Is anyone else getting fed up with our Politics Forum?

Question

Am I alone in seeing that it's been taken over by trolls, clones, conspiracies theorists, people with muliple Id's, who merely show up to bash, and 'gangs' who freely hand out violations to shut up the opposition? How about the daily dose of hateful atheists? I have friends who are atheists and they'd never consider behaving like these people do.

Does anyone know of any decent sites that allow REAL debate? I'm going to begin participating less because I can no longer stomach the trolls and hate mongers.

ndgbill, I am far from being a religious zealot. I believe in a higher power but don't support organized religion.

blueridge, I know. It's both sides and I'd never dispute that.

Answer 1

One of the reasons I'm fed up is because I have often taken considerable time to give a well-reasoned, convincing response to a question. I provided links, gave overwhelming evidence to support my answer, and proved with facts and logic the merits of my argument. Instead of getting Best Answer, I'd get all these thumbs down, and watched in dismay as the 10 points went to some airhead who wrote, "You're so right! You go, girl". Pathetic, isn't it?

I've seen questions where I totalled up that 100 people voted on a question. Obviously, this is just massive fraud, but Yahoo! Answers does nothing.

Nutcases like "Nancy" (I think she finally gave up having her 50 aliases deleted) pop up all the time. This venue sometimes seems like some mutual congratulatory society of Left wingers.

I have twice gotten violations for the most innocuous things. One was absolutely ridiculous, and to prove my contention, I reposted the "offensive" statement in several answers, none of which were deleted. It's just hateful Libs who can't stand to see the truth. It frightens them.

Don't give up on this forum. You might get some inspiration listening to the RUSH song, "The Pass". A snippet of the lyrics are:

"It's not as if this barricade
Blocks the only road
It's not as if you're all alone
In wanting to explode.

Someone set a bad example
Made surrender seem all right
The act of a noble warrior
Who lost the will to fight."

We need people like you here. Rational people are in the minority here, while illogical, raving Libs seem to pour out of the cracks in the wall like cockroaches in a Pensacola cottage on a hot summer day.

We need all the ammunition we can muster. Don't give up the good fight.

Answer 2

I think it's less about Y/A than it is the Internet in general.

It has become a vehicle for those who are ignored in their real lives and find a captive audience here.

If they get ignored here too, they might go away but they will be quickly replaced.

I have been on several different formats, chat rooms, message boards etc. It's the same all over, no better no worse so I hesitate to make any recommendations.

At least here you can form your thoughts into words and finish it. In the Chat rooms, when they feel they are on the wrong end of a debate they either change it to a fight or change the subject completely. Here you can also supply sources to support your argument without being banned for advertising.

So.....nothing is so bad it can't get worse. Have fun with it when you can.

Edward R Murrow:
"Just because your voice reaches around the world now does not mean you are any wiser then when it only reached the end of the bar"

Answer 3

One of the reasons I'm fed up is because I have often taken considerable time to give a well-reasoned, convincing response to a question. I provided links, gave overwhelming evidence to support my answer, and proved with facts and logic the merits of my argument. Instead of getting Best Answer, I'd get all these thumbs down, and watched in dismay as the 10 points went to some airhead who wrote, You're so right! You go, girl. Pathetic, isn't it? I've seen questions where I totalled up that 100 people voted on a question. Obviously, this is just massive fraud, but Yahoo! Answers does nothing. Nutcases like Nancy (I think she finally gave up having her 50 aliases deleted) pop up all the time. This venue sometimes seems like some mutual congratulatory society of Left wingers. I have twice gotten violations for the most innocuous things. One was absolutely ridiculous, and to prove my contention, I reposted the offensive statement in several answers, none of which were deleted. It's just hateful Libs who can't stand to see the truth. It frightens them. Don't give up on this forum. You might get some inspiration listening to the RUSH song, The Pass. A snippet of the lyrics are: It's not as if this barricade Blocks the only road It's not as if you're all alone In wanting to explode. Someone set a bad example Made surrender seem all right The act of a noble warrior Who lost the will to fight. We need people like you here. Rational people are in the minority here, while illogical, raving Libs seem to pour out of the cracks in the wall like cockroaches in a Pensacola cottage on a hot summer day. We need all the ammunition we can muster. Don't give up the good fight.

Answer 4

I am a conservative. It is my wish to persuade those who are not. I agree, sometimes it can feel like swimming against the tide but somebody has to do it. Among the obvious trolls are some, not so obvious misguided young people. They have probably never heard anyone oppose the mantra they have been indoctrinated with. It is these that I would like to reach.

I honestly believe America cannot succeed if the current socialist form of liberalism is not opposed. So, despite the slings and arrows, the insults and unfair characterizations, I refuse to leave the battlefield to the enemy. l have been around a long time. I know how socialism works. I have seen the evil it can cause.

The body politic has been infected with the virus of socialism. I am an antibody.

.

Answer 5

if we had less of the "why do liberals do..." and "why do conservatives do..." questions, there may not be a reason to come here anymore at all. That seems to make up the majority of the questions over here, unfortunately.

Some of those types of questions tend to send me into a blind rage and I have BOTH liberal and conservative views, on various topics. It is truy amazing that some people are so loyal to their beliefs that they won't even bother to read comments from the opposition which DON'T bash... if they know the person has different beliefs than they do, they either block them or give them an automatic thumbs-down whenever they see them answer.

The world is not black and white and some people on here need to grow up and realize that.

Now, in regards to the religion aspect... you forget to mention that there are hateful Christians as well as hateful atheists. The world is not comprised simply of Christians, Muslims, and atheists. And many atheists and agnostics I know are more moral than many Christians I know. It's as if they feel that by not being trapped by the Commandments, they seem to be better followers of them. Religion should not dictate how one feels about issues. Maybe it could be used as a guideline, but it should not be the determining factor. That is a problem I see with our current people in power... they see things in black and white. Good and evil.

I do not. Which is why I choose to not be partial to either party, or either the liberal or conservative affiliation.

I have agreed with you in the past on some issues. That may shock you...

But agreeing and disagreeing aren't the resemblance of good and evil.

What I wish people here would do is to ask questions about issues, not with intentions to just attack the other side. If our government can't be productive in talking about issues... well, why can't we be so?

Heck... maybe we could even find a compromise on some things.

Answer 6

I am not fed up with it. I usually leave a forum when it isn't working for me, but the politics forum is a demonstration of a very interesting social experiment where we can observe and interact on a very uniquely different level. I don't care who "gets the Best Answer," (trolls, clones, gangs, etc.) or how crazy people's ideas can be (conspiracy, etc.) or even if they can send me "violations." I don't respond in a manner which invites people to do that, and I don't receive them either (1 or 2 times max). When I did receive them, I dismissed them promptly as a diverging opinion.

Don't worry about "debate." Just listen and learn. And only share your wisdom when you are sure that at least one person will learn something good from it (namely, yourself). People will hate, and that is their nature, but you can understand and forgive, and thus revoke the power of their hate upon you so that it has no negative effect on you at all. Do not pity them in their self-induced suffering either, for every person must endure the consequences of their own choices.

Answer 7

Not at all. Trolls are a fact of life in any online forum. Deal with it. Wherever innovators begin, the ignorant masses eventually follow. The very first online bulletin boards were under the complete domain of intelligent debaters who used them for geniune debate and exchanging of ideas. With the expansion of the internet, everyone has access and the "lower-caste" (trolls, clones, hackers, spammers, etc.) have made it their goal to make everyone else's life miserable. The more people draw attention onto them (such as with questions like these), the more rabid and emboldened the trolls become. If you truly feel they have become a burden on you personally, feel free to go elsewhere, such as another site that is more protective and restrictive. Otherwise, just ignore them!

P.S. If you really think that this is just limited to online forums, think again. Go to any political gathering in the country and you'll find real-life versions of trolls and hacks who dissiminate disinformation and propaganda in order to rile up the masses.

Answer 8

Some nights I only find a few good questions to answer. People need to find the right category for their questions, and leave the politics to the ones who care about the government. Most people don't even read the whole question. I'm also tired of hearing the same old questions, who should be our next president? Who are you voting for president? Who is running for president? What planet have these people been on for the last year? I would love some real questions and discussions on this forum.

Answer 9

Im with you girlfriend. You asked for a site then you shall receive a site. Go to newdawnmagazine.com and nexusmagazine.com Im sure you will find all the information you need right there to all your questions. Also visit www.xango.com and when your done reading and researching all the info let me know how you went. 5 stars would be nice. Cheers girlfriend. And remember your not alone with your thoughts in dialogue. Good reading! And have a great day.

Answer 10

The trolls aren't a problem for me....they're easy to spot and ignore. The issue that I have is all of the people who participate with closed minds and a vicious hatred for all those who have opposing views. There are many good discussions to be had about the conspiracies surrounding many of the countries issues, but these people get labelled as crazies and no one listens to anything they say...they are dismissed offhand. So blind are people to the potentially good ideas coming from the 'other side' that they sling mud and don't pay attention to the message. Its a childish game from a schoolyard at best...

As for real debate sites...if you find one, please let me know...