I'm tired of people resorting to ridicule & then quitting a thread because they don't have an answer.
C'mon people, reply with answers not excuses or silence. It will help towards a healthier discussion. Perhaps even offer a real solution.

That's all very well individual, but what if they don't have the answer?
Many people choose to leave a thread after they have been ridiculed, or shot down, for their opinions.

Once the same questions and the same silly or nasty answers keep coming up again and again in a thread, I get bored, and I'm out of there.

I prefer to have new threads or articles to read every day if possible, in order to keep my interest.
At present I am over the carbon tax issue, so I don't get too many other threads to read :(

Dear Suzieonline,
I agree with your post.....everybody is entitled to their opinions, every thing is 'right' and every thing is 'wrong', according to some of our ancient philosophers,as everyone's opinion is either right or wrong according to the person(s) point of view (I have just come back off a 400km drive, and I am too whacked to go find the name of the quoted philosopher), but everybody should be able to post their opinions without fear or favour, that is the democratic style of our country. There are a few too many (virtual) table thumpers on this site, and yes, they are a big turn-off.
Like your self, I don't have some (or most) of the answers demanded by some on-line challengers, lets face it even half of our politicians don't have the answers to the difficult problems facing them. So, again, I am with you, at least you have the intestinal fortitude to make your point.
Noisy Scrub Bird.

:That's all very well individual, but what if they don't have the answer?:

Funny as!

I am with suzeonline,& Noisy it is a bore. Tried getting everyone to post "their policys" just to make it a bit more interesting.

Nobody wants to even play Yes Minister.
I didnt even get a bite when i introduced the death penalty as a policy. They just want to snipe about carbon tax.
Two more years of this.

Bored

Our society is a little more important than just some snide remarks due to lack of an answer ? If anyone is wrong in your opinion then say so via a definite answer instead of leaving it open ended. That's just not intelligent

Dear Individual,

People leave threads for a variety of reasons - they may have the answer - but then after having voiced their opinion on several threads (over and over and over again) and argued with the same band of people - the temptation to resort to ridicule is far too great, so one decides to simply leave. Or, one is bored with discussing topics with people whose mind, logic, and one-eyed points of view simply makes the whole discourse so boringly comatose that one has to leave for the sake of one's sanity. But I digress. Enough said - that leaving is an option we all have - and if it was up to me - possibly some discussion are better not entered into at all with certain people - especially when the outcome is known in advance. That's something I'll try to remember in the future, before I post. Also, it's best to remember that not everyone views the forum as a means of "social and political debate."
Some view it as a "battle-field," while others use it for their own
"entertainment" (i.e. their aim is to be deliberately provocative -
to get a reaction out of people).

Having said all that - I suppose it is best not to over-react to postings directed at you. What looks like an insulting or mean message may only be a poor choice of phrasing and not meant the way
you perceived it. Best to be particularly polite when disagreeing with
someone. Whenever possible, acknowledge good points made and then
respectfully describe the areas where you disagree to produce the most
productive conversation.

Above all, never, every say anything like
the following:

"I'd like to see things from your point of view,
But I can't seem to get my head that far up
my ... - butt!"

Or

"I wouldn't say you're empty-headed but I bet
if I stood close enough to you I can hear the ocean."

Or

"You're the reason God invented the middle-finger!"

Best to leave things like that unsaid. Although you're
allowed to think them of course.