Is the political thread pulling down TOTV?
 

I hesitate to ask this, but it seems like the thread on politics - the politcal thread seems to make this not such a friendly site. Many people that used to post here regularly no longer do. I think the comments and threads posted on political are a big reason for that. Anyone agree? Everyone has their own beliefs but that site seems to bring out the very worst in people. It seems to be a I'm right and you're stupid and wrong forum. I am drawn to it and hate it at the same time. Just my thoughts.

I think that it has a lot to do with it.

I am an owner and administrator and don't participate in the political forum. I don't even go there. The reason is that some of the discussion is beyond my level of comfort. I will not boycott the other forums just because I don't like the political forum. It's hard to imagine one would exit the department store because they don't care for one item on display.

JLK

I understand completely...however
 

I understand completely...however

I think some people truly enjoy the debating and do not see it as fighting etc.

Most of us just like to vent, thus making us feel better. I for one do not take it personal.:shrug:

Talk Host - I agree if they saw one thing they didn't like, they would not leave the department store, but if the salesperson yelled at them or criticized them - they might never return. I am just wondering what happened to all the wonderful people who used to post on TOTV. Did they move away? lose interest? or could it be that forum?

One of my favorite forums though I rarely participate in it. I thoroughly enjoy the back and forth opinions of both sides of the issue. At least these participants are willing to post how they feel about certain issues and are not just content to hide behind blinders. More power to them.

Maybe once or twice
 

I maybe posted in Political forum once or twice, but have not in a long time. I agree it is a place to vent, but I think many people do take it personally. I now avoid it and am sorry to see so many valuable contributors gone, although I have no way of knowing if the political forum was their reason for not being here any longer.

It's hard to imagine any open internet forum that wouldn't have contributors with strong political beliefs. Such beliefs always lead to heated debates/discussions. The good news is anyone can avoid the political forum with their mouse.

Quick story
 

This reminds me of a quick story. Man goes to his doctor and tells him every time I drop a brick on my foot, it hurts. Doctor tell him to quit dropping bricks on his feet.
I "lurked" on the political thing for a few days, saw what little in the way of brain cells was offered and have never been back.
As Staples states, "That was easy".

THere is a reason why people who insist on arguing politics are often not invited to parties.

We're loud, opinionated, and obnoxious.

I should just stay away. But those who wish to participate are doing no harm, and at least our wives/husbands don't have to listen to us rant so much.

All of the mean nasty things I say on the forum I say to my 3 best friends who happen to be politically inclined in a different direction than I. But we laugh, drink beer, fish, boat, golf, watch hockey. We're still friends.

Sometimes it takes a meaner tone in print.

Prior to the election, I would go to the Political tread on a regular basis. I found it interesting to 'see' how other people were thinking. Now I rarely go....mostly because I don't care for the battering back and forth. Sometimes it is so depressing to me. HOWEVER, no one is making everyone click on any particular thread. It is up to the individual what they want to read. That is the wonderful thing about living in the U.S......we have choices.

You have every right to ask this question.

Like others have responded, I simply ignore that section and enjoy reading and posting in the other sections.

To each, his own.

I avoid the political thread. I'm not opposed to the thread, just don't like the tone of some things written. I'm happy to see there is a thread specifically for politics since it keeps those discussions away from the general threads I enjoy reading.

Good points have been made here. I agree, having that thread keeps the political discussion and disagreements out of other threads.

I look in on it, and am usually sorry that I did. I usually find it kind of depressing with the same partisen things being rehashed over and over.

Also, by getting it out of my system on the boards, I hope to be invited to parties.

I gotta agree with that.

Is this a liberal attempt to silence the loyal opposition?
 

Seriously, I came here a while back looking for information about the place that I am trying to move to, soon. I lurked for a while and took notes. When the answers to more questions were not forthcoming, I began to ask. I have learned plenty. Our house is for sale. St. Joseph is in place. Everything is in order, thanks to you folks. and you have my sincere thanks.:bowdown:

That being said, I really have no reason to lurk around here. I like the personalities of the people here but I don't think that I would be logging on just to see what so and so said or who said what about whom. While I have been here, I have noticed some interesting, outrageous and stupid things being said. I have from time to time added my own stupidity to the lot.

If it were not for the political forum, I would only need to check in every week or two. I would miss the rest of totv and all of the interesting people that I will soon be living amongst.

I am for sure one of the political offenders. I am part opinionated part fool part old fart that likes to debate with people from time to time. Who am I going to discuss politics with? My wife? My kids? My brother-in law? That wouldn't be much fun.

When I come here to check the latest postings on the political forum it is also an excuse to check to see what else is going on. Who has a question? Who has a problem and how it's solved.

Well, so much for the rantings. If I have offended anyone by my postings in the political forum, I am sorry.

My advise to those who don't like the political forum is to stay out. Let us old political junkies have a small piece of totv. We'll be good every place else.


Yoda:rant-rave:

If there were no political thread a lot of those posts would appear on this or other threads. That would really drag this forum down.
As to the loss of contributors, there are many and varied reasons. I have been a member and contributor for some time but have not become so familiar with "whose who" that I don't know who has dropped out with one exception. That individual may be back here by now.

For some reason, I see TOTV as kind of being like a library.

Some come in to do their own research. Some come in to ask questions and they get help. Some browse to see if anything interests them. Some look around for a little fun. Some like to talk in this library. Maybe get new ideas or share some of their own. Maybe get into a little discussion. Some meet new friends here.

There is a little something for everybody. Just like a library.

And every once in a while there is a big ol’ brawl in the library parking lot. So if you do not want to get into a brawl, just steer clear of the parking lot.

It all seems to work out OK.

Boomer

I think the question is one of intellectual preference!!!
 

If you don't like what is said on the political thread it is pretty simple....obviously simple...DON'T GO THERE.
Also please don't stretch to rationalize participation or not because of ones like or not of a given thread...in the case of this threads premise....the political thread.
Too many people unfortunately do not have the stand and be counted attitude...whether right or wrong....state your case...if you don't like it, just leave. But please don't use it as a reason for why people don't use the forum!

That would be like not coming to FL to live because the murder rate in Orlando is rampant.

If ya can't stand the heat get outta da kitchen! (Doesn't mean ya hafta leave the house).

BTK:shrug:

For the most part, I enjoy the political forum. Oh, there certainly are some posters who I might consider to be stupid, insensitive, idiotic fools (SIIFs for short) and then there are those who tend to agree with my views. But interestingly enough, I believe I often learn and benefit from the views of the SIIFs. And even when an argument/discussion does nothing more than reinforce my previously held opinions, it quite often makes me reexamine the rationale behind those opinions.

Now what does tend to tick me off a bit are those posters who postulate theories based primarily on half-truths, prejudices, and outright lies solely for the purpose of arousing the natives and making the discussion about themselves. Throw in a couple questionable historic tidbits and quotes of doubtful application, all to make the poster seem more brilliant. Platitudes also help. Once I see in a post that the developer is a greedy, yacht-owning bas***d who's out to take all our money and run, that Bush lied so people died, or that Nancy Ritchie is a reporter, that thread goes away.






`

Who the heck is Nancy Ritchie?

She use to sit next to me in Religion class in the 7th grade. She always had two twinkies in her lunch. I had celery sticks because I was a fat kid.

I am a regular poster on the Political forum ! I do it because I am interested in the country and politics !

The comment "Many people that used to post here regularly no longer do. I think the comments and threads posted on political are a big reason for that." is puzzling to me. I have no interest in many forums on here and perhaps would get upset if I visited them, so I dont visit them !!

I also wonder how many of those "many people" are part of the group that I read about on here who wanted a place to be with folks, I think the host used the term "like us" when describing them on the thread concerning them starting a new board or something. I dont know if they were or were not, but that sounds just a bit elitist to me !

I recall during many debates on here....the horse track debate for one...when folks wrote me private notes concerning how they were being attacked or snubbed because of what they believed....it didnt agree with those attacking them....and they wrote me to tell me they agreed with my position but would not be posting publicly because of the attacks. I dont think those people who find it necessary to launch personal attacks and insist that all agree with them should control the content on here.

Now, I suppose if that is what we want....that is fine with me. I surely have other outlets for discussion, but seems like some sort of cleansing going on for some reason.

I do not want to be a part of "pulling down TOTV"....I have tried to voice my opinion (although perhaps not well) and to stay away from personal attacks, MOST times succesfully, but to be considered a part of "pulling down TOTV" is not very palatable to me.

I will stop posting...set up another account so I can read, and if the members want to "cleanse" so we all think alike...so be it !!

Okay Tony, you caught me. See what I mean about smart-A people spouting half facts. I, of course, meant my dear friend Lauren Ritchie. Nancy (Richey, not Ritchie) was a prominent tennis player from my kinda youth. She was the sister of tennis pro Cliff Richey. Pretty sure neither woman is/was related to Lionel Ritchie, Richie Cunningham, or Cliff Richards.

Mea culpa. :bowdown:




`

Wait a minute , Who in the h--- is Richie Cunningham ??????

fumar

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLt7clQbBzo[/ame]

Munc! Munc!

What about Richie Rich of 1950-something comic book fame?

Boomer

BTK,
On more than one occassion I have agreed with you although I think we are of different political persuasions.
My feeling about Political is that when I do enter I try to tread gently than otherwise run like hell:crap2:
So I totally agree, If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen.

What really irks me is when totally benign posts become politically charged,
Like what's your favorite ice cream or sports team?:shrug:

Hi Whalen,

I know what you mean by irked. I got hit hard, really hard one time. It came completely out of left field. It was some kind of self-righteous indignation at nothing intended. I am never nasty to anybody. The reaction I got was completely unexpected. It looked like an attempt to embarrass me. I could read between the lines. It actually hurt my feelings a little bit for approximately a nanosecond.

And I was nowhere near the political forum.

After I got over the initial shock, my first thought was, " :cus: Forget this place." And I almost hit the road.

But the thought after that was, "Heck, it's mostly kind of fun to check in here and there and write a little something." -- A habit of mine that still surprises me, even after all this time.

And then I concluded, "Whatever the heck that weird thing was all about is not my problem." And so I decided I did not give a rat's patoot. (Is that how you spell 'patoot'?)

And that is my midnight confession for tonight. (I know I should never type after midnight.)

Goodnight.

Boomer

Boomer- Totally agree with you. I also liked what Bucco said.

good point
 

Yes what a lovely country we live in. My closest friend at work is a gal girl and her beliefs are complete opposite of mine. I enjoy discussing her and my opinions almost daily. In truth we probably want the same thing in life but just feel we should go about in a different route of getting there. Keep up the political posts for sure:coolsmiley::coolsmiley:

Ahhhh, Munc, I just could not resist. It was just too easy and you have to take the easy ones.

I think political does turn people off to TOTV in general. First of all, there is more than just general intellectual, good natured debates. There has been regular name calling and mean spirited remarks. If you don't agree with someone's views you're castigated as being ignorant, likened to cartoon characters, you're out-of-touch, blah, blah, blah. People will only put up with so much of that type of thing. One of the administrators, DKLassen, is a regular poster, who has a continual line of vitriol that some of us do not enjoy. The fact he is an administrator certainly colors my views of TOTV. Do his views represent TOTV's views or leanings? We'll probably never know, but it doesn't make me look at TOTV as a neutral Villages forum.

Should Administrators stay out of the Political Forum, because they are Administrators?
I smell another poll coming.:shrug:

Almost none of us on here are COMPLETELY innocent of a "gotcha" now and then that may or may not be a tiny bit mean spirited. I distinctly remember a BOOM!:D

The TOTV forum is like any other statistical
 

representation. That means there will be all kinds of views, beliefs, outlooks, opinions and instigators....no different than any other club or group of people.

If one stays away from TOTV for what ever reason, that has to be how they determine where else they go, eh? PArties? Golf? Pickleball? Shopping?
The movies? CHURCH? The all kinds go to these places too.......and lest we forget...statistically speaking....the ones not cared for are in the minority...so why give up something for the sake of a few....it is too easy to ignore.

No struggle no progress.

BTK

Nasty Comments
 

Nasty comments certainly are not limited to the political forum...
Doog poop has caused some hostile barbs to be flung back and forth.

I agree with Taj, I have felt uncomfortable at times with administators posting such strong opinions in the forum.

It's one thing to know that in broadcast news MSNBC leans a litttle left and FOX leans a little right, it is quite another thing to actually shout it from the rooftops.

I for one would like to see a poll.

I could not agree more! As a newcomer to the villages I find this site to be extremely helpful in selection of contractors and understanding a whole lot about the villages and how to learn more. At this point I haven't contributed much, but I have made note of the "Black Hole" otherwise known as the "Political Forum!" I recently recommended TOTV to a long time resident of the Villages and she loved it except for the negativity that spewed forth from the Political Forum. For the most part, it certainly isn't an accurate representation of the wonderful folks that live here.