[grandpaw7]

Why I post

I post almost exclusively for my own benefit. It’s good for a person of advancing age to use his mind in the way that a person uses his mind when he tries to compose something intelligent, provided he puts some time and thought into what he says as I do. While I can too easily get sucked into the vortex, the whirlwind in which there is largely dust and smoke blowing, that is a fault I just have to contend with. There are what? six or eight people who are addicted to the forum threads in which I have participated. They are not capable of legitimate debate. It would be foolhardy for someone to try to convince them of anything. I do want people to read what I post and I certainly would like for people to think that I have posted something intelligent, whether or not they agree with it. However, that is not the primary reason I post because of course I will never know what the people who, with good reason, refrain from participating think. But when I say “people” I don’t mean that six or eight, I mean what I presume to be a few hundred people who view the forum but who, for good reason, don’t participate, at least in the threads in which I have participated. The reason I can get upset at the inability of the six or eight to debate in a civil fashion is because I think there are likely a number of people who would like to participate but who understandably refrain because of the turbulent weather created by that six or eight. In a truly civilized debate, there is no need to have a thick skin because the hall mark of civilized debate is, you guessed it, civility, and respect and an absence of personal attack. The reason I have used the ignore list liberally is because of what I say above, that I can too easily get sucked into the vortex and my posting can too easily degenerate to the level of the six or eight. TSG is a big, big forum. The fact that there are so few who participate in the Civilized Debate forum is very telling, and what it tells is not a compliment to those six or eight. I don't know to what extent, if any, I will post in the future, but it will certainly be despite the six or eight and not with a view to convincing them of anything. This is not to say that there are not a number of respectful and intelligent people posting in Civilized Debate. It is just that the envirnoment is unfortunately dominated by those who do the yelling and screaming. And I admittedly have an overly narrow view of the forum since my experience is based on a quite small number of threads. Hopefully, civility has a greater presence in other threads.

[Stoner]

I had approached you in a civil mannor, in our very early conversations.
You responded with derision and character assasination .
What do you expect in return?
Mulder frequently does the same, and life goes on.
He seems durable and takes his beatings in stride(mostly )
But you whine on and on and on and on and on........
When Mulder talkes about 'bedwetting Liberals'.... I am beginning to understand his point




Am I still on 'ignore" ?

[Ciberblade]

It is a difficult line to walk, sure. The problem, it seems is in the range of topics discussed here...with none 'off-limits' -- we verbally take ground on every religion/spirituality, every corner of the political spectrum, aliens, evolution, abortion, hijacking...you name it. With subjects that elicit strong personal emotions, it is not uncommon for feathers to get ruffled, and others to lash out. That is where I believe the 'thick skin' comes in....for just as on issue may be important to you, another issue that may be seemingly innocuous to you, would light somebody else's fire. I know many that would like to participate...but have no interest in such topics.

As for convincing others -- I've seen it done, but it is not the normal set of events.

[Guyzer]

Are you by chance looking for sympathy because the " six or 8 " people call you on some of your points when you post and you reply in silence? Why don't you lay out your guidelines when you start a thread? Tell the people that you are inviting a reply to which you will respond or not. You make it sound like you're a newcomer when in fact you've been around for almost 6 years and have over 1300 posts so you know how the game is played but for some reason it's seems you don't like the " rules " anymore.

[Couriant]

Originally Posted by Stoner

I had approached you in a civil mannor, in our very early conversations.
You responded with derision and character assasination .
What do you expect in return?
Mulder frequently does the same, and life goes on.
He seems durable and takes his beatings in stride(mostly )
But you whine on and on and on and on and on........
When Mulder talkes about 'bedwetting Liberals'.... I am beginning to understand his point




Am I still on 'ignore" ?

I'm guessing you are

[Stoner]

Looks like it

[Couriant]

hopefully the quote works for you

[Mulderator]

The hallmark of an exchange that yields useful information and opinions requires the presenter of an opinion be "put on the hot seat." This is what people don't understand. In a true "debate"--as in college debates--you have a moderator and there are rules to be followed--time limits etc. That CAN'T WORK HERE. Moderators are here as volunteers. The only ones that spend any time in Civ Debate are me, basset, Aca and to a lesser extent Rog--but we come here for entertainment--to be part of the group--to participate--we are not here as babysitters. Most of the moderators would vote to shut down Civ Debate if is was up to them. It is a constant battle for me to NOT HAVE IT STERILIZED by people who think that people can talk about politics and religion without getting hot under the collar--its absurd. And the strict "no name calling" rule is just as absurd. Liberals shell out Neo-Con and Bushie, and Nazi, and Fascist (or worse--hide beyond inflammatory cartoons!), and the list goes on, but as soon as I call someone a "bed wetter" or a "socialist" or a "marxist", that's an insult!

The point is to change this place so no one gets insulted, you'd have to remove sarcasm, humor, all names of any kind (including all the political tags)--including against politicians (because many people get insulted when you insult political figures they support).

This is the same whining we've all heard over and over and over again and will continue to hear. People who can't take the heat should stay out of the kitchen--not demand that we turn down the heat.

[linskyjack]

You forgot Moore-on Mulder---your favorite.

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by linskyjack

You forgot Moore-on Mulder---your favorite.

Thank you Linsky, my good chap!

[grandpaw7]

It's pretty obvious that Mulder's goal, a strange one for a moderator, is to keep people out of the kitchen. You would reasonably think that a moderator would have exactly the opposite goal. But then you'd also think that a moderator would have the integrity not to use his position to attack people on a regular basis and to use vulgarity as a weapon of choice. I guess it's like Clinton says, it depends on what you mean by integrity. I wonder what Mulder's definition is, if any?

[angelize56]

Originally Posted by grandpaw7

But then you'd also think that a moderator would have the integrity not to use his position to attack people on a regular basis and to use vulgarity as a weapon of choice.

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by grandpaw7

It's pretty obvious that Mulder's goal, a strange one for a moderator, is to keep people out of the kitchen. You would reasonably think that a moderator would have exactly the opposite goal. But then you'd also think that a moderator would have the integrity not to use his position to attack people on a regular basis and to use vulgarity as a weapon of choice. I guess it's like Clinton says, it depends on what you mean by integrity. I wonder what Mulder's definition is, if any?

Where did I use "vulgarity?"

BTW--I don't use my position to attack anyone. I never warn people, I rarely edit posts (in here). Explain how I've used the position to attack you?

[bill.aam]

Originally Posted by Mulder

Where did I use "vulgarity?"

Originally Posted by Mulder

Thank you Linsky, my good chap!

[Gibble]

Grandpaw...you're arrogant, elitist attitude is getting old. You act holier than thou. You're simply put, acting like a hypocrite. You just attacked, with this thread, "six to eight" members in civ deb, singling out Mulder and attacking him...yet you yourself claim that personal attacks have no place in a "civilized debate"

Look in the mirror, and grow up.

/steps off soap box