Posted by Dr. Bob on January 29, 2006, at 9:29:29
In reply to Re: blocked for 4 weeks, posted by teejay on January 28, 2006, at 18:53:21
> Sorry doctor Bob but I think this board is a complete and utter waste of time.
I'm sorry you feel the time you spend there is wasted.
> Politics is a powerful subject and something which evokes VERY strong feelings in people and to ban 2 posters simply for expressing their feelings in a way which to be fair is far less hostile than these politicians face every single day is just ridiculous.
I understand that politics evokes strong feelings, and that it can be therapeutic to express them. But this isn't necessarily the place. Not because Bush might be reading, which is unlikely, but because people who support Bush (or whomever) *are* reading.
Also, I think posts that aren't respectful and sensitive can be like negative campaigning:
> On the whole, negative campaigning is seen in a negative light. It does not focus on substantive issues or policies and rather tends to focus on personality. A demonstrated effect of negative campaigning is that while it motivates the base of support it tends to alienate centrist and undecided voters from the political process reducing voter turnout and radicalizing politics.
>
> If negative ads are not well crafted they can produce a backlash as voters dislike any sense of bullying.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_campaigning
> What do you think the result of further alienating the palestinian people will be (not to mention the withdrawal of aid)? Do you think it will save lives or cost them? Do you think it will brink peace, or drive it further away?
Those are good questions. IMO, it's possible to discuss the possible disadvantages of a policy with respect and sensitivity. It's also an option, of course, to propose an alternative and to discuss its possible advantages...
Bob
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:603925
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20060111/msgs/604042.html