Dialogue

[merrylander]

Admittedly several have gone away, whether they were "driven" out or just tired of the debate I can't say. There is the old adage "If you can't take the heat stay out of the kitchen".

Much as many would probably cheer the event I am not going anywhere in the forseeable future.

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Admittedly several have gone away, whether they were "driven" out or just tired of the debate I can't say. There is the old adage "If you can't take the heat stay out of the kitchen".

Much as many would probably cheer the event I am not going anywhere in the forseeable future.

Rob, I'm pretty sure that you could not be kept away from here if you were lassoed and hog-tied.

Regards,

Don.

[merrylander]

Yeah, but it gets a little discouraging when I look down the threads and see how many I have closed.

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by JJIII

I agree. Dig back to the beginning of this forum and check out how many good people have just gone away.

I am not saying the people who left were not good people but let's be honest they left because they were challenged.

Have you noticed all the racists are gone?

Same with those who seriously called themselves "real Americans" and took the time to explain just why they were and others were not.

Then being such a small forum it is easy to feel overpowered, this is the latest problem. IMHO

And don't forget, we are only talking about a handful of posters who left.
Heck, I have taken breaks from posting on three different occasions. Only Rob is unflappable!

I will say one thing, agree or not there are some smart mother f'ers here.

[BlueStreak]

Born, Baptised and raised a Methodist here. Haven't stepped foot in a church since 1989.

Who, me? Throw bombs? Never, wouldn't dream of it.

Dave

[BlueStreak]

Okay, so I couldn't stay away forever.

Dave

[whell]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Whell,
Whell, other than being outnumbered here on many of your views, have you ever felt that you were discouraged to post an opinion or make an argument? I hope not, because this place should respect the right to hold opposing views. But as stated, respecting one's ability to state a view does not mean accepting the view without question. I hope you and like-minded individuals continue to participate, or come in to participate. This is not a place for the left-leaning to just pat each other on the back.

Regards,

D-Ray

More likely I feel like I may have p*ssed a couple of folks off once or twice, but without the ability to hear vocal inflection or see facial expression, I can't be sure. However, it is a public forum, and some get that. Some might not. I guess I was just suggesting that we might handle newbies with care until they get the place figured out.

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by whell

I guess I was just suggesting that we might handle newbies with care until they get the place figured out.

I totally agree.
That said it has been common for new people to come in here like a bull in a china shop.
(and I am not referring to you or anyone particular, I simply mean this as an earnest observation)

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Admittedly several have gone away, whether they were "driven" out or just tired of the debate I can't say.

Actually, my point wasn't that our Departed Brethren of The Right had been driven off or even that they simply tired of the debate. You'd think that "debate fatigue" would have a pretty much non-partisan manifestation, that essentially as many on the Left as on the Right would have succumbed. Moreover, what we've seen is a complete flip in the composition of this board. What started out as a predominantly Right Wing group is now mostly made up of people on the Left. If anyone was to be driven away, it would have been the Lefties, right from the get-go.

What I believe has happened is that the Right is no longer interested in dialogue or debate. They believe that the Left has nothing to say that they want to hear, that they have no ideas worthy of consideration or that we should even be recognized as participants in the governing of this country.

Listen to Sarah Palin talk about "the real America" or Glenn Beck telling the faithful that Democrats want to turn America into their vision of a '"socialist utopia". Listen to FOX News warning us about all these scary black people like Van Jones or Ben Jealous or Shirley Sherrod or ACORN and hear our own elected representatives saying that "Liberals" are a greater danger to America than al Qaeda is. See Tea Party rally participants carrying assault weapons or maybe just brandishing signs that say "We Came Unarmed - This Time". Does it seem like these people are interested in any form of consensus - to say nothing of accommodation - with their political opponents? They don't want to convince us. They want to get rid of us.

John

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by whell

More likely I feel like I may have p*ssed a couple of folks off once or twice, but without the ability to hear vocal inflection or see facial expression, I can't be sure. However, it is a public forum, and some get that. Some might not. I guess I was just suggesting that we might handle newbies with care until they get the place figured out.

Being a little bit pissed off makes some of us hunker down and martial ourt arguments more effectively. It's good for "the leetle gray cells".

John