All your rhetoric belong to us

If you couldn't post insults, slams, return-volley slams, hate, or rhetoric, what percentage of your posts would remain standing?

80%. But in my defense I would like to point out that of the remaining 20%, half is mostly in jest and with posters I know and respect.

I think you would have an empty forum.

Discounting basement posts, I would say 95% of my posts are honest attempts at civil debate, or humor.

10% shots
20% making fun
80% nonsense


(I go to 11)

StillBallin75 said:

Discounting basement posts, I would say 95% of my posts are honest attempts at civil debate, or humor.

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I do have to agree you set a standard, IMO.

BDBoop said:

I do have to agree you set a standard, IMO.

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Sometimes I combine shots with humor through sarcasm. It's not often that I take shots at other posters outright. I usually reserve that stuff for downstairs.

Good question...you could also ask if you eliminated all the smarmy snarky threads on Palin, Fox news, general attacks on religion, etc, would this board even exist?

VanceMack said:

Good question...you could also ask if you eliminated all the smarmy snarky threads on Palin, Fox news, general attacks on religion, etc, would this board even exist?

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I think I hear a vacuum cleaner coming toward this post. And mine. Sh...*ending transmission

VanceMack said:

Good question...you could also ask if you eliminated all the smarmy snarky threads on Palin, Fox news, general attacks on religion, etc, would this board even exist?

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I know the fringe folks will call me to task for going off topic, but that presupposes that what we do here actually makes a difference, anyway.

Hmm. I set this poll to show who voted what, but I'm not seeing it. Anybody else?

I'm pretty sure that I would be above 90%. I don't like to insult anyone. And I try to avoid getting to the point where I am going to insult someone on purpose or even accidentally.

I have said some pretty bad things about certain posts and posters to my husband though. The specifics stay offline though.

nope, i think it has to be 'public' or whatnot :shrug:

I try to avoid rhetorical hackery but its probably easier for me since I outcast myself from domestic politics.

roguenuke said:

I have said some pretty bad things about certain posts and posters to my husband though. The specifics stay offline though.

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OOOH OOOH i wanna KNOW!

BDBoop said:

I know the fringe folks will call me to task for going off topic, but that presupposes that what we do here actually makes a difference, anyway.

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I think thats a pretty good place to start actually...why do people come here in the first place? For me it is a diversion. There are topics I like to discuss, some I have just given up on and wont go near anymore, some people that I value and look forward to reading their comments, and some that I dont bother even glancing at their comments because I can say what they are before I read them (Im not naive enough to think that I didnt just describe myself there for some folks as well).

I have had good discussions on things like capital punishment and have in fact changed my position 170 degrees (edit-more accurately that would be 190 degrees. Some I have gone completely counter to my original mindest, then returned just a bit). Same with healthcare, education reform, and social spending. There are however threads where you just know the creator is begging for someone to jump in and show what a mindless hypocritical partisan hack they are being, and I happily attemopt to oblige.

Sometimes Im just in a mood and post things for fun...fun to me.

Better than 99%. I remember 2 posts that I regret in the public areas of the forum, and only a handful more in private.

To answer your question, I define rhetoric different than most seem to here. People see it as hackery, when I see it more along the lines of persuasion. As such, I would say nearly 0% of my post would remain.

VanceMack said:

I think thats a pretty good place to start actually...why do people come here in the first place?

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My sister asked me that very thing, mostly because I've been sharing some of the more inflammatory troll comments. As for me, this place is addictive. There's a lot of really good people here that I'd definitely miss if I never saw them again.

SE102 said:

OOOH OOOH i wanna KNOW!

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Would send this thread to the basement quite quickly.

But don't worry, you're not on my list.

I'm not really sure if we can answer this question for ourselves. I would like to believe that I would register at 99% as I try my hardest to respect everyone and to not resort to partisan hackery. Although I guess it depends on how others perceive our posts.

Fiddytree said:

To answer your question, I define rhetoric different than most seem to here. People see it as hackery, when I see it more along the lines of persuasion. As such, I would say nearly 0% of my post would remain.

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well I think BDBoop made it pretty clear that this post is about "taking shots," in which case I think you would be near 100%.

I have to agree with Disgsbe on this issues, I think 30% of the time Im taking shots but its more to make people think "hey there's two sides" to just about everything and typically you have to meet in the middle.

But I am drawn to hi profile shot taking threads a lot, Equal rights for gays, abortions, death penalty and war threads.

And what I am EXTREMELY guilty of, depending on the issue or how they do it, is when a shot is taken at me I love to shoot back. Its fun because like I said Im usually in a high profile thread and my stance is typically in the middle or allows everyone to do what they want.

But there have been many threads where I just want info or thanked people for their opposing point of view or just wanted arguments against the logic I already have to just see if there's something I'm missing. Its interesting, I realize my experiences arent yours and my walk of life isn't yours, many peoples situations are extremely different and I think people forget that all the time. See the internet thread, while I didn't agree with the OP about civil rights I found it hilarious that a couple people assume EVERYBODY can get internet access because you cna just go to a cyber cafe? Thats just not reality. Oh well.

I like it here and have encountered many people that seem great, some agree with my views and some do not, and then there are people here strictly for trolling or entertainment then there are people here that are totally what they dont like, partisan hacks, its just like real life

Since I was written up for return fire ("You should have ignored him!") I am very careful with how I respond. It's like yes, I've been slimed. But I'll be damned if I'll stoop to their level. And even sometimes I'll say "**** that ****. Let the stooping begin." Just not anywhere near as often as I did on my first run through DP.

BDBoop said:

If you couldn't post insults, slams, return-volley slams, hate, or rhetoric, what percentage of your posts would remain standing?

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90% or more. :mrgreen:

I think that I'm a bit like Centrist77 in that I tend to hover around hot topics, too. I think that for some threads related to things like abortion, etc...they can stir emotional responses. I have no doubt that I push buttons, but I consciously try not insult, slam, return-volley slams. I seriously try not to invoke or project hate. Rhetoric...hmmm, that can be a bit subject in terms of self-identification. I suspect a lot of the times...in the heat of arguments that it might be a tiny bit impossible not to engage in rhetoric.

So, I'm not sure where my percentage might be in all honesty. If I were guessing I would say between 75 and 85% of my post wouldn't get busted. After all, I'm not the "Virgin Removable Mind".