Hello everyone, I'm new here.

[LostinThought]

So where do I begin?
I've been away from the debate scene for some time give, or take a year at this point. Covid threw us all for a loop in that respect. In all honesty, I kind of got tired of the same process day in and day out. Though the last few sites that I participated in where some rather.. interesting choices. I've recently closed by last two accounts from other forums, mainly because they've become extremely toxic at this point and are practically unlivable at this point.

As for myself, there's not much to tell. I'm what can be considered a classic liberal. I've voted for both parties over the last few elections, and I've got my issues with both of them as well.

 

[LostinThought]

Well, after being on the site for nearly half an hour. I'm starting to see some of the issues I was warned about coming to the front.

 

[MaryP]

Well, after being on the site for nearly half an hour. I'm starting to see some of the issues I was warned about coming to the front.

Who warned you about what? DP is a safe site. It's not an echo chamber, though.

 

[MamboDervish]

So where do I begin?
I've been away from the debate scene for some time give, or take a year at this point. Covid threw us all for a loop in that respect. In all honesty, I kind of got tired of the same process day in and day out. Though the last few sites that I participated in where some rather.. interesting choices. I've recently closed by last two accounts from other forums, mainly because they've become extremely toxic at this point and are practically unlivable at this point.

As for myself, there's not much to tell. I'm what can be considered a classic liberal. I've voted for both parties over the last few elections, and I've got my issues with both of them as well.

Welcome, Pilgrim.

In the past year, I have found that what I get out of this site seems somewhat proportional to what I put into it - which may be said, to a greater or lesser extent, of any other site, I suppose. Sometimes the discourse is on a high level, and there are things to be learned. But much of the time, arguments are just people insisting on talking at cross purposes to each other, and nothing productive ensues. It's like what I remember an old chess grand master said in describing his ex-wife. "We were opposing bishops on different color squares." - or something to that effect. In other words, you're bound to meet people here with whom you will simply never connect - at least on some given subject.

Best of Luck!!

 

[NWRatCon]

I wish you luck. That is with complete sincerity. You will find plenty of participants who will back up points with data, and even more that come in with dreck, or simply insults. Expect to be challenged to support your positions (I see that has already happened), and there is an "ignore" function that will allow you to tune out a lot of the noise. Welcome aboard.

 

[Juks]

The secret is to not let what you feel is toxic draw you in and only participate in those discussions that you feel give you something. Or start your own discussions and see if you can get respons for what you feel is interesting.

We have two falangs that regulary back eachother or one of the two parties actions up without much cogitation, but we also have very self-sufficient posters. You will identify them in time.

I guess the difference to other sites are smal, many posters are also likely having profiles on many of the other political forums so you may encounter the same people at the end. But see it as a new start and re-invent yourself and I am sure you will have a great time. And most probably the really good posters are not on other sites..

Welcome

 

[Allan]

So where do I begin?
I've been away from the debate scene for some time give, or take a year at this point. Covid threw us all for a loop in that respect. In all honesty, I kind of got tired of the same process day in and day out. Though the last few sites that I participated in where some rather.. interesting choices. I've recently closed by last two accounts from other forums, mainly because they've become extremely toxic at this point and are practically unlivable at this point.

As for myself, there's not much to tell. I'm what can be considered a classic liberal. I've voted for both parties over the last few elections, and I've got my issues with both of them as well.

Welcome LiT. All sites have some toxicity, at least the ones I've seen. If you consider yourself a person with substantial perspectives then stick to engaging with likewise people, and there are a lot of them here. The rest are just chaff and you can easily scroll past or put them on ignore.

I've posted on a few political forums and this one is the best imo. Very knowledgeable and entertaining members and the software rocks.

 

[Common Sense 1]

Welcome!
Give DP some time before making any
conclusions. Nothing is perfect.
Especially today.

 

[Old 'N Chill]

Hi @LostinThought, good to have you join us!

 

[Cynical]

So where do I begin?
I've been away from the debate scene for some time give, or take a year at this point. Covid threw us all for a loop in that respect. In all honesty, I kind of got tired of the same process day in and day out. Though the last few sites that I participated in where some rather.. interesting choices. I've recently closed by last two accounts from other forums, mainly because they've become extremely toxic at this point and are practically unlivable at this point.

As for myself, there's not much to tell. I'm what can be considered a classic liberal. I've voted for both parties over the last few elections, and I've got my issues with both of them as well.

By considering yourself a "classic liberal" do you consider yourself more in line with Libertarians than Conservatives or the modern so-called Progressive?

 

[LostinThought]

By considering yourself a "classic liberal" do you consider yourself more in line with Libertarians than Conservatives or the modern so-called Progressive?

The terminology would be more in line with classic-liberal. Social/personal freedoms a paramount, enough government to maintain our system peaceably, though I am more for some state's rights than a collective assigned by the government.
I was mostly a fence sitter in the early 90s frankly because off how young I was, but I did maintain a healthy political appetite at the time.

As for the modern progressive identification, no. I am more than a little off put by just how monstrous something that's routinely called "progressive" can be.l

So I'll gladly stay identifying myself as a liberal.

 

[Evilroddy]

@Lostin Thought:

A belated hello and welcome to the site.

Hope you find what you're looking for here.

Cheery and be well.
Evilroddy.

 

[LostinThought]

@Lostin Thought:

A belated hello and welcome to the site.

Hope you find what you're looking for here.

Cheery and be well.
Evilroddy.

All hopes that I find something as well. Most sites are still in some strange downward spiral, including the two that I just recently left after about six collective years of posting.

 

[Evilroddy]

All hopes that I find something as well. Most sites are still in some strange downward spiral, including the two that I just recently left after about six collective years of posting.

Lostin Thought:

What are the qualities and characteristics of a pological debate forum which you are looking for? What qualities and characteristics are you looking to avoid?

Like any forum there are golden seeds of grain here which are buried in a wider sea of chaff. If you make the effort to find the best of what DP has to offer, while figuring out what you want to avoid here, then you should find the site rewarding. There's lots to learn and to think about being posted here, if you know what you're looking for.

So good luck in your time here and I hope you enjoy yourself.

Cheers and be well.
Evilroddy.

 

[Cynical]

All hopes that I find something as well. Most sites are still in some strange downward spiral, including the two that I just recently left after about six collective years of posting.

Politics is essentially religion to some if not most in particularly on political forums. No site is perfect including this one.

 

[LostinThought]

Lostin Thought:

What are the qualities and characteristics of a pological debate forum which you are looking for? What qualities and characteristics are you looking to avoid?

Like any forum there are golden seeds of grain here which are buried in a wider sea of chaff. If you make the effort to find the best of what DP has to offer, while figuring out what you want to avoid here, then you should find the site rewarding. There's lots to learn and to think about being posted here, if you know what you're looking for.

So good luck in your time here and I hope you enjoy yourself.

Cheers and be well.
Evilroddy.

In truth I'm not looking for much. Just a standard and clean means of political debate.
Sadly I've been insulted and derided in more than a majority off the post that come my way and barely any of the other posters interested in actually debating the topic at hand. What bothers me mostly however is that it's starting to look like the warnings I received are coming true. Many of the reviews of this site warned of more than a few nasty individuals who do and say things that have no place in legitimate debate.

Which is another sad aspect, as many of these reviews warned about certain members of the moderation team as well. And I'm starting to see that the warnings were not entirely off the mark.

 

[Cynical]

In truth I'm not looking for much. Just a standard and clean means of political debate.
Sadly I've been insulted and derided in more than a majority off the post that come my way and barely any of the other posters interested in actually debating the topic at hand. What bothers me mostly however is that it's starting to look like the warnings I received are coming true. Many of the reviews of this site warned of more than a few nasty individuals who do and say things that have no place in legitimate debate.

Which is another sad aspect, as many of these reviews warned about certain members of the moderation team as well. And I'm starting to see that the warnings were not entirely off the mark.

I took a couple of years off from engaging in much political debate and as far as I'm concerned it's worse than I remember. I have found that some if not most on the left here go right at you and simply assume an ideological position even if you don't express it. Doesn't make for cordial dialogue.

 

[LostinThought]

I took a couple of years off from engaging in much political debate and as far as I'm concerned it's worse than I remember. I have found that some if not most on the left here go right at you and simply assume an ideological position even if you don't express it. Doesn't make for cordial dialogue.

No, no it does not.
One off my last sites took that same spiral. A moderator was basically in control of the whole site and addressed all posters by their associated racial slurs. He even infected another site that I frequented and kept bombarding it with some of the worst crap you've ever seen.

It just gets tiresome after a while.

 

[Bullseye]

So where do I begin?
I've been away from the debate scene for some time give, or take a year at this point. Covid threw us all for a loop in that respect. In all honesty, I kind of got tired of the same process day in and day out. Though the last few sites that I participated in where some rather.. interesting choices. I've recently closed by last two accounts from other forums, mainly because they've become extremely toxic at this point and are practically unlivable at this point.

As for myself, there's not much to tell. I'm what can be considered a classic liberal. I've voted for both parties over the last few elections, and I've got my issues with both of them as well.

Welcome, hope you enjoy being here.

 

[NWRatCon]

I find that respect goes a long way, but it's too easy to lose. I've been in a bad place, myself, of late, letting my frustration with insincere posters infect my normally placid approach. It's sometimes just too much. I know that I must occupy the middle, though, as I'm simultaneously taking flack from the left and right.

 

[justabubba]

i do declare
the rampant negativity in this thread, castigating both the mods and members of this political opinion site, has given me the vapors
whatever should we do?

 

[Allan]

In truth I'm not looking for much. Just a standard and clean means of political debate.
Sadly I've been insulted and derided in more than a majority off the post that come my way and barely any of the other posters interested in actually debating the topic at hand. What bothers me mostly however is that it's starting to look like the warnings I received are coming true. Many of the reviews of this site warned of more than a few nasty individuals who do and say things that have no place in legitimate debate.

Which is another sad aspect, as many of these reviews warned about certain members of the moderation team as well. And I'm starting to see that the warnings were not entirely off the mark.

I assume you're referring to review sites like this one.

Some of the reviews there ring true but many are from members banned for infractions.

My favorite review makes the claim that all Mods here are pro-Trump except Helix.

Bottom line is that if you stay within the posting rules you'll never have a problem with the Mods here.

 

[VySky]

Welcome aboard. Trust your instincts, not memes.

 

[VySky]

I assume you're referring to review sites like this one.

Some of the reviews there ring true but many are from members banned for infractions.

My favorite review makes the claim that all Mods here are pro-Trump except Helix.

Bottom line is that if you stay within the posting rules you'll never have a problem with the Mods here.

I just read the reviews. Thx.
Describes a site I’m not familiar with. To say DP has been a conservative echo chamber is not true. Many other falsehoods as well. I to have been on many debate sites. One in particular for over 14 years. I left because they could not identify me after needing a password reset. I no longer had the email I signed up with. All familiar passwords didn’t work. So they let me walk.

I’m sure DP is happy I’m here lol……

 

[Evilroddy]

i do declare
the rampant negativity in this thread, castigating both the mods and members of this political opinion site, has given me the vapors
whatever should we do?

Justabubba:

Mint juleps on recliners at ten-paces for the duel then? Or do you prefer the more lethal iced-sasperillas in close-quarter melee?

This shall not stand!

Cheers and be well.
Evilroddy.