Should Forums stick to the subject?

by **bernie** » "Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:15 pm"

Let me start by asking others do you have an opinion? Is there anything wrong with having an opinion? Why are some people ready to pull others down for having an opinion? Why are there so many negative bloggers using the Examiner forum having absolutely no opinion about anything but ready to attack people who have?
I am interested in the psychology of this and wonder if there is something missing in their personality that makes them want to bring a person down or not debate an issue, avoid it and make personal attacks.
I have only started blogging since December 20th and am staggered at the personal antagonisn that goes on. I agree I personally have been drawn into it because of the amount of negativity shown. So my final question, as part of this forum, is this just a symptom of a sick society and a cynical society that is incapable of introspection and objectivity?
Remember we are talking in general, not about any particular individual or group.

by **phil3** » "Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:24 am"

As the saying goes "You can please some of the people all of the time......

by **bernie** » "Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:52 am"

I agree Phil. I am sensible enough to recognise that I do not have the right to expect everyone to agree with me. No argument about that. What I find hard to comprehend is the lack of an alternative argument, an articulation of an opposing viewpoint. It is so disappointing to find the equivalent of a "shouting" down of you personally and the expectation that you will fuel their hate ridden postings/rantings.

by **StephB** » "Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:12 pm"

bernie wrote:I agree Phil. I am sensible enough to recognise that I do not have the right to expect everyone to agree with me. No argument about that. What I find hard to comprehend is the lack of an alternative argument, an articulation of an opposing viewpoint. It is so disappointing to find the equivalent of a "shouting" down of you personally and the expectation that you will fuel their hate ridden postings/rantings.

A bit like PMQs in the House of Commons, you mean? Come on, you reckon to be a :oops:

politician.... :?:

As for "Should Forums stick to the subject.." a little variety is the spice of life, and the humous [that should have been humour, but I'll leave it as it is anyway!] adds to its sweetness.
If however you wish for only SERIOUS DEBATE, I suggest you try your old uni's old-boys web-site......
This is after all only the Examiner, where we 'half educated plebs' can have a go too....

by **Bailey** » "Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:22 pm"

Bit of a control freak aren't you Bernie.
Anyway with all this snow does anyone think we will have a hot summer?

by **despondent** » "Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:02 pm"

Tut tut Bailey, your not sticking to the Topic, er, what is the Topic ?

by **TommyDGNR8** » "Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:05 pm"

Arf! @ Bailey.

Stick to the subject?

There's an old internet meme (or is it an idiom?) called "Godwin's Law". It states that, as an online discussion gets longer and more heated, the chances that someone will draw a comparison to the Nazis or Hitler approach evens. The "rule" is that the person who does this automatically loses the debate.

More generally, most conversations between the same people end up coming round to one of a small collection of subjects; "do you remember Spangles?" and "why do you never see white dog sh*te anymore" seem particularly popular.

This is the internet; don't take it seriously and for heaven's sake don't take it personally; just go with the flow.

by **StephB** » "Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:09 pm"

don't take it seriously and for heaven's sake don't take it personally; just go with the flow.

But not in a mountain stream :!:

by **bernie** » "Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:33 pm"

There is nothing like humour and what most people produce here is nothing like humour. Very ironic, some of you, but not really insightful. There is just no depth from most people, and is it not too much to ask why some people only want to pull others down and not really want to commit themselves to an opinion. Do some of you surf to spot an opening, a perceived weakness in an argument and go after the person? I really would like to know what drives some of the bloggers to fill the alloted space with "bitter and twisted" words, not about the issue, but about that person you take a dislike to purely because they are different . This is really odd because most of you use a pseudym and never actually meet the people you blog against.
From what I have read in men it is impotence and in women it is an inability to reach orgasm. I just wonder if there is anyone out there who can share their thoughts on why they have to react in such a way to an opinion they do not like. Another alternative is that this negativity is a sign of inadequacy in their own life. It could be sexual, social or in terms of the job they do. This manifests itself in a desire to bring someone, who has strong views, down in some way in order to compensate for this. But because of this inadequacy, never say what they think. Any opinion anyone?

by **In_The_Flesh** » "Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:49 pm"

Is that the official election manifesto?

by **DiRTYToRque** » "Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:09 am"

In_The_Flesh wrote:Is that the official election manifesto?

hahahahahaha .......

class. :lol:

by **greenheadvoter** » "Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:47 am"

Why do you get so wound up Bernie Im beginnng to think you just described yourself there,

by **despondent** » "Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:34 pm"

Thank you for being so open in your confession, it must be difficult putting into print what you say to the mirror, have you considered therapy to conquer this inferiority complex. :lol: