In which I try to successfully mini-YAGE

[Alex]

No, not from the board.

But I've come to the conclusion that I am going to go insane if I keep participating in election threads, here or on any other board.

I have put a lot of thought in my points of view and try my best to avoid the petty issue-ism and gotcha games and mock outrage that comprises 90% of political discussion (the LoT is better than average, I'll say it is 75% here). I won't say I'm entirely successful, but I try.

So I get exhausted (my own doing, nobody forces me) doing the "someone's wrong on the internet" thing and find myself saying "dude, I can't be on your side because you're an idiot" a lot.

So, I hereby and flamboyantly declare that the next presidential election thread post I make will be to discuss the results in November.

Now, I am weak. I have feet of clay. God put my uterus too close to my prostate. Or whatever the correct religious saying is for not living up to ones goals. I know I'll likely fail.

And that is why I YAGE here. Hopefully, when I throw off my self-imposed chains to post and dive into an argument (and I'd like to call it a discussion but despite certain forms followed they generally are no more discussions here than on any other board) I hope that you all will unite to point in unison and drive me back into my self imposed exile.

[Sub la Goon]

You have a uterus?

Dude!

[Alex]

I have no idea, god and I aren't on speaking terms. So I don't know how he chose to make me less than perfect.

But I have had two abortions so I must have stored them somewhere.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Bummer. Didn't think you'd drop out before I did.

I totally understand, as these discussions frustrate me as well. It'll be a lesser conversation without you, no mistake. You've done a great job of keeping a level head on nearly all the non-issues that come to the forefront, and I've always respected that, even as I fall prey to those pitfalls myself.

So you can't count on me to boo you off the soapbox if your YAGE disintegrates...I'll be too happy to see you back.

[BarTopDancer]

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png

[sleepyjeff]

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png

:snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap: :snap:

That cartoonist must have a spycam in my home:D

[Alex]

I just want to be sure. You know that I was referencing that cartoon, right?

[blueerica]

One of my favorite cartoons.

As dearly as I love my LoT, and as much as I know it's a better discussion platform than many other boards I visit, I have politely decided to stay out of the whole mess after page 1, which is 50 posts for me. I will occasionally read, want to respond, but change my mind and close the window.

Kudos to you for being "in it" and stepping "out" of it.

[BarTopDancer]

And in all seriousness, LoT is better then other boards, but it is still to much. I stand by what I've said in the few posts I've made on political issues lately. Anything other than what groupthink is, is wrong and the poster will be jumped on. The you're either with us or against us attitude is alive and well on LoT. It seems that we're taking ourselves way to seriously, lost our sense of humor and community.

[wendybeth]

To me, a discussion is the exchange of opinions and ideas that may (or may not) edify, challenge or even cause someone to see another viewpoint. Too often, I see them degenerate into the Monty Python sketch "I'd Like To Buy An Argument". Oh, and I sorta YAGE'd first in the McCain thread, but then I got sucked back in. (I then backed out again). Still, if it gets on track (if it ever was) I'll happily jump back in. Alex, you are one of the few who can actually present at least two sides to every point, and I learn a lot from your posts. I've even changed my mind about a thing or two based on your informative writings and I look forward to reading them, even if I don't agree sometimes.

[€uroMeinke]

Anarchy Now!

[wendybeth]

Do you have a permit for that, mister?

[lashbear]

What election ?

[Strangler Lewis]

What does YAGE mean?

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

No one ever listens to me...

[wendybeth]

What election ?

The Houyhnhnms and the Yahoos are at it again.

Strangler- "Yet Another Grand Exit".

[Alex]

Strangler, and more specifically it is generally went a person throws a hissy fit and insists they are leaving the board forever and ever and ever.

And then they're back two days later.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

"As seen on other Disney boards hourly."

BOOYA!!!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Can I just quote political posts that I think are obviously flawed and post nothing but a :rolleyes: ?

[Gemini Cricket]

Alex,
I completely understand. I was feeling the same way recently. Maybe it's a good thing not to participate in the Election threads for me, too.
We'll see.
B

ETA: When I want to avoid the Daily Grind, I bookmark the following:
http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/search.php?do=getnew&exclude=18
It shows new posts and excludes the Daily Grind posts.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I popped in only briefly recently, but I'm already long-past YAGE for political threads. I am very on my positions; I enjoy seeing others' perspectives, but I simply can't justify the energy I spent that resulted primarily in feelings of frustration when people won't listen to each other. LoT is better than most, but I just don't have that bandwidth in my life right now.

[innerSpaceman]

I'm an addict.


I wish I could YAGE like Alex, but I haven't a hope. It's like crack to me.



And lately, there's like six rabidly-active political threads, omg.



But like Wenchybeth said in one of them recently, or alluded to anyway ... it's not about debating the points and changing one another's minds. Rather it's all about discovery of each other, sharing our thoughts and emotions, deepening the sense of community and friendship.


Once in a while, it doesn't seem that way ... but mostly that's what I take away from it. Pfft, we're shouting to the wind if we want to effect political change by posting on the LoT. We're having discussions that reveal as much about ourselves as they illuminate any particular issue.

I'll miss the revelations of Alex. But, sheesh, it's a YAGE. He'll be back.

[scaeagles]

Can I just quote political posts that I think are obviously flawed and post nothing but a :rolleyes: ?

If we all did that there would being nothing but :rolleyes: for several consecutive pages.

And I'm an addict to.....I try to stay out, but I keep going back in.

[Moonliner]

Wait...

Are you all saying you take this political stuff seriously?

Damn. I wish I'd know that sooner.

[Morrigoon]

It is contrary to my interest to discourage Alex from participating in political threads. I enjoy getting my butt kicked by him in debates far too much.

[cirquelover]

To me, a discussion is the exchange of opinions and ideas that may (or may not) edify, challenge or even cause someone to see another viewpoint. Too often, I see them degenerate into the Monty Python sketch "I'd Like To Buy An Argument". Oh, and I sorta YAGE'd first in the McCain thread, but then I got sucked back in. (I then backed out again). Still, if it gets on track (if it ever was) I'll happily jump back in. Alex, you are one of the few who can actually present at least two sides to every point, and I learn a lot from your posts. I've even changed my mind about a thing or two based on your informative writings and I look forward to reading them, even if I don't agree sometimes.

I would have said what Wendy said if I was that good with verbage!

I do understand completely though Alex, as long as your not going to Yage all the way! Who would I ask stupid questions then, huh?!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Damnit, I'm going to have to start thinking for myself in those threads.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I think I'm joining you for the day, Alex.

[Morrigoon]

Jeez, dare I venture into the political threads this morning?

[Ghoulish Delight]

I failed, btw.

[Betty]

I failed, btw.

And it took you less then an hour and a half. Better luck next time. ;)

[innerSpaceman]

See! (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showpost.php?p=237305&postcount=3658) Like I said, YAGErs always LURK.

[Alex]

One, that isn't a presidential campaign thread.

Two, I never said I wouldn't read the threads. I still want to gather all the evidence that you're all a bunch of nincompoops.

Three, I just said I wasn't going to talk about the presidential election any more. And I don't feel I have done so with that post.

Four, I preannounced I would be weak so if I am self deluding that the post wasn't about the campaigns (and trust me, I have a LOT to say about the last two days and the "conversations" going on) then so be it. But I'm still doing my best (I'm failing more overtly over at MousePad but I never explicitly said I'd stay out of it there). I suspect my LJ will get more political.

[Gemini Cricket]

That's Mr. Nincompoop, to you.
I embrace my nincompoopery.
:D

[Disneyphile]

Two, I never said I wouldn't read the threads. I still want to gather all the evidence that you're all a bunch of nincompoops.Pwned! ;)

[innerSpaceman]

Relax, I'm not calling you out. Indeed, you never said you wouldn't lurk. You're smarter than that. YAGErs always lurk, and I was just pointing that out to some of your minions who dispair of your absence in the political threads.


Gone but not forgotten was my message of peace. All's good.

[Alex]

I know, my response was intended as good natured as well.

[innerSpaceman]

Yes, I saw that it was. Let's pat each other on the backs for a few more rounds, though.

[Alex]

Asshole.

[Disneyphile]

Lately, I've decided that I find learning about various styles of pubic grooming to be far more thought-provoking than political stuff. I wish there were more threads devoted to the topic so we can seriously debate the issue, like, "Should People With Ugly Genetalia Not Be Allowed to Shave?" ;)

[alphabassettgrrl]

There are pretty genitalia?

[innerSpaceman]

Why yes, thank you.

[BarTopDancer]

On another board I post on, if you YAGE they just go ahead and ban you.

[Morrigoon]

With all due respect, I would hardly call Alex's OP a YAGE. There were no expletives, no accusations of unfair treatment, no calls to have his account deleted...

:evil:

[Alex]

Y'all do insist on continuing to yammer even after I've proclaimed the correct view of whatever matter is hand. I'd say that is unfair to me you ****ing nincompoops. So I'd ask that your accounts all be deleted.

[BarTopDancer]

Don't we already have a thread for bitching?

[cirquelover]

So I'd ask that your accounts all be deleted.

Admit it, you'd be lonely without all of us:p

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Y'all do insist on continuing to yammer even after I've proclaimed the correct view of whatever matter is hand. I'd say that is unfair to me you ****ing nincompoops. So I'd ask that your accounts all be deleted.Hmm, that's a pretty good argument.

[Not Afraid]

Political threads bring out the snark in me in a big way. I don't post even 1/4 of what I snark about, but the cats sure seem amused.