People don't listen when you talk to them. Ever notice that?
The silence while you are speaking isn't listening. The other guy is just waiting for his turn.
Take Perry, as an example. He jumps in with both feet and starts a debate. But, he doesn't read what you post. He overlooks your answers. He characterizes you in unflattering language and moves on to the next post. He's everywhere but he's never really IN A DISCUSSION.
All over the Discussion Groups there are identical arguments going on with NOBODY LISTENING and EVERYBODY TALKING.
Hit and Run debate is a big pastime in the world.
The most popular radio shows are commentators spewing anger, criticism, polemic poison. People listen!
If a caller calls in with a contrary point of view the host lashes out, bullies them, controls the "conversation" and cuts them off. Then, a one-sided harangue continues with the caller unable to respond!
Can any of this be good for us?
The best use of a Discussion Board is to HEAR what others are thinking and to expose ourselves to OTHER ideas.
If we only agree with what we ALREADY BELIEVE we never grow.
Remember, we are all guilty of our own narrow thinking. We all do it. We try to drown out dissent because being wrong really hurts.
But we must be vigilant. Else we become what we hate in others: adamant ideology disguised as thinking.
You have to be willing to wrong to be honest.
You have to be willing to listen and think BEFORE you respond.
Without this, the discussion boards are just puppet shows; a Punch and Judy pastiche of time-worn cliche's.
Keep discussion alive, thinking open, dialogue honest, ego tucked away and readiness to admit error in the forefront.
Otherwise, we are all wasting our time.