I'm not trying to enflame anyone. Just asking for a little self reflection on the overall quality of discourse. Are people generally happy with the level or quality of discussion? Has this improved or has it degraded over the last year? Would you stick around if the situation reversed? In the past 8 years we have had some quality posters leave. Why?

Paul M, SOAF, and Rebel don't need to respond. I have you on ignore and am well aware you think everything is A-OK.

• Some people have a hard time breaking into the "clique."
• Other people get sick of the name calling.
• Since the "left" is not as well represented as the "center" and the "right" on this board, they have a harder time defending themselves from the pile-on.
• People just move on, left, center or right.
  

I can tell you that I like to post, but many time the discourse falls so quickly that by the time I read something and want to respond, the thread has gone so far off-topic that it would be a waste of time. The thread cannot be re-righted....

Personally, while I don't call for banning or even strong moderation of viewpoints, I would welcome more moderator involvement in a "Off-topic clean up needed in post XXX" way.....

To many interesting threads are derailed. That's a shame.

I would like to create an atmosphere with a higher level of discourse. There are some intelligent people on here whose perspective I value. I don't want to leave but in my opinion, the level of discourse has been degraded. When you go back and look at GTS AUP then look at BR's Laissez-faire variation. It's easy for me to see why people on the left get discouraged and quit posting. It's a pack of hyena's that pile on and threads constantly get degraded and off task.

The reason is because it is hopeless. I gave up trying to get through to them a long time ago. I pretty much just come for a good laugh now. I have come to realize that they can't understand my point of view and I have to work real hard to try understand theirs but to no avail many times. In other words, I think those on the left that stop by and leave feel tthat it is pointless to share your point of view.

Oh look, Mach is whining again. That's a first!

Oh look, Rebel is being a dumb*** again. That's a first.

(08-26-2010 12:33 PM)RobertN Wrote:  Oh look, Rebel is being a dumb*** again. That's a first.

Yeah, that would be.

I don't want this to get off topic. Let's try to stick with the original question. Why do people leave?

(08-26-2010 12:39 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  I don't want this to get off topic. Let's try to stick with the original question. Why do people leave?

Too pu--y to debate the issues? That's why Robert only does driveby's afterall.

(08-26-2010 12:33 PM)RobertN Wrote:  Oh look, Rebel is being a dumb*** again. That's a first.

When the left is represented by this ^, it's no wonder they leave.

Aaaaaaaaaand it starts.

(08-26-2010 12:39 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  I don't want this to get off topic. Let's try to stick with the original question. Why do people leave?

Because the left bases their position on emotion. What they crave is affirmation and good feelings.

Facts, reality if you will, are pretty different toward feeling good. So when someone from the left wants to voice their opinion, they are not looking for a critique, they are looking solely for agreement and affirmation.

That doesn't happen here.

Schadenfreude was a perfect example. Most of his "arguments" were anecdotes or emotional appeals.

I think it is because those few posters on the left resort to name calling way too quickly, so then the conservative posters do the same thing and it turns into a pissing match. Robert has very few things to say other than "you have no brain" or "you hate poor people." If he was to have a civil debate about an issue it would foster more debate. I've told a few of my liberal friends about this board, however none have posted as far as I can tell. The discourse is childish and immature, and as far as I can tell it stems from Robert. I think if he was to have a civil conversation about an issue, it would help his cause because I think more liberal posters would stay.

maybe you should be asking robert about the level of discourse. in the social security thread, i asked why the government won't just let me keep that SS money and invest it on my own. Robert responds with "Or you can lose it all and not have anything for retirement." Yeah, that's some great discussion right there. We really need more of that

(08-26-2010 12:55 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(08-26-2010 12:39 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  I don't want this to get off topic. Let's try to stick with the original question. Why do people leave?

Because the left bases their position on emotion. What they crave is affirmation and good feelings.

Facts, reality if you will, are pretty different toward feeling good. So when someone from the left wants to voice their opinion, they are not looking for a critique, they are looking solely for agreement and affirmation.

That doesn't happen here.

Schadenfreude was a perfect example. Most of his "arguments" were anecdotes or emotional appeals.

Hopefully we all can learn from it. It's truly not about me bitching or complaining about the AUP. It's bigger than that I think. I want a better place to spend my time. I'm interested in politics and I know I see things differently than the majority on here. I've fallen off the wagon many a time. I'm done pointing fingers. I'm just going to put those on ignore who want a screaming match and try to have a civil discussion with those that are left. I just wish more like me would stick around. They don't. I want that to change.

(08-26-2010 12:59 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  I think it is because those few posters on the left resort to name calling way too quickly, so then the conservative posters do the same thing and it turns into a pissing match. Robert has very few things to say other than "you have no brain" or "you hate poor people." If he was to have a civil debate about an issue it would foster more debate. I've told a few of my liberal friends about this board, however none have posted as far as I can tell. The discourse is childish and immature, and as far as I can tell it stems from Robert. I think if he was to have a civil conversation about an issue, it would help his cause because I think more liberal posters would stay.

Many of us that are on the left that remain have been here WAY longer than you. We know debate doesn't work here. We have tried and occasionally still try but to no avail. This is one reason pretty much gave up trying. A short insult is a lot less typing than wasting my time trying to have a discussion with my thoughts flying right over the other sides heads because they can't or refuse to try to understand my point of view.

(08-26-2010 01:12 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Hopefully we all can learn from it. It's truly not about me bitching or complaining about the AUP. It's bigger than that I think. I want a better place to spend my time. I'm interested in politics and I know I see things differently than the majority on here. I've fallen off the wagon many a time. I'm done pointing fingers. I'm just going to put those on ignore who want a screaming match and try to have a civil discussion with those that are left. I just wish more like me would stick around. They don't. I want that to change.

So I can assume you have RobertN on your ignore list?

Robert................ at his heart is a good egg. I don't even want to begin with wondering why he posts what he does. In my humble opinion it can be counter productive, but I shall not violate a variation of Reagan's 11th commandment. Thou shall not speak ill of a fellow D.

(08-26-2010 01:12 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Hopefully we all can learn from it. It's truly not about me bitching or complaining about the AUP. It's bigger than that I think. I want a better place to spend my time. I'm interested in politics and I know I see things differently than the majority on here. I've fallen off the wagon many a time. I'm done pointing fingers. I'm just going to put those on ignore who want a screaming match and try to have a civil discussion with those that are left. I just wish more like me would stick around. They don't. I want that to change.