Freedom of speech doesn't mean much when the same people keep saying the same things, as they do here, and have always done since OLO started many years ago. The only people who have any political influence are the 5% or so of voters who change who they vote for from election to election.

However, with the uniparty we now have, we no longer have much choice, because gutless Australians are too frightened to vote for the only party that can honestly call itself conservative. Poor bubbas don't like being called "hard right" by communist lunatics.

As for the trope everybody-is-entitled-to-an-opinon: yes, they are, no matter how silly those opinions are. What pisses me off is that three of those with silly opinions don't just express them, as is their right, instead of trolling every one who has different opinions.

ttbn,

If you’re going to accuse someone of trolling, you should at least show that their contributions meet the basic definition: posts designed to provoke without substance, derail the topic, or deliberately inflame.

I’ve done none of that.

What I have done is disagree with your claims and challenge your hero worship with evidence, reason, and clarity - something you’ve never seemed especially comfortable with.

You say I’m trolling, yet I’ve addressed arguments directly:

- I pointed out the contradiction in claiming Trump doesn’t need a teleprompter while also crying sabotage over its failure.

- I challenged the mythology around Trump’s business record using factual counterpoints.

- I questioned your tendency to label dissenters “nutjobs” rather than actually rebut them.

If that feels like trolling to you, then the issue isn’t with my posts - it’s with your threshold for scrutiny.

When every critic is a “troll,” every failure is “sabotage,” and every dissenting opinion is “silly,” you’re not engaged in debate - you’re engaged in self-protection.

You don’t have to like what I say. But if your only response is to call names and declare yourself the victim of trolls, then maybe you’re not here for debate at all. Maybe you’re just here to be applauded.

This is a debating site. There are plenty of forums online where you can voice your opinion without ever having to worry about encountering a different view or evidence - forums with strict conditions of entry and swift booting of anyone who is clearly not right-wing. These sound like they're more your thing.

The failure of escalators and telly prompters, is of little consequence when so many are dying unjust violent deaths in this world because of the murderous actions of others.

There are all sorts of theories about dealing with narcissists, windbags and trolls; but there is only one way - ignoring them. The problem is that the three of them here are so off their trolleys that it is tempting to occasionally check up on them up on to see if they are really are as mad as I think they are. It is really hard to believe that such crazies actually exist. But each 'check' reveals that, yes, they do exist. No more proof needed. Enough said.

I agree, ttbn.

Ignoring such people is an excellent strategy - so good, in fact, that if you ever find it isn’t working, it usually means you’ve misread the other person’s intentions.

Those who engage in good faith won’t be dissuaded by being ignored, because their motive isn’t mere provocation - it’s argument.

So when you find yourself unable to follow through on your own advice, it doesn’t prove your target is a troll. It suggests that you’ve mistaken debate for bait, and sound reasoning for provocation.

I find it pretty unlikely the escalator just happened to break down the moment Donald Trump stepped on it.
My whole entire life I'm not sure one ever broke down while I was on it, but I've seen them not working here and there.
Not saying it's not possible just seems unlikely.

If someone did it on purpose they should be told to find employment elsewhere.
I saw the other escalator next to it was still working, they could've just come back down the few steps they'd gone and used that one instead.