wow
 

Stevo and I ran a decent thread debate and it was civil and both sides showed how we got from A-B.

I have been reading some of these other threads and the personal attacks, blind hatred and sarcastic remarks towards each other are sad, but also very telling of the political climate today.

There are posters who show they research and do thorough work on the topic, and within 3 posts you have childish attacks not on what the poster posted but on the poster himself.

I"m no angel, but this bitterness, hatred and childish (I'm right, you're wrong so nah nah nah) has to stop if we ever intend to truly debate in here.

It's easy to attack and try to hurt someone behind a screen. But what does that accomplish except to show people you are a true asshole.

Like I said I'm not perfect, but Stevo and I ran a damn good thread without having to one up the other.

I know I learned from him on that thread, and isn't that what debate is truly about, learning from each other not trying to verbally assault someone into silence? There's too much of that going on in DC we don't need it here.

Of course now the 3rd graders are going to attack me....... but I felt I should say something and it's my right to, agree or not.

You see pan... good debate is possible. I think Stevo is a very reasoned and reasonable poster. Most are in politics (the worst have already been banned).

What you are witnessing is an unfortunate blowing off of steam. It seems to happen in cycles in Politics. The offending parties will get temp bans or full bans, it will quiet down for a time and then, it will flare up again.

I do have some hope for this part of the board.

Name-calling doesn't bother me. In fact, it proves to me that the person who did it can't defend his or her position.

What bothers me is another person who distorts what you said, and/or deliberately misquotes you. If you respond, you wind up quoting yourself to prove you were misquoted, at which point the other party changes the subject.