Still on a quest

[mbossman2]

to get more liberals/left leaning centrists. I am sure that heyhey is feeling pretty heavily outnumbered.

So, we are seeking new members who are strong enough in their beliefs to vigorously defend their positions/persuasion...any and all viewpoints are accepted and welcome.

[heyhey]

its taken even a sharper turn right mbossman... you too... and it's frankly just the same topics over and over again.... mutual masturbation by the lot of you to discredit those left of you... which is fine... but honestly not of much interest to me...

I frankly dont have the time or energy or interest right now to post with you guys... real life is to busy to play these games...or argue with a bunch of boys many of which are half my age...just coming of age themselves... and have no idea what it's like to be a parent.. raise a family... we are from different universes and the connection to any real dialgoue will never happen...
I think that things are looking up a bit for the Dems also makes me lose interest some... i've lost the infuriation factor...I see a dim but present light at the end of a tunnel...that just a couple years ago was a deep dark abyss...

I am enjoying trivia though and have been reading through the posts.. but frankly the old.. liberals are unpatriotic traitors line.. is pretty boring and very tiring...

its just the same old BS being hashed up by a newer group from even the further right...

boring... ;)

[mbossman2]

then go out get some thick skinned like minded folks...build up a posse and fight back.

There are 2 new members who came over from another board I frequest (VF500 and JoeM - both fine upstanding members of the motorcycle community). Go get some friends of yours...

As I have said in the past: this is YOUR community, if you don't like the direction, you can take the easy way out and pick up your marbles and go play elsewhere OR you dig in and draft, entice (shanghai-ing is ok too) like minded people.

But be forewarned, this is political discussion board and those can be hound, vicious and sometime personal...but that's all the fun and you need to have a thick skin and strength in your beliefs...if a prospective member doesn't like spirited debate (and the occasional personal wack) then this isn't the place for them. If they are looking for a whole bunch of member so like mind (ala DU), this ain't it.

So my friends, go out and bring those who agree with you, with those who don't agree with you

as to the same old shit every night, lets look at the topics of late:

Liberals and patriotism (http://www.forumclick.com//showthread.php?t=6967) - good topic, one that could be expanded to "are republicans overly nationalistic"

Threat to the 1st Amendment[b] (http://www.forumclick.com//showthread.php?t=6971) (in fact a fairly direct one)

[B]Global Warming (http://www.forumclick.com//showthread.php?t=6970) - asking a perfectively legitimate question.

Imus (http://www.forumclick.com//showthread.php?t=6970) is back

An abortive attempt to discuss Al Gore's (http://www.forumclick.com//showthread.php?t=6963) peace prize. a really good subject but effectively killed (or sorely wounded) by this attitude by the thread author:
http://www.strangeling.com/threewisefaeries.jpg

a discussion of the Armenia holocaust (http://www.forumclick.com//showthread.php?t=6960) vote and it's potential repercussions.

a highly telling comment from John Edwards (http://www.forumclick.com//showthread.php?t=6953)

Question asking are 401k accounts (http://www.forumclick.com//showthread.php?t=6950) safe from government taxation due to government deficits?

and one piece of levity/humor regarding Ted Kennedy's (http://www.forumclick.com//showthread.php?t=6964) surgery

With one exception, the questions asked, are just questions and observations...how one's personal filters sees them is outside the author's control.

To reiterate: this is your community, it is what you make out of it. I am doing what I can to keep this place clean and focused but I can't (and won't) do everything...it's up to you.

[VF500]

Yeah, it's too easy now. It's like a sea gull at a crowded beach. It can't help but hit someone. ;)

[Kuch]

its taken even a sharper turn right mbossman... you too... and it's frankly just the same topics over and over again.... mutual masturbation by the lot of you to discredit those left of you... which is fine... but honestly not of much interest to me...

I frankly dont have the time or energy or interest right now to post with you guys... real life is to busy to play these games...or argue with a bunch of boys many of which are half my age...just coming of age themselves... and have no idea what it's like to be a parent.. raise a family... we are from different universes and the connection to any real dialgoue will never happen...
I think that things are looking up a bit for the Dems also makes me lose interest some... i've lost the infuriation factor...I see a dim but present light at the end of a tunnel...that just a couple years ago was a deep dark abyss...

I am enjoying trivia though and have been reading through the posts.. but frankly the old.. liberals are unpatriotic traitors line.. is pretty boring and very tiring...

its just the same old BS being hashed up by a newer group from even the further right...

boring... ;)
You know, did you ever stop to think we might feel the same about your rhetoric? It’s always the same old argument and when you get tired, you turn to insults. Generalized, but insults none the less. If you’re going to tout life experience and intellectual superiority, why follow up with a pitch in the mud?

Boss, you’re not going to attract more liberals to this site. Honestly, other than to just come here and argue, there isn’t any incentive for them to come. If I were a staunch liberal, I wouldn’t bother coming here.

[mbossman2]

I would like more liberals but I think we will take anyone we can get.

we average about 17 posts a day have an active population of less than 15...getting more folks in here is a good thing.

[Kuch]

Don’t misinterpret my sentiments; having more people would be nice. I don’t think we can specifically get more liberals though.

[VF500]

I just had a thought. We need to find a liberal web site. Several of us could go over and raid it and bring back some prisoners. That would work, wouldn't it? ( :cool: )

[Computer Hobby]

Why would anybody want to subject him or herself to the mindless abuse you guys inflict on anyone who thinks for him or herself?

[Kuch]

Why would anybody want to subject him or herself to the mindless abuse you guys inflict on anyone who thinks for him or herself?
Here we go; some classic fool that believes he's thinking for himself and the rest of us are to blame. How typical.

[Computer Hobby]

Here we go; some classic fool that believes he's thinking for himself and the rest of us are to blame. How typical.

A typical ad hominem attack from the dwellers of this site.

Again why would any thinking person want to subject him or herself to this kind of crap?

No reason on earth Bossman. That is why your quest is hopeless.

People who think have better uses for their time than watching you and the rest of the your mindless 24% engage in your endless circle jerk.

[mbossman2]

CH,

how you been? long time no see.

[Computer Hobby]

CH,

how you been? long time no see.

It has been a long time. I was just checking in to see how things are going. I discovered that you all succeeded in running off anybody to the left of Rudy Giuliani.


You might get a kick out of this video posted last night on one of those "lefty" sites. (http://proctoringcongress.blogspot.com/2007/10/capitol-hell.html) It's a bipartisan poke at all the people in Capitol Hell.

[mbossman2]

some things never change. check your PMs....

[Kuch]

People who think have better uses for their time than watching you and the rest of the your mindless 24% engage in your endless circle jerk.
Typical of your type. Thank you for proving my last point.

[Computer Hobby]

Proving your last point. And that would be? Here is another link to that lefty site. (http://proctoringcongress.blogspot.com/2007/10/george-bush.html) I think you might enjoy it.

[heyhey]

Proving your last point. And that would be? Here is another link to that lefty site. (http://proctoringcongress.blogspot.com/2007/10/george-bush.html) I think you might enjoy it.
Miss you CH... where are you posting these days... i'd love to find another forum to post on where people from both sides actually discuss things instead of character attacks... and moderators encourage that instead of starting slanted posts themselves. .....instead of this the whole commutiy against one or two brave, or stupporn or stupid people like ourselves...

let me know

private message me or email me even I think you have my email CH

[Computer Hobby]

Thanks for the thoughts Heyhey. I have been around. I have noticed that the people on the left and the people on the right are closer to each other than they realize. They are just too tribal to recognize it.

I plan to check in more often in the future.

[David M]

How about some prizes for liberals who post here?

1. A tye dyed T-shirt that says ForumClick.

2. A bag of dope.

3. A picture of the Chappaquiddick bridge signed by Ted Kennedy.

4. A copy of the Communist Manifesto.

5. Tickets for two for a whale watching trip.

6. Jerry Garcia's dirty underwear.

7. A free hair transplant for aging hippies.

8. A razor for shaving those hairy female armpits.

9. Tickets to the next NOW convention.

10. A Hillary Clinton mullet wig.

If it says "free", the liberals will be here.

[Kuch]

i'd love to find another forum to post on where people from both sides actually discuss things instead of character attacks... and moderators encourage that instead of starting slanted posts themselves. .....
In my defense (because I try not to speak for others) I have only attacked your stance on issues where I disagreed with you. Actually, we have agreed on probably more than you suspect.

As far as moderators go, I think Bossman has been more than fair.

[heyhey]

In my defense (because I try not to speak for others) I have only attacked your stance on issues where I disagreed with you. Actually, we have agreed on probably more than you suspect.

As far as moderators go, I think Bossman has been more than fair.

yes on both issues...

but even before bossman dris sided with the right... I'm not complainaing actually they provide this to us (at Dris expense)... but it would be nice to have an objective moderator....bossman does try to keep people in line but he starts threads that gets them all riled up too... and thats his politics he is entitled to and not a moderator at that moment...but an objective voice of reason would be nice.. maybe not practicle but nice...

no you and I dont argue much Kuch...

honestly many people dont read many things I post that are actually quite conservative.. they just tend to label me with this "liberal" stereotype..

sure I am liberal... but I'm for balanced budgets, welfare reform, I'm way on the right when it comes to immigration and have voted for my fair share of Republicans in my life.. and .I'm anti-abortion personally (although I dont think the government should get involved with abortions)....I am very spiritual and totally respect anyone's right to worship in any way they find meaning in... I'm a little more nuanced then I'm labeled and assumed to be...

I'm no Janine Garfuluo or Jane Fonda... but I'm no Ann Coulter either...

It gets tiring having to defend my entire persona all the time... it would be nice if people here argued on single issues in threads instead of saying "you liberals" or "All liberals" etc etc... just discredting me as a whole because of a label they have associated with me...

[mbossman2]

but even before bossman dris sided with the right... I'm not complainaing actually they provide this to us (at Dris expense)... but it would be nice to have an objective moderator....bossman does try to keep people in line but he starts threads that gets them all riled up too... and thats his politics he is entitled to and not a moderator at that moment...but an objective voice of reason would be nice.. maybe not practicle but nice...

tell me heyhey, should a moderator just sit in the background and say and do nothing or post in a pablum sort of way?

as I have said before, there are 2 of me...my posting persona and my moderator persona. The two are separate and distinct and are allowed to have 2 completely different roles, comments and feelings.

1st as moderator:
It is, IMO, not incumbent upon the moderator to start threads that are equal and unbiased...in fact as moderator I have started, I think, less than 5 threads and interjected myself as mod in less than 20 threads. Like dris, I, as moderator, believe in letting you guys run wherever you want to go and say pretty much want you want to say and poke my moderator nose in when, IMO, things are getting out of control or offensive material is posted ("ie nakes shakira picture links or viagara/vicodin for free stuff).

Now, mbossman2 OTOH is, IMO, free to post any and all things that pop into my mind or articles that I do read...

I am sorry if some of those here have difficulty separating the 2 of me (even tho i post in block letters when it's me, mbossman2, and in italics when it is in my moderator's voice but that is part of the dichotomy of life.

I will continue to post as my feelings, thoughts and opinions occur in publication (or just pop into my head), I make no apologies for that..

I can tell you that I have been on boards where the moderators are far more draconian and ban people for breaking from their perceived orthodoxy.

I say post what you want, when you want, if you have been a member for a while and you post something stupid (mainly spam), you'll here from the moderator me (if you are a 1st time poster and hit with spam you are gone) but I will, (and have never) ban someone just because I disagree with the poster (ie Rapier and his holocaust denial stance)...they truly have to be disruptive to the community and if that day ever comes I will consult the most senior members active on this board to ensure that I am not acting out of spite, anger or capriciousness.


Please feel free to make (almost) any comment you want and be prepared to have it slapped down just as freely...I would love to have a more diverse membership on this board as it will make things far more lively around here, but this is YOUR board, you make with it what you will...

we can all see who takes a stewardship role here (hint, it's the # of referrals and new members brought it)...this board will grow (or die) based up you, the membership.

one final pair of thoughts....after I wrote all of this, I see my role more as an sheriff than a moderator or facilitator....I keep the peace (when needed), I keep the streets clean, but I also voice my own personal opinion. 2) if you feel that I have been, in my moderator role, some how unfair and inequitable in my actions, please, by all means avail yourself of the PM system and discuss it with drisley.

matt

[heyhey]

boss... you do a great job.
really to expect you to do any differently would be unfair..

and I'm really not whining... I'm just trying to agree with CH here... honeslty this board has little draw to anyone left of Guilliani like he says... I dont think the adminstrators or moderators could do anything differently...

maybe i'm calling for a member effort to try and discuss topics.. heated topics even without reporting to character attacks and generalaztions I know in thepast I have been guilty of us well, even...

I think people from the left might be a lot more liekly to stick around if every post didnt have to be a defense of character...and maybe people from the right wouldnt be so nasty if people from the left practiced what we preached...

I'm going to make and effort... can I ask the reast of you to as well?

start by trying not to start every post with "all liberals" or the Kenndy crowd"...

:)

[jessho]

I can't see leveling the playing field for anyone. If they are such a wuss they can't support their beliefs or politics without special conditions, then they need to look inward and see if their beliefs need to be tweaked.

[heyhey]

I can't see leveling the playing field for anyone. If they are such a wuss they can't support their beliefs or politics without special conditions, then they need to look inward and see if their beliefs need to be tweaked.

who the hell is talking about leveling the playing field...

i'm talking about a moritoium on name calling. personal character attacks...
smd generalized blaket name calling and stereotypes...

you know maybe we could try treating each other and new comers like we'd treat people we meet in real life... with a little respect and dignity...

go outside the box of internet anominity towards actual humanity?

[jessho]

Maybe we should powder their ass and feed them pablum. We could build a campfire and roast marshmallows, while we discuss the sewer that calls itself congress.

"Yeah, that Pelosi is a real turd. Do you want another another marshmallow?"

[Kuch]

I think I see what heyhey is saying. More discussion; less name calling. It’s probably not too much to ask for this community, but I would be somewhat surprised if it happened. I think some people get too wrapped up in the idea that others don’t agree with him/her that they cannot stand it, and as a defense mechanism, start throwing out insults to reinforce to themselves that those who disagree with them are stupid anyways.

[Computer Hobby]

How about some prizes for liberals who post here?

1. A tye dyed T-shirt that says ForumClick.

2. A bag of dope.

3. A picture of the Chappaquiddick bridge signed by Ted Kennedy.

4. A copy of the Communist Manifesto.

5. Tickets for two for a whale watching trip.

6. Jerry Garcia's dirty underwear.

7. A free hair transplant for aging hippies.

8. A razor for shaving those hairy female armpits.

9. Tickets to the next NOW convention.

10. A Hillary Clinton mullet wig.

If it says "free", the liberals will be here.

David

Do you think you are funny?

Or are you just too brainwashed to handle the truth?

Here is a simple truth for you to absorb, the people you describe are virtually non-existant. Heyhey and most of the people you call liberals are really moderate centrists. Frankly, I not the kind of "liberal" you describe, but I a proud to be called a liberal as opposed to a coward who doesn't mind surrendering his precious freedoms to George W. Bush and the neocons. Are you a fraidy cat Republican David?