Designated Political Arena constructive criticism & suggestions for improvements thread

[rje58]

If you can read this thread: THANK A TEACHER OR A PROFESSOR!

I thought I'd try to get us back on a positive note, and something we can all agree on! Literacy is wonderful thing - no?

 

[timcsaw]

If you can read this thread: THANK A TEACHER OR A PROFESSOR!

I thought I'd try to get us back on a positive note, and something we can all agree on! Literacy is wonderful thing - no?

My mother and dad taught me to read well before I ever met a teacher... so I thank them first. Doesn't seem like many people teach their kids early nowadays.

 

[Planterz]

I prefer "Kamala-toe" myself. Or perhaps "Willy Brown's Repository" also has a nice ring to it too... But if it's offensive to your sensitivities, I'll be happy to refrain... Are you familiar with the term "Camel Toe?" (If not, I'm guessing you can find some pics in W&C or that "other place"). Do you believe that term to also be racist? Do you own any knives with Camel-bone scales? If so, maybe you should sell that "racist" thing right quick.

If this kind of stuff is no longer tolerated in the PA, what makes you think it's even remotely appropriate here?

 

[000Robert]

I was not advocating for a list of trigger words, I just happened to notice that the "trigger list" that was provided went all in one direction, and thought that if such was going to be condoned, it might as well be balanced - since that was the supposed goal of the protesters.

Heaven forbid that someone gets their little feelings hurt. I vote for free speech. If someone doesn't like it, then they can leave. I don't understand why some people seem to go out of their way and look for a reason to get offended.

 

[timcsaw]

If this kind of stuff is no longer tolerated in the PA, what makes you think it's even remotely appropriate here?

Perhaps you missed this part of my comment; "But if it's offensive to your sensitivities, I'll be happy to refrain..."

And these questions I asked of you;

--Are you familiar with the term "Camel Toe?"?
--Do you believe that term to also be racist?

I'm really good at following rules when the lines are clearly drawn... And Spark drew them very well in my opinion so it will be easy to stay within the lines... for me anyway.

 

[timcsaw]

Heaven forbid that someone gets their little feelings hurt. I vote for free speech. If someone doesn't like it, then they can leave. I don't understand why some people seem to go out of their way and look for a reason to get offended.

It's called "TAKING offense" for good reason. It's what they choose... Meh... their problem, not mine.

 

[Spark]

Do I seriously need to spell out that my warning includes gendered insults as well?

Are we really going to be that clueless?

I've already stated I'm not going to dig through 22 years of postings. If you can't make your point without misogyny / misandry then is it worth making?

 

[Planterz]

Perhaps you missed this part of my comment; "But if it's offensive to your sensitivities, I'll be happy to refrain..."

Oh, I saw it. It was right after you made some childish names about a political figure followed by an emoticon with a big grin. I'm not offended by it, I'm merely pointing out that it directly attests to your character and apparent lack of reading comprehension. Sorry, but you don't get to say it then pretend you're buying it back when you're only pretending to buy it back just so you can say it.

 

[timcsaw]

Oh, I saw it. It was right after you made some childish names about a political figure followed by an emoticon with a big grin. I'm not offended by it, I'm merely pointing out that it directly attests to your character and apparent lack of reading comprehension. Sorry, but you don't get to say it then pretend you're buying it back when you're only pretending to buy it back just so you can say it.

Cool. I'm fine with your opinion. Those are terms I use in person-to-person interactions... and now that it's been made off-limits, I'll not repeat them here again. Too easy dude! Glad to be of service sir!

 

[000Robert]

It's called "TAKING offense" for good reason. It's what they choose... Meh... their problem, not mine.

You would think that the sensitive little things would just stay out of the PA. But, I guess that's too simple...

 

[timcsaw]

You would think that the sensitive little things would just stay out of the PA. But, I guess that's too simple...

Personally, I think it's kind of funny... in a sad sort of way.

 

[Willie71]

I agree.

We may as well put together a list of proscribed words, like Democrat, Republican, he/she (and all other gender connotations), terrorist, gun, knife, rope, socialist, fascist....and so on. Perhaps, the English language will evolve to include more appropriate words with which to convey our thoughts, or we can adopt what ever new language emerges.

But seriously, I feel like I am treading a mine field at every attempt to communicate, so we may as well assemble and maintain a list of trigger words that we can apply to PA and the rest of the forums. Unfortunately, I suspect that it would grow exponentially over time.

n2s

This is a valid argument, as much as I typically disagree with you. Many words have actual meanings, lay meanings, and pejorative meanings. Fascism, ignorant, socialist etc. When someone incorrectly assumes a pejorative when a literal meaning is intended, grudges, hard feelings and other problems arise. Coming from the medical field myself, I tend to use language quite literally and bluntly. It’s how we communicate daily, with clients, and professionals. That has offended many people when no pejorative was intended. This is quite difficult to police.

 

[David Mary]

I agree that PA is impossible to be 100% respectful, and I think it should be that way. Note that I did not say civil, because it should be civil. If there are two people debating a question that has serious moral implications on the extreme of either side of the political spectrum, it stands to reason that they will view each other's positions as actually evil. It is irrational to profess to respect evil or to say that someone has a right to spread evil.

However, the goal should be to labor for change, to reduce evil, not stir it into a revenge fueled frenzy. So while I can never say that I respect someone's decision to defend, support or profess what I truly believe to be evil, I still respect the audience who may yet be on the fence about the issue, and thus tailor my discourse towards civility. This shows sincerity, and even if the person I direct it it to doesn't change his or her mind, the audience can judge for themselves at what the motive behind the words is. Is it self aggrandizing, petty, vindictive, hypocritical, or is charitable, sincerely hoping for the highest good for the other person and our society? And I respect the other person on account of our shared human nature, and shared fallibility, and for that reason also tailor my speech toward charity, and concern rather than insults and denigration. Again if there is harshness called for, it is toward the evil ideas, not the person who has fallen for them.

That doesn't mean that evil beliefs and acts themselves cannot be characterized harshly, but the forum has always had a rule of avoiding ad hominem, and if it were better observed, then I think there would be more relevant discussion of the issue, and less multiplication of fruitless, pointless, ego driven bickering. If the person whom the message was initially intended for is not treated with seeming vindictive harshness and contempt, it is far better that he or she may, in time, look back on the discussion and remember the sincerity rather than pot shots and bickering. Sincerity is more conducive to a fruitful seed than vitriol. I'm not perfect, and have failed at times, but this has been the goal of my conduct in every walk of life.

I do admit I am a sucker for dirty humor, but if we're talking civil politics, those have no place

I believe these have no place in human speech at all. Because they violate the dignity of human nature by associating the procreative power inherent to us with something to be mocked, rather than upheld in dignity and modesty. And when the procreative power is mocked, it's a few short steps away to undermining the family. I wish that we still lived in a world where "family" had a sacred meaning to everyone.

And then two bible quotes in your .sig. Wow. You're a piece of work

I agree with this. Professing the name of Christ brings with it a certain responsibility towards modesty, charity and seemliness, whereas gentalia based insults are unseemly and immodest and not in keeping with the dignity inherent to human nature; they scandalize the name of Christ rather than honor it.

 

[Willie71]

I would advocate having no political talk on Bladeforums. You know - make Bladeforums about blades. But I'm weird. In an attempt to retain whatever limited sanity I have left, I have actively avoided Fox "News", Drudge, CNN and every other blather source for several years, and would love to avoid it here. But for some reason, people think that politics must be paired with every other subject. I left a Glock talk forum after 20 years because of the incessant political squabbles, and would be well pleased if Bladeforums was a place of refuge from the political storms rather than merely being one more place where the real subject matter (blades) gets subsumed in politics, abortion, "climate change" and "trans" issues.

Pretty soon I'm going to be living like Ted Kaczynski in a shack in Montana, or under a bridge somewhere. With my 300 knives in a backpack. Anything to get away from political squabbles.

Thanks!

I left a science forum because the mods there acted like the problems we see here demeaning conservatives who try to dismiss climate science with right wing propaganda sites belittling them when rather than encouraging evaluation of the quality of the source. I get that it is tiring, and people lose patience.

I’m seeing a similar issue on a motorcycle forum I frequent. Some extremists see the advent of electric motorcycles as a socialist takeover. It’s hard to get away from this stuff. I just want to share the restoration of vintage european dirt bikes with other people with similar interests.

Edit: My point isn’t to support cancel culture, but to acknowledge we should try to not be hypocritical. It’s easy to convince ourselves that someone else is an ignorant fool if they don’t agree with what we BELIEVE to be true. That gives us permission to be derogatory towards those people. I gave two examples of different groups who believe they are right, and feel justified attacking those who are of opposing views.

I suspect this is the issue with the perceived/real inconsistency of rule enforcement in PA. People who believe in things like climate change and the emerging compelling science behind gender dysphoria are mocked, even by mod(s). (Historical experience. Haven’t posted there since 2016, iirc?, maybe early 2017?) When there is pushback, it is seen as sassing, where the people doing the mocking don’t get sanctioned, and don’t have to push back against moderation. I truly mean this in a helpful, non judgemental way. Cancel culture goes both ways. In my local area, we lost both a “left wing” actually a moderate conservative, and a far right, bordering on fascist commentator on the local radio talk show in the past 2 months due to cancel culture. The moderate guy was fired, the far right girl was given the opportunity to resign. That is a common imbalance, which goes to either side depending on the prevailing culture of the area. In more liberal areas the inverse would likely be true.

 

[Hackenslash]

I taught my children to show respect to persons in authority. It must always be “President Obama”, “Vice-President Pence”, “Speaker Pelosi” or “President Trump”, regardless of how we feel about their political stance.

Insulting pet names for those in power derived from race, gender or faith slurs are filthy and witless. It is never funny.

Political debate must always stay civil and respectful to each other and the objects of the debate. When it doesn’t it devolves into an incoherent snarl.

We’ve all been through a shit year with more to come. Let’s all double down on an effort to be a little nicer to each other.

Tim

 

[timcsaw]

I taught my children to show respect to persons in authority. It must always be “President Obama”, “Vice-President Pence”, “Speaker Pelosi” or “President Trump”, regardless of how we feel about their political stance.

Insulting pet names for those in power derived from race, gender or faith slurs are filthy and witless. It is never funny.

Political debate must always stay civil and respectful to each other and the objects of the debate. When it doesn’t it devolves into an incoherent snarl.

We’ve all been through a shit year with more to come. Let’s all double down on an effort to be a little nicer to each other.

Tim

With all due respect, I intend to follow the examples given to me by my political opponents over the last 4 or 5 years.

 

[David Mary]

With all due respect, our guide for conduct should be those we hold in the highest esteem, if we expect to reap the highest reward.

 

[Willie71]

With all due respect, I intend to follow the examples given to me by my political opponents over the last 4 or 5 years.

“They did it first” isn’t a valid defence. Which is why I am responsible for my ban. I can’t control how others behave, or whether they are sanctioned. I can be upset about my perceptions regarding what happened, believe it to be unjust, and take responsibility for knowingly breaking rules and being sanctioned. Being responsible for my behaviour is not tied to whether others’ behaviour is acceptable. This distinction seems to have been lost in modern society.

 

[Hackenslash]

With all due respect, I intend to follow the examples given to me by my political opponents over the last 4 or 5 years.

So you aspire to emulate behavior you loathe? That might be a problem no Internet forum can fix.

That statement confirms your intent to continue in uncivil conduct. That’s an interesting duplicity and in direct challenge to the new PA environment.

 

[timcsaw]

So you aspire to emulate behavior you loathe? That might be a problem no Internet forum can fix.

That statement confirms your intent to continue in uncivil conduct. That’s an interesting duplicity and in direct challenge to the new PA environment.

I was talking about this as it regards my in-person treatment of my opponents in the real world... not here. Spark has drawn the lines well and I'm really good at following directions. Fear not.