Controversial Topics: Yea or Nay?

  Not to be too "pedantic," but this poll (and some of the subsequent posts) takes the position that one can simply "choose not to read" offensive material. The problem with this, of course, is that I don't know if the material is offensive or not, until I read it.

Let's assume it is offensive (it happens). Of course, I CAN choose not to respond, but now I have read the offensive material, now my dander is up, and now I am likely to respond in kind, and escalate the situation. Insults get traded, someone leaves. (I miss you, Stormcrow.)

All I'm asking is that people think before they post, much as we should think before we speak. If you really don't give a damn how many enemies you make in this life, by all means, blaze away, but if you do care about such things, and the feelings of others (even disembodied strangers with pseudonyms on a web forum) then "put brain in gear before engaging mouth" -- or finger.

That being said, if I'm constantly confronted with fighting, insults, and/or offensive material from the web when I come to this forum (and I'm not, by a long shot), I will just leave -- as will many others. (Apparently, this is often a big problem at other forums -- I wouldn't know, as Prog Archives is my first, and only. Does that make me monprogamous?)

As I've said elsewhere before, this stuff goes worldwide, (and represents this site, like it or not) so if you wouldn't say it for all to hear on a crowded bus, or in a crowded bar, why say it here? If you wouldn't say it to my face, don't write it to me either.

Is that such a "Big-Brotherly," pro-censorship position? I think NOT.

As Danbo rightly implies, it's not so much WHAT you say, as HOW you say it.

"I don't like the prevalence of handguns in America, and the official Republican party stance on the issue"  is surely less offensive than "Americans -- especially Danbo and Gdub -- are all a bunch of knuckle-dragging, slope-browed, bloodthirsty, gun-toting, shoot first- ask questions later, amoral degenerates."

Blacksword wrote: threefates wrote: Intense discussion can be good for the soul sometimes... I agree. But some people are not able to be disagreed with, and resort to being offensive.

Also the ones that are replying with humor are mistaken because of the ones you mention.  It makes it difficult not to lash back or question then the whole point of the humor is missed.

Reed Lover wrote: It is not about lighting fuses it is about being passionate!!!!!! Some of you are like babies. Civil this and civil that. Who defines what is civil ? If some of us are over-sentive,then offence will always be taken. What a namby-pamby world we live in.....I say old boy that's a bit strong isnt it? After you sir, no....after you! No sir, I must insist, you first Sir......................................................... ......!

In that case:

Get the F*** out of the way!!!!!

Is that better Reed? 

It is not about lighting fuses it is about being passionate!!!!!!

Some of you are like babies. Civil this and civil that. Who defines what is civil ? If some of us are over-sentive,then offence will always be taken.

What a namby-pamby world we live in.....I say old boy that's a bit strong isnt it?

After you sir, no....after you! No sir, I must insist, you first Sir......................................................... ......!

Danbo, you are making more of this than is necessary. I am not feeling highly emotional or volatile about this debate.   If the issue is inextricably linked to the authors view of it you cant attack one without the other.

I am not suggesting all out war or anything, but in the heat of an argument we should all be big enough to take "you're talking crap" on the chin.

I quote my previous post re "the rules:" "Obviously if the consensus is to keep it polite I will observe this "

In response to your "It appears this topic about whether we should engage in discussing world topics is somewhat volatile itself if we can't agree on the rules of debating to begin with." I quote my last post again:

"but I think it would be a big mistake to move towards debating society rules"

   What is a "Serious Topic" ?  And why not support TOTAL ANARCHY !

_________

Lunar 

No. Why bother. Why have an interesting conversation when we can go to Main Discussions and find out if The Knack was prog or not.

Thizz blooooozzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!

danbo wrote: The main problem with discussing volatile subjects in this format is the attacks that occur on the individual who has a different opinion then the majority. It's happened before. Don't call me or anyone else, stupid, ignorant or any other accusation that is hurtful and demeaning, especially on subjective issues. We do not all share the same perspective. Generalizations are dangerous. Because I live in the US, doesn't mean I agree with every issue stereotyped as AMERICAN. I'm a man, a damn sexy one, according to my wife, and I have my own personal views on the world at large and how it affects me. Keep it above board, no hitting below the belt. Discuss, don't attack. Support your claims or keep your mouth shut, or is that fingers to yourself?

Surely this is one area where we can hit below the belt? Why not Dan? I'm happy to be ridiculed for living in a ridiculous society.Why is wrong to attack if we all concede that it is a likely outcome for posting in this area? Sometimes the only way to draw some emotional, genuine and informative opinions out of you lot is to attack you.Most of the people who post in this area are intelligent and eloquent enough to fight their corner. Obviously if the consensus is to keep it polite I will observe this (probably by not posting) but I think it would be a big mistake to move towards debating society rules.

I'm of two minds on this important issue:

Yes, we're adults, and should be able to maturely discuss almost anything, but this is a music forum, and a nice "escape" for many of us. I don't want to always see/confront ugliness here. Even if I don't respond, I must read/peruse the contentious material first,to see what I'm not responding to.

Religious/political topics also have an enormous potential to degenerate into sl*gging matches, and cause people to leave in a huff. This has happened here before -- we lost (permanently) at least one great, funny, witty member this way.

Therefore, I voted "Yes, but keep it civil," but will people keep it civil, faced with a post that attacks not their favourite band, but their nation, culture, religion, sexuality, or morals?