Political Discussions

[Sea Ray]

Originally Posted by RBA

Why the hate for the Wonder Woman thread?

Don't use inflammatory language like "hate". What's served by that? I don't hate it.

I think it's much more compelling to discuss controversial subjects. I don't consider a fictional character to be the least bit provocative

[reds1869]

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

Don't use inflammatory language like "hate". What's served by that? I don't hate it.

I think it's much more compelling to discuss controversial subjects. I don't consider a fictional character to be the least bit provocative

I don't know, I find Wonder Woman to be pretty provocative myself.

I definitely agree controversy is more compelling. It is the fuel that makes message boards go. The problem comes when folks cross the line from debate to attack. One of the issues there is that different people draw that line in different places.

[Rojo]

Originally Posted by Redsfaithful

Kingspoint seems to be conflating political parties with politics itself, which is a bizarre take on things.

Here's why people hate the media and often hate politics. The big media outlets keep the political spectrum pretty short. Anyone, right or left, who questions, for example, NAFTA, is thrown out of the discussion. With little to debate, political passions are channeled into often meaningless Republicans vs. Democrats shouting matches.

I think it was Lenin who noted that bad blood actually increases the closer you are politically. It's not "polarization" that's the problem, it's the frustrating lack of choices. The Republicans/Democrat fight resembles a fight between the Socialist Workers of America vs. the American Socialist Workers (made those up.)

Originally Posted by Redsfaithful

Also, raisins do suck. Why not just eat a grape?!?

Exactly. Why extend all the effort to turn something naturally good into something that sucks?

But so do oatmeal cookies.

BOOM, now what Rojo? The heat on that topic just got turned to 11.

Actually I have no idea if I like oatmeal cookies becuase they always have crappy raisins in them.

[westofyou]

I have a giant bag of raisins in my desk drawer at work.

They are great mixed with salty peanuts.

[reds1869]

Originally Posted by Rojo

HThe Republicans/Democrat fight resembles a fight between the Socialist Workers of America vs. the American Socialist Workers (made those up.)

"We're the People's Front of Judea, not the Judean People's Front!"

[Redsfan320]

Exactly. Why extend all the effort to turn something naturally good into something that sucks?

Amen. And rojo, you must really look around and find some raisin-free oatmeal cookies, or make some yourself. They're awesome.

320

[RBA]

I found some Chocolate Chip Cookies. I am going to have to make do with those.

[reds1869]

Originally Posted by RBA

I found some Chocolate Chip Cookies. I am going to have to make do with those.

Next time you are in Cincinnati, try the chocolate chip cookies at Green Dog Cafe on Columbia Parkway. They are spectacular.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by reds1869

Next time you are in Cincinnati, try the chocolate chip cookies at Green Dog Cafe on Columbia Parkway. They are spectacular.

Funny that that's there now, that area is where we would traverse to get 6% beer on Sunday, I also had friend who lived around the corner on Delta Ave 22 years ago and it was not a area that one would think about business types like the Green Dog.

[Rojo]

Originally Posted by reds1869

"We're the People's Front of Judea, not the Judean People's Front!"

Yes, perfect example.

[Dom Heffner]

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

Don't use inflammatory language like "hate". What's served by that? I don't hate it.

I think it's much more compelling to discuss controversial subjects. I don't consider a fictional character to be the least bit provocative

He's using it as a figure of speech- I don't think he's being literal there.

[jojo]

This post is in NO WAY meant to evoke any discussion concerning political or religious views. Again, it in NO WAY is soliciting responses relating to any topic other than the issue of whether political threads should be allowed on redszone.

Ignoring the assertion from Boss that political discussions have tended in the past to give rise to poor behavior that increased the mod workload not only in the original thread but in unrelated threads as heated exchanges bled over to baseball discussion (and I think Boss' position is a correct one), this flow chart meant to demonstrate the necessary elements of a fertile discussion that could lead to a consensus of opinions (posted on The Book Blog by Tango) kind of sums up another fatal reason why political threads shouldn't be allowed IMHO:




Concerning political topics, a majority of the time (regardless of the venue), it's pretty unlikely that the very first step in the proposed flow chart will be met...

If that's the case, then such a scenario fails to rise to the standard of the ORG as detailed on the "About Us" page...

[Redsfaithful]

I've gotten PM's in the past when we had political discussion from people who had their minds changed by things I've posted. It happens.

[Sea Ray]

I don't even think changed minds is necessary for a productive discussion. Sometimes just learning a new fact is all it takes. I often acknowledge that by saying "you make a good point" or "I understand where you're coming from".

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Redsfaithful

I've gotten PM's in the past when we had political discussion from people who had their minds changed by things I've posted. It happens.

It happens enough to make the effort worth the noise? That's kind of the point I think. BTW, I doubt there is a single person who would answer no to the first level of the flow chart and its the disconnect that is the problem.