2008 Election

[auntie aubrey]

^ in my experience it's difficult for all parties to disengage themselves enough from a political topic to be truly philosophical. inevitably the philosophical mode of speech is really just a cloak and in the end it's still a political discussion with all the associated opining and disagreement.

i'm not saying it can't be civil discourse. i'm just pointing out the obvious: it's the internet. and it's politics. that pairing frequently doesn't go together as well as, say, chocolate and peanut butter.

it takes a good commitment on everyone's part to make the effort to couch opinions in respectful language. to not behave as though one's opinion is the obvious answer and those who don't see it are either blind or stupid.

i think this community is perfectly capable of handling it. but i'm also one of a more recent generation of posters who has only heard whispers of past dramatics. i wouldn't assume it was my place to shoehorn a political debate into free chat without making sure the rest of the community was on board.

[Anna]

Originally Posted by Hyakujo's Fox

I suppose one could discuss a topic philosophically rather than politically, if you're really desperate.

I really Kant

[Anna]

[Hyakujo's Fox]

Originally Posted by Anna

I really Kant

They ought to Locke you up for that one.

[auntie aubrey]

[Marcus Bales]

Originally Posted by Anna

hmm…
Before I lay my argument out; *and show all the holes in yours, I have a few questions I’d like to ask before hand.
1. will anything I say politically really make a difference or have you already made up your mind?
2. does this board really want to pursue the timbre that goes along with a political discussion?

For the most part, it seems to me, arguing about politics in public is not really about trying to convince or persuade one's interlocutor, but rather about trying to persuade the uncommitted bystanders. If we can start from that, it helps all the posters to maintain a civil attitude and tone, because it's something we can all agree, I think, that deviations from civil attitude and tone are serious turn-offs for the uncommitted bystanders.

So In answer to #1 I'll say it's remotely possible you may change my mind, or me yours, but that that's scarcely the point. The point is whether we can, any of us, sway the uncommitted bystanders -- and for the most part, we'll never know if we have or haven't because it's the nature of uncommitted bystanders to lurk instead of participate.

As for #2, well, even if only you and I, Anna, find the topic interesting, why shouldn't we discuss it as we please? I certainly don't read all the threads, and I don't imagine that everyone who's signed up on the Zefrank board reads everything I've ever posted! One of the interesting things about the bulletin board system is that people can and do pick and choose among the topics.

[Marcus Bales]

Originally Posted by Hyakujo's Fox

They ought to Locke you up for that one.

You get bad Marx for that because you left your conclusion up in the Ayer.

[Anna]

For the most part, it seems to me, arguing about politics in public is not really about trying to convince or persuade one's interlocutor, but rather about trying to persuade the uncommitted bystanders. If we can start from that, it helps all the posters to maintain a civil attitude and tone, because it's something we can all agree, I think, that deviations from civil attitude and tone are serious turn-offs for the uncommitted bystanders.

So In answer to #1 I'll say it's remotely possible you may change my mind, or me yours, but that that's scarcely the point. The point is whether we can, any of us, sway the uncommitted bystanders -- and for the most part, we'll never know if we have or haven't because it's the nature of uncommitted bystanders to lurk instead of participate.

That’s no fun, less I’m getting paid or I like you lots. Plus Current Events is gone and I prefer skating on thick ice.

As for #2, well, even if only you and I, Anna, find the topic interesting, why shouldn't we discuss it as we please? I certainly don't read all the threads, and I don't imagine that everyone who's signed up on the Zefrank board reads everything I've ever posted! One of the interesting things about the bulletin board system is that people can and do pick and choose among the topics.

You sure about that?

[brightpearl]

Originally Posted by Anna

I really Kant

Originally Posted by Hyakujo's Fox

They ought to Locke you up for that one.

overcome by the fumes of two excellent puns, brightpearl is forced to lie down.