AFA your thread is not one I speak of I have visited it and posted but know of no behavior of concern.
I have no wish to highlight threads or posters that only in my opinion , are wrong.
In fact Foxy and you came to this forum long after the outbreak of small wars.
It is my view, truly, that we are better not being other than refugees from some threads and some posters.
Look make up your own mind but some truly insulting and wrong things have been said, we give air to those who do not deserve it by highlighting them.
I too Foxy, all of us, do go of now and again , we should try not to do it, and we will.
I without shame am an activist, long ago I made up my mind to try to change things that need changing, but some things take time.
Some things never change no matter how much we try, if we try, fail but keep our cool we never failed at all
Regards all.
PS the history of this forum can be read by clicking on all and setting your search for threads up to 2 years old , if nothing else some good ideas and threads will resurface.

Belly and other folk,

The perceived problems with the OLO forum antagonistic behaviour is a common theme with most forums I have visited. It is not something we should be upset about but it should be viewed as a part of human nature. When prejudices we hold are threatened, it is normal behaviour to respond in a way that protects them. I think the crunch is that others viewing outright self-protecting mechanisms should point out to the poster, exhibiting such methods, in and educative manner and not as a reprimand, that they may be overstepping the mark. To remain silent, even if ones own thoughts agree with badly concluded propositions, only adds to the problem.

If the reaction is left only to the poster in question at the time, she/he may respond badly because of the lack of support from others.

Boiled down, if irrationality is evident, a consensus opinion needs to point that out.

Generally speaking, this does not happen, so we must persevere with accepting the consequences of overall inaction. No big deal.

(I admit this is all bordering on gibberish)

David

Y'know, I don't think its gibberish. I think you have a really valid point. Also a rebuttal to those who say - ah look, everyone's else is doing it, get over it.

Anyone ever given that "If your friends all jumped off a cliff would you do it too?" line by teachers or family when young? As with many cliches, I think it's message is quite valid. Kinda like Kipling's "If" which tends to be regarded as one giant and jingoistic cliche now.

But, just because the Internet is full of badly adjusted people getting their jollies from attacking unknown opponents, I don't see this as a meaningful reason for behaving the same way.

I consider we really do have (another cliche)a duty of care to other beings, both human and non human. So yeah, James, why should we all just accept it when someone (even if it is we ourselves. As Belly said, we've all done it) behaves unacceptably?. And why the hell should we consider it acceptable behaviour just because there's so much of it?

I live in a country where an entire bus can watch someone stealing a purse out of someone's handbag and not say a word. I witnessed an older woman beating her tiny (presumably) grandson about the head with an umbrella while people averted their eyes, and have seen persons knocked over on zebra crossings while people just walk round them. Its extreme, I know, but who wants to live in a society that shrugs and says "Ah, everyone does it. Get over it?"

PS Aw shucks, Robert. Thanx. Good to hear from you again.I've also missed you

David you are in unknown waters here,I can assure you the very many posters who tried rational debate all failed.
I can also assure you it takes two sides to find reason to disagree however if one side holds the view only they know you can never progress.
Your hobby horse, we all have them, is one that brings heated views yet here in this forum we had a long running thread is there a God?without much strife.
This forum is not unlike any other , most who post here are not mean spirited or deliberately rude.
Some are clearly uninformed.
Some do not value majority views.
Some while holding minority views claim support they will never have.
Some fail to even Begin to know while most people understand issue they may not see the issue as they do.
And in truth we should aim for better always, it is true that the Internet allows some to hide behind the key board and try to impress us , it is also true they rarely do by bad actions.
Be honest is there anyone you have just given up on in debate?
See it is not unusual! we come here to hear and be heard yes we all do, we come to learn and maybe to teach.
But some teach us not to get involved with them.

Thanks, Romany.

Belly,

Atheism is not so much a “hobby horse” of mine, as I have many interests in life. But when I am responding under the Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc banner, I am restricted somewhat, to Atheism.

David

Wise move there David. Posting unrelated topics under the banner of an organisation can lead to all manner of strife:

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=989&page=0#17393