<p>I have finally decided to go cold turkey. I don’t know how long it will last, but as of this moment I have decided to abstain from posting in all political threads. Every one degenerates into the same-old, same-old: the wingnuts on the right vs the blognuts on the left and no one convinces anyone of anything. I would classify myself with the blognuts, but every time I see a post from FF or driver or FS or others, I will bite my tongue (or should I say fingers?) and just move on (.org?). Better yet, if the title of the thread is political, I should not even read it and get tempted to respond. Back to basics. I hereby sign the pledge:</p>
<p>“I pledge to try and resist temptation to respond to political threads on the Parents Cafe, and if I do respond, will welcome efforts by fellow parents to stop my backsliding and to get me back on the wagon.”</p>
<p>I was a witness to citygirlsmom’s similar pledge lo these many moons ago. She went further and promised herself a chocolate chip cookie for every day she stayed on the wagon.</p>
<p>hmmm… I wonder how many chocolate chip cookies that was?</p>
<p>I’m with ya, dig. I have been excellent about ceasing to even open the political threads in the past few months (I do recommend that approach), and will welcome you to Sinner’s Alley with open arms!</p>
<p>But, Digmedia, you may be overlooking those who lurk, but who do not post, who may gain something from your posts. Think about it: the people who post on any given thread happen to be those persons who feel very strongly about that particular topic at that particular time. There are people on the fence or who may just not feel like posting right then who may be very, very interested in your posts - even if they’re incorrigible wingnuts, like me. </p>
<p>I’ve never learned anything from anyone who agreed with me 100% of the time. While it’s true my viewpoints are probably written in stone, there are many people who simply do not posts but yet who are very interested in disparate points of view. </p>
<p>Therefore, annoying as it is to write posts that it seems as if no one reads and that appear to change no opinions, you cannot know how you may be influencing a lurker, or 100 lurkers, therefore, I hope you will reconsider.</p>
<p>I actually like the political threads here on CC, even posting with those who vehemently disagree with me. The are still mostly intelligent discussions, contrary to some other boards, where the swearing and name calling is beyond tedious.</p>
<p>I have foresworn political threads and boards before, but seem to return to them like a moth to flame. </p>
<p>There is a lot more of interest (or makeup, teenaged sons) to discuss though…and politics does become a bit repetitive and roundybout…</p>
<p>I think anyone who doesn’t like political threads should, by definition, avoid the temptation to click on them; we’re not all wired the same way. I personally avoid the sheets and towels discussions, and any threads of the “Flatulent cat!!! Help!!” genre. Doesn’t mean there’s not a place for them, though–there’s a lot of room in cyberspace.</p>
<p>When I first posted here four years ago, the “political” threads were nothing but a self-agreement society meeting in an echo chamber. Now that was a case of chronic same-old same-old.</p>
<p>Well, I actually HAVE changed my mind on an issue as the result of someone’s post. I post on occasion if I feel my POV has something to offer, and I leave a thread when it becomes too contentious. (Some of these threads offend my Play-Nice mentality:)) So I hope you come back, Dig. </p>
<p>Just today I was thinking that I talk about issues on CC that I never talk about with friends IRL. It’s a safer place to disagree.</p>
<p>digs, I think you are making a mistake. True, both sides of CC sometimes veer into pure vile, serving no intellectual purpose. On the other hand, political power is best served by intelligent opposition. Why abandon ship just as the conservative side reaches a moment of self-reflection? Now is the time for considered opinions.</p>
<p>And driver–why spear those who enjoy the more mundane? Though I doubt this, your tone suggests you abhor The Mommy Track and all things associated with The Mommy Track. Yes, some CC women carry on with too much authority on the merits of sheets or cats but you, my dear, have an affinity for slimy squirmy FISH. <em>cheers holds her nose</em></p>
<p>How could anyone give up political discussions. There is just too much to ignore; e.g., a President who makes decisions because he knows what God wants, Al Gore who turned hippy and became a scientist at the same time, and Hillary sitting in the corner plotting her next move.</p>
<p>As I head off to bed, probably as good a time as any to say: I hold no grudges, and I hope none are held against me. I enjoy our repartee, and I think this is an interesting community; I’m glad to be part of it.</p>
<p>I love the political discussions! It reminds me of my favorite classes in college where the debate would get spirited and everyone learned something…and came away the better for having taken part.</p>
<p>Like driver, I also hold no grudges. And no matter how strenuously I may disagree with someone, I never intend to show disrespect for their pov.</p>
<p>EDad - it would make great daytime TV drama. Or a sequel to “Snakes on a Plane;” it’s now “Snakes on a Campaign Trail,” complete with cheesy lines and a full cast of B-movie characters.</p>
<p>I already sorta kinda wanna made the pledge. I figured that another idiot really doesn’t make the issues any clearer or for that madder muddier. I figure that I just fall back to the standby theory “I’s the better idiot”</p>
<p>Like some here, I have no problem with the political pov of anyone posting. The personal stuff-- racial, ethnic, religious, etc – is at times troublesome, but the politics is fair game and often enlightening to a neophyte, like me. Seems clear to me that many–on either side of the gaping chasm–are really unfamiliar with the people attached to the voices they assume are hollering across the divide, as opposed to their make believe, invented “bad-girls and guys”. </p>
<p>That in itself would be enough: but there are fascinating personalities, characters and idiosyncrasies behind these pov’s and posts. No matter the issue, there will be many different personalities and characters on the same side of an issue, each with different voices (and grammar), coming from different circumstances. </p>
<p>I often simply read a thread with no intention of posting.
Moreover, certain “characters” on both sides simply fascinate me, I can’t quite figure them out–they reach past my political definitions. It’s quite a lesson…often humbling, always witty, entertaining and edgy.</p>
<p>In short, I don’t take much of this very seriously–it’s not a real battle, but a battle of wits and outlooks–and I am often surprised by those who do.</p>
<p>Dig, I’ve changed my mind. If you have the will power to stay away from political threads, you’ll be better off. It gets pretty ugly here, sometimes.</p>
<p>I visit here to take breaks between other things, and often only have a sec sometimes to read a part of a thread or two. Sometimes, I want to post something, have something critical (in my mind) to say, but, simply lack the energy at the end of a workday, etc. to actually place hands on the keyboard to type something. </p>
<p>sjmom, even the “ugly” stuff is useful, in that, when someone is ugly more than a few times, especially if they haven’t been provoked, I find I automatically assign a much lower level of credibility to anything they might post, and typically I stop reading them. I do, however, appreciate the more erudite posts (from both ends of the political spectrum), especially if there are links from credible, respected sources. </p>
<p>Last, I assign a low level of credibility to usernames who appear to post daily and often. I wonder how informed they can be on any matter if they appear to spend the majority of their lives posting here, especially if they post on nearly every/all subject matters.</p>