BS: Dwindling BS section

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 09:23 AM

RE: BS: Dwindling BS section:

Many of them "dwindled" to Facebook... others with 'colorful' personalities (sometimes multiple personalities) have given up, died or been chased out. (and a couple banned outright)

Many of those old threads were filled with raucous humor, creative writing, interesting commentary on the world and silly non-sequiturs ... as well as the aforementioned opinionated assholes who could not seem to have an opinion without stating it in the most confrontational manner possible.

Me? I'm here because I've always been here. I liked the variety, and although I do peek into FB, I like this format better... (6 paragraphs required to explain).

I very seldom start a topic, preferring to add my **wisdom** (cough) to the musings of others..(the last time it went as I expected, with the usual suspects tending to drown out attempts at sincere discussion/debate with insults).... I suppose this thread will dissolve into the same pattern.

Also, some of the hot button topics have been done to death... guns, evolution, astrology (some of you missed the LONG bits on astrology), the Middle East (which still crops up over some recent events), 911 conspiracy theories...etc. What surprises me is that there are so few comments on the ongoing political issues- especially in the US, where mind-numbing issues of voter suppression and court-packing are making progress non existent.

Still, there's enough to interest me..(see Joe's thread on US 2 lane highways!) I don't NEED to explain philosophy & logic everyday... but can't always resist when I see obvious problems. I do try to keep my remarks 'polite', even when pointed.... and I have been criticized for NOT being more directly confrontational (as in 'just as insulting as others'.) Makes ya' wonder....

Whatever... I still read many of the music threads, and very occasionally add a bit as I used to do, although after 16 years, there are many here far more knowledgeable than me.

Now... I am going to start a topical thread with a time-limited photo... go see the Halloween thread

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: Jeri
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 08:37 AM

See, Steve, no need to name names.

Mrrzy, I always thought it was carrot OR the stick.

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 05:47 AM

I never cease to be amazed at the number of people who are ready to jump up and tell us what we debate and how we should conduct ourselves on an open and supposedly democratic forum.
That some of us should become angry at what is happening in Israel or Syria or Ireland or to racial and cultural minorities back home in Britain, and should occasionally go over the top in expressing our anger is, as far as I am concerned, a sign that the evils of our time do not go unnoticed.
While most of them are beyond our control, forums like these provide an out let to our anger.
Those who are not concerned, or do not want to think about these things, should feel free not to take part in these debates.
Last week-end in Waterford City, in the south of Ireland, a mob of three hundred assembled outside the homes of a number of Roma asylum seekers, kicking down doors and breaking windows and demanding they should be sent back to where they came from.
While I'm sure some people would rather be discussing 'numbered U.S. highways' or 'quotable quotes', some of us would be just as happy discussing other things - preferably without judgmental interference.   
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: Musket
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 04:16 AM

Yeah but be fair Goofus. He has you weighed up...

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 02:59 AM

Richard Bridge: "For what it's worth, in my humble opinion, the vociferousness of a limited number of right-wing, racist, sexist, fundamentalist, gun-loving, neo-liberal and Blairite "contributors" have made this place unpleasant......."

Yes!....An EXACT illustration of what fuels hostile exchanges....look at Richard's post :'right-wing, racist, sexist, fundamentalist, gun-loving, neo-liberal and Blairite "contributors'...when the people he is 'accusing' of those things, are NOT any of the above, and only painted that way, 'politically', and the proceed to be attacked....and very often because the ones attacking, subscribe to a VERY hostile, up-tight, view of a wider picture, that also incorporates common sense.

Richard Bridge:"....... - as similarly applies to "contributors" above the line whose purpose appears to be to deny or destroy the concept of "folk" music and song."

On this, I agree.....and depending on the varied definitions of 'folk'.
Nonetheless, I have repeatedly posted, that the angst in which some posters post, should be a tool, in composing music and writing lyrics... not for the 'subject matter' being discussed particularly, but for the essence of emotions, 'good or bad', that, in turn, can be caught in music...or even a musical phrase, or dialogue of emotions, contained within a single piece.

Methinks some of your tunes maybe be as single dimensional as your world view, through the spectacles of political chicanery!

Think about it for a moment....BEFORE you feel that uncontrollable urge to 'defend' your political identity...as if it were REALLY you, and who you are!!!!!!

PEACE!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: Musket
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 02:47 AM

Room for some more categories Bridge? You might have missed a few. Armchair socialists, one world Tories who pretend to be right on...

Ah. That's better. A thread where you can point and laugh at pompous sanctimony. Like those who sneer and reckon they are above opinion yet curiously give it out. (Stand down Bridge. I'm onto other buggers now.). Those who can't spell "colour" or defend gun crime. One or two who advocate killing prisoners yet complain when called despicable by members of the human race. Those who rate good v bad by comparing imaginary friends. Those who claim it free speech to print lies in order to propagate hatred to whole sections of society.

These are the ones who complain about the BS section. Their complaint being that they find themselves challenged, and in the immortal words of Corporal Jones, "the fuzzy wuzzies don't like it up 'em.".

Nice to be back to a thread where no bugger wants a hug.
🐂💩

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 02:29 AM

I miss the recipe chat and holiday talk - no matter what time of year it is, there's always some local festival or holiday and realted foods. Bat Goddess and I were big on those topics

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 02:03 AM

For what it's worth, in my humble opinion, the vociferousness of a limited number of right-wing, racist, sexist, fundamentalist, gun-loving, neo-liberal and Blairite "contributors" have made this place unpleasant - as similarly applies to "contributors" above the line whose purpose appears to be to deny or destroy the concept of "folk" music and song.

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: Mrrzy
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 10:54 PM

Well, what is interesting to talk about?

How about, when did the carrot ON the stick become the carrot AND the stick?

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 10:29 PM

I rarely have posted below the line. I don't come here to argue. I liked Jeri's post. When you see the same folks make the same points in the same thread time after time, it's clear nothing positive is being done. You won't change people's minds by telling them they're evil, stupid, and wrong.

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: gnu
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 09:56 PM

Well, there it is for what it's worth. Long gone are the days when trolls were slayed by the wit of Spaw or the constant and undaunted logic of the stalwart or the vicious self-impaling of those willing to forego all decorum and wreak havoc at whatever cost for the very sake of decorum.

Spaw himself gave up and toddled off to greener pastures and, more or less, said "fuck this bullshit" as did many others in kind and in turn. And, as Jeri has alluded to, so did the trolls, as was advised in the oldest of "Welcome to Mudcat, here's some ground rules and tips" threads. Even the friendly trolls. Mudchat was destroyed by but a few nasties.

Hmmm... reminiscing about the good old days makes me weary.

gnightgnu

PS... it's been a slice. Thanks Max.

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: Jeri
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 09:44 PM

Does somebody need a hug?

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: GUEST,Steve sans cookie (bloody iPad)
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 09:26 PM

Yes, name names. Especially name real names. Less of the pusillanimous "assholes and you know who you are" shite, if you don't mind. Some of us are assholes but we're a damn sight more open and honest than some of the accusers who (without irony of course - "Jeri" shall remain nameless, for example) are very happy to call others assholes from behind their protective curtain of anonymity. Yours sincerely, Steve (asshole-in-chief). :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: GUEST,Padre (has anybody seen my cookie?)
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 09:09 PM

I for one am glad to see fewer posts in the BS section - because they usually WERE screeds from one point of view or another, followed by angry, often immature posts in response, leading the original poster to fire back, until the 'battlefield' was covered in thick, dank smoke . At one time, there was even an option allowing a reader to totally block the 'below the line' posts, and I gratefully used that feature.

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: gnu
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 08:46 PM

NO! Don't name names! >;-)

Jeri has struck the nail on the head. As usual. She has given me sage advice and well deserved condemnation over the years. Although, I will say, in my own defense

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 08:31 PM

Do name names please.

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: Jeri
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 07:42 PM

I liked the discussions that WEREN'T "debates".
I suspect people got fed up with the obsessive assholes, who seem to have quieted down for some reason.

Subject: RE: BS: Dwindling BS section
From: GUEST,Troubadour
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 07:38 PM

What has happened to those lively debates on just about every subject under the sun?

Have the actions of an unpleasant few really destroyed, or is it just passing through a bad patch?

Currently the MOAB is 89.6% of all that's here.

P.S. Elves please kill the OP. I hit submit too soon.