This is of course brilliant and insightful, but once again demonstrably wrong on the facts. Nobody here likes me.
Y’know at least part of the problem is that Shodan is not annoying at all in non-political topics. Therefore, he’s a lot less likely to be flat-out ignored than the spider monkey.
In point of fact, it strikes me that the left has a lot more one-note annoying posters who are easy to ignore and thus forget about, whereas the right tends to have people who are at least somewhat decent who go off the fucking rails only on politics.
In point of fact, my ignore list right now is entirely composed of political idiots, contains a 4-1 ratio of liberals to conservatives, and doesn’t include Shodan.
I disagree, for two reasons.
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As previously mentioned, there is no clear-cut line separating lofty dispassionate intellectuals from gleeful mudslingers. Many or most people have elements of both, and are tempted to use these tactics on occasion if they are readily available.
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Any time a large percentage of the population makes a habit of attacking someone as an idiot or jerk or troll, it influences the minds of people who might not have independently arrived at that conclusion. [IMO this is where the issue of ideology has its most significant impact on moderator actions, but that’s another issue.]
Like, say, blaming numberless problems on the 1%?
(I do note that you were skeptical of these tactics as well.)
You might to consider why this might be your perception. I know what I think 
This thread has been an entertaining read. Thanks to all the noble participants!
Go ahead, enlighten me. While you’re at it, tell me whether I’m a liberal or a conservative. =:p
Piss off, you rightarded bastard.
Best wishes,
Hentor
Two possibilities:
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Being heavily outnumbered and under constant attack does not bring out the kinder and gentler side of many people.
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People are more likely to find other people’s behaviour obnoxious if they’re arguing in favor of causes that they disagree with than if they’re arguing in favor of causes they agree with.
I would guess you’re closer to the liberal side of the fence, based on the second point above, but I don’t know how you define yourself.
Can we all agree that the takeaway from this thread is that we should mock Shodan’s signature with nonsense versions of it?
Perambulatory,
Weehawken
As a virulent right winger who vocally opposed GWB, the idiotic Rove/Karen Hughes team, and the war in Iraq, I’ll take issue with the suggestion that every conservative shared your views. “Containing” Iraq was never an issue, this was hardly some expansionist regime looking to export Baathism, invade Iran again, or launch missiles at the U.S. It was an inward-looking hermit kingdom that would have dwindled down after Saddam spent the remainder of his life defending his power against the minorities and religious fanatics (whom he effectively kept in check for 30 years), then turned power over to his feckless and corrupt sons, who likewise would have little interest beyond protecting their power and privilege.
No one made Bush do Medicare Part D, that was his own stupid decision.
Maybe he means “everyone agrees you’re an asshole except your rightard butt-buddies”.
Regards,
Shodan
PS - that was more than one line.
I was obviously only speaking for myself. I do not suggest that every conservative shares my views, or that I share theirs. I made that pretty clear above.
I’m all over the fucking place, personally. There may be a grain of truth in there in that I’m most liberal on social issues and I’m a Keynesian-believing fiscal conservative (not a damn contradiction!), so lately the big issues have been the ones I’m most liberal on.
That said, I also see a tendency of right-wingers (possibly due to the moderating influence of social conservatism) to be able to be extreme in politics and moderate in daily behavior, while left-wingers are more able (possibly due to the liberating influence of social liberalism) to be extremists across the board. Combine that with the general skew of the board leftward of the American center, and the math adds up.
Oh, so now we’re equating being polite to being one of them? Scary.
No, it’s that all I know about you is that you’re a Bengals fan. I assume from that that you are from Cincinnati, which tells me that you are certainly rabidly right-wing and that you also must really really love chili.
#1
Sure, posters aren’t perfect - but either initiating that kind of content-less post or responding to someone else’s post that way doesn’t advance the conversation. I’ve been in debates where some are using that tactic and I have (sometimes) quietly continued to post with reason, and I’ve found it naturally attracts those that are capable of reasonable exchanges.
#2
This is certainly true, that people are influenced by other’s posts, etc. But I don’t think that is an argument for content-less posts or jabs, etc.
The best defense to other’s negative opinions is to be logical, rational, reasonable, have data, admit where things are opinions, see the point the other person is trying to make and counter with why you think it’s wrong as opposed to avoiding the point because even discussing it might seem to give it validity, etc.
I think there is a reasonably good sized group of people on this board that can stick to a quality exchange of ideas if most are debating in good faith (maybe 50%) and I think there is a subset of that group that can stick to this type of debate even when the general tone has devolved (maybe 20%) - so, my opinion, is that it’s worthwhile to avoid the jabs - or at the very least, jab for fun but at least address the real point or admit that the jab was merely a fun exaggeration of whatever point the other may have been making.
People who put cinnamon, chocolate or cocoa, allspice, and Worcestershire in the mix then serve it over pasta and call it chili are not worthy of the designation “chili lover”
Call it what you like, but it ain’t chili.
SS
Raft, occasionally that works, but more often the posters I am trying to reason with completely ignore my well-thought out posts, and simply respond to the shrill ones others are posting saying “oh my, your side is nothing but RUDE to me! I win the thread!”
That stuff they sell in Cincinnati is not chili. It’s some sort of watery soup.