Hey! We've just been dissed by Skinner.

[rug]

They show up EVERY DAY, loaded for bear, ready to argue about their pet issue even if there is no significant news that day related to that issue.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12592978



I think the caps is going too far.

[rrneck]

1. I call bullshit. I missed last Thursday. nt

[rug]

2. I missed all of Lent.

I'm going to complain to the management.

We should prepare a petition.

[rrneck]

3. Whatever you do, avoid the "M" word. nt

[cbayer]

10. You participate in at least two of those categories, don't you?

[rrneck]

14. Well, yeah.

I'd do more but I/P scares the shit out of me.

[cbayer]

15. It scare me as well, but so does guns.

[rrneck]

16. Guns are pretty easy.

Guns are just objects with clearly defined parameters, so the relationships between the object and the people are pretty easy to untangle. But in I/P, the relationships are between people and all of the associated cultures. It's a much more complicated "parachute problem".

The airflow around a parachute changes the shape of the chute, which changes the airflow around the chute...

[cbayer]

17. Yeah, but in guns, the people on one side are actually walking

around with objects that can kill you if you piss them off or scare them.

[rrneck]

18. Simple solution.

Don't go around pissing off and scaring people.

You're more likely to be struck by lightening than to be shot by someone carrying a gun.

[cbayer]

19. Not going there, rrneck. Not going anywhere near there.

[rrneck]

20. It's all good.

[okasha]

23. For some reason, about half the time I'm called for jury duty

it's because of something posted in Guns. Otherwise wouldn't go near the place.

[delrem]

4. I think that shows a lack of understanding of what some people can get out of such discussions.

With respect to I/P in particular, I learned a *lot* not just about the immediate issues, but also about issues which feed into those.
It appears that Skinner doesn't realize that although a few don't, a lot of participants *do* extensive readings about the subject based on the directions that people they admire suggest, and to respond to challenges, etc.

I don't like how *everything* related to I/P gets instantaneously ghettoized, regardless of the fact that I/P matters are critical to the times we live in. Jeeeeeez, how can that be denied?

[rug]

5. Religion, I/P and GC/RKBA need to elect a delegation.

Occupy ATA!

[madrchsod]

6. good idea.....

[cbayer]

13. I nominate you and will sign your petition!

[LostOne4Ever]

7. Speak for yourselves

I show up everyday to talk about one thing and one thing only.

Bacon. Crunchy chewy Bacon.

But for some reason all anyone wants to talk about here is religion and politics

[cbayer]

11. Mmmm, bacon. But how can you have it both crunchy and chewy?

[deutsey]

29. It's quantum physics...

Just like light is both wave and particle.

[cbayer]

30. Ah! That would be why I don't understand it.

[Lordquinton]

25. Bacon isn't so innocent in a religion forum.

[MellowDem]

8. It's pretty arbitrary which issues are "off limits"...

These issues, generally still divide the left since they aren't fully agreed upon in the US left (unlike in other countries, where the left is much more secular, sides with Palestine, and is for gun control, and it's not even an issue). All it really does is sweep that division under the carpet. However, there are other similar topics which are allowed in GD and are up for repeat day in and day out, so again, a bit arbitrary.

I gotta say that Skinner's wording is a bit insensitive, if not intellectually dishonest. I think it can be said quite easily that all three of those topics have news about them every day, with religion being the easiest case to make.

The fact that they must be kept in separate forums is a symptom of the failure of the forum and those who run it, not of people who want to discuss it. Instead of blaming others, Skinner should just say that he doesn't care enough to deal with those issues in an open and honest way, because it might involve more thought. There are many who would like to discuss and learn about all three issues on GD, and griefers or repeat posters shouldn't stand in their way. But easier to ignore these huge issues I guess. Kinda reminds me of when, during the Democratic Convention, there was a proposal to remove references to a diety from the platform, and it got shot down just because, even though it had support. Sweep the controversies under the rug for the sake of a somewhat more unified ideological front, I guess?

[cbayer]

12. It's not a symptom of failure of the forum. It's an extremely wise decision

made after years of experience.

Anyone can come into these groups if they want. No one is prevented from participating.

It works much better this way.

[rrneck]

21. Did you know that there such as a thing as

Oxygen poisoning? Yep, air can kill you.

Partisan passion is sort of like oxygen. It seems to me that what Skinner is trying to do is maintain the right mix of partisan passion here at DU. Too little and the site dies from apathy, too much and it explodes in anger and hurt feelings. So the main forums are like a big air tank and the groups are sort of safety valves that allow excess passion to be dispersed without disrupting the bulk of the membership.

[cbayer]

9. Loaded for bear? Did he mean that specifically for me?

[edhopper]

22. I think

he was just explaining the difference between threads stared in GD, which should be News related, and the forums where an open discussion on anything pertinent to the topic is allowed.

Did we come here for an argument, complaints or being hit on the head?


(Monty Python reference)

[EvolveOrConvolve]

24. I'm offended by this

I only come loaded for bear once a month or so.

Skinner, why are you persecuting me?

[rug]

26. Vindication!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12593031#post2

[cbayer]

27. You challenged the Skinner and broke DU!

[rug]

28. He's always a class act.