POLL: Do you think ET's Politics&Religion forum has become a complete waste of time?

[Barth Vader]

The problem that I see with this forum is that we are all entrenched in our own idealogies, to the point that we just seem to be ignoring [for the most part] the possibility that our opponents, from time to tme, will have valid arguments.

I enjoy a mental slug-fest as much as the next guy....but when there cannot be a consensus or conclusion reached...it becomes a bit tedious.

Atheists are quite sure that people of faith are idiots.
People of faith are quite sure atheists are blind.

Conservatives will never buy into the liberal agenda, and v.versus

Etc., etc., etc.........

 

[Landis82]

Quote from Tom B:

When are you going to post your trades? You obviously feel it is important, so post paper trader.

I've asked "AAAintheBeltway" to provide a screen-shot of his trades, along with "S2007S and "Mercor" - - - some of the biggest posters on ET.

They all refrained.
Thus, there's no reason for me to do so.

 

[omegapoint]

Doesn't take long for civility to get tossed to the wind; two three posts. I've been guitly of it myself. I don't enjoy it. The level goes up due to the anonymity. If some of these "debates" were face to face; two three replies and someone would be on the ground. Maybe its good noone holds back what they really think; nothing phony or deceptive ...but often irrational.

 

[gigsup]

I think people come over here to see who is starting the latest round of insults and arguments. It is getting a tad weary.

 

[AAAintheBeltway]

It's certainly not a waste of time, but the tone has deteriorated over the past couple of years. I know the mods have a big job, but they could be more aggressive in deleting posts that violate the TOS. The TOS prohibit anything that :

"is insulting or argumentitive without merit, unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, etc..."

Plenty of other boards will not tolerate the sort of name-calling and insults that some posters regularly produce. Putting them on ignore is not a total solution either. Either you have a forum for serious discussion or you have the equivalent of a barroom brawl. I doubt both can coexist.

 

[killthesunshine]

Quote from gigsup:

I think people come over here to see who is starting the latest round of insults and arguments. It is getting a tad weary.

not so much that as the age old problem of people stumbling over their own stupidity

 

[hapaboy]

Quote from AAAintheBeltway:

It's certainly not a waste of time, but the tone has deteriorated over the past couple of years. I know the mods have a big job, but they could be more aggressive in deleting posts that violate the TOS. The TOS prohibit anything that :

"is insulting or argumentitive without merit, unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, etc..."

Plenty of other boards will not tolerate the sort of name-calling and insults that some posters regularly produce. Putting them on ignore is not a total solution either. Either you have a forum for serious discussion or you have the equivalent of a barroom brawl. I doubt both can coexist.

The absence of the resident troll would do wonders for the overall tone of this board. However, since the powers-that-be gain page views by virtue of the troll's presence or other financial compensation, it is not only allowed to stay and prowl incessantly in search of fresh victims, but those who most vigorously counter it (i.e. traderNik) are banned/suspended and prohibited to confront it - or even mention its name, believe it or not.

This board will remain a cesspool for as long as the troll remains unflushed.

 

[Landis82]

Quote from hapaboy:

This board will remain a cesspool for as long as the troll remains unflushed.

The quality of content in posts across ALL Forums has declined quite precipitously over the last year or two on ET.

At the end of the day, the buck stops with Baron. To think that he doesn't place a priority on posters who make controversial posts ( even if Racist, such as MagLight) is to be sadly mistaken.

It's ALL about web "hits" and providing those stats to advertisers and potential advertisers. As a result, you have a website where most veteran traders have simply left and no longer contribute.

It's not just the "Politics and Religion" Forum that has suffered, but ALL forums on ET.

And sadly, Baron seems to be "ok" with that.

 

[mike oxbig]

Quote from Landis82:



you have a website where most veteran traders have simply left and no longer contribute.

no wonder you're still here and are a huge "contributor".

 

[Mav88]

People make useless polls and threads about how useless other polls and threads are.

I have some news for you, there is no such thing as an 'incorrect' political point of view. Democraps and liberals don't have 'the truth'. Some ideas seem to work better than others, I'll give you that.

Religion is obviously more arbitrary with the 1000's of contradictory claims, so when has religion not been a waste of time?

Optional 777 is an asshole, at least we can all agree on that.