We Are the Normal Ones - And the Outside World are the Fruit-Loops

Desmond1979 said:

I can safely assume that we're the level-headed ones.

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

We have had some on here saying we should get the aristocrats to take over power in the country to take us back ot the the good old days.

Some are advocating getting rid of immigrants to take us back to the good old days.

Others saying we should put the church in charge to keep the sinners under control like back in the good old days.

And so forth.

The one thing all have in common is an opinion that it was better in the good old days, whatever that may mean.

Iain said:

We have had some on here saying we should get the aristocrats to take over power in the country to take us back ot the the good old days.

Some are advocating getting rid of immigrants to take us back to the good old days.

Others saying we should put the church in charge to keep the sinners under control like back in the good old days.

And so forth.

All valid opinions and all easily dismantled with a few moments reasoned discussion.
And that seems to me to be the proper way to do things: through reasoned discussion.

We have the technology to enable everyone in the world to join in conversation, so the problem becomes one of hearing the discussion above the noise, and that's really not that difficult: we just need the conversational equivalent to a fractionating column, and a robust and transparent mechanism for regulating it.

Proper democracy comes when decisions are made on the strength of the arguments rather than the density of their proponents, and the strength of the argument can be tested by simmering it in the cauldron of public discourse and distilling the collective wisdom from the chattering of the masses.

Speaking of arguments, shouldn't this post have a trigger warning?
Not a criticism or complaint, just an observation: it seems to me much more likely to become triggering than the other post where I was told about the guidelines.

Iain said:

We have had some on here saying we should get the aristocrats to take over power in the country to take us back ot the the good old days.

Some are advocating getting rid of immigrants to take us back to the good old days.

Others saying we should put the church in charge to keep the sinners under control like back in the good old days.

And so forth.

All valid opinions and all easily dismantled with a few moments reasoned discussion.
And that seems to me to be the proper way to do things: through reasoned discussion.

We have the technology to enable everyone in the world to join in conversation, so the problem becomes one of hearing the discussion above the noise, and that's really not that difficult: we just need the conversational equivalent to a fractionating column, and a robust and transparent mechanism for regulating it.

Proper democracy comes when decisions are made on the strength of the arguments rather than the density of their proponents, and the strength of the argument can be tested by simmering it in the cauldron of public discourse and distilling the collective wisdom from the chattering of the masses.

Speaking of arguments, shouldn't this post have a trigger warning?
Not a criticism or complaint, just an observation: it seems to me much more likely to become triggering than the other post where I was told about the guidelines.

Iain said:

so long as we are careful to stay within the bounds of good manners.

Sometimes there is nothing nastier than a perfectly polite put down...

Iain said:

I would be careful around subjects such as trans rights.

I really don't understand the argument. People are people, just treat them as people, but there are <derogatory term of choice> in all walks of life: if a trans person is a DToC then treat them as a DToC.
Most of the cases cited as examples of why trans people should have no rights appear to be instances of transexual DToCs.
Being transexual doesn't entitle you to be obnoxious any more than being Jewish entitles you to be a genocidal maniac. 

Iain said:

Some other posters have a very black and white way of thinking

I think that most things resolve to black and white if you dig down far enough into the detail.  You may be only able to resolve small details as black and white, but from there you can begin to build a bigger picture.

Hairyloon said:

At worst it will trigger me into arguing.

This is not necessarily a bad thing so long as we remain civilised in the arguement.

These can be very effective ways to become exposed to other ideas and hold our own views up to the light of analysis so long as we are careful to stay within the bounds of good manners.

Humans are fallible creatures however and this does not always work which is why we have the Mods here to restore balance when required.

Hairyloon said:

I was just seeking clarity: I'm finding my feet in a new group and my usual strategy of wading in and seeing how it goes may not be appropriate where people are known to be sensitive.

That is great that you are coniderate enough to do this. 

Don't worry about making the odd error as you find your way. The Mods are a tolerant bunch. 

There are some posters here who will react badly if you are critical of some of their views however, so I would be careful around subjects such as trans rights.

Some other posters have a very black and white way of thinking with no scope for nuance which can make discussions challenging, but it is an autistic trait so it helps to understand it and make allowances that in some cases you point may never land with them.

Iain said:

If you find it triggering then you can flag it to them.

At worst it will trigger me into arguing.
I was just seeking clarity: I'm finding my feet in a new group and my usual strategy of wading in and seeing how it goes may not be appropriate where people are known to be sensitive.

Hairyloon said:

Speaking of arguments, shouldn't this post have a trigger warning?

Mostly the people starting the threads don't know if it will be triggering or not so it is typically the Mods who will step in and add a Trigger Warning label if they think it necessary.

If you find it triggering then you can flag it to them.