By comparison to the newsgroups I have just been browsing, we are
downright genteel here. It is even possible to reason with people
here. If you think our arguments are acrimonious, go to
alt.politics.usa and read the posts. I wouldnt even consider posting
anything there because there is no hope of reason. Many of the other
political newsgroups are the same. "Rational discourse" is an
oxymoron on political newsgroups it seems. I like a good logical
discussion even when nobody agrees. You can feel that people will go
away and consider your ideas even if they never admit it. "Winning"
an argument on usenet is probably unknown and would be a hollow
victory anyway, what would be the point?
Maybe I am really naive but was really shocked and depressed by the
level of invective on those newsgroups. Based on the nature of the
posts, I wonder if there is any hope of Americans agreeing if we ever
really have to. I'll keep my discussions about boats here but I wish
it were possible to carry on a rationale political discussion because
I truly am curious about the ideas of the other side(s).
I apologize for getting political earlier today.