i just had a look at the general political discussion

[zorra_chiflada]

and noticed that there are quite a few, right-wing, republican loving, god-fearing backwater hicks there.
are these folks for real? at first i thought, of course not. this is a fan board for the beastie boys, and those kind of creatures wouldn't listen to the beastie boys. but maybe they are?
who here frequents the political forum and has an opinion about this? i find it perplexing.

[P of R]

Sadly I think they are for real.

And I don't think they're all into the Bboys. They're just trying to "convert some commies" or something.

[zorra_chiflada]

Originally Posted by P of R

Sadly I think they are for real.

And I don't think they're all into the Bboys. They're just trying to "convert some commies" or something.

oh really? looking out for "the reds under the bed"?
how lame. they should go back to sitting on their porch and going to church or whatever the fuck they do.

[ms.peachy]

Who knows why they go there? I've ceased to care very much. I used to enjoy that forum a bit but I hardly ever go in there any more as there is almost never any real 'discussion' that goes on in there, just a handful of egomaniacal extremists digging in their heels and screaming for attention. There are a handful of decent folks in there who are capable of rational discourse, and occasionally there is a thread that becomes an interesting exchange of views, but mostly it's a big screechy circle jerk.

[Rancid_Beasties]

Originally Posted by zorra_chiflada

and noticed that there are quite a few, right-wing, republican loving, god-fearing backwater hicks there.
are these folks for real? at first i thought, of course not. this is a fan board for the beastie boys, and those kind of creatures wouldn't listen to the beastie boys. but maybe they are?
who here frequents the political forum and has an opinion about this? i find it perplexing.

I have oft thought the same thing. But then when I asked them about it, they said some bullshit like "ohh I liked the beastie boys when they were a-political like around LTI and PB". I think they are all feds spying on us making lists of all the commies so they can arrest them and beat the info out of them re osama and such bullshit.

[zorra_chiflada]

Originally Posted by Rancid_Beasties

I think they are all feds spying on us making lists of all the commies so they can arrest them and beat the info out of them re osama and such bullshit.

i wouldn't be surprised.

[Qdrop]

there are actually only 2 GOP lovers on that section: gmsisko and valvano.

that's really it.

i'm not sure what you are talking about....

that section is 95% liberal cirlce jerking....

with just a few like myself who are centrists or independants...

[zorra_chiflada]

Originally Posted by Qdrop

there are actually only 2 GOP lovers on that section: gmsisko and valvano.

that's really it.

i'm not sure what you are talking about....

that section is 95% liberal cirlce jerking....

with just a few like myself who are centrists or independants...

oh, i thought there were more. but i've never posted there or anything, so i'm no authority. i just had a glance at a few threads, and was very surprised at the far-right opinions of a few folks - and equally surprised that people would bother replying to them.

[Rancid_Beasties]

Originally Posted by Qdrop

there are actually only 2 GOP lovers on that section: gmsisko and valvano.

But they totally spam every thread. And if you just went in there once, you could misinterpret a few other people as being more right wing than they actually are (hint, hint )

[zorra_chiflada]

i need to get zount back in there and posting.

[avignon]

I don't go in there. I always assumed that it was just Qdrop shouting at everyone.

[Documad]

It's funny to me because there are so many smart people on this board who have interesting perspectives and seems like only a couple of them post in there. I don't think it's because of any of the frequent posters' political philosophy really. For me, it's the posting style. People either just call you an idiot, or they spam you with shit they read on some other site. And if you seriously ask them a question that defeats their argument, they just pretend not to see it.

I belong to one other music board where the members are not anywhere near as smart as the people here, but their political forum is 10 times better. You get personal opinions and personal experience, and even some humor.

[zorra_chiflada]

Originally Posted by Documad

It's funny to me because there are so many smart people on this board who have interesting perspectives and seems like only a couple of them post in there. I don't think it's because of any of the frequent posters' political philosophy really. For me, it's the posting style. People either just call you an idiot, or they spam you with shit they read on some other site. And if you seriously ask them a question that defeats their argument, they just pretend not to see it.

I belong to one other music board where the members are not anywhere near as smart as the people here, but their political forum is 10 times better. You get personal opinions and personal experience, and even some humor.

i know what you mean. i have very strong political opinions and can contribute to in-depth political discussions in real life, but i avoid the political forum like the plague. mostly because i know that i can't defend myself in that kind of argument, with quotes and sources and stuff like that.

[Documad]

Originally Posted by zorra_chiflada

i know what you mean. i have very strong political opinions and can contribute to in-depth political discussions in real life, but i avoid the political forum like the plague. mostly because i know that i can't defend myself in that kind of argument, with quotes and sources and stuff like that.

There are quotes and sources from crap internet sites that support any position. It's not interesting. It's not readable. I would never cite them myself.

I'd rather hear the heartfelt opinions and personal experience of smart people from all over the world. It's a real shame we can't have that here.

[ms.peachy]

It just gets really annoying in there. I've realised I much prefer arguing politics and setting the world to rights in person with my mates down at the pub, anyway - you can fight and slag eachother off, and then go buy a round and all's well. Plus also then people have to look you in the eyes when they say stuff and actually be able to defend their position on the spot, which is something most of the people on the bbp couldn't bear to do, even if they did manage to a) muster up the guts to crawl away from the computer and out of their parent's basement and b) find some actual mates to go to the pub with.

[Rancid_Beasties]

Originally Posted by zorra_chiflada

i know what you mean.

No. You really don't. Wheres the evidence of you knowing. Write me a report or quote a reputable source

i have very strong political opinions

Pfft. Pinko.

the plague.

Never happened. Show me the photos. Show me the primary evidence. You need to earn my respect with copius amounts of quotes from websites before I believe anything you say! Idiot!

stuff like that.

This is just another reason why nothing you say has any validity. This is not a forum you should enter lightly. Everything you say is under scrutiny. "Stuff" is not an appropriate word unless you hyperlink it to a site/thesis explaining that "stuff"

[zorra_chiflada]

^HAHAHAH!! that was a very good impression!

[Qdrop]

Originally Posted by avignon

I don't go in there. I always assumed that it was just Qdrop shouting at everyone.

and what happens when you assume?....

[Qdrop]

Originally Posted by zorra_chiflada

i have very strong political opinions and can contribute to in-depth political discussions in real life,

then you should be able to do this:

defend myself in that kind of argument, with quotes and sources and stuff like that.

[avignon]

I find out later that my assumption was correct?

[Documad]

Originally Posted by ms.peachy

It just gets really annoying in there. I've realised I much prefer arguing politics and setting the world to rights in person with my mates down at the pub, anyway - you can fight and slag eachother off, and then go buy a round and all's well. Plus also then people have to look you in the eyes when they say stuff and actually be able to defend their position on the spot, which is something most of the people on the bbp couldn't bear to do, even if they did manage to a) muster up the guts to crawl away from the computer and out of their parent's basement and b) find some actual mates to go to the pub with.

I don't want to be mean, but since you know them better than I do: I get an image in my mind of a spotty teen boy who doesn't dare raise his hand in class and argue a point with a teacher, but who listens to talk radio or browses internet sites and copies something someone else said.

There are some really interesting people who do post in there though. I don't know how they put up with it.

I have lots of friends to discuss world events with, but it would be fun to hear from people from other countries.

[Qdrop]

Originally Posted by Documad

There are quotes and sources from crap internet sites that support any position. It's not interesting. It's not readable. I would never cite them myself.

I'd rather hear the heartfelt opinions and personal experience of smart people from all over the world. It's a real shame we can't have that here.

it's called VALIDITY.
it's essential. otherwise, what makes your stance any more worth while than the next blowhard.

you need facts and sources....you need to do research...

[zorra_chiflada]

Originally Posted by Qdrop

it's called VALIDITY.
it's essential. otherwise, what makes your stance any more worth while than the next blowhard.

you need facts and sources....you need to do research...

yeah, but what documad was saying, was that just because there is a "source" on the internet, doesn't make it valid, y'know?

[synch]

At first I thought it was interesting to exchange views with people, educational even.

It's too bad that some people tend to use texts that prove them right as the law instead of looking at the facts, figures and/or independant sources.

In a discussion about abortions anything quoted from the bible or http://www.women-who-have-abortions-...ot-in-hell.com has absolutely zero meaning to me.

[avignon]

I don't understand why someone can't just simply state their views, express their opinions about issues without quoting sources. Most of my opinions don't come from resources. Certain discussions can invoke thoughts or ideas or feelings about topics without me spending hours of research justifying my response. Does this make the respond less "valid"?

[ms.peachy]

Originally Posted by Documad

I don't want to be mean, but since you know them better than I do: I get an image in my mind of a spotty teen boy who doesn't dare raise his hand in class and argue a point with a teacher, but who listens to talk radio or browses internet sites and copies something someone else said.

There are some really interesting people who do post in there though. I don't know how they put up with it.

I have lots of friends to discuss world events with, but it would be fun to hear from people from other countries.

Well obviously I was overgeneralising a bit, but yeah I do get the feeling that that's pretty accurate for a good percentge of the regular inhabitants - your description seems pretty apt really.

There are of course some very interesting people in there as well to be sure, it's just that sometimes (usually) you have to put on hip waders to get through to the really thought-provoking posts.

I guess I am lucky in that since I live in a place where people from all of the world come together, I can get that kind of perspective you're talking about in everyday situations. But I can see how if that wasn't the case it would be nice to be able to have proper political discussions with people from other places here at the bb site. Unfortunately though, it just seems sometimes like its a pack of rabid dogs in the political forum much of the time.

[Rancid_Beasties]

Originally Posted by Qdrop

it's called VALIDITY.
it's essential. otherwise, what makes your stance any more worth while than the next blowhard.

you need facts and sources....you need to do research...

An opinion doesnt need to be validated. Its an opinion. Its not fact. A fact needs validity. Not an opinion. Just for you political forumers

I personally would rather hear peoples opinions than be bombarded with statistics. I hate statistics. They are boring and objective. They dont take into account the human factors. I prefer to hear about peoples passions towards certain injustices, for certain causes, etc rather than knowing about the exact numbers regarding those injustices. It might just be me though.

[synch]

Originally Posted by Mae

I find that many of the arguments are less about politics and more about religion and morals.

Unfortunatly the distinction between religion and politics has faded lately.

[synch]

You are wrong and I'll tell you why.


I miss atoz

[ms.peachy]

Originally Posted by Rancid_Beasties

An opinion doesnt need to be validated. Its an opinion. Its not fact. A fact needs validity. Not an opinion.

The problem is that an awful lot of people are incapable of differentiating between what is factual, and what is simply their opinion.

Personally I find it much easier to respect someone's opinion if they can substantiate to some degree why they hold it. I don't have to agree with them, but if they can't at least give me some basis for the opinion they hold, then there is nothing to discuss, and then what is the fucking point of being in a discussion forum if you have nothing to dicuss, if you just want to say "Well, that's my opinion and that's the end of it"?