Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Are House Democrats Reacting Appropriately to Republican "One Party" Rule?

roachboy · 06-16-2005, 07:44 AM

i had included an entire alternate post after about the recent attacks on public broadcasting, but decided (for reasons that escape me now) not to post it.

i could, if it would help shift things to a better level.

but frankly, i am growing tired of this kind of stuff being fobbed off as part of a conversation.

there are persistent complaints about "trolling"--but that post only indirectly is that--but it is a really fine exemplar of what the rest of us are up against when it comes to trying to engage with conservative ideologues.

there is no way to do it: there are no premises that are opened up for discussion. there is no information being transmitted. there is no opening for continuing: one is reduced to either agreeing in toto or opposing in toto: either way, no debate.

the question i had was whether or not to react, knowing that reacting would simply replicate the problem at a certain level.

and that is what happened.
on the one hand: so be it.
on the other: mea culpa.

what do you suggest one do in a situation like this?

my understanding of what the politics board could be is a space for debate, one that extends across political divisions---while the object may or may not be to find some common ground, often what is most interesting is the process of debating itself. it is a kind of exercize in citizenship of a type that is directly under attack from the right, if you see the material host posted and link it to wider moves...which is why i considered posting about the npr thing.

but from time to time, i find it impossible to continue without saying something about the particular board-specific problems that get thrown up in order to shut down debate.

so--again--what do you suggest happen at this point? it think this is a significant problem that--in my view--is often avoided by displacing the whole question onto that of trolling. so put aside the trolling thing, and let me know what you think about this kind of substantive problem.

06-16-2005, 07:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
roachboy Super Moderator Location: essex ma	i had included an entire alternate post after about the recent attacks on public broadcasting, but decided (for reasons that escape me now) not to post it. i could, if it would help shift things to a better level. but frankly, i am growing tired of this kind of stuff being fobbed off as part of a conversation. there are persistent complaints about "trolling"--but that post only indirectly is that--but it is a really fine exemplar of what the rest of us are up against when it comes to trying to engage with conservative ideologues. there is no way to do it: there are no premises that are opened up for discussion. there is no information being transmitted. there is no opening for continuing: one is reduced to either agreeing in toto or opposing in toto: either way, no debate. the question i had was whether or not to react, knowing that reacting would simply replicate the problem at a certain level. and that is what happened. on the one hand: so be it. on the other: mea culpa. what do you suggest one do in a situation like this? my understanding of what the politics board could be is a space for debate, one that extends across political divisions---while the object may or may not be to find some common ground, often what is most interesting is the process of debating itself. it is a kind of exercize in citizenship of a type that is directly under attack from the right, if you see the material host posted and link it to wider moves...which is why i considered posting about the npr thing. but from time to time, i find it impossible to continue without saying something about the particular board-specific problems that get thrown up in order to shut down debate. so--again--what do you suggest happen at this point? it think this is a significant problem that--in my view--is often avoided by displacing the whole question onto that of trolling. so put aside the trolling thing, and let me know what you think about this kind of substantive problem. __________________ a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite Last edited by roachboy; 06-16-2005 at 07:46 AM..