Why the Political Forum?

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
41

[quote]rainjack wrote:
Mufasa -

There is absolutely no denying that this political forum is one of the best around, despite the combative nature of some of the posters.

My question is - why is the discourse down here so much different than that upstairs?

Same guys - different forum - totally different attitudes.[/quote]

I think it is because we are passionate people. Whether it’s passionate about our training, which we are all usually one the same page about. Unless we’re telling someone to shut and eat more and lift heavy.

We are also passionate with our ideals, values, belief systems, and political views. Thus when we start to debate we can get pretty heated and sometimes (me included)childish. I strongly disagree with Thunder, rainman, BB,and some others of the conservative viewpoint, but I honestly have a strong amount of respect for them and their knowledge. I can’t say the same for some others.

I don’t come in here with the desire to do namecalling, but if I feel attacked I’m the type that will attack back. I will try to keep it positive, but hey I’m bizzaro rainjack after all!

42

[quote]BostonBarrister wrote:
I like to be able to take part in discussions without making unecessary ripples in the work place.[/quote]

You forgot the part about being boring! Hell, I fell asleep while reading this. It could have really benefitted from about two or three full page quotes. I know I’m hankerin’ for a page of it.

43

[quote]vroom wrote:
Joe, no problem, call it like you see it. Seriously!

I’m not here so I can act in a way that people like, I’m here to say whatever bullshit I’m saying…[/quote]

and that’s why we love you.

:wink:

(well…I think there might be two or three of us…)

44

[quote]Professor X wrote:
BostonBarrister wrote:
I like to be able to take part in discussions without making unecessary ripples in the work place.

You forgot the part about being boring! Hell, I fell asleep while reading this. It could have really benefitted from about two or three full page quotes. I know I’m hankerin’ for a page of it.[/quote]

WTF??? You lost me prof. Not hard to do, but nonetheless…WTF???

45

Rainjack, WAKE UP!!! Oh, sorry, you must have been slyly sarcastic again, I keep missing that.

46

[quote]vroom wrote:
Obviously I’m one of the fish swimming in the political pool.

While some heat and friction is cool, it would be nice from time to time to actually discuss crap.

It’s frustrating when people quote factoids without really considering the underlying issues. It’s all speaking points. Why bother? We could just watch a channel of choice and get them ourselves if we wanted to.

However, while that is annoying, I really hate it when people go out of their way to twist your words and make you out to be something you aren’t.

Hell, beat on me, call me a shithead, complain because I think too much, whatever the hell you want, just don’t resort to bullshit tactics meant to unfairly descredit someone.

Perhaps we can let the professional politicians stick to that game?

So, Rainjack is a pain in the ass, but he calls them like he see them. I can live with that. Joe excels a being silly and looking for cheap laughs, I can live with that. Jerffy, is usually just plain useless and contributes nothing, though he’s actually taken the time to write a thought from time to time, I hope I get to see more of that.

So why? It’s entertaining. Why not?[/quote]

So

Were the first 5 paragraphs just for ZEB or the rest of us unamed few.

47

Hahahaha, you leave Zeb out of my post, I certainly did. He and I get into enough friction without you stirring us up… :wink:

Sorry you don’t rate special mention yet… soon though, I’m sure.

48

[quote]sasquatch wrote:
vroom wrote:
Obviously I’m one of the fish swimming in the political pool.

While some heat and friction is cool, it would be nice from time to time to actually discuss crap.

It’s frustrating when people quote factoids without really considering the underlying issues. It’s all speaking points. Why bother? We could just watch a channel of choice and get them ourselves if we wanted to.

However, while that is annoying, I really hate it when people go out of their way to twist your words and make you out to be something you aren’t.

Hell, beat on me, call me a shithead, complain because I think too much, whatever the hell you want, just don’t resort to bullshit tactics meant to unfairly descredit someone.

Perhaps we can let the professional politicians stick to that game?

So, Rainjack is a pain in the ass, but he calls them like he see them. I can live with that. Joe excels a being silly and looking for cheap laughs, I can live with that. Jerffy, is usually just plain useless and contributes nothing, though he’s actually taken the time to write a thought from time to time, I hope I get to see more of that.

So why? It’s entertaining. Why not?

So

Were the first 5 paragraphs just for ZEB or the rest of us unamed few.

[/quote]

Hey, come on leave him alone. I liked that post of his. It was a bit meandering, and not as subtle as he thinks, but good.

49

[quote]ZEB wrote:
sasquatch wrote:
vroom wrote:
Obviously I’m one of the fish swimming in the political pool.

While some heat and friction is cool, it would be nice from time to time to actually discuss crap.

It’s frustrating when people quote factoids without really considering the underlying issues. It’s all speaking points. Why bother? We could just watch a channel of choice and get them ourselves if we wanted to.

However, while that is annoying, I really hate it when people go out of their way to twist your words and make you out to be something you aren’t.

Hell, beat on me, call me a shithead, complain because I think too much, whatever the hell you want, just don’t resort to bullshit tactics meant to unfairly descredit someone.

Perhaps we can let the professional politicians stick to that game?

So, Rainjack is a pain in the ass, but he calls them like he see them. I can live with that. Joe excels a being silly and looking for cheap laughs, I can live with that. Jerffy, is usually just plain useless and contributes nothing, though he’s actually taken the time to write a thought from time to time, I hope I get to see more of that.

So why? It’s entertaining. Why not?

So

Were the first 5 paragraphs just for ZEB or the rest of us unamed few.

Hey, come on leave him alone. I liked that post of his. It was a bit meandering, and not as subtle as he thinks, but good.
[/quote]

Wow! Liberal praise from the Zebster!!

50

[quote]vroom wrote:
Hahahaha, you leave Zeb out of my post, I certainly did. He and I get into enough friction without you stirring us up… :wink:

Sorry you don’t rate special mention yet… soon though, I’m sure.[/quote]

Said in jest–of course

Wasn’t really fishin’ for a mention,–but-- if all it takes is a little name callin’ to get on board…

My JW=BS should have been worth something. And you, you liberal libertarian. What the hell, is that some superior moral ultra conservative I see standing over there. And you over there, you all knowing overseer of all that is unjust to our minority population. Why don’t you just bail out some chapter 11 single mother of 12.

Can you here me now–well–can you!

51

[quote]rainjack wrote:
My question is - why is the discourse down here so much different than that upstairs?

Same guys - different forum - totally different attitudes.[/quote]

I think it’s because this is a training website. For the most part, we all agree on the basics of training, weightlifting, bodybuilding, powerlifting, etc. There are aspects of training that we may disagree on, and some of the disagreements do get heated(gear vs raw comes to mind), but the big picture remains the same.

With that in mind, imagine if this were a political website. It would be biased and slanted in one direction or the other. Most people that posted would generally agree on the big picture. Now imagine if this political website had a “training” forum. These same posters would probably disagree about these training issues and stand firm in what they believe is the “best” way to train.

I also think there is just so much more to disagree on down here. And like Elk said, most of us are passionate people.

This is how is see it, rainjack, and I hope it made sense to you.

I’m right and you’re stupid,
Toddy

52

You guys get the distinct feeling that we are just a little passive-agressive?

The last two pages of this thread have been as close to a love fest as I have ever seen.

The last two threads have been about as nasty as they come.

Let me add to the lovefest!!!

I view Makkun and Dean as friends. (I hope they aren’t insulted!!!)

Generally, we don’t see eye to eye on much. But, I do value their opinion.

We’ve learned how to talk to each other. If we leave off “Bush is Hitler” or “All Democrats are bad people” we can have a very interesting discussion.

Oh, all Democrats are bad people!!!

JeffR

53

I come to the political forum to expose the truth to those who can’t handle it; in so doing, I fulfull my urge to dominate while satisfying my funny bone at the endless entertainment provided here.

54

[quote]Al Shades wrote:
I come to the political forum to expose the truth to those who can’t handle it; in so doing, I fulfull my urge to dominate while satisfying my funny bone at the endless entertainment provided here. [/quote]

Does it really count as domination when you’re the only one who thinks so? Shouldn’t domination really be a little more apparent to even the most casual by-stander?

55

Did you know that several billion people used to believe that the earth was flat?

56

[quote]Al Shades wrote:
Did you know that several billion people used to believe that the earth was flat?[/quote]

And your point would be? FYI, at the time that people believed that, there were not several billion people on the planet, but that aside…

It’s easy to believe one dominates if you create a world in your own head where you are clearly right on every point you make… but I think it’s painfully apparent that you have not convinced another soul on these forums of that fact. Your comparison does nothing to bolster your assertion, but is a clever attempt at a diversion. Nicely done.

57

Dominating?

The only thing Al is dominating is that 0.9 of a banana between his legs.

Sigh, isn’t it great when we can all agree on something?

58

I think that this is a excellent point malonetd made:

“…I think it’s because this is a training website. For the most part, we all agree on the basics of training, weightlifting, bodybuilding, powerlifting, etc. There are aspects of training that we may disagree on, and some of the disagreements do get heated (gear vs raw comes to mind), but the big picture remains the same…”

To add to some things others have said… there are two things that I absolutely hate!

They are:

  1. Criticism while offering no alternative input or view (this actually doesn’t happen that much in the Political Forum).

  2. “Rainman” arguments (being “called out” or criticized for something you didn’t say or being characterized as someone you are not because of a viewpoint).

E.G.: Because I may want us (the U.S.) to become serious about alternative fuel sources and gas effeciency (I think that it’s as much a National Security issue as much as Environmental) does not make me a tree-hugging, Liberal Hippie.

Or because I Love the U.S. Military and all their personnel with all my heart does not mean that I’m a Bush loving (as in the President!)/War Mongering Conservative.

Sometimes we can make sweeping assumptions about people that simply are not true.

Mufasa

59

Kuz

Boxing aficianado?

That would be a great right cross–followed by a tremendous uppercut.

I’m guessing that the lapse from Al would mean he just got some sense, and pssibly some humility, knocked into him.

60

AL!!!

Where have you been, Brother???

Mufasa