Eh, lemee see if I can even log in. I may have started a toon there a long time ago and don't remember. Nope, they just let me register. Guess I'm okay. Meh, the problem isn't the challenge so much as the people who are just so - one-dimensional. And I can think of two right off the top of my head that might as well be WWE wrestlers who rely on the same old catchphrases and suchlike, and a few more that are just plain promoting a cause instead of posting. It's just so tiring dealing with them.
You have to take the view point of anything you can do, I can do better. It can be exhausting, but it is just as much so for them.
Two dimensional, albeit, that's because you're seeing their avie on a monitor screen, thus no z-axis. But in real life, they're three dimensional.
But that's the thing, posting shouldn't HAVE to be exhausting - and I'm finding that on this forum I keep running into too many trolls to whom, instead of a conversation, I might as well be dealing with a bot. Maybe I am!
I guess it depends on your purpose here. I mean only to bring transperancy to how opinion is controlled, from money in politics, to paid shills on chat boards. If your purpose is to have a engaging, enlightening conversation, the internet might not be the best place for that.
I used to laugh at the idea of paid shills on this forum - mostly when this forum was subject to so much downtime and web lock. You could literally make twenty posts elsewhere in the time it took to make one post here, and I argued that anyone paying to shill wouldn't do so here because it would be a waste of time and productivity. But now, I'm not so sure, and I'm seeing a few people here who I'm positive ARE paid shills for a foreign government or two. As far as your last point, maybe it is a bit idealistic to believe that, yeah. But it has to exist somewhere. I'm just becoming more and more convinced this place isn't it. And I'm pretty silly, I admit it. But I think the longer I stay here, the less serious I become - mostly because I don't see ANYTHING here that I can take serious.
Unifier - I don't agree with him on everything, but he's very firm and well spoken, and for that, he earns my praise. SpaceCricket79 - We went at it in the "Gender Neutral Parenting" thread, but he remained civil, as did I. Pimptight - Comes off as very Libertarian to me and is one of the few posters sees both of the political parties as a problem instead of just one side. Plus, who doesn't love the Guy Fawkes mask? - - - Updated - - - Unifier - I don't agree with him on everything, but he's very firm and well spoken, and for that, he earns my praise. SpaceCricket79 - We went at it in the "Gender Neutral Parenting" thread, but he remained civil, as did I. Pimptight - Comes off as very Libertarian to me and is one of the few posters sees both of the political parties as a problem instead of just one side. Plus, who doesn't love the Guy Fawkes mask?
I appreciate this. When you first showed up, I wasn't sure if we were going to get along. But the more that we've spoken, the more I've noticed we seem to click on a lot of stuff. You've got good taste in music, and you're a lot more libertarian than I expected you to be. Welcome to the forum, bro. You're good people. While I'm here, time to update my list. I think I only mentioned about three people previously. I've been here for a few years now, and I've gotten to know some people better and my perceptions of some have changed during that time. Changed for the better, that is. So in addition to Silicon, Trinnity, and Brews, let's see who else I've got here........... If I just refer to you by a nickname, just bear with me. I'm lazy as (*)(*)(*)(*). Hopefully, most of you guys will know who you are. This is just how I have you all filed away in my brain for easy retrieval. Serf - I think initially I read mostly his posts on social issues, so I got the wrong impression about him. I thought he was going to be a progressive, and I was ready to clash with him at every meeting. But over time, I came to get a fuller understanding of how he sees the world. And I realized he's a lot more libertarian in general. He's been a cool onion to unpeel, and I always enjoy picking his brain on new things. I think he's dead wrong about the nature of morality, but he's a very calm and level-headed guy. He's bright and very factual and never loses his cool. I admire that. I think those are the best types of posters. I can't even do that successfully all the time, myself. Catch me on a bad day, and I rant like a teenager. SpaceCricket - This guy is definitely one of my newest faves on my radar. I think we agree on damn near everything. I'm sure there are some places we have to differ (right?), but so far they've been difficult to pinpoint. I like the fact that he not only makes good points, but he's also pretty good about making subtle little cocky jabs at pretentious sacred cows of the left the same way I do. Except maybe I'm a little more up front about it and not quite as subtle. Nevertheless, his posts are amusing and often times funny. I dig them, and I hope he gets unbanned soon. I think the forum would lose a lot by losing a guy like that permanently. (hint hint, mods ) Pasithea - This chick drives me nuts. I had no idea she was such a sweetheart until we started chatting outside of our usual stomping grounds (i.e. the abortion section). She's actually cool as (*)(*)(*)(*) and kinda cute to boot. She's got a warm and engaging personality, and she laughs at all my stupid self-amusing jokes which strokes my ego nicely (thank you, darling ). Her stance on abortion just frustrates the (*)(*)(*)(*) out of me. She's too bright to think like she does. Argh! Definitely one of my favorites, though. Bow to the Robots - This guy has apparently been hiding underneath my radar for awhile now. It seems like whenever he surfaces, he always has really intelligent things to say even when we disagree. Which is maybe 40-60% of the time. He's a lot like Serf. Really level-headed and easy to debate with. Doesn't take things personally. He makes me think. I like that. Anybody who can successfully put me off my game where I can't just rapid-fire respond with a ready-made retort has my respect. You guys are rare. Plus the Ice-T av is just classic. Let's see, who else? I think I'm liking Archie Goodwin quite a bit right now because he's a good sparring buddy. He's completely the opposite of me in just about every regard, but he's a sharp guy. He can dish it out as well as take it. I like that. I respect that in an adversary. I think he should be a lot of fun to debate with in the future. Redalgo is a guy I don't know much about, but I wish he would post more. From the limited sample I've read, he might quite possibly be the single most enlightened leftist on the entire forum. Dude gives me props on everything even though I know he's technically on the other side of the fence. He's very reasonable and a refreshing addition to the forum. Zoziasmom is great. I think definitely one of the most well-rounded people on this forum. She understands some things deeper than a lot of people do, and it's cool to click on one of her posts periodically and feel like I'm reading one of my own. Where you been, girl? Why don't you post anymore? You are missed. The elusive and enigmatic Mikezila I have always liked. I think the sporadic nature of his posting coupled with the content of what he says almost elevates him to "PF legend" status. Not in the sense of being an untouchable superhuman icon or anything but more in the sense of like Racer X from Speed Racer. He's that mysterious guy that just kind of pops in from out of nowhere from time to time, does something awesome, and then leaves before you know what happened. And you're like.... "Who was that?" "That was Mikezila." "I've heard of him. So the legend is true. He's real." Then there's Smartie who I can only describe as the super-sharp wise-cracking wise-woman sage. Dropping life lessons on you with the ease of a bullwhip. When she talks, you shut your mouth and you listen. And if you're smart, you hear it the first time. This chick is just badass on so many levels. Then there are the old school vets that I think I probably kind of look up to on some level. Guys like DonGlock and webrockk. Don's always up to date on what's going on in the world up to the moment, and web is like the cool uncle I always want to sit there and learn something from. Because I know it's something I'm going to agree with that's going to benefit me. And then there are guys like Johnny-C and My Fing ID that I think I'd get along really well with if we weren't discussing politics. There are also some other folks that have changed over time and I see as improving toward becoming more well-rounded and free thinking individuals. Like iAWESOME. That guy was a typical black liberal teenage stereotype when I got here, but now I look forward to reading his threads because I can never predict what they're going to be about or whether I'm going to agree with him. Our agreement level seems to have gone from about 0 to about 50%. And I like that change. It's interesting. He doesn't seem content to just sit there and let the world feed him his views on life. He seems more interested in honestly questioning things and figuring out where he stands for himself. I think the future is always bright for people like that. Especially when they're young. Speaking of young, I don't see him post much anymore, but The Real American Thinker was a really bright kid. Maybe about 17, I think. But highly intelligent, very well spoken, and best of all...... HUMBLE ENOUGH TO CONCEDE A POINT HE CANNOT REFUTE. I cannot stress what a virtue this is. I mean, come on. How many of us here can actually do that? We're all so proud. I'm an arrogant prick. I'll be the first one to admit it. Sometimes somebody hands me my ass in a debate, and I just bull(*)(*)(*)(*) my way through it like I know what I'm talking about (You see? This is why U shouldn't post when he's been drinking. He gets honest. ). Mr. Swedish Guy is another bright young kid that is really well composed for his age and I think is probably well wise beyond his years. Honestly, there's just a ton of really good people on here. I could probably go on all day. Even some of the people that I think are profoundly wrong about everything have managed to earn my respect in some regards. Like some of the mods. I couldn't stand Mak when I first got here (sorry, Mak, it's true). But I think both of us have changed over time, and I have a lot of respect for her now even when we disagree. I get a little teary eyed when I read her sig line about her kitty, Gracie. I just had to put my best buddy of 21 years down, and it was harder than losing my grandfather (Sorry, Grandad. Love you, but it's true). Okay, holy crap, this is long. Anybody Ive forgotten, I apologize. There are too many good ones to list them all. I know that sounds cliché, but its honestly true. Anybody thats ever gotten a rep from me has said at least one thing that made me say, Hell yeah! I dont just freely give those out. You have to make an impact. There are a few people I could talk mad (*)(*)(*)(*) about too, but I dont think thats what this thread was for, so Im just going to leave it at this. Props to all. God bless.
Oh! And FixingLosers is great too. An eloquent and articulate troll after my own heart. Hes like what I would be if I had the patience to actually think out a lengthy OP and post more of my own threads. Dudes a genius.
I'm blushing, Uni!!! Ditto on your repartee skills, and good humor / resiliency!!! If it ain't fun, why do it??? Danke!!!
Wan Ren and Unifier for pure entertainment. Gabriel1...Prof_Sarcastic...thebrucebeat....for like minded commentary with rational thought. OKGranny for pleasantly cruel reality. Fugazi and JohhnyC.....Just because.
SerfinUSA Tomfoolery Ctrl Sadistic-Savior Raytri Javablack MerlinX Hobo The12thMan SenaxFlatulus ForceoftheTruth Zosiasmom Pimptight TheCatzMeow Metrophobe Mikezila stekim Anikdote tresha And probably a hundred or so more.
PoliticalSmash is a new one to keep on your radar. This dude is so out of his mind it's funny. I look forward to more comedic output from him.
well thats tough. there are an unreal amount of trash talking hi-5ing right wing conservatives goppers, Republicans whatever they want to be called and what people call them that seem like the same person with different accounts that post often. Im sure thats not an insult because they, it, him her works on it. There cant be that many people with the exact same personality. That's how it was a couple years ago when I used to check this place a bit. I liked Death and TheInsaneAreTakingOver and I think Teamosil back then. so far currently Shiva, Johnny-C, lolo, Pasithea, mutmekep probably a few others I don't remember the names yet
SpaceCricket got banned! We never agreed on much of anything but I am sad to see him gone because he would always crack some great jokes and left me with my sides splitting. =(
D'aaww! You're a darlin' Unifier. =3 My dad feels the same way, when it comes to politics we don't agree on much and I think I drive him absolutely nuts (Right-wing Republican vs Left-leaning Libertarian) but when it comes to our raunchy, ridiculous, stupid sense of humor we have great times. xD I get my downright stubbornness from him though so he can't complain much. ROFL! I betcha we could create a casual chat kind of forum that everyone could join, leave the politics at the door and I think most of us would get along really well actually.
I'm wondering why he got banned in the first place. He could be aggressive at times, but he never really said anything that was that bad.
