yolland
Forum Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 7,471
I feel like I should split this thread because there are obviously two separate tracks going, but I'm really loath to create a thread on the theme 'Air Your Grievances With Other FYMers Here!!!' and I can't think of a more constructive way to package it.
I don't want to get into pointing out destructive things particular posters may have been doing at the moment, but I do think it'd be very helpful if everyone made an effort (not just in here, but with the campaign threads in general) to minimize throwing-down-the-gauntlet type statements, whether on the thread topic or (even worse) about other posters. Stuff to the effect of 'More brainless pandering from [candidate's name] ' or 'This election is about _______, and if you can't accept that you're deluded' or 'You ________ supporters need to wake up and admit your candidate doesn't have a clue'.
I know that probably all sounds like so much rinky-dink nicety, and in theory we probably all ought to be able to shrug off that sort of hyperbole, but The Horse Race seems to have our collective nerves worn down and I think many of us often come in here looking for an excuse to go, 'Aha! See, you're so fixated on who you (don't) want to win that you can't even debate an issue clearly anymore,' then mentally write that poster off. And when you make those throw-down-the-gauntlet posts in a climate like that, not only do you wind up inviting that verdict, but you also give the impression that the feeling is mutual. Which might be true at that moment!--but I know most people in here are capable of much more this kind of brinksmanship, so long as they don't feel backed into a corner.
I don't want to get into pointing out destructive things particular posters may have been doing at the moment, but I do think it'd be very helpful if everyone made an effort (not just in here, but with the campaign threads in general) to minimize throwing-down-the-gauntlet type statements, whether on the thread topic or (even worse) about other posters. Stuff to the effect of 'More brainless pandering from [candidate's name] ' or 'This election is about _______, and if you can't accept that you're deluded' or 'You ________ supporters need to wake up and admit your candidate doesn't have a clue'.
I know that probably all sounds like so much rinky-dink nicety, and in theory we probably all ought to be able to shrug off that sort of hyperbole, but The Horse Race seems to have our collective nerves worn down and I think many of us often come in here looking for an excuse to go, 'Aha! See, you're so fixated on who you (don't) want to win that you can't even debate an issue clearly anymore,' then mentally write that poster off. And when you make those throw-down-the-gauntlet posts in a climate like that, not only do you wind up inviting that verdict, but you also give the impression that the feeling is mutual. Which might be true at that moment!--but I know most people in here are capable of much more this kind of brinksmanship, so long as they don't feel backed into a corner.