Wait, really?

[Apoc]

I just dont get why people get offended, really! I have had heated debates with pretty much everyone on the internet! Never once has anything they said offended me. Its the fucking internet.

If I couldnt argue with people on forums, I wouldnt come to them anymore.

Sometimes i'll take a completely opposite stance to what I believe, just to argue with the majority here, while joking about it in pm's with people who know me better. Im an asshole like that. Its the internet.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Kaneman

Because that's how people are. I know for sure my opinions are offensive or insulting to some.

Oh, I'm sure you are correct. As I'm sure my opinions offend the crap out of many of those people as well. Maybe what I meant to ask, why do people feel the need to call names and intentionally insult?

Opinions, in and of themselves, can be what they are...

[Kaneman]

Originally Posted by azoomm

Oh, I'm sure you are correct. As I'm sure my opinions offend the crap out of many of those people as well. Maybe what I meant to ask, why do people feel the need to call names and intentionally insult?

Opinions, in and of themselves, can be what they are...

When you feel strongly about a subject and you think your opinion of it is important you want to convince others to see it your way. Sometimes when you can't, you get frustrated and it leads to the flaming.

Like shmike said, when something is closer to the heart the debate always gets heated. For example, my thing is the War on Drugs, it makes me want to go on a jello fueled rampage through the streets of D.C. wearing a codpiece. For over 10 years it has blown my mind that people are still pro-prohibition. I just can't wrap my head around it, and eventually I want to slap them with my sac. Instead, I just beat them down with unwavering argument.

I think most people's hot topic is religion though. For us non-religious folks, we feel so beat down by years and years of people trying to help us find Jesus, forced to abide by Christian-based laws, fed up with censorship in our media, lack of scientific advancement and so forth, that we lash out. Those that are religious are tired of hearing us denounce the belief system that guides their life and they certainly don't like being made out to be idiots, which is what we usually directly or indirectly imply. Just as their belief directly or indirectly implies that we are such horrible people we have to spend our eternity in hell. So the beliefs themselves are so counter and the punishments so severe that there is a lot anger and such that comes from these debates.

However, they can be fun, informative and really allows you to see another side's point of view. Even Tigger is capable of good, non-flaming debate, I've witnessed it first hand. If Tigger can do it, shouldn't the rest of us be given the chance?

[Apoc]

Originally Posted by Kaneman

I think most people's hot topic is religion though. For us non-religious folks, we feel so beat down by years and years of people trying to help us find Jesus, forced to abide by Christian-based laws, fed up with censorship in our media, lack of scientific advancement and so forth, that we lash out. Those that are religious are tired of hearing us denounce the belief system that guides their life and they certainly don't like being made out to be idiots, which is what we usually directly or indirectly imply. Just as their belief directly or indirectly implies that we are such horrible people we have to spend our eternity in hell. So the beliefs themselves are so counter and the punishments so severe that there is a lot anger and such that comes from these debates.

:

Ya, the lack of religious debate here is a bit of a sore spot. Quite frankly, people who dont want to hear opposed opinions could just stay out of the threads.

Theres nothing more fun than the circular arguements of a christian!

[Trip]

Originally Posted by Apoc

Ya, the lack of religious debate here is a bit of a sore spot. Quite frankly, people who dont want to hear opposed opinions could just stay out of the threads.

Theres nothing more fun than the circular arguements of a christian!

See you can't even talk about it without flaming. Basically you are making your own bed for me to ban the subject.

[the chi]

Originally Posted by Kaneman

Instant 2-day ban for Person B then. I realize it's a private forum and not subject to any constitutionality or anything like that, that the mods make the rules and so on.

But, where else can you truly express your opinion anymore? Its important to be ourselves sometimes.

You do realize that in a previous post you said we overmoderate, and here you completely reverse that stance and call for MORE moderations right?

Theres a debate for you.

Giving people infractions and banning is alot of moderating, calling for us to pay that kind of attention and do that kinda work calls for significantly more moderating.

We average about -3 infractions per month, and I dont recall a single actual ban. If thats not relaxed I cant think what is.

[Apoc]

Originally Posted by Trip

See you can't even talk about it without flaming. Basically you are making your own bed for me to ban the subject.

Fair enough.

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by Trip

See you can't even talk about it without flaming. Basically you are making your own bed for me to ban the subject.

How is that flaming?

To me, flaming is "you're a fucking idiot"

Flaming isn't "your argument is circular/stupid/invalid"

[Kaneman]

Originally Posted by The Chi

You do realize that in a previous post you said we overmoderate, and here you completely reverse that stance and call for MORE moderations right?

Theres a debate for you.

Giving people infractions and banning is alot of moderating, calling for us to pay that kind of attention and do that kinda work calls for significantly more moderating.

We average about -3 infractions per month, and I dont recall a single actual ban. If thats not relaxed I cant think what is.

No, I'm advocating a separate forum, such as the War Room, where people can debate which ever subject they wish without moderation. My comments calling for 2 day bans when someone carries a beef over into the rest of the forum as cited in a specific example provided by shmike here:

Originally Posted by shmike

I
The problem is when person A and person B disagree vehemently, it has a way of infecting their posts in other areas.

Ex:
Person A: "I like ham & swiss but can't decide between yellow mustard or deli style. What do you recommend?"

Person B: "You're a fucking idiot. Why don't you ask your "God" which mustard you should use you fucking sheep. BAAAHHHH!!!"

Or vice-versa.

Currently, there is no forum on TWF that supports an open-debate format.

[Kaneman]

Originally Posted by Trip

See you can't even talk about it without flaming. Basically you are making your own bed for me to ban the subject.

Citing a Christian's arguments as being Circular is not a flame, it is an opinion.

Flames are direct and usually include specific names.