I might follow along with the same rules or just do away with this forum.
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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...82227839.25521.100004067532731&type=3&theater
I've been posting on Facebook for about four years. In that time span, I've tried to maintain as open a dialogue as possible. My efforts to protect free speech within my threads I would describe as Herculean. I've afforded most regular posters with excessive latitude. For instance, no posters have ever been censored (blocked) due to their political ideology. Not one.
I'm privileged to know many interesting people from all parts of the world with many different political opinions. I welcome the Left and the Right and everyone in between, even people who might be considered extremists, so long as they present constructive arguments. I embrace this diversity and believe those who read my posts regularly are better for being exposed to opinions other than their own. Most of the people I've discussed this topic with, WELCOME a wide range of views on important topics. I often learn from those I disagree, and occasionally change my opinion when presented with solid evidence.
That said, I've decided to institute a significant change in how I go about posting and discussing various controversial topics from this point forward. This is due to a social media virus called "willful ignorance." Unfortunately, there are a number of frequent posters within my circle of contacts who demonstrate no desire whatsoever to exchange ideas. Their motives are uncertain, and quite frankly, puzzling. They have no interest in presenting facts from verifiable sources, no desire to learn anything new, no intellectual curiosity, and bring nothing constructive to the dialogue. These mental deadbeats will now be culled from the herd like diseased cattle:
-- Any of my Facebook contacts who posts fake news stories (reference the "60 Minutes" feature on this subject), will be BLOCKED. I won't waste time with someone who believes Obama is a Muslim, Clinton once ran a child sex ring, the Twin Towers were brought down on 9/11 due to a government conspiracy, etc. People who continuously spread this garbage will be BLOCKED. They are worthless and untrustworthy. I don't want them changing the oil on my car, let alone invading my threads with crazed stupidity. They are intellectual botulism.
-- Any of my Facebook contacts who repeatedly engages in personal attacks against people posting legitimate comments will be BLOCKED.
-- Any of my Facebook contacts who repeatedly uses terms like "Libtards" or "Obummer" or "Orange Fool" or any other disparaging childish remark about public figures will be BLOCKED. It's time to elevate the discussion instead of engaging in schoolyard name-calling.
-- Any of my Facebook contacts who makes absurd over-generalizations, such as "All Liberals are stupid...." or "All Republicans are fascists....." or "Germany is becoming a third-world country" will be BLOCKED. Such comments are not accurate. They are not interesting to anyone. They make the poster look foolish.
-- If you post a comment about one of my articles (usually my posts introduce a new article at my website) but it's clear you DID NOT READ THE ARTICLE, then you will be BLOCKED. If you can't take the time to read my thoughts first before posting a response, then your comments in my thread aren't worth my time. Simple as that. I put considerable work into my writings. The least someone can do before commenting is to read the work I have produced.
-- Finally, anyone who posts off-topic or repeatedly pivots to unrelated subjects will be BLOCKED. If I introduce a thread on the economy, we aren't discussing Benghazi. If you want to discuss a different topic, then start a different thread and stay out of mine.
That's my short list of rules, which is subject to alteration as I see fit.
If you don't like these rules, then by all means please BLOCK ME. I doubt I will even notice it. Engage in discussion elsewhere in your own echo chamber of ignorance. I have no use for people who have no desire to expand their knowledge and pursue constructive debate.
I hope this will encourage an elevation of discussion. If these new rules succeed, then we are better for it. If it fails, then at least I will have tried. At the very least, I won't be wasting any more time with ass jokers and idiots who willfully chose to be part of the problem rather than the solution.
Again, if you don't like it, then BLOCK ME. Everyone reading this now starts with a clean slate. Good night and good luck.
[Note: For my part, I will also try to elevate my own comments and behavior.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...82227839.25521.100004067532731&type=3&theater
I've been posting on Facebook for about four years. In that time span, I've tried to maintain as open a dialogue as possible. My efforts to protect free speech within my threads I would describe as Herculean. I've afforded most regular posters with excessive latitude. For instance, no posters have ever been censored (blocked) due to their political ideology. Not one.
I'm privileged to know many interesting people from all parts of the world with many different political opinions. I welcome the Left and the Right and everyone in between, even people who might be considered extremists, so long as they present constructive arguments. I embrace this diversity and believe those who read my posts regularly are better for being exposed to opinions other than their own. Most of the people I've discussed this topic with, WELCOME a wide range of views on important topics. I often learn from those I disagree, and occasionally change my opinion when presented with solid evidence.
That said, I've decided to institute a significant change in how I go about posting and discussing various controversial topics from this point forward. This is due to a social media virus called "willful ignorance." Unfortunately, there are a number of frequent posters within my circle of contacts who demonstrate no desire whatsoever to exchange ideas. Their motives are uncertain, and quite frankly, puzzling. They have no interest in presenting facts from verifiable sources, no desire to learn anything new, no intellectual curiosity, and bring nothing constructive to the dialogue. These mental deadbeats will now be culled from the herd like diseased cattle:
-- Any of my Facebook contacts who posts fake news stories (reference the "60 Minutes" feature on this subject), will be BLOCKED. I won't waste time with someone who believes Obama is a Muslim, Clinton once ran a child sex ring, the Twin Towers were brought down on 9/11 due to a government conspiracy, etc. People who continuously spread this garbage will be BLOCKED. They are worthless and untrustworthy. I don't want them changing the oil on my car, let alone invading my threads with crazed stupidity. They are intellectual botulism.
-- Any of my Facebook contacts who repeatedly engages in personal attacks against people posting legitimate comments will be BLOCKED.
-- Any of my Facebook contacts who repeatedly uses terms like "Libtards" or "Obummer" or "Orange Fool" or any other disparaging childish remark about public figures will be BLOCKED. It's time to elevate the discussion instead of engaging in schoolyard name-calling.
-- Any of my Facebook contacts who makes absurd over-generalizations, such as "All Liberals are stupid...." or "All Republicans are fascists....." or "Germany is becoming a third-world country" will be BLOCKED. Such comments are not accurate. They are not interesting to anyone. They make the poster look foolish.
-- If you post a comment about one of my articles (usually my posts introduce a new article at my website) but it's clear you DID NOT READ THE ARTICLE, then you will be BLOCKED. If you can't take the time to read my thoughts first before posting a response, then your comments in my thread aren't worth my time. Simple as that. I put considerable work into my writings. The least someone can do before commenting is to read the work I have produced.
-- Finally, anyone who posts off-topic or repeatedly pivots to unrelated subjects will be BLOCKED. If I introduce a thread on the economy, we aren't discussing Benghazi. If you want to discuss a different topic, then start a different thread and stay out of mine.
That's my short list of rules, which is subject to alteration as I see fit.
If you don't like these rules, then by all means please BLOCK ME. I doubt I will even notice it. Engage in discussion elsewhere in your own echo chamber of ignorance. I have no use for people who have no desire to expand their knowledge and pursue constructive debate.
I hope this will encourage an elevation of discussion. If these new rules succeed, then we are better for it. If it fails, then at least I will have tried. At the very least, I won't be wasting any more time with ass jokers and idiots who willfully chose to be part of the problem rather than the solution.
Again, if you don't like it, then BLOCK ME. Everyone reading this now starts with a clean slate. Good night and good luck.
[Note: For my part, I will also try to elevate my own comments and behavior.]
opcorn2
