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Can We Resolve Social Issues Using Internet Forums?

Can We Resolve Social Issues Using Internet Forums?


  • Total voters
    38
NO.

In fact, the existence and growth of internet forums and social media have made resolving problems that much harder.

We are still learning the rules of this type of social interaction.
What rules have been learned and applied to improve the approach to possibly doing what it is I am trying to do - use the forum system to deliberate social issues and legislative prompts for the state sanctioned legislatures.

If you think it is possible to compose a system of rules to purify the organization of political ideologies, then you should consider what I am trying to do. I don't understand why you do not realize that new rules will have to be established???

No! The forum system is not going to help us approach true democracy, if the forums do not adjust their rules of discussion and debate.

You, couldn't figure that out, because of what ideology has you confined to an inescapable box???

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Rare is enough for me. Personally, my stances have evolved over the years, thanks, mostly do to my interactions with people on forums, such as this one. Movements in ideas have always been slow; while it might feel like bashing your head up against a brick wall online, the fact remains that this is an avenue of communication that we did not have available to us in the past.

I feel that hearts and minds would be quicker to find change and compromise in an enviroment where people generally aren't arrogant pricks to each other. The way that people tend to engage each other seems to be more geared towards satiating one's ego, rather than any real attempt at the art of pursuasion. People are quick to insult each other, laugh as a way of appearing confident, that sort of thing.
I tend to be guilty of that, but that is because I am defending a scientific theory for organizing knowledge and it's subsequent derivitive, corporate chartering for the process of formatted organizational decision making - universal franchised decision making tool.

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Consider the issue concerning the Civil War memorials. It appears that, even after several years of discussion, there is no resolution concerning the renovation of the Civil War memorials. If any forum member has any information to the contrary, please introduce it.

Since being introduced to Internet forums twenty years ago, I have always believed that Internet forums would be the step towards democracy. I believe the Civil War memorials topic is simple enough to be able to formulate solution candidates that can be compared, contrasted and resolved for validation and submitted for enactment in sanctioned legislatures. If such a goal is achieved then we are fulfilling the ultimate goal of our participation here in an Internet forum - making a difference for the betterment of society.

I have a possible solution, specific to the Civil War memorials, that I would like to campaign, and I may introduce it in the appropriate discussion area. This thread-poll is to be focused on the ability of Internet forums to form a national discussion that leads to producing valid legislation that can be introduced to sanctioned legislatures.

We can barely debate in a civil manner much less engage in actual concrete resolution to social problems. While some hearts and minds may be changed with regular engagement, and consensus established to one degree or another, that does not necessarily translate into "resolving social issues."
 
Too many trolls on the internet. I don't think that would fix it. Just look at how differently the internet posters view any political topic, night and day.
Stricter rules have to be applied - why can't you figure that out???

There is no law forbidding any private organization from making exclusive rules banning trolls and imposters, or is there? I don't know, I'm not too bright.
 
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We can barely debate in a civil manner much less engage in actual concrete resolution to social problems. While some hearts and minds may be changed with regular engagement, and consensus established to one degree or another, that does not necessarily translate into "resolving social issues."
That is why there have to be stricter rules!

Why can't people figure that out???

Just because I left it out in the opening statement???

Do you people understand how government works???
 
What social issues are you referring to? I personally haven't seen any of those 'social issues' that requires action on a web site like DP. Unless you are referring to free speech and the restriction of it.
 
Build bridges and work towards a wider societal consensus, yes. Solve social issues, no as forum participants have no authority to solve societal issues and no power to effect such change. Can forum participation be useful in helping to solve societal problems, yes, perhaps by floating novel solutions or vetting suggested solutions before they are implemented. Baby steps, folks.

Since you are vetting suggested solutions are you in favor of more free speech in Canada or do you favor shutting down free speech that you don't agree with like the Canadian government? Fair question...
 
Since you are vetting suggested solutions are you in favor of more free speech in Canada or do you favor shutting down free speech that you don't agree with like the Canadian government? Fair question...

antiquity:

I am a strong supporter of free speech, a strong opponent of compelled speech and a very cautious advocate of using necessary hate speech laws only in the most serious cases. To my thinking the best antidote to most hateful or manipulative speech. Only when there is a clear threat to the physical health of a targeted group or a real possibility that an individual may come to harm either by others' actions or by their own agency do I support muzzling publicly uttered hate speech.

Effective education is the best cure to free speech problems in my opinion. If people are effectively taught and effectively learn the critical and analytical skills needed to avoid manipulation from hate speech, propaganda, spin and advertising then the impact of these behaviours is lessened and the need for criminal recourse will be lessened, except in the most egregious cases.

Finally I think humour, not necessarily ridicule, is the best weapon for defusing the impacts of most loaded speech in our societies. I am out of time now but will expand should you wish me to.

Cheers.
Evilroddy.
 
Consider the issue concerning the Civil War memorials. It appears that, even after several years of discussion, there is no resolution concerning the renovation of the Civil War memorials. If any forum member has any information to the contrary, please introduce it.

Since being introduced to Internet forums twenty years ago, I have always believed that Internet forums would be the step towards democracy. I believe the Civil War memorials topic is simple enough to be able to formulate solution candidates that can be compared, contrasted and resolved for validation and submitted for enactment in sanctioned legislatures. If such a goal is achieved then we are fulfilling the ultimate goal of our participation here in an Internet forum - making a difference for the betterment of society.

I have a possible solution, specific to the Civil War memorials, that I would like to campaign, and I may introduce it in the appropriate discussion area. This thread-poll is to be focused on the ability of Internet forums to form a national discussion that leads to producing valid legislation that can be introduced to sanctioned legislatures.


Would have went with "Other", but not given the choice I said no, because on their own, they will not. Much more needs to be done than just talk about it, if something is to be changed.

However, we can begin the process - talking is important, and the more we do it, the more we take into consideration when we talk.
 
What social issues are you referring to? I personally haven't seen any of those 'social issues' that requires action on a web site like DP. Unless you are referring to free speech and the restriction of it.
Reparations for slavery
Systemic racial biases
Civil rights
Government budgeting
Electoral college
Separation of powers
Church and state

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Would have went with "Other", but not given the choice I said no, because on their own, they will not. Much more needs to be done than just talk about it, if something is to be changed.

However, we can begin the process - talking is important, and the more we do it, the more we take into consideration when we talk.
Why did you respond, negatively?

You are smart enough to realize that stricter rules have to be established, and enforced - right?

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Why did you respond, negatively?

You are smart enough to realize that stricter rules have to be established, and enforced - right?

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Hehe...maybe not. I'm not entirely sure what you're getting at here.

I voted No, because on it's own, talking about social issues will not resolve them. There needs to be consensus, planning, action, measuring the result against the plan, and so on, often with the final step being "rinse and repeat".

Does that answer your question?
 
If people are effectively taught and effectively learn the critical and analytical skills needed to avoid manipulation from hate speech, propaganda, spin and advertising then the impact of these behaviours is lessened and the need for criminal recourse will be lessened, except in the most egregious cases.
That would be nice, but it appears that something happened that is leading us awry of that state.

The only way we are going to adjust the approach is by reorganizing the entire government system - it is inadequately organized for the diversity and technology that we have.

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Hehe...maybe not. I'm not entirely sure what you're getting at here.

I voted No, because on it's own, talking about social issues will not resolve them. There needs to be consensus, planning, action, measuring the result against the plan, and so on, often with the final step being "rinse and repeat".

Does that answer your question?
I think you are not understanding that you recognize that stricter rules need to be established to correct the problems. You may not know what rules to make, but you realize something has to be changed, or adjusted, to get to the proper deliberation of issues and generation of resolutions.

I'm not going to go into it any further than that, but there are a couple of organizational models for decision making, and what needs to happen is a forum(s) need to be organized using one of the organizational formats, like Robert's Rules of Order.

It can be done, and I am sure you can help in the endeavor, and reap the rewards for being a peaceful revolutionary.

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It is not that difficult to realize that we have the technology to do it, except for the perpetually corrupt government system.



IMHO, it is NOT the system that is corrupt, it IS the people that run the system who are corrupt.

A wise (?) man once said something like: "A country gets the government it deserves."



Best wishes
 
I think you are not understanding that you recognize that stricter rules need to be established to correct the problems. You may not know what rules to make, but you realize something has to be changed, or adjusted, to get to the proper deliberation of issues and generation of resolutions.

I'm not going to go into it any further than that, but there are a couple of organizational models for decision making, and what needs to happen is a forum(s) need to be organized using one of the organizational formats, like Robert's Rules of Order.

It can be done, and I am sure you can help in the endeavor, and reap the rewards for being a peaceful revolutionary.

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So your assertion is that internet debate is too chaotic and disorderly to accomplish anything? Yeah, I can get behind that. The anonymous nature of it doesn't help either - it's very easy to make or support radical assertions when you don't have to sign your name to them. :)

But I would suggest that the far bigger challenge facing change, of almost any type except for the worse, it would appear, is the level of division that people have come to accept as the new status quo. In order to get people to discuss things in an orderly, structured fashion, you need them to be able to talk in the first place, and that's not what happens in so many instances these days...you can't talk to someone when you're yelling at them.

I think this is the first barrier to cross before any of this can translate into something tangible.
 
IMHO, it is NOT the system that is corrupt, it IS the people that run the system who are corrupt.

A wise (?) man once said something like: "A country gets the government it deserves."



Best wishes
The problem is your naive analysis of the Constitution - you believe that nfarious people take advantage of its inadequacies, and altruistic qualities that our civics lessons lead us to believe in.

The founders did not know how to subdivide the three parts and that is what the problem is; and it cannot be corrected by a simple amendment system. It needs to be reordered using modern technology.

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I think this is the first barrier to cross before any of this can translate into something tangible.
Yes. I have some ideas for getting started, but eventually, it requires people who want to pursue the goal.

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Yes. I have some ideas for getting started, but eventually, it requires people who want to pursue the goal.

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Well, let's hear them. What are your ideas?
 
Consider the issue concerning the Civil War memorials. It appears that, even after several years of discussion, there is no resolution concerning the renovation of the Civil War memorials. If any forum member has any information to the contrary, please introduce it.

Since being introduced to Internet forums twenty years ago, I have always believed that Internet forums would be the step towards democracy. I believe the Civil War memorials topic is simple enough to be able to formulate solution candidates that can be compared, contrasted and resolved for validation and submitted for enactment in sanctioned legislatures. If such a goal is achieved then we are fulfilling the ultimate goal of our participation here in an Internet forum - making a difference for the betterment of society.

I have a possible solution, specific to the Civil War memorials, that I would like to campaign, and I may introduce it in the appropriate discussion area. This thread-poll is to be focused on the ability of Internet forums to form a national discussion that leads to producing valid legislation that can be introduced to sanctioned legislatures.

You have to be realistic. There are two corners and a middle. Everyone does what they want and screw everyone else. Protests don't matter. Polls don't matter. Petitions don't matter. Hell, voting doesn't even matter. We live in a society where if one side wins the vote 50.1% to 49.9% a mandate is declared to shove their values down the throats of the 49.9% losers. You are naive if you think anything you do is going to met with anything but a letter from your representatives stating, "Thank you for the information you provided us. We will give it the consideration it deserves. Once again we want to thank you for your interest in governmental affairs and being part of the Democratic process. Please subscribe to my personal twitter account where you can get updates on all the topics that are important to you" (accept, of course, Civil War memorials).
 
to paraphrase Max Planck; "you can't change people's minds, the people holding those ideas have to die off".

Most people don't really listen, and few have open minds. Most people are just waiting for their turn to talk.
 
When you refer to, "accountability," you do understand that there has to be a system of rules that, in this case, would compel the member to identify himself, and defend the principles of that identity; and then a jury of his peers are allowed to impose the rules of "accountability?"

Such rules are not applicable in an open forum.

Imagine what it is like for the Congress members who campaign to "fight" for their constituents, and then they have to be polite when they meet the racist Republicans???

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See, silly and untrue posts like the one you just posted are the problem. Every racist legislation passed in this country was passed by the Democrats. Proud party of the KKK, Jim Crow, and George Wallace.
 
Stricter rules have to be applied - why can't you figure that out???

There is no law forbidding any private organization from making exclusive rules banning trolls and imposters, or is there? I don't know, I'm not too bright.

Who is the troll? People who disagree with you or people who disagree with the other side of the argument?
 
You have to be realistic. There are two corners and a middle. Everyone does what they want and screw everyone else. Protests don't matter. Polls don't matter. Petitions don't matter. Hell, voting doesn't even matter. We live in a society where if one side wins the vote 50.1% to 49.9% a mandate is declared to shove their values down the throats of the 49.9% losers. You are naive if you think anything you do is going to met with anything but a letter from your representatives stating, "Thank you for the information you provided us. We will give it the consideration it deserves. Once again we want to thank you for your interest in governmental affairs and being part of the Democratic process. Please subscribe to my personal twitter account where you can get updates on all the topics that are important to you" (accept, of course, Civil War memorials).
Maybe, I am a little further down the road than you, and the details for processing the ambition are a bit difficult for me to present in an introduction.

I am very confident in my system. And I am very confident that you do not have anything, as far as trying to adjust the inadequacies of an improperly subdivision of the three-part system that you unwittingly believe is of divine creation.

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Who is the troll? People who disagree with you or people who disagree with the other side of the argument?
Defining trolls, and the such, will not be dictated by me, although, I will offer my description to the forum rules legislative entity.

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