Rage & hate in this forum

[stateofbeasley]

Reading a thread on Howard Zinn, I am getting more and more disturbed about the rage and hate expressed in this forum.

Are people legitimately thinking about the issues, or are the AnandTech forums more of a punching bag for people to work out their personal issues?

On the flip side, maybe it is good that we know where people in America stand. I think people write things here that they would not say in public.

For example, this was written in a recent thread:

He[Obama] is mistakenly thinking the anger is on Washington. The anger is purely at him. His narcissism will be his downfall. Keep talking Hussein, keep talking. Please keep opening your mouth.

His delusional lies are catching up with him.

Perhaps here in P&N, the true nature of where we stand as a nation is revealed: widespread racism, distrust & open hatred of fellow citizens, disdain for the less fortunate.

Is this the kind of nation we want? The kind of legacy we want to pass to the next generation?

 

[CaptnKirk]

You're new here aren't you.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

If you think the Zinn comments were rude you should check out the Limbaugh heart attack thread... lol

Welcome to P&N

 

[nobodyknows]

Talk is cheap. Most of the righties think it's just a big game. I guess it is if all you are after is a few more bucks. They've had it their way for so long that most of them don't even remember what it was like when politics was an art of comprimise instead of a "na na na na nana, we have the majpority and can do whatever we want " so after a year of obstructionism they have themseloves convionced they are "winning".

Yes, people are tired of the economy and they way the game is being played right now but in the end I think it will be the haters who end up with the short end of the stick.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Talk is cheap. Most of the righties think it's just a big game. I guess it is if all you are after is a few more bucks. They've had it their way for so long that most of them don't even remember what it was like when politics was an art of comprimise instead of a "na na na na nana, we have the majpority and can do whatever we want " so after a year of obstructionism they have themseloves convionced they are "winning".

Yes, people are tired of the economy and they way the game is being played right now but in the end I think it will be the haters who end up with the short end of the stick.

Wow... LOL

 

[nobodyknows]

Wow... LOL

LOL.... wow.

 

[stateofbeasley]

You're new here aren't you.

I've been reading P&N for several years. And I am not shy about using harsh/borderline abusive language if people post lies. I remember there was a thread on Gay Marriage where things got pretty bad.

But I draw the line on attacking people based on their race, level of education, geographic location, & other things that are not relevant to the arguments at hand.

It seems like since around 2008, nothing is off limits anymore.

I'm not even sure it's about issues sometimes. A lot of the times it seems like personal destruction is the goal. And I have to wonder if the people who run this website want AnandTech to be known for this kind of behavior. This is not something that goes unnoticed in the web community.

 

[soccerballtux]

Talk is cheap. Most of the righties think it's just a big game. I guess it is if all you are after is a few more bucks. They've had it their way for so long that most of them don't even remember what it was like when politics was an art of comprimise instead of a "na na na na nana, we have the majpority and can do whatever we want " so after a year of obstructionism they have themseloves convionced they are "winning".

Yes, people are tired of the economy and they way the game is being played right now but in the end I think it will be the haters who end up with the short end of the stick.

It's usually the people on the left with the nastiest attitude.
disclaimer: in nobodyknows' signature I was making the point [in serious fashion and not just saying it] that IF there is no God, as most liberals choose to believe, then nothing matters-- the universe doesn't care.

(I do not personally believe that. I believe there is a one true God, the God of the bible, and one of the main reasons he judged nations before Jesus' time was for how they treated the poor. This means I must believe taking care of the poor is important-- and I do-- because it is. But I stepped inside an Atheists shoes for a moment while I made that post.)

 

[soccerballtux]

I've been reading P&N for several years. And I am not shy about using harsh/borderline abusive language if people post lies. I remember there was a thread on Gay Marriage where things got pretty bad.

But I draw the line on attacking people based on their race, level of education, geographic location, & other things that are not relevant to the arguments at hand.

It seems like since around 2008, nothing is off limits anymore.

I'm not even sure it's about issues sometimes. A lot of the times it seems like personal destruction is the goal. And I have to wonder if the people who run this website want AnandTech to be known for this kind of behavior. This is not something that goes unnoticed in the web community.

Do you have any alternatives? I've seen it get much worse over silliness like computer hardware on some other sites. I would prefer more civil political discussion, but really don't know where to look. I am pretty much done with P&N anyways, nobody is willing to change their view.

 

[woolfe9999]

I have been around political discussion forums for close to a decade, and unfortunately I haven't found one any better than this, and some even worse. The OP is 100% correct that many comments made on the internet would never be made IRL.

Another question is whether the internet with its wide information availability has improved our political education or done anything to ease the partisan divide. Unfortunately, I think it has had the reverse impact, as self-confirmatory views and information (both true and very often, false), are now always a Google prompt away. People seek out information that seems to confirm their own biases, and the internet makes that much, much easier. Ironically, instead of prompting people to confront and digest opposing views, it causes people to fortify and rigidify their existing views, and they come to discussions like this already pre-conditioned in this way.

There are a handful of people on any discussion board like this who can be reasoned with. Off the top of my head, I'd say 20% at best.

- wolf

 

[StageLeft]

Most discussions are relatively cordial. Some people use the net as an excuse to be an animal but others use it as an excuse to be simply more candid, so perhaps in some cases what you think is being impolite is in contrast to regular society being phoney.

Anyway, I am surprised nobody in this thread has told you to go f*** yourself yet. It was begging for it

 

[CaptnKirk]

I'm not even sure it's about issues sometimes.
A lot of the times it seems like personal destruction is the goal.

We have de-evolved into two separate, but equal factions - the Cretins and the Morons,
each desparate to display their particular superiority.

Their mental and moralistic wealth can be underwhelming at times.

 

[IGBT]

rage and anger are a liberal behavioral characteristic. it comes from their insistence of politicizing their fears and feelings into public policy. And they are further frustrated when they are judged by their results rather then their intentions. From a liberal point of view, intentions are everything. Results are secondary.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I've been reading P&N for several years. And I am not shy about using harsh/borderline abusive language if people post lies. I remember there was a thread on Gay Marriage where things got pretty bad.

But I draw the line on attacking people based on their race, level of education, geographic location, & other things that are not relevant to the arguments at hand.

It seems like since around 2008, nothing is off limits anymore.

I'm not even sure it's about issues sometimes. A lot of the times it seems like personal destruction is the goal. And I have to wonder if the people who run this website want AnandTech to be known for this kind of behavior. This is not something that goes unnoticed in the web community.

You have not been around long have you??

 

[JEDIYoda]

rage and anger are a conservatives behavioral characteristic. it comes from their insistence of politicizing their fears and feelings into public policy. And they are further frustrated when they are judged by their results rather then their intentions. From a conservative point of view, intentions are everything. Results are secondary.

 

[sandorski]

You're right. Things get out of hand here. Best to just identify the worst offenders and either pass over their Posts or Block them.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

rage and anger are a liberal behavioral characteristic. it comes from their insistence of politicizing their fears and feelings into public policy. And they are further frustrated when they are judged by their results rather then their intentions. From a liberal point of view, intentions are everything. Results are secondary.

Pot calling the kettle.......

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

It's usually the people on the left with the nastiest attitude.
disclaimer: in nobodyknows' signature I was making the point [in serious fashion and not just saying it] that IF there is no God, as most liberals choose to believe, then nothing matters-- the universe doesn't care.

(I do not personally believe that. I believe there is a one true God, the God of the bible, and one of the main reasons he judged nations before Jesus' time was for how they treated the poor. This means I must believe taking care of the poor is important-- and I do-- because it is. But I stepped inside an Atheists shoes for a moment while I made that post.)

What you profess to believe and what you say that you want done are two so different things.

You believe in hatred and revenge, you believe that you are correct to judge and condemn, even though you NEVER read anything beyond a headline and are proven a bloody fool in pretty much every thread because of it, which you ignore so you can keep your holier than though attitude going while quite possibly being the most pathetic man to ever visit these forums.

That you lie about your standpoint TWICE by saying that you didn't really mean what you said, something that is somewhat of your trademark to say, is just even more pathetic.

Suicide might be a valid solution for your meager brain, but if not, at least never reproduce you stupid fuck.

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm not even sure it's about issues sometimes.
A lot of the times it seems like personal destruction is the goal.

We have de-evolved into two separate, but equal factions - the Cretins and the Morons,
each desparate to display their particular superiority.

Their mental and moralistic wealth can be underwhelming at times.

:awe: nicely put.

 

[Moonbeam]

You should not be surprised that people who hate themselves are full of hate.

Insults and contempt are a wonderful mirror.

People react to them because they believe them. and prove it by their reactions.

 

[Moonbeam]

What you profess to believe and what you say that you want done are two so different things.

You believe in hatred and revenge, you believe that you are correct to judge and condemn, even though you NEVER read anything beyond a headline and are proven a bloody fool in pretty much every thread because of it, which you ignore so you can keep your holier than though attitude going while quite possibly being the most pathetic man to ever visit these forums.

That you lie about your standpoint TWICE by saying that you didn't really mean what you said, something that is somewhat of your trademark to say, is just even more pathetic.

Suicide might be a valid solution for your meager brain, but if not, at least never reproduce you stupid fuck.

This is going to be good. You're too kind, though. I'm hoping he never even gets to have sex.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

rage and anger are a liberal behavioral characteristic. it comes from their insistence of politicizing their fears and feelings into public policy. And they are further frustrated when they are judged by their results rather then their intentions. From a liberal point of view, intentions are everything. Results are secondary.

From a conservative standpoint, ideals matter while actions do not.

Just take a look at how conservatives act, they may talk about freedom while restricting it to a degree unheard of before and they may talk about ideals such as small government while actually expanding it, talk about not wasting money while wasting more than ever before.

There is no doubt that "conservatives" who support the conservatives of today are closer to stalinist communism along with a Mao form of dictatorship to restrict people rather than the "ideals" they proclaim. The evidence are in the actions and not even you can deny that without being intellectually dishonest.

 

[Moonbeam]

From a conservative standpoint, ideals matter while actions do not.

Just take a look at how conservatives act, they may talk about freedom while restricting it to a degree unheard of before and they may talk about ideals such as small government while actually expanding it, talk about not wasting money while wasting more than ever before.

There is no doubt that "conservatives" who support the conservatives of today are closer to stalinist communism along with a Mao form of dictatorship to restrict people rather than the "ideals" they proclaim. The evidence are in the actions and not even you can deny that without being intellectually dishonest.

I don't think he's going to worry too much about being intellectually dishonest.

 

[stateofbeasley]

rage and anger are a liberal behavioral characteristic. it comes from their insistence of politicizing their fears and feelings into public policy. And they are further frustrated when they are judged by their results rather then their intentions. From a liberal point of view, intentions are everything. Results are secondary.

rage and anger are a conservatives behavioral characteristic. it comes from their insistence of politicizing their fears and feelings into public policy. And they are further frustrated when they are judged by their results rather then their intentions. From a conservative point of view, intentions are everything. Results are secondary.

It's usually the people on the left with the nastiest attitude.

That you lie about your standpoint TWICE by saying that you didn't really mean what you said, something that is somewhat of your trademark to say, is just even more pathetic.

Suicide might be a valid solution for your meager brain, but if not, at least never reproduce you stupid fuck.

You should not be surprised that people who hate themselves are full of hate.

Insults and contempt are a wonderful mirror.

People react to them because they believe them. and prove it by their reactions.

I see now that attempts at negotiation and reconciliation are largely useless. My personal belief is that conditions in this nation will have to get so dire that people will be forced to cooperate.

Such a situation would be something like a WWII magnitude crisis, where the Union has a choice of either fighting and surviving, or ceasing to be relevant on the world stage.

Right now, things are bad. People are out of work, their retirement funds uncertain, their mortgages underwater. But the nation is not under threat of imminent destruction, and people are not starving like they were during the Great Depression.

So we fight amongst ourselves, because we can afford to.

 

[Moonbeam]

I think it's because folk who hate themselves can't afford not to fight. It is the fight that keeps them from knowing how bad they feel. They need to blame somebody else for their self hate to pretend it's somebody else's fault than our own.