My Thoughts on Political and Religious Battles

[LivingInThePast 364]

Normally, General Off-Topic and Current Events are with heated battles on your political and religious stance. I'd just like to say that those should be significantly changed. When has one of these "battles" ever gone peacefully? The first of these is Political battles. When people start these battles, there are two offensive forces: slander and reason. When you fight with slander, it makes reason worthless, then they fight back with slander, and it goes downhill. First of all: don't use slander. Don't call any political figure, whether it be Bush, Cheney, Obama, Clinton, etc. any wrong words. OK, here's an example:

Slander: Bush is an incompetent idiot because the War in Iraq is useless and it kills too many people.

Reason: I believe President Bush is making a bad decision because people are being killed in Iraq and it looks like nothing significant is happening.

Likewise, if you want to sound a lot more mature and want less people of the other side to hate you, you should use proper terms like "President", "Vice President", "Senator", etc.

Religious battles on the other hand, should be avoided. In religious battles, there is no easy way to claim reason because people will easily shoot it down with slander. In Religious battles, counterreasons become personal attacks and flame wars, and in general, religious battles should be avoided.

Also, these battles should go in General Off-Topic, as opposed to Current Events, because Current Events should be more like a newspaper. Interesting stories are posted, and people comment. Usually these are non-aggressive, and whatnot, such as teachers doing bad stuff to students and we comment on how stupid some people are. Then a week passes and we forget about it.

And that's the end of me standing on the soapbox. If you comment, please keep it civil.

[JanYpe 17]

In defence of the name calling: It does make it easier to tell the difference between the mature posters whose opinion should carry weight and the children who should be ignored.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

there are already two very busy threads here on these kinds of topics.  Zel, please close this one down.

[LivingInThePast 364]

What, on discussing not to fight, or Political and Religious threads?

[LivingInThePast 364]

What, on discussing not to fight, or Political and Religious threads?

[DOXXP29 5]

I agree with you, LivingInThePast! I believe that we can have a lot of great and interesting discussions if everyone sticks to the topic at hand and doesn't turn the thread into a slander page or flame war, which seems to happen frquently, especially on political and religious topics. Some people take these subjects very personally and respond from an "I'm right and you're wrong" standpoint instead of being objective and sticking to the topic. An open mind is always welcome. A closed mind doesn't enhance the discussion. It just puts up a brick wall and others' comments will just not be absorbed or taken as a platform for discussion.

I've had and read many very interesting discussions here at ST on politics, religion and many other subjects. On several occasions, not only have I been enlightened with new ideas and information, but I have also come to change my views on some issues. I hope the discussions will continue and those that have something to offer will continue to do so in a meaningful, civil and intelligent manner.

Also, I hope this thread does stay open a little longer. I'd be interested in hearing others' responses and thoughts. It seems that sometimes threads get locked prematurely whenever a sign of potential arguement develops. Maybe if everyone heeds your advice, the threads will stay unlocked and more discussion can be enjoyed on our favourite topics.

As far as your comment, JanYpe, truer words were never spoken!

[Goldfish4209 9]

I agree with you. Religious debate usually goes nowhere, because neither side is going to give up and admit the other religion is the "right" one.

Anyone else?