Reply #75: but bashing is such a fun sport - or so it seems. [View All]

[salin]

The difference between criticism (which is, imo, legitimate) and bash is the level of discourse which occurs (or doesn't by the initiator) when information that is contrary to the initial post is posted. Is it questioning ... eg even if I dont agree with all - do I ask probing or "gotcha" questions... Is there an attempt to dialogue with those who disagree... or is it an angy tirade that just gets more angry (or if it doesn't get more angry, it just reads that way). This is a pattern that is getting far to common on DU - and against many candidates. Never seems to have much effect (there tend to be two choruses that are the primary choirs, and a third group of chanters challenging the form of the discussion (both sides) that act as a group in a far off peanut gallery that are pretty much dismissed, either through verbal dismissal - or silence.

I have yet to see any thread that follows this dynamic in which the type of thoughtful discussions that sometimes persuades minds happens. Just seems to serve to solidify opposing sides and build further intergroup hostility.

My first war is on bushco.

My second battle is against these diversionary threads - which are certainly heartfelt and (we hope) sincere in their origins - that devolve into reaction based yelling matches rather than discursive interchanges - and thus accomplish nothing but heightening in-fighting.