I don't think it's exaggerating to say that OLO is a fairly right-wing site these days....even more so than when I first came here quite some time ago.

Left leaning people have dwindled since I've been here - and they were in the minority to start with. Women, particularly in the general section are few and far between - only three of us comment regularly in the general section among many male contributors.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to why I keep coming back, except that I obviously enjoy throwing a few words on a page to counter the tsunami of right-wing commentary that floods most of OLO's threads.

This comments thread on Muslim immigration pretty much sums up most of the interaction I encounter on OLO:

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=18396&page=0

Here's a few pearlers from among the comments directed at the author of the article, Dilan Thampapillai:

"Graham we really do need a few less articles by special, & vested interest people, with funny names."

"This academic, of dusky hue, clearly does not know his place."

"I'm totally insulted by this article...
This guy will be lucky if I don't unleash in a way I've never spoken on this forum before and earn my first 'removed comment' on this site.
It would be worth it. I'm livid."

I admire your resilience, Poirot, and have often wondered why you continue. Also several other thoughtful contributors. I look at articles on his site that interest me, in the hope of discovering new information and perhaps refining my opinions, as has been the case with this article. But the 'opposition' doesn't appear to entertain the possibility of altering an opinion...they ignore rational argument, seemingly content with repeating their apparently fixed ideas as if that will convince people who think. It's not opposing opinions I find depressing, its the total lack of empathy for anyone not of their ilk.

ybgirp,

"I admire your resilience, Poirot, and have often wondered why you continue. Also several other thoughtful contributors. I look at articles on his site that interest me, in the hope of discovering new information and perhaps refining my opinions, as has been the case with this article. But the 'opposition' doesn't appear to entertain the possibility of altering an opinion...they ignore rational argument, seemingly content with repeating their apparently fixed ideas as if that will convince people who think. It's not opposing opinions I find depressing, its the total lack of empathy for anyone not of their ilk."

Yep...

Folks like you aren't here anymore....and it diminishes the Forum.

SteeleRedux:

"Of course you can 'savage someone with words'. It is a perfectly legitimate use of the word."

Can you explain how this happens? How is it that the one set of words produce such a reaction of wanting to leave in one person and yet the exact same set of words produce no reaction in another person? Words are just words and cannot harm anyone. It is what is already going on inside the person that causes a reaction. An insecure person will have a different reaction to a more secure person because of attitudes they have toward themselves and not to what others say to them.

Suseonline:

"Phanto, it seems you are protesting too much about the so-called loudmouths of this forum. Feeling guilty maybe?"

If I was feeling guilty I would want to go away and hide and try and convince myself that I'd done nothing wrong - I would certainly not be inviting the poster to name names and confirm that they thought I had done wrong.

I wasn't protesting about the so-called loudmouths - I am free to not engage with anyone if I do not want to and they are free to say what they like so there is nothing to protest about.

What I am trying to bring to attention is the unfair criticism of the forums by people who have no good reason to be critical and resort to emotional manipulation instead of reasonable criticism.

No one has to read what is written and no one has to respond. If you make a decision to read or to respond then you have to take responsibility for your own interaction. If it turns out that what you read or what you hear in response is not to your liking then do not blame the other person - blame yourself.

Too many people seem to want only affirmation of their views and feel offended when this does not happen.

Excellent article, Graham. Your points are well made about the ABC dropping the ball on rural and foreign affairs. Cheers Tim

There are probably no two OLO contributors who agree 100 %. That's how it is (and should be) in a robust democracy, and on sites like OLO which freely allow all points of view.

Sure, there are loudmouths, Left and Right, idiots, winkers, sanctimonious prats, probably even some racists. But as in society, so on OLO. So if you think you have something serious to write, do it, defend your notions against the above, since if you are right, your ideas might very well prevail, or at least do some damage to the counter-arguments.

For what it's worth, I think I've learnt more from OLO contributions than watching years of Q&A. And lo ! - nobody's bitten my head off :)

Joe