Anyone up for an intrepid discussion?

[Tim E]

I didn't think so.  Me neither.

[Maricel Evasco]

LoL

Welcome to The Stage Snagg. It's good to have you on the platform.  =-)

 

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,.."  - Shakespeare

[Apposite]

LynneAnne - I also like it when the discussions get a bit toasty as well!  Nothing like a good there is no god, republicans are idiots, and gay people should be allowed to marry discussion.

 

LynnAnne, I never knew you felt like that; refreshing to read! May it become so.

[Apposite]

What I find interesting Boothby and Snagg is that we can talk about sex - very personal stuff like how, when, where, we do it, what we like etc - but bring up religion, politics, and personal beliefs?!!! Forget about it! Now be nice:)

 

You both made the site a draw. Let's see; this is about intrepid minds right?

 

[Snagg]

Supposedly. Seen little evidence of that so far, though.

[Maricel Evasco]

What I find interesting Boothby and Snagg is that we can talk about sex - very personal stuff like how, when, where, we do it, what we like etc - but bring up religion, politics, and personal beliefs?!!! Forget about it! Now be nice:)  Apposite

 

Apposite, I hesitate to say this, but I think a large part of the reason that Intrepid "discussions" cannot sustain itself is because of the way we communicate as an American culture. Confrontational debates usually taper down to seething silence, but no real consensus is made.

 

If one were to debate with an Eastern European (Russian or from the Ukraine) or someone from another Asian country, there is more likelihood that exchanges will NOT escalate to the degree it does when arguing with an American. This is my personal observation so I am not being deliberately Anti American when I say this.  I know that my own debating style can be downright vituperative if the wrong buttons are pushed.  I admire debaters who can maintain their cool (Obama- classic example).

 

[Apposite]

Maricel Evasco: Confrontational debates usually taper down to seething silence, but no real consensus is made.

 

Who said we needed a consensus? That wouldn't be any fun!:) 

 

(Perhaps the better point is to see who makes the best argument)

[CWO3ROBBIE]

I am old enough that I remember the "Coffee House" area of american culture.  We sat around, often with more than coffee, and discussed anything and everything. Rarely did the discussions/arguments become physical or result in people leaving the group. Disagreements? Many. But most were left in the coffee shop. That is not true today.  If you want to associate with others they seem to demand that yu agree with them on any and all subjects. You either watch Fox News or MSN. We are a truly divided society. I blame it on TV. What do you blame it on?   

[Apposite]

CWO3ROBBIE: We are a truly divided society. I blame it on TV. What do you blame it on? 

 

Well, I think division is a healthy thing because I think it lends balance and objectivity. Obviously only one can win and wherever the strongest need is, the strong prevail in that direction. I like the fact that liberals can be brought down for their high handed impervious ways and the conservatives humbled for their obdurate perspectives. That is the beauty of the American system of checks and balances. The unaccounted for variable there is that it takes money to air your perspective and get your brand of justice.

[Snagg]

"You either watch Fox News or MSN. We are a truly divided society. I blame it on TV. What do you blame it on?"

 
TV is the end result of focus groups, Nielsen analysts and other commercial forces that shape our culture and attitudes. I think that the ability to micro-focus and cater to small, distinct groups of people, in the name of figuring out how to sell them something, actually led to a subtle reinforcement of a societal sense of cultural entitlement and an exaggerated sense of the importance of one's own cultural and personal views. Every imaginable social group is pandered to by every imaginable product, and the feeling of seperateness is reinforced and actually congratulated by the sales pitch of "See? This product is for YOU - Not THEM!"

 

Of course, the old societal bugaboos of status, social standing and discrimination have long been exploited by politics, business and religion. TV was just another tool for that bunch.

[Maricel Evasco]

I don't mind the small talk discussion at times to offset the more serious ones. It's good to have balance which is why I participate in the Forum threads a well..... Quinn's phallic thread makes me laugh and looking at some of the photos on it makes me laugh even harder.

[CWO3ROBBIE]

I think that the small talk threads are as important as the deep discussion ones. I spend time in both. I love a good serious discussion. However, I also sometimes just want to aknowledge that others are here and I like to let them know that I like them. The morning "Hi there. How are you"? fills a void that during my working days was filled by casual conversation at coffee breaks or during lunch. At the soccer or baseball field with the kids. Personally I need both casual and serious discussions. 

[Apposite]

I don't mind the small talk stuff as long as the participants in each group stay out of each others business.