why is the Rhetoric so extreme on this site?

Simple Question.
It comes from both sides.
What is your opinion?

 

Easy, because this forum is full of people who feel that calling the other side names will help their argument.

 

It's a great question. . . don't know if there is a right answer!

I think people "feed" on each other's negativity.

I also believe there is a group of more extreme posters who enjoy posting just for the pleasure of chocking, not for the skill or learning process of debating. . . and it gets frustrating.

I hope you find the real answer. . . and maybe we could work on a solution?

 

True, I usually just read this site for entertainment when I am bored, and it is ridiculous sometimes.

 

I think it has to do with the nature of American politics. It's very cutthroat.

 

The rhetoric reflects a moment in time mirroring the tenor of our collective emotions.

 

this forum is designed to accept extremism , as long as it meets the tos .

well , I've been here a while , don't know if I've ever changed anyones mind , but I've tried .

yep , I know what you mean all too well .

Politics is the dirtiest game their is .

well said Albert , well said ..

 

I gotta take a big dump.

It is because we can say things and never have to face who we say it to.
Almost like drinking .. when we all say /do things we know better but can blame it on Bush..I mean the booze.

We feel safe and empowered behind our computer..we have a voice...
We THINK we know better than most..
Just like saying the guy should have dunked it instead of throwing it out of bounds..we become experts when we ourselves can never achieve that possibility we examine so closely.
The lunar colony is closer than many believe.

 

Tit for Tat? Karma? And, don't forget the ever popular double standard?

Of course, this thread was started by a commie, teabagging, nazi, conservative, right-wing Stalinist bastard.

 

We have not yet begun to be extreme. wait until September thru November.

 

You mean after President Obama orders his minions to "get in their face"? Ah, yes, civility.

 

This site is pretty civil. Extreme???? LOL

 

Like in any other venue the extreme opinions get the attention. I don't post often but I read when I can and I've found some thoughtful, intelligent perspectives here. I read the extreme posts mainly as entertainment. I'm in control of me. If I start to get irritated I just move on to something else.

 

I like what you consider civil...

LOL indeed. Man people are sick.

 

I have enjoyed your wit and excellent satire . well said .

you really shouldn't attack the poster , it's a so Patrick , a word to the wise , attack the message , not the messenger . you further slandered the mans Mother , and that sort of personal insult will get you banned about as quick as anything I know of , so watch it , OK ?

yep , I don't see it myself either Trin , I guess he feels different .

well said , well said .

 

I think the site represents the views...liberal and conservative...of people I know. And the debates are more civil here on the forum...then in person...especially with family members and co-workers.

 

Because us opinionated loud mouths talk more and more moderate people don’t bother with endlessly going in circles on some internet site as much?

 

not sure if it’s quite the same thing as what goes on hear but

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/VocalMinority

 

I know what you mean . It's not easy to stand up for what one believes , but , we need to , that's what makes us unique .

 

This may be the reason why.

 

I believe this Forum depicts a good cross-section of what folks think and believe BECAUSE of anonymity. It allows folks to express their somewhat unbridled opinions without fear of negative repercussions from narrow-minded mental government or large private organizational 'minders'.

This Forum is a collection of incorporeal minds identified by nothing other than the opinions they post and taking 'heat' is part of that free-flowing process.

 

Yeah, I've been through those months many times here; that's the time both sides suddenly forget there are real issues to discuss.

 

Some people seem to think, this forum represents the way Americans actually think???? That is nonsense. The number of libertarians in this country is very small, yet they are quite numerous on political forums. Similarly, the number of revolutionary socialists is also quite small(actually extremely small), but they are overrepresented at this forum. It is because of the nature of forums like this. They attract people with extreme opinions, who want to justify their beliefs, and to explain to everyone else how all the worlds problems would be solved if we would just get over our collective stupidity, and listen to them!! It is a place where people with views outside the mainstream, can voice their opinions in anonymity. It is also a place, where no personal connection exists. I try not to offend the people I know, when we discuss things. The people at this forum, I really don't care if I offend them, because I do not know them. In person, I tend to take a far more socratic method to debate, where I just question and probe. On these forums, I openly lambast people with differing opinions.


PS. It is also true that I tend to spend much of my time in circles of people, who are smarter than average people(graduate students), and yet they maintain some humility because they are then surrounded by people who are a lot smarter than they are(professors). At this forum, people are not only often very stupid, but that stupidity does nothing to dampen their certitude. The people at this forum tend to have an extraordinary amount of hubris, and it is almost never justified by their level of intelligence and understanding.

 

I have to say I avoid the US pol threads most of the time because it is all a bit extreme compared to how Euros discuss politics. When I'm feeling sparky, I go in and noise them up, but it's brutal stuff to me.

I don't think it relates to this forum or even to the internet as I have witnessed it on many other political forums and refused to moderate the US section on a few, where the US Mods didn't seem to see anything wrong or unusual. It just seems to be the political debate style for US people.

Sitting on a powderkeg.

 

Good points.
But perhaps people let their guards down, just like you, while on a forum, and aren't like this at all in real life?
I do certainly wonder why so many folks think life depends on having it (seen) their way, and instantly so.
Real life is so far removed from cyberia, and so much more important than the individual opinion, however right or wrong it may be at any given time.