why the political threads?

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06-03-2006, 10:35 AM
shmoesmith

why the political threads?

I was reading the Moore thread and got to thinking....Why does everyone respond to political threads? Seriously. No one with the opposing view point EVER changes their mind, and all it seems to do is get people (who may have otherwise been friends) pissed off at each other. I see the point in expressing your views, but why not do it in something better like a letter to the editor or somethign where you arent going to be making maggots who may have been great friends pissed off at you, or having them think you an idiot. Politics and religion are two of the two things that get people so emotionally involved that they will throw away life-long relationships over. So why are we talking about them here and possibly fucking up the best skiing relationships out there?
06-03-2006, 10:39 AM
Endlessseason

I couldn't agree more. That's precisely why I rarely click on them and kick myself when I do.
06-03-2006, 10:40 AM
Tippster

It's a way to vent and feel like you have an opinion that matters. The way the political process is in reality versus the myth of "democracy" where every vote counts leads to frustrations that are oftentimes aired best in friendly environs like this one.

If you don't like them do as Endless does - ignore them.
06-03-2006, 10:43 AM
iceman

Because they like it? These threads have been going on for YEARS and while they get people riled up they don't hurt anything, so who cares?
06-03-2006, 10:47 AM
Dexter Rutecki

As I've said before, I post in them for the benefit of those on the sidelines, not so much those in the threads themselves. I think it's important not to let fallacies go uncorrected. And I have had my mind changed and/or learned things from those threads in the past.
06-03-2006, 11:05 AM
Schmear

The political threads are entertaining. They're like pro wrestling in a cubicle.

They do far less harm than you think.
06-03-2006, 11:21 AM
cj001f

Quote:

Originally Posted by shmoesmith

Politics and religion are two of the two things that get people so emotionally involved that they will throw away life-long relationships over. So why are we talking about them here and possibly fucking up the best skiing relationships out there?

Those thoughts scare me more than conservatives, liberals or any other political affiliation.
06-03-2006, 11:21 AM
shmoesmith

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmear

The political threads are entertaining. They're like pro wrestling in a cubicle.

They do far less harm than you think.

ROFL

I have never thought about it that way, but thats a pretty good description. Based on the response here, I would guess that they probably are far less harmful in THIS forum than I thought. The maggots appear to have a rare quality that allows them to trash eachother online and then go out for beers together afterwards. This is not a quality that I have seen on other boards, and I have personally witnessed several friendships destroyed over politics (which is why I brought up the point in the first place). I guess I just havent been around on this forum long enough to see that it doesnt do much harm here.......That said.....why are liberals so fucking stupid? :the_finge
06-03-2006, 11:35 AM
MassLiberal

I love talking politics, yes it gets heated sometimes, but generally I have respect for some of my ideological counterparts, and think that if I were lucky enough to meet some of them, we'd get along fine. Hell, even the Moore thread has momentary lapses of reason, right now everything seems pretty cool.
06-03-2006, 12:28 PM
steve

Quote:

Originally Posted by shmoesmith

I was reading the Moore thread and got to thinking....Why does everyone respond to political threads? Seriously. No one with the opposing view point EVER changes their mind, and all it seems to do is get people (who may have otherwise been friends) pissed off at each other.

After a few years and a lot of invested emotion in political threads I came to that same realization a few years ago. And I realized what a terrible waste of time posting in political threads was, if you're doing it for the wrong reasons.

The wrong reason : attempt to change others opinions.
The right reason : idle entertainment, with maybe a little insight you never thought of.

It works out better this way. I am a lot more respectful towards the other side - and I don't hate political adversaries on message boards anymore (it used to be very bad). What a waste of potential friends that could be, eh?
06-03-2006, 12:48 PM
rideit

The Poli/Religion/socio/economic board on MTBR is a case in point. I have seen threats to "chop off your teenage daughter's head , and fuck her in the throat" over say, whether Karl Rove is an idiot or some such nonsense.

People are fucked up when anonomous...
06-03-2006, 12:51 PM
MassLiberal

Quote:

Originally Posted by rideit

The Poli/Religion/socio/economic board on MTBR is a case in point. I have seen threats to "chop off your teenage daughter, and fuck her in the throat" over say, whether Karl Rove is an idiot or some such nonsense.

People are fucked up when anonomous...

But that hasn't really happened here (at least not that I've seen).
06-03-2006, 12:54 PM
Benny Profane

Quote:

Originally Posted by MassLiberal

But that hasn't really happened here (at least not that I've seen).

Might happen if you walk through my neighborhood with a Red Sox hat on. Fucker.
06-03-2006, 12:56 PM
rideit

Quote:

Originally Posted by MassLiberal

But that hasn't really happened here (at least not that I've seen).

That is my point: people tend to actually hook up and ski with eachother here. Except for UniBonger and his ilk.
06-03-2006, 01:01 PM
MassLiberal

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Might happen if you walk through my neighborhood with a Red Sox hat on. Fucker.

Ha, bring it!!! :the_finge

:D :D

While political threads may get heated here, I would never want to threaten some one who I may be skiing with someday...
06-03-2006, 01:22 PM
Cyber Cop

I'll defer this one to the venerable Stan Marsh

Quote:

There's the girl that I like.
Now it appears that she likes another guy.
It must be because he's political and stuff.
I bet I could be political, too.
06-04-2006, 08:18 AM
skifishbum

Quote:

Originally Posted by shmoesmith

ROFL

That said.....why are liberals so fucking stupid? :the_finge

Fuckin Stupid?
When we skiin the Y bro?
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...hbum/tp035.jpg
Can't find the thread it get deleted?
06-04-2006, 08:52 AM
Plakespear

They keep us busy during the summer.
06-04-2006, 08:52 AM
Plakespear

They keep us busy during the summer.
06-04-2006, 09:12 AM
skiing-in-jackson

Quote:

Originally Posted by shmoesmith

Politics and religion are two of the two things that get people so emotionally involved that they will throw away life-long relationships over. So why are we talking about them here and possibly fucking up the best skiing relationships out there?

Agreed, I have very good friends that are completely in different political orbits than me, and we never talk about politics.

I think it messes this place up.

My life is surrounded by stuff like that, and I like to come here and talk about skiing/climbing/sprockets etc.

I very rarely read, let alone respond, to any political threads.
06-04-2006, 10:21 AM
Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo

For me it's about dialogue and involvement. No matter how deep the universal bonds of humanity(or whatever you wanna call it) may seem to run, how we experience life and the world can be a deeply personal and individual thing. So why we may not always agree with someones viewpoint that doesn't mean we can't understand where they are coming from and try and respect that opinion. That kind of political dialogue is in short supply these days unfortunately. I haven't been on here long but it seems most of the people on here at least try for that type of dialogue. If there was a friend that I truly hated for their political views to the point I threw away that friendship and didn't want to ski with them anymore, I'd feel like a loser. Personally I wouldn't want a country where everyone voted the same and believed exactly the same things as me. It may sound good in theory but it would probably be the first step to some kind of monolithic totalitarianism where we all think and act the same and walk in lock-step everywhere we go.

I know I will probably never change anyones mind on here but even if I take a cheap shot for laughs and get someone pissed off, at least that may motivate them to get a bit more involved. Voting once every four years for the president is just not enough. Democracy is a participatory goverment where the majority rules. The more poeple we get involved on both sides the closer we will get to what the majority actually wants. The system has lots of big flaws but you can't expect the politicians to change it unless we all get really involved and hold them acountable with ours voices and our votes.
Thats just my long-winded .02. And I'm not calling anyone a loser, believe me I have lots of friends that I wouldn't want to talk politics with because of emotional involvment.
06-04-2006, 10:56 AM
iceman

Quote:

Originally Posted by skiing-in-jackson

I think it messes this place up.

I very rarely read, let alone respond, to any political threads.

The problem and the solution, right there in one post.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT DON'T READ IT, MORONS

Quit being such pussies, it's the internet fer chrissakes.
06-04-2006, 11:41 AM
summit

If there are so many political threads that they are knocking TRs off the front page, that is bad.

Otherwise, if you don't want to participate, don't post in the thread. If you don't want anything to do with it, don't click on the thread. Let the rest of us have our pointless distraction.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MassLiberal

But that hasn't really happened here (at least not that I've seen).

Not in the political threads... now congratulatory threads and TRs the threats will fly!
06-04-2006, 11:53 AM
Schmear

Quote:

Originally Posted by Summit

Otherwise, if you don't want to participate, don't post in the thread. If you don't want anything to do with it, don't click on the thread.

This was pointed out like three times already. Thanks.

Anyone else?
06-04-2006, 01:46 PM
cj001f

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmear

Anyone else?

I wish there was a way you could ignore posters you don't like. Frozen - could you work on that?
06-04-2006, 01:51 PM
RootSkier

This thread is funny. I think most of the people from Summit county are political hacks but I still hope to ski with them someday. :FIREdevil :FIREdevil :FIREdevil :FIREdevil
06-04-2006, 01:52 PM
Hayduke

You don't have to read it if you don't want to click on it.
06-04-2006, 03:36 PM
Schmear

Quote:

Originally Posted by cj001f

I wish there was a way you could ignore posters you don't like. Frozen - could you work on that?

I usually like Summit's posts, especially the long ones with formattted underlining and bullet points.
06-04-2006, 05:09 PM
Mime

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayduke

You don't have to read it if you don't want to click on it.

****??????????****
06-04-2006, 05:11 PM
cj001f

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmear

I usually like Summit's posts, especially the long ones with formattted underlining and bullet points.

I'm trying to figure a way to embed powerpoint presentations in posts and win the political post battle.
06-04-2006, 05:55 PM
shmoesmith

Quote:

Originally Posted by cj001f

I'm trying to figure a way to embed powerpoint presentations in posts and win the political post battle.

The chicks must dig that :eek: