I did not start this thread to talk about people who have different views than me.
But to lift the rock,see what others thought lay beneath the art of conversation, why we differ and if it matters that we do.
I think we benefit by that difference.
But fail totally by not taking ownership of those opinions that are proved wrong.
Years ago, an aggressive workmate, known as the Minister for Main roads [he was a contract truck driver but liked giving orders] said these words after evidence hit the lunch table his three day long augment was proving wrong.
*Well I am wrong but I am still right*

I wholeheartedly agree Belly. Excellent thread btw, keep them coming!

Nice thread.

I agree wholeheartedly, as well. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, I lose my grip on the fact that people who disagree with me are simply voicing opinions; I also lose my grip on the fact that the things I say are merely opinions as well. There is a difference between informed and uninformed opinions, and I think each has its purpose. In some contexts, the uninformed opinion can be as enlightening as the informed one; in others, they force us to think deeper about the basis for our own positions.

As for OUG, I'll lend my support here as well. Your posts are a lot more coherent than they once were, and perhaps as a result of the "tricky code" you use they force a slow reading which, in turn, gives more time to think about them. I can't help noticing, though, that you manage to circumvent the system and slip well over 350 words into a single post. I don't know whether to be annoyed or impressed! Either way, keep up the good work.

Hmm ... on re-reading, I'd say your posts are a lot more coherent than that last paragraph.

Good posts those two.
Let me remind you I could do little till I left school.
Write? never read only just, my childhood as the oldest son was work, school ended at just before 13 years of age.
Education started then, never ending till I die.
A job as that kid was in a remote north coast timber town.
Few could read less write, I had left my family behind and learned to write in a fashion so they knew I was ok.
I was not alone thousands left school without an education, I knew a secrete, if only they could be shown how to read.
I in a former job,government one got a good man behind me and had a class to learn to read funded, by then my 486 PC had helped me and the thousands of books I had read.
My education was never going to be at school, my family was poor and we got reminded of it daily, I learned early to plan only to get out.
Education ,far more than anything I know can change humanity, we need to change.stepping on the fingers of some one trying to learn is loutish.
On looking you can see the bloke who left his glasses at home or will get the missus to do it she handles that, can not do it.
Do we laugh or say lets get around the back of the shed I can help?

Belly asks:

"Has any one else noted we are not seeing
many posters. And just maybe it is one of
the most talked about subjects that is driving
posters away. In my opinion politics. Along
with the fact we all are less than happy with our
current crop of leaders, on both sides we are bored."

Well, yes, I have for one, and so has Antiseptic recognised this situation, as witnessed by his post of Wednesday, 3 November 2010 at 6:12:05 AM to this thread. I suspect that so, too, has GrahamY, judging from the content of his recent article "'On Line Opinion' - the next iteration", which can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/cBUVFQ



Given that the Forum bills itself as being one of social and political debate, I doubt discussion on the subject of politics would be driving posters away. However, it could be something to do with the aggregate content of articles not corresponding with the areas of interest of the OLO viewership.

If it is substantially correct that MainStreamMediaWorld is seen as being out of touch with the real concerns and interests of much of the public, then it is only from sites such as OLO that at least the elementarily computer-literate can themselves articulate any alternative view, or voice approval of views that would otherwise be one way or another edited out from public debate.



In my opinion, it is important to recognise a distinction within the overall viewership between what I call 'viewers' (or 'guests') on OLO, and posters (or 'registered users'). The participation of posters (or the absence thereof) is plain for anyone that visits the site to see. The site statistics as to the viewership as a whole are, by contrast, known (quite properly) only to OLO Administration. My point in making the distinction is that posters, particularly regular or frequent posters, have no means of assessing the extent to which overall viewership may be being affected by such things as quality of discussion, or posting style, among registered users.

Which, much condensed, means 'value and respect OLO'.

TBC

dear Forrest: run forest run! god i love that tag line. Does it really matter about all the rules, laws, restrictions, brain washing we have to live with? Life matters.. our own life.. not what others want you to believe, you make the choices how you want to let all these outside influences affect you.