Quote Originally Posted by Wash DC Blue View Post
Hey Cyril, this isnÂ’t aimed at you specifically even though I addressed you.
This goes out to everyone across the political spectrum regardless of where your view lands as to whatÂ’s best for Wales, The UK and The West in general (ThatÂ’s not to disregard other parts of the world of course, just speaking about what most of us grew up with and live in).

Do you lads see a pathway in the near future to discuss issues with civility?
Would people rather be proved correct in their views or be proven wrong if things do somehow take an uptick?

This is coming from someone who thinks that heÂ’s The Oracle on many things and has been bombastic about themÂ…but I would love to be wrong for the betterment of things.

Can we make concessions that things might be for the greater good even though it goes against your immediate judgment?
With modern leaders of the world, I grant that the greater good is the furthest things from their mindsÂ…still, hypothetically?

How many of you have friends diametrically opposite to you politically?

I walk a tight rope a lot as things are so bad here at times that bar fights break out and neighbors stop talking to each other.
Polarized, entrenched politics is the biggest regression that we have made in my lifetime.
Quite a lot of questions there on the back of a one-liner highlighting the irony of someone suggesting James's kids should become immigrants in search of a better life in a thread called immigration levels.

I think we see this part of the Board in slightly different ways. The political or philosophical views expressed here seem mainly projections of people's personalities first and foremost. In that scenario the subject matter is often irrelevant or unimportant. Being seen in your own mind to be right and chasing often arcane points to reinforce this is what matters. Either that or they derive some pleasure out of taking the piss and rubbishing others views.

I believe that covers the majority of the regular posters here, including me! There are people like Jon who regularly post out of principle but they are the exception rather than the rule.

I think that covers the likelihood of behavioural change from your first few questions. As far as friendships are concerned it is almost certain that far more of my friends don't share my political views than do. A few outflank me on the left but mostly on the right.

In this part of my life we probably bite our tongues more on the odd occasions we discuss beliefs because we value friendship above those tenets.

On here, not so much. Personally I don't see anything wrong with that either as long as things don't stray into petty or tedious abuse. I found Organ Morgan's views off the scale for instance but I don't believe we were uncivil towards each other compared with say TWGL1 or other banned posters.

In general, if people derive some gratification from their posting persona here, even if that includes getting a bit triggered or combative every now and then I don't think the discourse is harmful. Unless of course if your personality is such that you think you have special skills and can't cope when shown to be wrong. But that is a discussion for another day.