I'm just exhausted. I have a policy of not opening threads along the line of "Hey look what these stupid/racist/women-hating tea-baggers did," which means on a day like today, I don't find much of interest. I don't mean to be martyrish, but those threads are about scoring a few Republicans-are-dumb points, and I've got better things to do.
I also think the board is just dumber than it used to be. The "Rape is just another form of conception" thread is a recent example. Basically a bunch of pearl clutching over quotes that didn't even happen, no interest in looking at actual primary sources--just accepting whatever spin from whatever crap news source you use and fretting about it in--yes--a circle jerk.
The threads I enjoy are the ones that use primary sources, spreadsheets, data, etc.--those are the ones that elevate the conversation. But those require time and effort and thought, and there don't seem to be many people around here interested in that anymore.
I'm sad because I have really enjoyed this board in the past and with a few exceptions I generally don't much anymore. But it is what it is. I don't know how you change that culture, and frankly I think the dumb point-scoring, closed minded folks are the majority at this point, and they don't get called out on their shit by the remaining smart people. Maybe it'll get better once the election is behind us, but I agree that it's the regs this time, not an influx of partisan newbies.
I'll also add that Emmy and I have discoursed about this before - I set the bar higher for what I'd like to see as the tone of our discussions, and she thinks I'm crazy since it's just the internet. So there's the backstory on that, and she & I will have to continue to agree to disagree, since she insists that being rude and mean is a-OK on the internet, regardless of forum. I disagree.
Actually, I think its ok to be "rude and mean" when someone is a massengill dripping Cuntwitch 6 days a week, then on the 7th, cries about how horrible the level of discourse is and how badly "her kind" are treated. All other times are on a case by case basis.
Sometimes I really do wonder what is going on with you. And sorry, I will not be crying today - at least, not for you.
its funny you called out the rape thread y4m, b/c you did the same thing in another thread, as in you made the jump from the headline to the article and was all "he totally said that" since it was one of your guys on in the article.
since we are all about the call outs now
Is this going to be like the call out of Caden earlier where you misremembered?
Actually, I think its ok to be "rude and mean" when someone is a massengill dripping Cuntwitch 6 days a week, then on the 7th, cries about how horrible the level of discourse is and how badly "her kind" are treated. All other times are on a case by case basis.
Sometimes I really do wonder what is going on with you. And sorry, I will not be crying today - at least, not for you.
I don't know how you change that culture, and frankly I think the dumb point-scoring, closed minded folks are the majority at this point, and they don't get called out on their shit by the remaining smart people.
Like I said, filter the noise and respond to the substance.
Unless someone refers to someone else having a "twatcreamed face." Then I'll say something about the noise.
The threads I enjoy are the ones that use primary sources, spreadsheets, data, etc.--those are the ones that elevate the conversation. But those require time and effort and thought, and there don't seem to be many people around here interested in that anymore.
I don't think it's that people aren't interested in that, but it does require time that maybe a lot of people don't have.
I'll fess up to posting brief snarky comments in threads because it's much quicker to do that than to write something more substantive or finding credible links to post. I should do less of that.
I feel about those what a lot of people feel about economics threads. I know when I'm out of my depth.
I know. Which is why I end up talking to myself a lot. Or people read and wander away depressed (like I do with the economics threads).
I wander away depressed if it's yet another article about how our oceans are fucked. Yeah, they are, thanks for reminding me. I feel powerless to fix it, so I just cry. Not much to say about it.
I know. Which is why I end up talking to myself a lot. Or people read and wander away depressed (like I do with the economics threads).
I wander away depressed if it's yet another article about how our oceans are fucked. Yeah, they are, thanks for reminding me. I feel powerless to fix it, so I just cry. Not much to say about it.
I'll fess up to posting brief snarky comments in threads because it's much quicker to do that than to write something more substantive or finding credible links to post. I should do less of that.
I know that you probably don't want back pats, Dylanite.
But I think a lot of the posters here do like aspect of others agreeing them, or virtually high fiving them... you know, a pat on the back, saying "way to go, you're so right!" I don't think that fits your personality here, though, so don't worry, I won't be trying to give out any pats on the back to you. I hope no one else does either.
See, this right here is fucking obnoxious. It can't be that they just happen to have the same idea or position or mindset of the other people, it HAS to be because they want a bunch of internet people to give them props for thinking the same way they do. ETA: And if they're not looking for backpats, then they're just assholes who shouldn't even be getting backpats in the first place.
I never said anyone was faking their opinions on here. I think its human nature to enjoy when people agree with you or tell you your snarky comment was oh-so-funny. Or that you're so smart - whatever it is.
My point is that in its current state, this board is on the road to being a place where people just agree with each other, pat each other on the back and randomly get stink bombs from lys/sis. Maybe if the board is lucky, they'll get a 10 pager about religion from AW. It's just not conducive to a thoughtful debate, which I thought was the point.
And that's fine if that's what people want. I don't care - I'll come for what I like and leave what I don't. I just thought the whole point of the board was to debate current events/politics. The current situation here is pretty much a debate ender.
Part of it might be a numbers thing. Part of it might be the general tone of the country right now. I'm certainly not saying it's only because of ONE thing, ONE poster, etc. Just that there's not much of a point to come here for debate, IMO.
I'm just exhausted. I have a policy of not opening threads along the line of "Hey look what these stupid/racist/women-hating tea-baggers did," which means on a day like today, I don't find much of interest. I don't mean to be martyrish, but those threads are about scoring a few Republicans-are-dumb points, and I've got better things to do.
I also think the board is just dumber than it used to be. The "Rape is just another form of conception" thread is a recent example. Basically a bunch of pearl clutching over quotes that didn't even happen, no interest in looking at actual primary sources--just accepting whatever spin from whatever crap news source you use and fretting about it in--yes--a circle jerk.
The threads I enjoy are the ones that use primary sources, spreadsheets, data, etc.--those are the ones that elevate the conversation. But those require time and effort and thought, and there don't seem to be many people around here interested in that anymore.
I'm sad because I have really enjoyed this board in the past and with a few exceptions I generally don't much anymore. But it is what it is. I don't know how you change that culture, and frankly I think the dumb point-scoring, closed minded folks are the majority at this point, and they don't get called out on their shit by the remaining smart people. Maybe it'll get better once the election is behind us, but I agree that it's the regs this time, not an influx of partisan newbies.
I dumb. I don't understand spreadsheets and the like. Like I said earlier, explain to me how that spreadsheet mumbojumbo is going to help my mother get her needs met, and we can talk.
I think if you want to discuss something, just keep posting it until it sticks. No one touches my Israel/Palestine posts except TTT, marie, and IIOY, but I post them anyway.
You know what I'm pissed about? That no one ever wants to talk about environmental issues with me.
I feel about those what a lot of people feel about economics threads. I know when I'm out of my depth.
Real Talk. *in my Kanye West voice* The spreadsheet was cool and all, but I'm generally not pleased when it becomes LOOK NUMBERS - Class Dismissed.
Like seriously, I still have a serious side-eye about the notion that all states with a higher min wage have a higher unemployment rate, when I pointed out that 10 states throws that whole gambit off kilter. I'm not doing stats everyday, so my stats are rusty. Thanks for reminding me of that politely, but I still maintain you can't just say - oh well that's just going to happen. You silly people don't know enough stats so, let's just blow your questioning away with, well numbers here there and everywhere and I win.
In other words, it cuts both ways. And while I totally get that everyone isn't concerned about social injustice, it's not fair to also say, well we don't get to discuss it because other folks don't want to chime in.
ETA: Not concerned with isn't what I mean. Rather, it's not a dominate issue driving your voting patterns.
I wander away depressed if it's yet another article about how our oceans are fucked. Yeah, they are, thanks for reminding me. I feel powerless to fix it, so I just cry. Not much to say about it.
::Holds hands with sibil and sways::
There's ways you can fix it, but it includes electing officials willing to change the way corporations are run environmentally (including fining/taxing for generating waste pre and post production). Which leads to a bigger discussion of capitalism, big government, and yes, economics (at which point I get fuzzy and Y4M hands me my ass).
There's ways you can fix it, but it includes electing officials willing to change the way corporations are run environmentally (including fining/taxing for generating waste pre and post production). Which leads to a bigger discussion of capitalism, big government, and yes, economics (at which point I get fuzzy and Y4M hands me my ass).
and I do this. I guess the feeling of despair is that all my voting and donating are not helping the change happen at a rate as fast as the oceans are dying. And it's everywhere and I only have so much mental bandwidth. Sometimes playing ostrich is the only way I can function.
You know what I'm pissed about? That no one ever wants to talk about environmental issues with me.
I actually have a poli sci degree with a specialization in environmental politics. BUT - most of my studies were in a Canadian context so I find that they are probably irrelevent to 50%+ of the environmental law/policy stuff that comes up on this board.
AND since my other specialization was Canadian politics, most people here would get bored
I did some politics of tourism electives that were fascinating though.