Just an editorial

[flockofseagulls104]

Flock, reasonable people can disagree reasonably. Unfortunately, a large section of the populace, including several here, fell victim to the media mindbending that went on in the run-up to Trump's election win, and the subsequent meltdown. They've lost any ability they may have had to reasonably discuss differences of opinion. They are now firmly entrenched in their 'we against them' attitude as well as suffering from an abysmal ability to admit to being wrong. Sad, really, but I don't believe that's going to change any time soon.

Your self-awareness is impressive.

Your self-awareness, unfortunately, seems to be fairly non-existent.

You call Spock bigoted and willfully ignorant, assuming that you are the be all and end all of any discusssion on the subject you two decided to drag over to this thread, after he called you an arrogant ass.
Then you go after tlynn for expressing her opinion.
The stalker weighs in with his usual helpful contribution with the ubiquitous personal swipe at me.

How is any of this going to solve anything?

And here I am doing the same old thing myself. But what choice do you leave me? No one seems to want to do anything CONSTRUCTIVE. We all just want to keep banging our heads against the wall. Or banging someone else's head against the wall. I guess it's easier than thinking.

[flockofseagulls104]

I've heard it posited that one of the major reasons for the decline in our culture IS the internet. Here you can engage in rude, hostile nasty behavior somewhat anonymously that you probably wouldn't in the real world. But some people don't have that barrier, and they take what they do on the internet into their real world interactions.

Interesting theory. It might be enlightening to discuss it in detail, but we'll no doubt argue about it in the same way we do everything else.

[flockofseagulls104]

It is fairly obvious there is no bridge to the divide in this country, and there are very few people who have any desire to build one. What this portends is very ominous.

[kroxquo]

It is fairly obvious there is no bridge to the divide in this country, and there are very few people who have any desire to build one. What this portends is very ominous.

I think this is a fair statement. So here is my question - What are you doing to help build a bridge?

[flockofseagulls104]

It is fairly obvious there is no bridge to the divide in this country, and there are very few people who have any desire to build one. What this portends is very ominous.

I think this is a fair statement. So here is my question - What are you doing to help build a bridge?

I posted this thread. I have tried to spark reasoned debate. I have tried to explain my perspectives on different issues and found that it was just 'pissing in the wind'. I have been able to add new designations to my signature. And I regained a stalker who paints graffiti over everything I say.
What are you doing, krox?

[kroxquo]

It is fairly obvious there is no bridge to the divide in this country, and there are very few people who have any desire to build one. What this portends is very ominous.

I think this is a fair statement. So here is my question - What are you doing to help build a bridge?

I posted this thread. I have tried to spark reasoned debate. I have tried to explain my perspectives on different issues and found that it was just 'pissing in the wind'. I have been able to add new designations to my signature. And I regained a stalker who paints graffiti over everything I say.
What are you doing, krox?

I attempt to remain civil in any debate or discourse with the goal of trying to reach understanding. You and I are about as far apart in our views as could be possible, but I think I have remained polite in my conversations with you just as I think you have done with me. If I am mistaken on this, then please call me out on it. The vitriol that comes from you and Spock and other conservatives, as well as the Bobs, SSS and others on my side accomplishes nothing. And in anticipation of a response I expect to hear, "Well he started it!" is not an acceptable excuse from my students or from intelligent, thinking adults.

I too have a very pessimistic view of the future of this country. I am sure for very different reasons. But unless we can find a way to start listening to each other and at least acknowledging there is some common ground, we will be writing the obituary for the Constitution within our life times.

[flockofseagulls104]

I think this is a fair statement. So here is my question - What are you doing to help build a bridge?

I posted this thread. I have tried to spark reasoned debate. I have tried to explain my perspectives on different issues and found that it was just 'pissing in the wind'. I have been able to add new designations to my signature. And I regained a stalker who paints graffiti over everything I say.
What are you doing, krox?

I attempt to remain civil in any debate or discourse with the goal of trying to reach understanding. You and I are about as far apart in our views as could be possible, but I think I have remained polite in my conversations with you just as I think you have done with me. If I am mistaken on this, then please call me out on it. The vitriol that comes from you and Spock and other conservatives, as well as the Bobs, SSS and others on my side accomplishes nothing. And in anticipation of a response I expect to hear, "Well he started it!" is not an acceptable excuse from my students or from intelligent, thinking adults.

I too have a very pessimistic view of the future of this country. I am sure for very different reasons. But unless we can find a way to start listening to each other and at least acknowledging there is some common ground, we will be writing the obituary for the Constitution within our life times.

I agree with you on that. One of the things that get frustrating is that we cannot discuss one subject at a time and see if we can come to some understanding of each other's viewpoint. You might have a point I can concede if I believe you have an open mind on my points. But any subject brings up something else, and then something else so that the original point is lost.
I tried to make it a game: Let's build a congressional bill to solve school shootings: put your amendment in and see what we can come up with. That turned into a fiasco.
We have no attention span anymore.