How much of this site has put me on, "Ignore?"

I notice I make threads that have valid, and debatable viewpoints, and yet these threads are not getting any responses. Or, I may respond to a thread another user posted with a good observation or what might debunk talking points in that thread.

So these responses go unnoticed, and the threads get pushed aside from users bloating the forum up with right-wing propaganda, like Wehwolfen. So, I wonder how many posters have simply put me on "Ignore?"

 

I had you on ignore for about a month and then I removed you from it for no special reason other than my list having gotten crowded. Mostly what you post is bullet point MSNBC approved, Daily Kos approved, Slate approved screed, and so probably most people are skipping over what you post rather than having bothered to put you on ignore. Your leftist buddies you see already know what you are going to post on any given issues and most Right of Center posters have, apparently, learned not to care.

Some fresh material and stuff that could have been written by something other than -- say -- a MSNBC writer of leftist propaganda tripe might help. Alternatively you could stick with that stuff but also attempt to add a bit of humor to your writing style. Mix it up and see what happens.

 

I don't have anyone on ignore, that's for pussys..maybe your threads are just boring or flame bait like you think no one is patriotic, thinks the flag and national anthem is irrelevant and the like and no one wants to get in trouble to debate your nonsense?

 

Its not about the ignore feature.

As the forum has become increasingly polarized and responses are increasingly hyperpartisan and predictable by name, each side increasingly self sensors and edits his own access, to either read for reinforcement of his own partisan view, or to actually learn a new twist from less predictable posters or by subject. I find myself already knowing exactly what the tone and purpose of many posts will be, by the author. I don't need to click on the hyperpartisan posters unless the subject is very original. or I am feeling in that pit bull mood, I already know what I am going to get way too often around here.



I will take you for example. I read your op. I ask myself if the subject itself is interesting or novel. If it is not got an odd twist or angle, I ask myself if I feel partisan or non-partisan at that moment, because your spin on things is decidedly and predictably partisan. If that is my mood, I click.

One also tends to not go into threads where one feels outnumbered. If a thread is some Hillary bashing nonsense where the point is to take pot shots and LOTS of conservative and Trumpsters want to laugh at her recent fall, I know there is no point to showing up and tell those 10 posters that what they are doing is junior high. They won't stop because it is fun and bonding for them. Likewise, those conservatives may feel outnumbered in one of your threads.

The real problem is that we have become to predictable, too partisan, and turned this whole place into a game of Minefield. We need more posters who sometimes say the conservative thing, and sometimes say the liberal thing, and sometimes say the off the wall thing, so that we DONT know what is in that post.

 

What?

 

I don't have anyone on ignore.

Sometimes I just take a pass when I already know that it's going to turn into a partisan circle jerk with the liberals and conservatives all saying the predictable things. I engage that sometimes, but ...

My interest is really in problem-solving. So if a thread title says, "Child-hater Trump Cuts Subsidies", I probably just pass. I may comment, but chances are I pass. On the other hand, if the thread title asks, "How do we fix the income tax code", or "How do we solve the health care crisis?", then that gets my attention. I enjoy an intelligent discussion of the issues a lot more than just "spraying graffiti" on the internet.

We are on the opposite sides of most things, but we've had some pretty good exchanges I think.

Seth

 

Upon review of a few of your thread I do not believe you have a large ignore base, I do find the content rather uninspired and boring however which would explain the lack of replies.

 

I think you would be surprised to know Indont go to Slate for any, "news." I avoid Slate just as much as avoid Fox News. And CNN. I don't do CNN unless I would be substantially bored.

 

Okay, so I don't think the flag and the National Anthem is irrelevant. What I do think is irrelevant, more so unnecessary, is the outrage around the flag and the National Anthem. I thought I have made this clear by now. I have never claimed no one is patriotic either.

 

I don't agree with your assertion that people are putting you on 'ignore'. I just think many people don't have a lot to add. I often think myself I have a lot of good points to make and I don't get many responses myself for the positive or negative.

To be as fair as possible, I think people don't want to comment on subjects they are not well researched on. For example: I personally will not respond to anything you say regarding the stock market, astronomy or anything regarding international trade (which a LOT of people care about) because they simply do not interest me and I'm not well versed in such things. I might have some things to say about foreign military interventions, climate change and social issues like race relations and gay rights.

 

Lastly, I will use a example of a topic for a thread I could have created. Let's say the title is, "Is the US becoming more like China?" with the idea at hand being the idea of i huge wall being our version of the Great Wall of China, and making people stand up during the Anthem a indicator of a dictatorship.

There are a good deal of veterans on this forum, as I have noticed. So my stances on the military are going to make some of the most frequent posters who happen to be veterans, defensive. My threads advising to be against the military come up whenever a notable event happens regarding the military. The reasons I should have made clear I am against the military is how it looks upon individuality as a hindrance (I.e. shaving everyone's heads to look the same) and the simple fact the cons outweigh the pros. Yes, the travels are interesting but is it really worth dying for?

 

Oh come on Gates, to you, ANY left-of-hard-right views are "bullet point MSNBC approved, Daily Kos approved, Slate approved screed". It's all the same to you. Well guess what. To me it looks like every rightie on every forum first runs out to Breitbart and Newsmax to get the Talking Points of the Day before posting on any forum so that their comments toe the line of required right wing extremism obediently.... every rightie except Seth, that is.

 

I was in the military. And I am pretty left! What I have against the military is that their purpose and function is to "make the world safe for" U.S. dominance and exploitation.

 

One of the first sites I was on topics could get real heated. So I'd put one of them on ignore. Then I'd read what they said without logging in or see quotes so I stopped putting people on ignore.
Also I find we all have some things in common. So if I like what somebody says I disagree with 90% of the time I'll put a like on it. Or if its funny.

 

I have everyone on ignore. I just guess at the posts made and respond in kind.

 

At this point, nothing else matters until trump is gone. So I don't bother to get involved in real debates any more.

The US is under attack from the enemy within. This is war.

I used to ignore the whack jobs but they managed to elect a monster. So at the least they need to be shown for the fools that they are. A loud voice has been given to insanity, oppression, hate, and evil, and it has to be silenced or masked by even more noise.

 

Obviously you are not on my very short ignore list. However, that does not mean I don't usually ignore what you posted. Usually you just post the same sneering generic Democrat ranting-points like a bad song on vinyl that is scratched causing it to skip and play the same 3 seconds over and over.

Why not try - I mean really try - to post ANYTHING that is an original thought that you (and all of us) haven't already heard 1,000 times?

 

This is how naive and having a sense of entitlement many on the left have. Why do you think the USA is so wealthy? Why do you think you are not one of the 2/3rds of the people on earth for which life is the question of having enough food that day and if you get really extra lucky, are young and in good health MAYBE you can get a job working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for $4 a day as long as you never get sick, never get hurt, never get older and there is no one else they can hire who is faster or cheaper than you?

The USA became wealthy because it was a kick ass country. This is how the wealth of all empires has been created. None because wealthy by being nice. The world didn't just give us their wealth because we were entitled to by virtue of being Americans, which seems to be what many on the left believe how it works.

Too many Americans born after WW2 and the fabulous wealth it brought - because all our competitors had been obliterated - are now like spoiled brats, thinking they should get everything for free and don't have to work for it. Yes, the USA could withdraw from the world. Yes, you could live in a house made out of boxes shopping for your food in garbage cans like a billion other people do.

 

And your next talking point probably will be the typical Democrat talking point that President Trump isn't able to accomplish anything. That is the typical diametric claims of Democrat talking points: 1.) The actions of President Trump have totally destroying the country and 2.) President Trump is so incompetent he hasn't done anything at all.

But, ok, it's your point and be specific. In real, tangible ways, how has President Trump destroyed your life? What has the "insane, oppressive, hateful, and evil monster" done to you? List all the ways you have been victimized and why we should pity your situation?

 

Ummm... -who is "wealthy". Did you know about our wealth inequality? You don't seem to have a realistic picture of what the US does abroad.

Really? You're going to use that old saw to try to shame me into conceding? Really? LOL!! Deal with what we have, here, now. THAT is reality.

Right, and now it kicking the American citizens' asses. Do you not know of all the money, opportunity, advantages, and comforts that are being taken from us to give the rich elite greater wealth? Sure, it was pretty good for decades, at least since the 1940s. But this system is fast running out of steam and beginning to eat itself. Do you have blinders that keep you from seeing it?

 

The sane part?
There are a lot of reasons. If a thread doesn't show up on page one of "new posts" when I look, I'll never see it. Then, it has to interest me. Then, I have something to say about it

(I was gonna add that the last thing I do, before posting, is make sure you didn't start the thread, but I figured that two smiling tongue emojis in one post was pushing it.)

 

I do have a number of people on ignore but not you. Sorry your threads must not be of interest to me, but then the majority of the Trump and domestic US issues are not my cup of tea... so no fault of yours.

 

I love going into threads where I know I'll be outnumbered.

 

I've recently put 3 people on 'Ignore'. I won't give names so I don't draw attention to them but one is an antisemitic white nationalist (which is the only political persuasion I find unacceptable because I'm bi-racial) and two just hurl accusations at me and debating them becomes frivolous with their curt and useless responses.

I won't Ignore anyone for what they believe politically. Just those who don't add anything useful to the conversation and just resort to accusations and name calling.

 

That's a cute little response. As if the other candidate didn't represent hate, evil and insanity. Heck, she screwed over one of her own just to lose the election anyway. What was that you were saying?