Amazing Hatred

[Hetta]

Often true. Some of the most thoughtful posters here do disagree with me on many things, up to and including the existence of my God. Those posters I respect for their intellectual honesty even though I come to different conclusions from theirs usually because I have different basic assumptions than they have I am not talking about people that only disagree with me though am I? I am talking about people that just parrot the words, phrases and agruments of a particular party( which could be Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Labour, etc.) or personage or special interest group and never show any actual independent thought in their posting. I see this in posts from conservative and liberals, left and right, Democrat and Republican with this same vacuousness and I can only attribute it to being caused by monetary considerations.

Then you would be cynical in the extreme. And let me say again that it is only the right that is making this accusation.

 

[Cearbhall]

I can only go by what I see here. It is IMO entirely impossible to believe that anyone could ever honestly be as 100% exactly behind everything a political party or personage does without being paid to parrot the party line. No one is that completely in tune with another person and surely not with a political party's stance on every issue, They tend to rely on quoting the same statistics, using the exact same phrasing and parrotting the same cliches and buzz words that the party paying them has provided while just simply ignoring any evidence given that is contrary to their talking points and only ever attacking the opposing person or that person's sources but never actually addressing the issues brought up by the person they attack.

I'm so happy for you that you don't know anyone like this in real life who constantly parrots what they hear from a single political party without ever expressing an independent thought or being at all interested in listening to other opinions. I wish this seemed impossible to me.

 

[grasping the after wind]

Is this like what Chicken Little (fitting name) said about people on here being students who are getting extra credit from liberal professors for trolling Christian websites?

No it is not. That would be something that was way too slanted in a particular political direction to be similar to my point. But if you want to insist upon pigeon holing me as being staunchly in the Conservative camp how's this? Isn't "liberal professor" almost a redundant phrase?

 

[grasping the after wind]

Then you would be cynical in the extreme. And let me say again that it is only the right that is making this accusation.

No, I am making it. I am an individual human being. I am not the right. And yes I am quite cynical when it comes to political discourse.

 

[Cearbhall]

No it is not. That would be something that was way too slanted in a particular political direction to be similar to my point. But if you want to insist upon pigeon holing me as being staunchly in the Conservative camp how's this?

Oh, I wasn't suggesting that you were referring only to one party. After all, you did clearly say that you think people on both sides are being paid to face off, and that this clash is the cause of the strife. I was only comparing the logic of the conspiracy theories.

 

[grasping the after wind]

I'm so happy for you that you don't know anyone like this in real life who constantly parrots what they hear from a single political party without ever expressing an independent thought or being at all interested in listening to other opinions. I wish this seemed impossible to me.

But I have been told I am cynical in the extreme for thinking this. Strange how people that AFAIK have similar political views can actually differ in how they see things. Unlike posters that have not a single different take on any issue than the national party line.

 

[Cearbhall]

Isn't "liberal professor" almost a redundant phrase?

I'm not sure. I haven't looked at the nationwide statistics lately. It depends on the university, for starters.

 

[grasping the after wind]

Oh, I wasn't suggesting that you were referring only to one party. After all, you did clearly say that you think people on both sides are being paid to face off, and that this clash is the cause of the strife. I was only comparing the logic of the conspiracy theories.

I did not say it was the cause I expressed the opinion it was a catalyst. Your comparison was somewhat lopsided as you were comparing an apple to a piece of fluff.

 

[grasping the after wind]

I'm not sure. I haven't looked at the nationwide statistics lately. It depends on the university, for starters.

Well, since I was just trying to reinforce your stereotype of a right wing conspiracy theorist I suppose it doesn't really matter.

 

[katautumn]

Why would interest groups pay people to troll message boards? Political discourse is really just an exercise in ego masturbation. Everyone has a point of view and people like their point of view to be known. Many of us realize that, for the most part, saying our piece about our political views will not change the opposition's mind. Message forums are simply an outlet for us to exchange ideas and then argue with each other for sport. No one needs to be paid, bribed, or otherwise coerced by "the powers that be" to get all riled up about hot-button issues and fight the opposition tooth and nail.

 

[Cearbhall]

Your comparison was somewhat lopsided as you were comparing an apple to a piece of fluff.

I said it because I see fluff and fluff.

Why would interest groups pay people to troll message boards?

This.

 

[seashale76]

crossing into conspiracy theory territory....

It's not a conspiracy. Shills are a documented Internet thing that really do happen. I'm not sure I agree that they are here at CF, but I wouldn't be at all surprised.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

There's people being paid to be here?

Where do I apply?

 

[Belk]

It's not a conspiracy. Shills are a documented Internet thing that really do happen. I'm not sure I agree that they are here at CF, but I wouldn't be at all surprised.

Considering this is the largest Christian website I would not be surprised either.

 

[bhsmte]

I've noticed a general trend in forums ( online ) that seems similar, people have become bitter, angry, accusative, etc..

Just in the past few years too, seems like people really turning on each other, snapping....very odd to watch.

Driven by fear mostly.

 

[bhsmte]

Oh, absolutely, that's why I said " online "

Online fanatics represent a very small portion of the real world, whatever their fanaticism happens to pertain to

I find people in the real world to be most pleasant

The internet reminds me more of the writing on the bathroom wall than anything

I strongly believe, many people are more prone to reveal their true beliefs in an anonymous forum online, then they will with someone face to face.

 

[ScottA]

I think that the presence of paid shills may have intensified things. You get two paid shills from opposite ends of the political scene and they will simply spew out party lines at each other.

Wow, never even thought about that.

 

[ScottA]

Then you would be cynical in the extreme. And let me say again that it is only the right that is making this accusation.

One does not have to be on here very long to see name calling and lashing out on most topics, as well as from all sides.

 

[Hetta]

One does not have to be on here very long to see name calling and lashing out on most topics, as well as from all sides.

That's not the point. Only the right wing posters here are making this assertion.

 

[bhsmte]

One does not have to be on here very long to see name calling and lashing out on most topics, as well as from all sides.

I don't see name calling and lashing out, I see disagreement and others stating their positions.

I have a feeling, you don't do well with disagreement.