I think of this as the “Stoidization” of the the SDMB. Not that she is the worst proponent, simply the first, hence she gets the disease named after her i.e “Japanese type B encephalitis.”
It pretty much started with her “Why I don’t trust Conservatives/Republicans” thread.
The success of that paved the way for the attitudinal bigotry and lowest common denominator type discourse which has grown since.
Really. All by herself, with her own two little pink patty-paws? She did?
And all the while, friend Scylla stood firmly for politesse and decorum, yes? Invariably eschewing any personal remarks, hewing only to propriety and calm discourse? That would be you, yes?
Anyone who believes this, please contact me at the e-mail given, I know a guy in Nigeria, needs some assistance…
I remember that thread. That was a charmer. Republicans were evil and selfish, Democrats were wonderful, simple, simple simple.
A more recent favorite of mine was the “Bush Supporters are Mentally Ill” (or something to that effect). Now, perhaps I missed some posts (I kind of gave up on it after a while), but that seemed to be a pretty unanimous wank-fest amongst many people, whom I otherwise respected, talking about how crazy and irrational their Bush-supporting friends and relatives were. The OP claimed he was serious in his claim (I asked) so it wasn’t a joke thread (though there was a cutesy yuk-yuk factor present).
Some people here seem to be reluctant to accept that shit like that does make some people throw up their hands and say, “Screw this place. The inmates have taken over the asylum.” Some here seem to be claiming that people get fed up or frustrated because they can’t handle the truth, or facts? No, some people get fed up or frustrated because they are sick of the assholes.
I mean, come on. Shit like that is offensive no matter whom it is directed towards—a thread titled “Why I don’t trust Democrats” and then goes on to ramble about how they’re all flakes or selfish, or one that makes the (serious) claim that Kerry supporters are mentally ill—that’d be pretty offensive to a lot of people. And rightfully so. But if it’s directed at conservatives, oh, hey. That’s perfectly fine.
When it becomes clear that all of us have lost this election, I trust you will be a more classy loser.
If you’re going to hold your breath on this, I’d notify your local ambulance service first…
I’m sorry, but you are incorrect.
While it is true that there were and are some very frustrating posters on this board, it was directly because Bush supporters had no factual or reasonable arguments to defend the Bush administration that debate became impossible, and the board was left with name-calling and rude behavior (which I abhore as well).
But don’t take my word for it. The threads are still there, you can see it yourself.
These are all threads dealing with the Bush Administration and Chalabi.
They are full of facts and intelligent discourse(special recognition goes to the estimable SimonX), but they have no name-calling and rudeness.
However, if you read through these threads, you will notice something else: Bush supporters avoided them like the plague. Only December and Sam Stone were there.
December actually gets my respect for being there, trying to defend Chalabi. Even though he was wrong, at least he made the attempt.
Sam Stone gets some respect too. He said it was not good for the Bush Administration. However, just saying it isn’t good for them is not taking them to task for it, and he neatly avoided doing so.
Still, better than the rest of the Bush supporters.
Where was Bricker? Shodan? Brutus? Starving Artist? Manhatten? Where was any Bush supporter to defend their side?
They weren’t there. Because, in threads based on facts and intelligent debate, they had nothing to bring - because there was no intelligent or reasoned defense for the actions of the Bush administration.
I could hardly be less so.
Regards,
Shodan
Earnest and sincere work, Nightime, commendable and probably futile. But this “Chalabi” fellow of whom you speak. I try to Google on him and all I get is a “non-person” message, and a few shreds of stuff.
Something about what a rotten scoundrel he was, and how close he was to President Clinton, appearing as a special guest at President Clinton’s State of the Union Adress. How President Clinton had him flown into Iraq with a couple hundred of his thugs…uh, patriotic bodyguards…on the presumption that Iraq would fall at his feet kissing his brogans. All part of President Clinton’s failed policies, which got us into this wretched mess in Iraq, that The Leader is now toiling heroicly to fix.
Boy, that Clinton…what an asshole, huh?
That’s because being intelligent men of probity, we know that it is impossible to know just how it will turn out or what the eventual cost would be. Such is the nature of wars, by the way.
There’s a fallacy in here somewhere…
nope, it’s the whole substance of the argument.
Carry on.
Nightime, plenty of discussion on Chalabi and spying charges on right-wing websites. I avoid GD political threads altogether because it’s very frustrating to show the “other side” of the issue when people get it within themselves to automatically dismiss the other side and assume that its supporters are all mentally ill or fundie hickseeds.
Or, you can join Scylla et al, misrepresent and demonize who people on the left are, and win! It’s your choice!
At least you have the stones to step up and forthrightly evade the question. Worth some points.
Ooops, typed too slow. The last was directed towards Starv’s deft evasion of my point.
Well, like Mr. Moto, you could always immediately start a thread whining about how its unPC to use “pussy” as an insult. 
But contrary to what you say, the threads in which people were using language like “fundie hickseeds” were not the threads being avoided.
That is my point: These same threads and people that are being called on their name-calling and offensiveness (and often rightly so) are the very threads and people that actually got a response.
The threads that were based on reason, evidence, and intelligent debate?
No response. The Bush supporters had no use for these kinds of threads, because they had no reasonable or intelligent argument for the actions of the Bush administration. Go read them yourself - you won’t find them there.
I haven’t demonized anyone on this board, but have caught a large dose or shit around here owing to my expressed views. The points Scylla lists are valid, including the pendular swing, and I don’t support all of that swing, either.
If you want me to vote for your platform, you’d do well to remember a business axiom: A successful salesperson does not sell, they create a desire to buy.
Calling Bush voters names creates no buying feeling, and is akin to peeing yourself while wearing a dark suit. It gives you a temporary warm feeling, but nobody else cares or notices.
If there’s a fallacy, point it out for us dumb people. Thanks.
Nightime, I never said that there was any namecalling on those threads.
BTW, I agree that there are more strident anti-Bush posters on this board. With that out of the way, I simply cannot agree that out there in the real world, Republicans/conservatives have any moral high ground when it comes to demonizing the other side INCLUDING demonizing people on the other side.
For every liberal who labels the Bush supporters stupid, there is a Bush supporter who thinks the liberals are clueless naive peaceniks, hate America, are amoral or all of the above. For every urban New Yorker lampooning the people in rural America, there is someone in rural America (heck, religious preachers in churches) who talk of New York and California as full off lascivious godless amoral people who are responsible for some mythical moral fabric being torn.
Let’s face the fact that there is a needless mindless cultural divide in this country which is getting more and more intense due to ridicule from both sides, and is duly exploited by politicians.
People came out in droves because they were called stupid and not listened to. People came out in droves because they were called “liberal”, amoral, whatever. One side won but all of us will lose as long as this polarization continues.