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Is GC really the place to get your message out and to make a difference in the world ?

5K views 111 replies 34 participants last post by  mreynolds 
#1 ·
or

Just a place to argue with people you don't really like ?
 
#8 ·
I'm here to expand my horizons ...I enjoy conversing with others, and learning about their lives etc. Although I'll participate in a discussion where others may not share the same opinions as I do.. I'd rather not argue. If there is one thing that I've learned in my life it is that no matter how much we may differ ...we'll always share some common ground.I do prefer the times when we can put away our differences and focus on the common ground that we share.
 
#10 ·
It's a fine line between arguing and debating. I know I've done both. I enjoy many of the forums even though I do not comment on them. I have learned a lot and have on different forums shared my experiences or area's of expertise. I see this as a rather closed world. we don't reach out to the public on this site, but as members we do it regularly in our daily lives.
 
#11 ·
We've had folks on a few other forums that I mod who would post each and every morning about topics that had little to nothing to do with the forum. One is a contractor forum where it appeared a few guys would start out promoting ie their FB page and then some products they were marketing. Then it started creeping into social issues that had nothing to do with contract work. We tried explaining that if you want to discuss politics there are sites for that and kept pulling the threads. We are able to leave the titles up yet mark them deleted. We purposely did not want, even in a general chat format, politics and social issues diluting the current content, but more importantly, to create the polarization between members who otherwise shared a common interest.
The same members who were long time posters began to get edgy and misinterpret posts. We got more "reports".
It wasn't increasing traffic for us and it wouldn't have mattered anyway.
A friend of my wife has a large home with a lot of extended family. During the summer reunion and again at the holidays, it is made known that at her home she welcomes loud, boisterous and gregarious people; if they wish to discuss sensitive issues, the family room or the the patio or the boat house are open for them. Those are the dark rooms.
I understand the mods frustration, mods who volunteer their time, at feeling like they have to police a site rather than monitor it.
I can see the members who join to learn and the most recent topics are polluted with in your face issues they just left on the tv.
Telling them to just ignore or block isn't an inviting gesture when the subject matter is better suited
on sites that promote debate over discussion.
 
#13 ·
There is a fine line between educating and arguing, to me anyway. A differing opinion can be educating if your mind isn't closed to it. A debate can result if someone takes offense to an expressed opinion, a discussion can result if someone asks questions regarding a statemented opinion.

It doesn't have to be difficult...
 
#17 ·
Growing up in my family we took debate to an art form and a friendly competition. It was sport for us around the dinner table. My dad was the king of debate and I am sure often took the unpopular side just to get us to think and debate him. We still do it. No one ever changes their minds and there are times when you want to knock a brother upside the head but we all still get along great and never hold a grudge. I have no problem debating folks, just keep it respectful and fun.
 
#19 ·
Problem is that too many people are dug in and won’t change their minds even if new information arises that should change their mind. Or they let their political party, church, etc do their thinking for them.
Stubbornness is not a positive trait. It’s stupidity and intractability.
But two people can receive exactly the same piece of information and come to diametrically opposite conclusions. I (personally) don't find this a problem, per se. I might find it perplexing if they reach a different conclusion than I, but I do not view it as a character defect. I think the problem with online 'debate' is that there are some who have lost (or never learned) the art of listening. Really listening. With a view to learning how and why the other person came to the conclusion they did.

Debate should be a fine and honorable pastime which hones the mind and increases empathy. Most forum disagreements are best described as brawls, with little to be learned from either side.

I do agree with you on the political and religious rigor. I find it particularly distasteful when such arguments deteriorate into insulting name-calling. That is no better than childish school yard behaviour.
 
#31 ·
I think GC is a good place to sit back, relax and share with others about all sorts of other topics not necessarily related to homesteading. I've been hanging out here for years now and have learned a lot. I've learned about a variety of things from a variety of people with a lot of very different back grounds. I have bettered myself (I think) in quite a few ways because of it. I like to think that maybe I've helped some one else along the way. I've gotten to know a bunch of mighty fine folks here in GC, a few of which I've also met outside the cyber world. I can honestly say their isn't a single one of y'all that wouldn't be more than welcome in our home, share a meal, break out the jug, spend the evenin visiting round our fire. Who knows, might even dust off the fiddles, guitars, banjos and such and have us a hoedown ifn things went that direction. :)
 
#33 ·
My entire political and religious outlook has been changed since posting on Homesteading Today. Ten years ago, I was a semi christian conservative republican and posted as such... And look how far I've come!! Ain't it great?
 
#39 ·
"We know each others positions on things and still like to discuss, debate and agitate"

I fixed it for you


agitate
verb ag·i·tate \ ˈa-jə-ˌtāt \
Definition of agitate
agitated; agitating
transitive verb
1: to excite and often trouble the mind or feelings of : disturb
  • My presence did not appear to agitate or irritate him as before, and he accepted my services quietly …
  • —Charlotte Brontë
: to discuss excitedly and earnestly
b : to stir up public discussion of
  • … trying to agitate the old question of the embezzlement of the remains of the Confederate Treasury.
  • —Robert Penn Warren
: to give motion to
b : to move with an irregular, rapid, or violent action
  • The storm agitated the sea.
intransitive verb
:
 
#40 ·
"We know each others positions on things and still like to discuss, debate and agitate"

I fixed it for you


agitate
verb ag·i·tate \ ˈa-jə-ˌtāt \
Definition of agitate
agitated; agitating
transitive verb
1: to excite and often trouble the mind or feelings of : disturb
  • My presence did not appear to agitate or irritate him as before, and he accepted my services quietly …
  • —Charlotte Brontë
: to discuss excitedly and earnestly
b : to stir up public discussion of
  • … trying to agitate the old question of the embezzlement of the remains of the Confederate Treasury.
  • —Robert Penn Warren
: to give motion to
b : to move with an irregular, rapid, or violent action
  • The storm agitated the sea.
intransitive verb
:

You fixed it for yourself. Agitating is in your wheelhouse.
 
#41 · (Edited)
I learned that some people think it's acceptable to bully kids that have been through a very recent, very traumatic event.

ETA: I also learned that I can no longer, and shouldn't even try, to move Mr. Pixie's weights... and that's the reason why I have a hot Bed Buddy on my low back this morning.
 
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