Question: is anyone really looking for civil discourse?

I base that claim on what someone who is part of the group told me.  And what Elise said.  

If you want to claim that I am vile, that is fine.  Have at it.  I have no interest in people who are fine with a president who supports Nazis.  Plain and simple.  

You seem very invested in me for some reason.  Carla responded to a post of mine that was quoting and responding to you on another thread as if I was talking to her, and you keep responding to a dialogue between Elise and myself.  You all are invested in each other's business for who knows why.  Keep at it. If you want to paint me as the bad guy, I am fine with that.  No skin off my nose.  

I don't think that is a thing.

I agree with everything jeremysgirl has posted. The nastiness from BOTH sides is too much. I'm done once someone starts tagging other peas who have never participated in a thread inciting a fight. I can't open threads started by certain individuals because it will go south quickly.

Discussing the topic? Sure! Once the name calling and generalizing begins. No. I deal with enough drama in my life. I can't mentally keep up with the political threads. It does get to me. It does bother me.

I understand denouncing this president. I do. For me and my sanity, I have to prioritize. Post to every.single.political thread on a message board? I've become very selective. It leaves me increasingly frustrated. I need to do something that will make a bigger difference.

I get that others can separate this from real life. I cannot.

If Obama is a Marxist what does that make us. UCSR ? We have a socialist in power in the province. I love him.

Bush put the long-term debt on the credit card by starting 2 trillion-dollar wars, increasing medicare w/an enormous drug benefit and simultaneously cutting taxes including on the wealthiest.

Hard dollars and by %.

Elaine does not behave like Nazis, and to say so is so beyond the pale. Shame on you. This isn't standing up for what's right. Something is wrong with you if you think THIS is right.

There have been peas who voted for trump and have come out and said that they weren't happy or regretted it, and they were not raked over the coals, they were thanked !!

I hope the surgery fixed what it was supposed to and that you heal quickly! 

I was referring to the whole exchange where you, in response to one of my posts to lovetocolor, went off on me about not telling YOU that you didn't understand.  Several days (maybe 4 or 5) ago. I think it was the monuments thread, but may have been another political thread going on at the same time - I can look up the exact one if you want me to. 

The "newbies" mission has been nothing but to cause discord here.

Elaine, it was actually my post you replied to {it was the monument thread. I looked it up) but I think the you quoted love to color and her name ended up my quote.

Whatever. Either way I didn't realize we couldn't quote someone or else it meant that we were somehow having a conversation. I don't know who it is nor do I care much

As so often, I could save myself a lot of typing by just saying  . Of course, that's not my way so...

Frankly any claim that there is and has been no civil, respectful political discussion on this board for months/years (insert your time period of choice here) is just horseshit. Less frequent lately, sure, harder to find in amongst the sniping, absolutely, but it nevertheless still exists. I've seen plenty of it. If you haven't, I'd posit that either you're not looking in the right places, or you don't want to see it. 

Someone earlier said that you get what you give - I agree. I also think that by and large you find what you're looking for. 

Admittedly I've mostly stayed out of political threads here recently - although I do still read the majority - primarily because they have become a lot less about policy and a lot more about individuals (well, one of them, usually...) and that's not really what I'm here for. But I'm not upset by the change in direction: it reflects the reality of the political situation in the US right now, where policy needs to take something of a backseat to the current threat to fundamental human rights and decency. It will swing around again in time, and then I'll join in more again. 

I think @fred 's post (link) has a lot of value. Particularly this bit: 


IMHO it would certainly help the discussion if we were all able to be a little bit thicker skinned, and take things a little less personally. Easier said than done I know, but I do feel like it is something of a vicious circle - one person feels attacked, they lash out in response, and on and on. We need to break that cycle somehow. 

I also thought there was a lot worth absorbing in this post by jeremysgirl. 


I have said before, and will say again and again to anyone who feels at all like this ^^ that the block feature is a wonderful thing. Anyone who reads political threads with any frequency knows exactly who the worst culprits are: the "but no, but" Peas, the slanging match last word Peas, the "all!always!everybody!"^{TM - Amelia} Peas, the name callers. Whatever your personal 'I can't deal with this any more' trigger is, there will be a small number of individuals responsible for the majority. Block away. It instantly makes the political threads far easier to read, far more civil. 

I just can't agree with this, I don't think it's a healthy attitude either individually or for our community. We need new people to keep us thriving, and it costs us nothing to be kind. The controversial peas who "leave" and join again under a new name are easy enough to spot, they just can't help themselves repeating old patterns - case in point, this thread. There's no need to be suspicious or accusatory towards all new peas: we only need to give them time, and the old ones will out themselves soon enough, then do as you will.  

Yes, here at Peas reactions have been quite positive in that regard. 
Save

Your arguement is absurd.  Saying something does not make it so.   

Elaine stands up for what she believes in and she does not back down. But she also makes thoughtful arguments that are based on fact and not name calling.  If you can't argue with her intelligently you resort to name calling. In fact doing exactly what you accuse Elaine of doing.  

I don't see the vitriol Elaine spewed at Elise as standing up for something she believes in. I see it as ugly, lashing out. YMMV, of course

Man, this place is tiresome sometimes.