reasonably minded conservatives. And they are like a contagion, their insane message seems to spread like wildfire and scare the crap out of the more reasonable conservatives (particularly the politicians) with a powerful "if you're not with us, you're against us" mentality. I blame the noise machine. Anyway, sure there are equivalent nutjobs on the left, 5 clicks or so away from ME, heck I just read a treatise a few days ago on a left winger site by a kook (backed up by a few other kooks) praising the struggle of noble North Korea against the tyranny of Western Capitalism which is hell bent on destroying them and lies about the condition of their country in order to do so. But the point is, they ARE regarded as kooks and have no national platform on which to promote their insane message. Quite the opposite, part of the right wing insanity machine is geared towards pointing at reasonable Democrats (such as Obama) who are promoting policies that REPUBLICANS have embraced and sometimes even proposed in the past, and screaming to the rafters that they are DANGEROUS SOCIALISTS who want to destroy America! Now, if people are going to buy into that (and studies have shown many people actually do, which speaks to the collective I.Q. of America but I digress), what chance to the 5 clicks to the left whackos' have? No chance at all (which is a good thing). In fact, if they dared speak their minds in public, it's a good bet they'd get harassed, arrested, or even outright assaulted for their efforts (and not JUST by right wing kooks, either). Such is the McCarthyesque atmosphere that has been whipped up these days in America. Again. So YES, there is insanity on both sides, and YES most people don't think as radically as all that, BUT there is a big difference in terms of influence and the ability to spread a very dangerous message when it comes to right wing extremism and the noise machine that supports it.
Originally Posted By dshyates "In fact, if they dared speak their minds in public, it's a good bet they'd get harassed, arrested, or even outright assaulted for their efforts" Just yesterday 3 people from Food Not Bombs were arrested for feeding the homeless without a permit. <a href="http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/june/255345/3-Food-Not-Bombs-members-arrested-for-ordinance-violation.html" target="_blank">http://www.cfnews13.com/articl...ion.html</a>
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