Is it possible to have a discussion without insults or snark?

Without either outright insults (the kind that get deleted) or snideness? Without snarking, without "apologist", or "whateverthesnarkis"?

I know, fat chance uppity, your username fits.

It has made me not want to hang out on Du much recently.

Thoughts?

:shrug: :loveya:

K&R

:kick:

...:sarcasm:

How'd I do?

:evilgrin:

:toast:

Plus, these are life and death issues we're talking about - of COURSE shit's gonna get ugly, esp. people who claim to be on your side keeping telling you you're full of shit.

it as much better than the old days.

I'm selective about what and where I post at DU, but certainly understand your p.o.v.

:hi:

About 99% of the time, what I say is meant to be respectful agreement or disagreement, although it may not always be taken as such, and that may even be my fault.

But it's not possible to have a discussion on a public forum without some rude comment showing up. But if you ignore those parts, then you've got a good discussion.

I think the Obamabot apologist cheerleaders and the people who pout because they wanted a pony should have a dialogue, because they're both necessary parts of the same movement.

of a Dem President in the run up to an election year, often accompanied by Goodbye Cruel World posts about how they'll vote for some third party loser.

I am not talking about genuine policy discussions WRT approaches to issues, I'm talking about a rather stupid belief on the part of some total morons here who have this warped and ignorant idea that Obama is a cross between the Emperor of America and Santa Claus, with that kind of power-- allowing the Congress to escape any responsibility for the shit that has befallen us to this point.

say something intelligent about the issues.

And, I am not an Obama supporter -- not at all. I was, but I no longer am.

I see floating around here. There are people here who do not understand the difference between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, who call themselves 'activists'--though their activity seems largely limited to their keyboards.

This isn't an "issue oriented" thread. It's a "WTF is going on with the attitude hereabouts" thread.

You want to talk issues, start a thread on one. You want to elect someone other than a Democrat in '12, you're in the wrong place to either make that happen or convince others of the rightness of your cause.

and insults and snark are the first line of attack for many people.

Since we don't have a "Bush" to unite us, but do have an "Obama" and policy to divide us, we are splintering.

I know why too. It became apparent to me today. I'll give you a hint. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Don't ask me to tell you, I won't.

Compromise has become an obscenity to both sides. Republicans just are better at working it than Democrats. And Democrats are not led well.

And as for any othe reasons, they will come out when they fall out.

on whether you let a post or poster get under your skin but if you can refrain from it, I believe the debate is more likely to become elevated and D.U.'s overall IQ will rise as a result.

Thanks for the thread, uppityperson.

Not with the present atmosphere and actions taken by the president with two very different camps, the super loyalists and those mad about what has been happening.

There are other more gentle websites.

:P

feel the same way as you.

Frustration and anger can bring out the worst in everyone.

I'm going to make a greater effort not to press post without asking myself if I'm responding in a way that I won't later regret.

Thanks for posting this.

In fact, I admit to doing this last night in a reply...first time I'd done that in a very very long time; years, I'd guess. I try to always be civil and respectful. But yeah, there is generally no good excuse for what you've described, but unfortunately, for the reason I mentioned, it's probably inevitable. I personally have more people on ignore than I ever have , for this very reason. I've either gotten tired of their insults/personal attacks (not on me, but on whomever, I just don't like seeing that) or people whose posts I find so consistently moronic that I can avoid even the temptation to read their words and therefore relieve myself of the temptation to reply in kind.
Hasn't affected my desire to check in regularly with DU though. I find it to be an outstanding source of information of the kind the MSM won't tell you, and I do find many posters here reply to these bits of news, Op-Eds etc. with interesting and informed insights that I learn something from. So I guess I just try to read what makes me a more thoughtful and informed citizen, and do my best to disregard the rest.

and also seemingly divided into warring factions. You cannot expect the People's Front of Judea to be polite to the Judean People's Front, not after they betrayed our cause with their bloody splinterism, or was it appeasement, or rigid extremism?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb_qHP7VaZE

One thing I have noticed is that a failure to return snark sometimes gets a discussion back on track.

That why I sometimes don't post is because some asshole gets offended and tries to pick a fight. I guess they need to take it out on someone. Now, I'm at the point where I don't give a shit anymore...

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

rinse, repeat. With some of the people who use that... I will, repeatedly... that is not a threat, a promise.

As to your question... nope... people are really pissed off right now.

If it was just one-on-one, then yeah.

But in this drive-by free-for-all? Not a fucking chance.

They would implode and kill us all if it stopped.

Or something.

x(

x(

to have conversations without conflict. No matter how frustrated we get I think it's possible to have a safe place to share our opinions civilly.
I guess it is also a safe place to act like we know it all.
I dislike conflict and try to avoid it, but I guess there is something to be said for being able to vent.

And shut up :)

no reason.

Just kidding! :hi:

And they feel that their concerns are not being addressed.