Politics is taking over again (page 4)

Guest 77

'Keep politics within reason.' Just about anything and everything can be turned into politics. Who said, 'Politics makes for strange bedfellows?'

Guest 77

czarofmischief

we've forgotten how to debate in this country, too (although I fess I have no clue how it's done in England)

I've seen it on Parliamentary broadcasts while I was in England. Two guys stand at podiums, facing off, with their supporters behind them. Every time one of them says something clever, their supporters grunt in unison. Sometimes, when the clever remark is too offensive, the opposing team will boo.

That's kind of how it works here. Two people start squaring off, and the rest either cheer or boo in support of their side.

I just enjoy having political opinions so much - having been forced to sit to the side for so long - that I get excited. If I've ever said anything that's overly offensive, I apologize. I respectfully submit that I assumed, from experience, that the rules about mudslinging were more relaxed on political threads than others. It is the excitement of debate that gets me going, and maybe I'm not too good at it, having little experience in either having opinions or defending them. Maybe we should have an official political question every day, one that everyone can chip in on???

CZAR

tink

just enjoy having political opinions so much - having been forced to sit to the side for so long - that I get excited.

this is the crux of the whole issue to me. having been a witness my entire life, i was never allowed to have political views, and i know that's probably the case with a lot of people here. in a way political discussion is very much an ex-JW issue. some of us are able to form and defend our political beliefs for the first time on this board, and i think that's kind of essential. granted, the political threads do tend to get a little snipey, but i think snipiness in general is what should be avoided. just my $.02.

SanFranciscoJim

Simon,

I participate in some of the political threads, but not all of them. As a former Jehovah's Witness, I feel it refreshing to be able to speak my mind and participate in matters of "Caesar". Many of the participants on this board have polarized opinions on this topic, some of whom are very vocal about them.

I don't participate on every politically-based thread because quite frankly, I get exasperated at the narrow-mindedness of some of the participants. I am willing to engage in thoughtful discussion with anyone who is willing to present their opinions in an intelligent and tolerant manner. I have, in fact, recently discovered common ground with some of the more hard-line right-wingers here, and do not hesitate to tell them I agree with them when I do.

Some threads, unfortunately, degenerate from intelligent discussion into childish barb-throwing. I don't see the point of continuing to participate in such threads. I have better things to do with my time.

Expression of our individual opinions -- political, religious or otherwise -- is a freedom we were not allowed when we were a part of the Organization. Perhaps a forum could be created specifically for political debate, rather than having these topics haphazardly pop up throughout the board's other forums.

Phantom Stranger

So, Simon, should my take-away from this be "Talk about politics, but don't be a jerk"?

Because, if so, maybe we could shorten it to "Don't be a jerk."

Englishman

I think that the concern is to do with someone having a political agenda which is the dominating force in all of their posts. In other words, it's not about people discussing political matters animatedly or even heatedly, it's about political post bombing .

We call it a "Party Political Broadcast", it's only on the telly or the radio.

Englishman.