Interesting commentary on people who have stopped posting. There do seem to be some duologues that are more boring than insulting, like the endless ping pong bout in which AJ Phillips sought to use the language of Enlightenment rationality to engage with Yuyutsu's non-rational word salads (http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6579&page=0). His patient good manners were exemplary

I probably haven't been enough engaged in OLO to receive insults from anyone except for the astounding "Jew hater" from a fanatical and exceedingly boring racist. It was easy to recognise the term as referring to my total rejection of his defence of racism, and I shared the "Jew hater" insult with other correspondents. Not a bother to be insulted by a racist - a lot better than being praised by one.

I don't think there is anything common between the three female writers' withdrawal (for now) - maybe they were bored long and repetitious strings of posts, and maybe (hopefully) it's not a withdrawal but merely a pause.

One person for whom I am lost in admiration is Graham Young, who hosts this lively discussion platform and throughout the year finds thought-provoking articles, along with posting careful analyses of public political opinion.

Hi there EMPEROR JULIAN...

Many thanks for your insightful observations of many of the correspondents who like to contribute their thoughts and opinions to their various Topics presented herein.

Of course we all have our own style of rebuttal or repartee when we deem it necessary, as well as the best use of language in order to clearly impress those who have a mind to read the material and the arguments we choose to add to the discussion. As you may have read, I'm clearly one of the worst offenders when it comes to 'putting in the boot' so to speak, and for that I really don't have a legitimate excuse to do so ?

You chose to distinguish a series of discussions that had apparently became quite robust between YUYUTSU and A J PHILIPS and commending the latter for his exemplary good manners, whereas you went on to describe the former as 'boring' ? Of course, we're all entitled to our opinion(s) E J, in relation to what's boring and language of 'enlightenment and rationality' ? Personally I find individuals who unrelentingly exhibit vain and egotistical features in the manner of their narrative, equally as peculiar, moreover banal to the point of intellectual exhaustion !

Anyway, your statement apropos Mr Graham YOUNG, under who's aegis we're all gratefully permitted to use this wonderful medium at all, is in reality a thorougher gentleman. In fact I was seeking to have another long term contributor return, after aprotracted absence, and it was Graham Y. himself, that did everything possible to have this chap return to OLO and the Forum, the fact that we both failed, it most certainly wasn't for the fact we didn't try ?

Thank you EMPEROR JULIAN for your sage remarks and opinions.

Hi O Sung Wu,

I'll gladly second those remarks about Graham Young and his dedication. How does he put up with us ? Sometimes it must seem to him like he's managing a demented pre-school. He wouldn't be far wrong.

Cheers,

Joe

Thanks for your kind comment o sung wu. I must say I've never found you to be free with the boot, but rather to be always measured and informative.

Here is an amusing web site about the psychology of 'haters', those people who fill opinion sites with negative comments, using as a starting point haters of Pokémon Go. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2016/07/15/the-psychology-of-pokemon-go-haters/#.V-kfwMb_pD8.
What's particularly entertaining is that one of the posters in the discussion doesn't seem to have read the article very carefully, and proceeds to illustrate the point by over-the-top negativity!
Enjoy! But don't emulate!

Cossomby, that's an interesting perspective that Discover puts forward. I'm not sure that it covers all the ground though. As we see on this site so often, much of the negativity and "hating" is inspired by a pretty straightforward form of group identification.

Look at the serial offenders and there's precious little discussion of topics and much infantile ranting about group identities: "lefties" and "rightists"; "warmists" and "deniers" and so on. As someone who could be accused of iconoclasm, I don't notice much in those who tend to be the most vocally offensive. Indeed, the same slogans are trotted out over and over and as a result little new ground is covered in the rush to entrench positions. Insecurity is what drives that, just as it drives the teenager to reject good advice from adults while following a herd of "rebellious" mates into doing what all the other "rebellious" teens are doing.