Name:   copperline - Subject:   Censorship? Date:   7/6/2012 8:59:35 PM

Censorship?  No.  A little self-control and humility would do.  

My part of this thread ends here.   What started out as an effort to generate discussion about whether the forum has, perhaps like the larger public political discussion, become so full of insults & derogatory attacks that it is accomplishing nothing…. And has ended with more insults and character assaults.     To my surprise, there aren’t enough people left reading this who feel strongly that aggression is a bad thing.    i really hope they are out there… but aren’t motivated to post any opinions.      

For the Conservative movement, a willingness to allow blatant hostility within your ranks to go unchallenged is a huge flaw and impedes your success because it tends to solidify the opposition and undermine attractive features of Compassionate Conservatism.       i still like to think that negotiation, compromise and tolerance are important parts of a Democracy, but it’s not clear that this is what Conservatism is about now.  

Sadly for all of us, a small core of really hostile & self-assured have come to dominate the discussion board.  i think this chases off new-comers, discourages discussion and the creative uses of a forum.   i’ve been living around this lake all my life, and this is not the spirit of the life i want to have here…. i see the forum as a great tool and can’t help but be disappointed in how we are talking to, and about, each other sometimes.     

it’s not possible to talk about the polarizing effects of hostility with someone who sees not harm in it, and everyone else has left the room.  

There is still one big question left unanswered though.   How would it change the discussion if there was an accurate name, home address, business affiliations, phone number… even a picture… with every post?