Hi, Nat! Welcome to our ongoing political 'trench-warfare'. In a short time, you will need to don the uniform of whichever faction you feel you are a member of, assemble your weapons of research, expression, debate, and composition, and try to survive the cyclical bombardments that come with an almost predictable regularity -- somewhat like the volleys in a badminton game. The only real complication you'll face -- and it is a significant one -- is when you find that you take very hard-core 'right-wing' positions on some topics, and, simultaneously, you take very hard-core 'left-wing' positions on others! But, that's all part of the 'agony-and-ecstasy' of being in our kind of conflict. Welcome to the war!
Just a suggestion, Nat. Tell us a little bit about yourself, and no, you don't have to go into any great detail. If I were going to introduce myself to everybody in the Forum, I might say something like, 'Hi, I'm Pollycy. I'm hard-core Conservative on all matters involving the U. S. economy and national defense, but in the 'middle', or even liberal on various other issues. I live in Colorado (don't tell exactly which town if you don't want to), have a Bach. of Science, honors, Univ. of Texas at Austin, am retired, love baroque classical music, and I'm politically unaffiliated with any 'party'. Just that much usually 'sets the stage'.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't feel like the tone of his post deserved much of a response. Besides, saying too much might ruin the air of mystery.
Well, whether we particularly like it or not, or even if we don't fit all the parameters of 'the tribe's identity', inevitably we all get cast into being a 'tribe member'. You, me, all of us.
People can slap labels on people they disagree with, but it only shows their own ignorance and nothing else.
Ha! There's not too much mystery when you're naked.... And in time, whether it's fair or not, you (like all the rest of us) will be stripped BARE. Lean a little bit to the right, and there's those who will castigate you as though you're a goose-stepping, über-racist Nazi. Lean a little bit to the left, and there's a different faction who will castigate you as though you're an America-hating, 'woke', welfare-parasite! It won't take long. But, come along and enjoy the fun. Obviously, most of us have little else to do or we wouldn't be in these Forum 'trench-wars' in first place, nicht war?
Or, it shows their analytical perspicacity.... C'mon, man, read somebody's posts for a few years (like you and I have) and you've got a fairly good idea on where they stand politically, and, in other ways, too, no doubt....
I signed up years go but never really did anything with the account. I was off on another site (or two).
Welcome. There are many different people with whom to debate. Put the trolls on ignore and you will enjoy your time here.