Soaps.com - MESSAGE BOARDS

I have been here for a long time and I see all the ups and downs...

There are issues that I won't touch and ones that I can't help but want to discuss.

We must start somewhere to reach a middle ground. People are passionate about alot of things, but can't we as mostly adults try to discuss without throwing jabs at one another?
( I say adults not as an insult to anyone, just knowing that there are younger under 18 that are here)

So this is my plea.....I am as guilty of saying some things that I may not be proud of...lets try to respect the poster and if we don't agree...then state it and move on.

Healthy debate is great, but that can't happen here if we are always trying to prove that "WE" are always right!

We must reach a common ground....this back and forth is doing nothing but creating more anomosity.

Rei steps off her soapbox.....

This would be great.

i am in, i have really been trying to do that for a couple of weeks now, i do it with my friends and i should do it on the boards
every time i get an e mail with 2 different animals bonding i think, we humans should learn that lesson
after 9/11 we were all so united, no party lines at all, we all had flags every where, became more patient on the road and off, i hate the feeling we have all gone backwards(and i am a big guilty one for sure) i want that feeling to come back, we all do want the same things, our country safe and prosperous
i think this is a great thread, and thank you for starting it, nancy

editing to say...i hate what the rest of the world sees what we have become, let's get back to who we all really are

REI I have been around too for along time. I used to post mostly in the soap threads, but around election time I came here to post. I find the current news threads more interesting to comment on than the soaps sometimes as I do not always watch the shows anymore, but always have an opinion on what is going on in the world.

I will agree that I can get quite vocal. But usually it is not unprovoked. I know you and I go round and round on some things. I guess my biggest problem is that I want people to understand my pov. Yes, it is emotional; but I don't think that is a bad thing.

I think we need compassion in the world. The hurling of insults back and forth is painful. People may not realize it but it really does hurt my feelings when people call me a socialist because I want compassion in the world. Wouldn't it hurt someone elses feelings if I called them a facist? or an anarchist? But see when I ask a question like that and someone comes back with "it wouldn't bother me" I know that isn't true. How can anyone who loves their country as much as we all do not be offended to be called anything but a democracy? (would have said democrat...but didn't want to be party affiliated)

I can go on, but lets see how this portion goes. I do think we need to heal wounds, but unless everyone comes together to do so it will not happen.

I will have to weigh in and say that of course I too would like to see a little more compassion among the posters. In fact I believe I posted something equal to this idea, and was told by a poster, who shall remain nameless, not to put my opinions onto to them, and clearly missed the entire point of my post and tried to turn it into a race issue.
But I'm all for fresh starts.

IMO...there have been some obvious posts made to bait posters to get into an argument and cause the political and social issues threads to be shut down.

For example, if one poster states an opinion about something that includes the words "politics, racism, reform, rights, or lunatic fringe," then there are at least one or two posters who tag team to discount the opinion of said poster.

The replies go back and forth so far off topic that you have to laugh or look away to protect your common sense.

Basically my point is, when some posters on here stop the obvious baiting to shut down discussions that they don't agree with and stop using the Bad Post button like a pistol, then perhaps we can start seeing strides towards "agreeing to disagree" FROM ALL SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT...I can't even call some of these threads discussions because some posters IMO take a thread topic so damn seriously as if someone were holding the feet of their kids over a campfire.

Most times, I see some posters get to the point of making highly intelligent and thought provoking posts, and then someone has to come on here to throw crap into the soup bowl of stimulating conversation.

You have to question whether some posters are just afraid or just so uncomfortable in their own skin that they cannot read anything beyond their own words. Some posters are strong enough to offer their opinion and process the replies, agreeable or not, and move on to the next thing...other people take it as personal attacks and just devolve the entire thread into a spiteful and hateful rant about nonsense.

I saw the arguments going back and forth last night on the Joe Wilson thread, and I knew that it was going to be a matter of time before it was getting shut down. And IMO, mostly due to baiting and biting comments that were meant to get heated responses back in order for the thread to shut down any criticisms of Wilson and the political party he belongs too.

Now, this is just my IMO...not calling specific posters out, not insulting anyone, just sharing what I've seen happen over and over again...

Seriously...is that the best we can do in here?

Seriously - - posters actually start the fussing just to get a thread shut down? Honestly, I never thought of that.

I will admit that last night I did get caught up in the joe wilson thread. I didn't need to point out that a poster was calling someone else names because that was evident. So, I apologize. I may have strayed off topic a few times, but I was still attempting to converse. Another poster was completely off base and was not listening. I guess I should have ignored it and in the future I will.

The bad posting thing really doesn't bother me. It does get annoying when you are trying to reply directly to a person, but if that is what floats someone's boat, whatever.

It is funny/ironic though that we haven't heard from anyone from the other side of this issue. Other than REI who started this thread and hasn't been back. Today is a weekend though, so who knows.

I don't know who all is included in the "gang" but even that is offensive.

I don't know if this thread will help, but I hope so. I personally felt bad that I had actually started that thread, and I really mean that. Felt rather guilty.

Another thing that really bothers me is when we are on a topic and another poster, who has not participated in the topic, will come in and just throw a swing and then leave the thread - - after starting trouble. This happens quite a bit.

I definitely will never start another political thread again nor post in them, but I do enjoy reading them - - when there is debating but not personal attacks. Some posts can be "educational" on some topics and it is good to get the links to check things out.

Well, we will see. I don't know if anybody really wants to open another political thread.

Who knows if this thread will help. I like the political threads. I find them incredibly informative.

Don't feel bad or guilty over opening a thread puddy. We are all grownups and we all choose our behavior. I don't know who you are talking about taking a swipe and leaving, but sometimes that just happens....people get busy. That is one of the great things about the computer....you can step away when you have to.

I will continue to post and open them and hope that you will too.

I really enjoy a debate....but its the political ones that keep me coming back to the lounge......( besides the great friends I have made)its hard for me to get all excited about favorite perfumes or jeans.....not really much back and forth in those types of threads....I mean you say what you like and then youre done.....but in the more political threads....you get the opportunity to learn facts you didnt know.....you get to debate your stance on a particular issue...and sometimes....some one tells you theirs in such a way that you look more into that topic, and see if maybe you think they could be right....so personally I hope the political threads continue.

Nice to see people posting on this topic. I really didn't expect anyone to comment. Thanks for all your opinions and input.

I too am most interested in the political threads.. I think that is the place where most people can have back and forth conversations..(Excluding the REP/DEM threads) and share ideas. I don't think that it is just us folks who post at Soaps.com that are having a hard time communicating..it's everywhere.

Sometimes the bickering/debating are fun to watch and get involved in as long as it's not personal. "Well Bush did this" and "Obama did that" are all fine and dandy IMO.

It's very obvious that there is a HUGE divide and not everyone is going agree. So instead of pointing out a certain persons post..or generalizing that certain group/party is wrong or bad...I think we should either ignore or maybe give an example for our disagreement.

Also remember that I also admit not always being the best that I could be...but I am working on it.