We discuss politics a lot on this opinion site. I guess it is inevitable that we do.

But "what is a good discussion topic" ? I ask.

Politics and religion are understood to be "not good topic for discussion", in my recollection of folk lore.

If I was looking to demonstrate topics that I would think of general interest to us all, I think the link I have provided does a good job of this. I must commend the ABC for both it's balanced content and even overall entertainment value.

Containing some fascinating topics from physics to imprisonment to laughs, in video and audio formats.

I dont think the headline story is about religion, but about ethics; (getting in before those whom would accuse me of including religion in my general discussion), and I fear this may cause you to miss other interesting links on the page below.

http://www.abc.net.au/bestof/?WT.svl=bestOfScroller#s3378939

Thank you ABC for a job well done. As fine an example of a page of "free" to the user internet media information/entertainment, as you would find anywhere in the world.

The yanks would die for something as good as this.

a good topic,..is
why do we need..to vet..new topics

sure..its mainly cause of the 20 i 'submitted'..
only arround 5..got through the 'process'

and sure..the two times..i have been told why
[once for miss-naming..a house of govt...another i cant recall]
but..that could simply have been closed-up..by the first corrective post

[im an adult...if..im revealed online..as ignorant
well thats my choice..for daring to try to voice
an opnion..on qld...lol..governance]

the fact remains
it could have been..a good timely topic

as for ethics
mate you cant diss-slip-in..non ethics by censure

im flat out finding topic lately..worth replying
so am drifting..away from my soul forum..bit by bit

just like i left my previous forum
bit by bit..when we all went childish and churlish

i gotta stop using names and words
i can only vaguely concieve..into basic word formating

and yes..it upsets me so
that i often refuse to read..even the words i just wrote

hence the many thick finger strikes
that covers over..the deliberated topical..put in
for special affectations..affect or effect..HECK..no one is perfect..

dont have the download..to watch abc tv
the idjets went high def option..and big ideas is the only good consistant abc

there is too much ccccc rap on abc
mostly i find it..barely average

it went down hill
from when andrew jolly/lolly/olly
died on the job..and wish tony would simply wakeup

but what the heck
we only let upset us
the things..we let ourselves get upset about

and abc..has made me numb
even sbs isnt all it could be

and how to make them better
is to go live online..and on them other channles
when the topic under diss-cussion..deserves to be heard further

thus any good intervieuw..would simply change channels
for those 2...[that loyal vieuwer and me]..

who want to know the full details..in that rare time
we come accross someone..actually talking about something interestingly new...or with informed opinion..

like we see
all too briefly..at big ideas

i like to think..i affect the topic
as much as the topic affects me..

Thinker 2 I see that old fable as two things.
A form of censorship, a wish we do not learn about both subjects or question them.
To ban either is to kill any forum.
Second we tend to be combative in both areas, some quite hostile to views other than their own.
For Reasons of Social inclusiveness the subjects are seen as divisive.
It however is worth it, all the slanging, slanders, and miss information.
We could do without it, but even the worst is evidence some want still, views other than theirs stopped.
Evidence too not every view is well founded.

PROPAGANDA**..just heard
lol..on MY abc
bah

its got a huge affect on me personally
SO..i posted 4 question on it

http://iheard.com.au/?gclid=CJ_tspb13KwCFYSBpAodNF65JQ#

wanna bet
it get's censored

thats why..i post here
and link back there

im only posting cause i get online acces
for $50 bucks from dodo..so cant watch abc archives

and dodo know's all about me allready
so..why change and make more trails

why go to new forums
heck why bother

soon all we will get is things like that cancer site
that censors your posts..to help along their moneyed adgena

nice web site
http://iheard.com.au/?gclid=CJ_tspb13KwCFYSBpAodNF65JQ#
how much of my tax..?
did my ciggie taxes pay for that?

of course they did

what did i ask
the same as i asked here

woodsmoke is number 1 cause of cancer
diesal micro particulate number two
smoking ciggies 3

[used different wording]

next i asked re the social costs
and that smoking r5elatred is only 800 million
bot 30 billion

next re the pictures and proof that thats from smoking
ie not frost bite nor drinking softdrink..to make them black teeth

and the other ones...were one in 4 only can get cancer
and another one

but my point is they wont all appear..there
i just know they will fiddle with it
or drop them as irrelivant..
or not advancing their paid adgenda

never the less they will count my 6 visites as hits
to say look our idea works....lol

plus they got my details
clever aint it

to clever by half
thats why i post here

and if not elsewhere..linking back to here
or there]..[you know that other site i previously favoured
till the kids began their destractions..and the elites got on with their adgendas

just like the
lol...'i heard' site..lol

BET*..they wont
let you..hear

hear?

Dear Thinker 2,

I think most topics are open for discussion depending on the
debaters. If the debaters are well matched by intelligence
and wit and charm - the discussion becomes interesting
and entertaining, as well as educational. I remember the
"Hypothetical" series that was so entertaining as well
of course - "Q and A," "The Insiders," and many others.

Whilst living and working in the US there were programs
that featured people like Gore Vidal, William Buckley Jr.,
N. Chomsky, and others - who added so much to public discussion
forums. Like a sponge, one simply enjoyed and soaked it all up.
People don't have to necessarily agree - the entertainment value
comes in - when, as I stated earlier - they know their topic,
and are capable of being well reasoned, and are of course
matched by the same qualities in their opponents. It becomes
sheer magic - especially if they do have opposing points of
view.

It is a shame that on the whole however, the state of debate
on the internet is fairly poor (and as I stated earlier - at
times it's sometimes downright awful) - that's why the ABC
and SBS - is a welcome relief. Although I've got to admit I
love, "The Big Bang Theory," (for different reasons though).

I think there should be no restrictions on topics or the points of view or opinions expressed about them.
However, I do think the usual rules of debate should apply, i.e. play the issue and the quality/validity of the expressed position and not the person.
Insulting a stranger whom one is never likely to meet is a pretty good working definition of futility, especially when the intent is to persuade the other person to a different point of view.
I know I'm always inclined to see things another person's way when they insult me. Not!
Cheers,
Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au

I agree with your assessment Anthonyve. And applaud free discussion.

But I was wondering if party politics is over represented in discussions on OLO ?.

I think subjects regarding issues that have more social consequence than the micro thinking that comes from party politics may be of more interest and more fulfilling, thats all.

Is this a symptom of the state of Australian politics itself today, that we discuss topics (for the most part that are cases of Tweedle Dum vs Tweedle Dee) ?.

The Abbott tenure has not helped this in my view. The micro criticism of everything the Gov't attempts, has encouraged the combative party political discussion environment.

Abbott may see the roll of opposition as continuously pulling the Govt's chain or blocking/promising to reverse anything, I don't.

I now find myself drilling down and bogged, in a party political discussion, (even though I would declare myself officially "not" a supporter of either major party at this time) and perpetrating a another endless party political discussion is the last thing I want.

"Any" opposition bent on sabotaging "any" elected Gov'ts agenda from the opposition benches, represents anarchy at best or vested interest's, (if supported by the media at the same time), regardless of whom the elected "victim" Govt of the day is.

The destructive implications of media power both failing to scrutinise and at the same time endorsing any opposition's agenda, in order that an elected Gov'ts program be thwarted, can't be good for democracy and/or the social fabric.

This is not a party political micro topic, it is a macro matter for all Australians.

Do we wish to exceed to the likes of the Murdoch press and vote for Abbott and his un- costed, un-scrutinised policies regardless, and guess about who's running the show after the election ?. I'm not guessing if that be at all helped.

Thinker 2 I think not politics needs more airing not less.
What I think, while totaly in agreement with Anthonysve, is this.
Not all comment is researched or comeing from the well informed.
Increaseingly, some comes straight from the front page of our gutter press.
I think the most ofensive, is from usualy, the least informed.
PARTY POLITICS is not evil, no discussion can take place unless it is free to follow the views of most.
We do see, just look, deliberate shifting from the threads intended path,and not always is it done by informed posters.
It however is often done with the intention of stopping comments not agreed with.

Topics and their affects upon us.....lol....."and thinker said....and I wellcome the thought.....But "what is a good discussion topic" ? I ask.

Answer is....Humans are all apart of the systems that this planet has given for all living things for millions of years. Thinker, you want a good topic that will bring truth just that bit closer, just try the truth with any topic and see what you get.

Just a thought.

CACTUS

darn was meant to post this here

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/bigideas/stories/2011/11/29/3378072.htm

lexie you mentioned noam chonshy
he was on big ideas a few days ago
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/bigideas/

there are some excellent topic suggestions there
and each should become automaticly a new topic

in the main because commenting on them at abc
sees them censored...and these issues run deep

danerouse ideas
and so much more
dump the abc..and just do more big ideas

i wish they would run one channel
just for replaying big ideas programs all the time...in full

for those who never heard of the guy
watch the clip

he is saying what many need to know

sure he is wtong in a few things
like his cause of jap surrender in ww2
it was the ruskies massing to invade japan..
that they surrenderd to usa

but his napalming japs..killing 20 million
thats true...[it wasnt people dying from bombs

[not even atom bombs
it was that the elites..would loose
their illgotten booty/power...lol.. to the ruskies]

but heck
the rest of his stuff is spot on
and the research has only just been done...

[i think i heard that
on big ideas too]

noting the 'i heard site
censord my suggestions

clearly they didnt hear
now there is a topic ...lol
that has no affect on anyone

except as a propoganda site

the spin is sin

Politics and Religion as discussion topics, need to be indulged in with less fervor and more sensitivity, it is our right to have our views, but rabid insults from some posters can turn the whole topic into a war zone. We, as Australians, have a right to both religion and choice of politicians, and it is not for the ill-informed to throw insults at people who are exercising their rights.
In some areas, the press are lacking in responsible reporting, and, like Lexi, I enjoy programs such as Q & A, and of course the program hosted by the genius on "Hypothetical" . Also the ABC's "Media Watch" is interesting in the exposure of some journalism "porkies".
It is not for others to vilify those who think along different lines.
Cheers, and a "Hello" for Lexi.
Noisy Scrub Bird.