Originally Posted by Boomer

Ahhhh, btk, we meet again.

And to think I swore off ever posting again in political. But I just won't count this one because this one is merely a citation to prove a point.

I know how you loathe liberals. But I learned that even we moderates were not welcome in here. I came to political, not so very long ago, in an attempt to discuss how I saw what was happening to the party that I had always been a part of. The party that I no longer recognize. Fiscally conservative me. Socially progressive me. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. And I wanted to talk about healthcare, too.

And, btw, do you remember when you had a doctor in here, who would post about things he saw on the front lines in his job. And he tried to discuss. He had interesting things to say. But I have not seen him for a while. No wondering why.

Now, I know full well, going in, that you, btk, will dismiss this as you always do and you will continue on, marching, marching, marching to that drummer.

But that's OK. I will say it anyway. Maybe somebody else will want to see it. Maybe not.

Here is a link to an old thread. If you go to page 5 and scroll down to post #48, it was you and me, btk. You and me. I had tried to discuss in this forum. I attempted communication. But this post I cite is where I finally left it. And it explains why. Please see #48. I have others in there but it is #48 where I said my goodbye. And why.

This is just for the record.

15 Reasons to Oppose Climate Bill

And another, btw, btk, the political forum looks a lot like a leaflet drop. You just fly over. There is more to winning the hearts and minds than just flying over.

Boomer (writing to you from the state of ennui)

I am a doctor. I am NOT retired. I post almost everyday. I am not wedded to any party. I have posted MANY times I support a single payor system for our healthcare... like the system I practiced in as an Army doc.... but, I am terrified by Obama and his background, his mentors and his agenda,.... sorry to destroy your message. Stay in the forum Boomer... we need input from every angle.

Originally Posted by Boomer

Ahhhh, btk, we meet again.

And to think I swore off ever posting again in political. But I just won't count this one because this one is merely a citation to prove a point.

I know how you loathe liberals. But I learned that even we moderates were not welcome in here. I came to political, not so very long ago, in an attempt to discuss how I saw what was happening to the party that I had always been a part of. The party that I no longer recognize. Fiscally conservative me. Socially progressive me. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. And I wanted to talk about healthcare, too.

And, btw, do you remember when you had a doctor in here, who would post about things he saw on the front lines in his job. And he tried to discuss. He had interesting things to say. But I have not seen him for a while. No wondering why.

Now, I know full well, going in, that you, btk, will dismiss this as you always do and you will continue on, marching, marching, marching to that drummer.

But that's OK. I will say it anyway. Maybe somebody else will want to see it. Maybe not.

Here is a link to an old thread. If you go to page 5 and scroll down to post #48, it was you and me, btk. You and me. I had tried to discuss in this forum. I attempted communication. But this post I cite is where I finally left it. And it explains why. Please see #48. I have others in there but it is #48 where I said my goodbye. And why.

This is just for the record.

15 Reasons to Oppose Climate Bill

And another, btw, btk, the political forum looks a lot like a leaflet drop. You just fly over. There is more to winning the hearts and minds than just flying over.

Boomer (writing to you from the state of ennui)

I think I know who hasn't posted here for awhile as it was the thread on global warming? All I can say is that it must be awful hard for a man of science to post on a political forum. Unfortunately, it is a political issue as the scientists themselves don't really agree with each other. Maybe time will heal and he will post again.

Boomer....glad to see you venturing into Politcal. Thanks for your articulate and thoughtful posts in Investment Talks. I hope you choose to play in this forum. Diversity and controversy are what make it interesting. If a post turns your smile to a frown....picture the poster "in the buff", at the town square, dancing feverishly to Rocky and the Rollers best rendition of "I'm So Excited". Works for me. When the smile comes back...gar-un-teed....hit the keyboard and level the playing field.

I hope this graphic post passes muster with the good taste police that monitor the board for erotic content.

Originally Posted by cabo35

Boomer....glad to see you venturing into Politcal. Thanks for your articulate and thoughtful posts in Investment Talks. I hope you choose to play in this forum. Diversity and controversy are what make it interesting. If a post turns your smile to a frown....picture the poster "in the buff", at the town square, dancing feverishly to Rocky and the Rollers best rendition of "I'm So Excited". Works for me. When the smile comes back...gar-un-teed....hit the keyboard and level the playing field.

I hope this graphic post passes muster with the good taste police that monitor the board for erotic content.

WOW...that sort of messed up my lunch

Not inviting Boomer...that was good....but the imagery you suggested !

a subject of the current administration, in the very same manner as the pre election opposition posters did in 2008 did.....day in and day out....it is now postured that because of the way we write, some no longer choose to participate.

Let's try to keep it simple!!! Let us assume current crop of alleged the negative reponses, the bashing, the "leaflet dropping", personal attacks employed since the election .....the kind of writing we are solicited to believe that is why some have elected to not venture here any more.....are exactly the same as the negative responses, the bashing, the "leaflet dropping" and personal attacks employed by the anti Bush anything crowd. And if exactly the same why was there no weeping and crying of those who were going to stop visiting the forum because of such writings in 2008?

I find it particularly entertaining when those who flung what ever they flung in 2008 are now chastising the similar tactics of current writers.

Don't ya just hate when people try to administer the do as I say but not as I do philosophy. As far as the mis-stating and mis-interpreting of what one said
by some of others....be happy in your thoughts.

No struggle no progress!! As has been cited by many previously...it's political, put on your thick skin and c'mon in.

In closing there are many here today that are still anxiously awaiting any of the 2008 posters to come forth and back up what their man/party is doing.

btk

Don't you think many people are completely sick of both sides? If they look in here they see lame arguments, juvenile responses and shrill jibberish.

There aren't three or four posters in here who advance valid argument for either side, argument without attack and without baiting, without vicious tone and hate, and without declining juvenile-sounding bashing.

It is a pity to watch this day in and day out. I watch only because I have to, but honestly you should be standing aside and see the general tenor here. I believe this portion of the forum has brought down the general quality and fun of the forum. People have not only refrained from posting here in political, they are reluctiant to post anywhere because of the tone of Political. I'm glad they do post, though. I feel our membership is strong, and our posting numbers are good, but I know they could be better.

Good, calm, honest argument would be fine, but so many posters come off as completely whacked out, red-faced and seething.

Because of the low quality of argument in Political, I have to level with you all, I have strongly pushed to have one of two things happen to this section of the forum. Either make it completely private so that posters have to join by request. Or make it completely separate from the main Talk of The Villages forum so that our general posters will not have to see the political posts show up in their New Post listing. Or a combination of the two.

I am quite ashamed of this section of the forum. Many posters style gives me the creeps.

This sense has come to me also, by the way, from other members of Talk of The Villages. You would be embarrassed to know how they see some of you because of your postings.

How to fix it? With calm, rational civility in your posts, like you would practice in person. Most everything in Political ends up in a fist fight, a brawl, whining about my side and wailing against the other side. I could count on one hand the number of posters who could stand up to a good old college debate.

I would suspect that some members might like to voice their thoughts without the risk of being bashed, baited, or told to leave because they can't take the bashing and baiting. It is annoying to see members tell others members to keep away if they can't stand it. It is not up to some members to tell others to leave.

Political posters really should sit back and look at the tenor here, from both sides. It is pitiful.

I wonder why the Bush-bashers--Obama admirers don't post anymore. Do they still lurk and read the posts but don't know what to say? Do they feel that their case is too weak to defend? Did they just get on the bandwagon and then just jump off and now have no opinion? Could it be that they had no real convictions to begin with and only echoed the party talking points. Are there people out there that voted for Obama and now regret it but are too embarrassed to admit it?

Edited.... I have just read Tony's post and decided to just edit mine. This is the first political forum I have been to. Just to compare... a few weeks ago I found two other political forums. To tell you the truth..this is by far the most civil forum of the three I visit. There is one forum that scares the heck out of me...you will get eaten up alive in no time at all. They are allowed to use any words or phrases they want, with hardly any restrictions.
I think the rules and moderating on this forum are very good. It can get rough sometimes but that is the nature of the beast. Politics is not for the faint of heart. My representative, Barney Frank, was speaking at a college a few weeks ago and was asked a few questions by a student that Mr. Frank didn't like. You should have heard Barney go off on this kid. Yes, sometimes the heat is high, but at the end of the day I don't think anybody really holds any great animosity towards one another.
I wrestled and played football in school and at the end of every match and game we shook hands. I would do the same thing with anybody on this forum. Anyways...that's how I feel about it.

Hey Cabo I like to watch the political forum but not often. The lefties get me to riled up. It 's to painful to talk to the FOLLOWERS, they live in a different world than I do and they are true believers with no sense of history to guide them. Then I go off and the bosses take my posts off the site. So mostly I just read and wonder what country I live in.
I used to think I had an interesting life but can I just let you know that I'm available for adoption. I have an HD.
Benj

So much for Tony's message I guess...

Originally Posted by tony

Don't you think many people are completely sick of both sides? If they look in here they see lame arguments, juvenile responses and shrill jibberish.

There aren't three or four posters in here who advance valid argument for either side, argument without attack and without baiting, without vicious tone and hate, and without declining juvenile-sounding bashing.

It is a pity to watch this day in and day out. I watch only because I have to, but honestly you should be standing aside and see the general tenor here. I believe this portion of the forum has brought down the general quality and fun of the forum. People have not only refrained from posting here in political, they are reluctiant to post anywhere because of the tone of Political. I'm glad they do post, though. I feel our membership is strong, and our posting numbers are good, but I know they could be better.

Good, calm, honest argument would be fine, but so many posters come off as completely whacked out, red-faced and seething.

Because of the low quality of argument in Political, I have to level with you all, I have strongly pushed to have one of two things happen to this section of the forum. Either make it completely private so that posters have to join by request. Or make it completely separate from the main Talk of The Villages forum so that our general posters will not have to see the political posts show up in their New Post listing. Or a combination of the two.

I am quite ashamed of this section of the forum. Many posters style gives me the creeps.

This sense has come to me also, by the way, from other members of Talk of The Villages. You would be embarrassed to know how they see some of you because of your postings.

How to fix it? With calm, rational civility in your posts, like you would practice in person. Most everything in Political ends up in a fist fight, a brawl, whining about my side and wailing against the other side. I could count on one hand the number of posters who could stand up to a good old college debate.

I would suspect that some members might like to voice their thoughts without the risk of being bashed, baited, or told to leave because they can't take the bashing and baiting. It is annoying to see members tell others members to keep away if they can't stand it. It is not up to some members to tell others to leave.

Political posters really should sit back and look at the tenor here, from both sides. It is pitiful.

I will certainly take my leave if you want but am curious about those who complain....are they the same ones who do not visit any longer but were full of the trash during the campaign ?

Or are they they folks who come in here with a different name than they used during the campaign ?

I know that has to be rhetorical, but the forum is one sided but I find those who have complained on here publicly are NEW.....and suspect many of them are those who maligned me and others during the campaign dialogue !

If you want balance then you should ask those who post to post their affliation or beliefs and then allocate spots !

And to be honest I have seen very little of what you describe Tony, ie. folks being told to leave if they cant stand it...VERY VERY VERY LITTLE !



Sorry we have shamed you !

I am not asking anybody to take leave.

Originally Posted by tony

I am not asking anybody to take leave.

Tony...Has the tone changed from what it was last fall? I have gone through some old threads and I actually think things are alot more tame. But I was not here so I can only imagine.

Edit...I randomly bumped an old thread about Ms. Palin.

Originally Posted by cabo35

Boomer....glad to see you venturing into Political. Thanks for your articulate and thoughtful posts in Investment Talks. I hope you choose to play in this forum. Diversity and controversy are what make it interesting. If a post turns your smile to a frown....picture the poster "in the buff", at the town square, dancing feverishly to Rocky and the Rollers best rendition of "I'm So Excited". Works for me. When the smile comes back...gar-un-teed....hit the keyboard and level the playing field.

I hope this graphic post passes muster with the good taste police that monitor the board for erotic content.

cabo,

Thank you for the invitation. And thank you for the kind words on the fun I have over there in the investment forum. I probably will just hang out in other places for a while, but it was nice of you to ask.

And I must say that even though I do not agree with everything you say, you certainly can turn a phrase. I saw what you said the other day about your writing for magazines, and I have to tell you that I laughed. It was one of those "Aha!" kinds of laughs. And I thought to myself, "I knew it! That guy writes somewhere."

Yes, you can turn a phrase, and I must say, too, that you are good with the imagery. That is quite a word picture you just painted for me. Oh my!

Thanks for a smile, cabo. That is really why I come here to TOTV. But sometimes I wander into Political and start acting like I think I am Miss Kitty in the saloon on "Gunsmoke." What with all the punching and chairs getting busted over heads and beer getting spilled all over the floor, well, I just can't have it like that. Miss Kitty would never put up with such a thing.

Ohhhhhh, I have surely, surely descended into madness.

Boomer

Originally Posted by Quixote

In my first question when I was a new member I asked why the number of people on this web site was so small compared to the number of people who lives in the Villages and realized that many members dont even live in the Villages. In this political sectioln I think that the num ber of people who usually write is very tiny compared to the number of members and even more tiny compared to the number of people in the Villages. Why?

If you want to know why people do not post to the political post, just read the last five pages. Everyone is at everyone else's throats because of their views.

Tony......boy that was a close one.....I thought for sure I was going to wind up in the penalty box for graphic, exotic content in my last post when I saw your name on the thread.

I agree with a substantial portion of your post. My mom was a Boston democrat who worked on JFK's campaign and my father, a staunch Goldwater republican. It made for interesting dinner talk. At family gatherings, she would caution against conversation involving politics and religion. You would have to know my family to fully appreciate that point. Unfortunately our family loyalties were also divided between the Red Sox and the Yankees. Sports talk wasn't always a pretty option and it usually morphed into loud, animated political debate.

I learned to listen a lot between wine, appetizers, soup, pasta, roast and homemade Italian desserts, and then, start all over again. If you are Italian, you understand the serving process. Relatives would get insulted, have their feathers ruffled and sometimes didn't speak until the next family gathering and one of mom's day long dinners. As acrimonious as it got....God forbid an outsider should abuse or threaten a family member. Those who tried felt the wrath of the entire family. You've heard of the Soprano's? I know them, they took notes from my family.

I look at TOTV as kind of an extended family. It gets a little crazy sometimes, like my relatives... posters or visitors get their feathers ruffled on occasion, but, I believe that they are all good people who are passionate about their politics and loyal American patriots each and every one. I would like to think my polar political opposite would defend me if I was sincerely threatened. I know that applies with a degree of certainty to some antagonists I have had "bristling" exchanges with.

I guess I'm saying it wouldn't be a political forum if it wasn't contentious to some degree. You are correct about the unhealthy nature that surfaces when the vitriolic level evolves into personal attacks. I know that my twisted sense of humor has occasionally been taken as a personal attack. I wouldn't be sincere if I told you I felt apologetic about that.

Keedy is correct when he cites other out of control political forums. I hope that this forum does not meet an ignoble demise. I am sure you and the other administrators will do what has to be done to keep it alive and lively while tempered with enforced decorum.

For the record...you weren't in my mind dancing in the town square when I conjured up this post. Hmmmmm.....

Have a good evening.