Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Why Is It That There Is No Discussion on Politics Threads?

pig · 11-01-2006, 07:47 AM

Of course it won't be light aberkok, but I think that when everyone comes to the politics board guns blazing looking for a pissing match, it's sort of disingenous to act surprised when you get peed on. It certainly isn't just host, but host was the one asking the question. In the specific case of host's posting style, while it doesn't bother me in the least - I think its false to try to state that it doesn't hinder discussion. I'm not saying its good or bad, but facts is facts. I'd guess that more quick exerpts and hyperlinking might work better, but maybe the articles aren't available for extended periods of time, etc. I think an approach that draws people in, and entices them to follow your links would work better for host. If someone just wants to start the discussion with a short, bare bones cut of his point, that might get more people into the discussion.

2. Everyone on TFPolitics pretty much: you know how the people who "disagree" with you respond. You can almost write the response for them. The graham cracker thread demonstrated that. So why not skip it? As I said before, if you want people to engage you, you make to make yourself engageable. I'm not making this shit up off the the top of my head. Its middle school behavior stuff.

Johnny: why won't the other kids play with me?
Guidance Counselor person: do you make yourself approachable? Do you make eye contact? Do you start conversations with them? Do you smile when you talk to them?

Its the same crap. I think host comes up with some great information. I sometimes go back to threads and don't reply to them, just so I can follow the links and so forth. I honestly think the second trend is more important than the first. Most people just come here, after they see a story linked on their favorite news source. They come in, they've already made up their minds, and they know how their "opponents" are going to respond. Its like a quasi-rehearsed play. And that's fine - sometimes interesting things slip out of the cracks. For the most part, its boring and I can certainly see how people might not perceive it as real discussion. Real discussion involves some level of mutal respect, and what usually happens around here is mutual condescension that masquerades as something looking like "respect." in order to stay within the rules of TFP.

11-01-2006, 07:47 AM	#34 (permalink)
pig pigglet pigglet Location: Locash	Of course it won't be light aberkok, but I think that when everyone comes to the politics board guns blazing looking for a pissing match, it's sort of disingenous to act surprised when you get peed on. It certainly isn't just host, but host was the one asking the question. In the specific case of host's posting style, while it doesn't bother me in the least - I think its false to try to state that it doesn't hinder discussion. I'm not saying its good or bad, but facts is facts. I'd guess that more quick exerpts and hyperlinking might work better, but maybe the articles aren't available for extended periods of time, etc. I think an approach that draws people in, and entices them to follow your links would work better for host. If someone just wants to start the discussion with a short, bare bones cut of his point, that might get more people into the discussion. 2. Everyone on TFPolitics pretty much: you know how the people who "disagree" with you respond. You can almost write the response for them. The graham cracker thread demonstrated that. So why not skip it? As I said before, if you want people to engage you, you make to make yourself engageable. I'm not making this shit up off the the top of my head. Its middle school behavior stuff. Johnny: why won't the other kids play with me? Guidance Counselor person: do you make yourself approachable? Do you make eye contact? Do you start conversations with them? Do you smile when you talk to them? Its the same crap. I think host comes up with some great information. I sometimes go back to threads and don't reply to them, just so I can follow the links and so forth. I honestly think the second trend is more important than the first. Most people just come here, after they see a story linked on their favorite news source. They come in, they've already made up their minds, and they know how their "opponents" are going to respond. Its like a quasi-rehearsed play. And that's fine - sometimes interesting things slip out of the cracks. For the most part, its boring and I can certainly see how people might not perceive it as real discussion. Real discussion involves some level of mutal respect, and what usually happens around here is mutual condescension that masquerades as something looking like "respect." in order to stay within the rules of TFP. __________________ You don't love me, you just love my piggy style