Banned Users

[ND87]

I never got to see TGC... this gets my vote.

 

[ND87]

All I can tell you guys is I’ve been lurking / reading since probably...well... Before Kelly.
I think some of you guys are smart as hell...in all manner of subjects.

Some of you are funny.

Some have shared life experiences I find valuable teaching moments.

I consider you all a distant family of sorts... knuckleheads, geniuses, pervs, comedians and the like.

I’m 53...smart enough to (usually) click a back or home button when needed. I was on campus for Faust, dammit... I’m not letting a few stray arrows deter me.

I’ll miss Cack and Praetorian, and hope the trend doesn’t continue.

To those who are civil, even in their differences, I thank you, and look forward to more, on all topics.

 

[ulukinatme]

Before 2016, there was not constant vitriol spewed by the opposite party. While there were folks that clearly didn't like Obama, it was not a constant bash fest against the president. It was also not a constant bash fest of the population that voted for him.

Posters like Bluto, while I don't share his beliefs, have shared why they believe what they do in an honest and open manor. For instance, on unions, he and I had opposite experiences (we all are shaped by our experiences), but I can understand, empathize, and respect his views on the topic. I experienced corruption and waste in my experience with unions. My experience doesn't make his less real, and his experience doesn't make mine less real.

Your "ire" is typically unleashed at anyone who presents a different view, different facts on the same topic, or different experience. You don't share any experience other than you used to be a republican (which if true, you've swung pretty far, which would also create questions) and act as if anyone who doesn't agree with your position is an idiot. There are two sides to every argument, and it's rare politically speaking that only one side has valid points of discussion. You see nothing valid in the other side of the coin and bring mostly arrogance to any debate. That's not having a conversation in good faith.

Anyway, peace out and Go Irish.

This. There's been an interesting shift since Trump took office. One side says the other is now openly racist, sexist, xenophobic, and lots of other labels. At the same time the other side sees nothing but insults and unfair labels thrown their way. As a perfect example, my brother has an ex-girlfriend that he keeps in contact with on Facebook. After the election she started railing on Conservatives who voted for Trump. My brother tried to have an honest discussion with her, and she called him out as misogynistic simply because of who he voted for and he should issue an apology. He didn't say anything trolling or inappropriate, and he's far from misogynistic (He's usually the door mat for women in relationships).

That's where we're at right now though. Both sides don't understand each other, even more so than ever before perhaps (At least going back to the Civil War). People need to learn that throwing out insults and calling people names does nothing to help them see your position, and you're certainly not going to win any friends that way. It's divisive, and it serves no purpose in honest discussion. If someone doesn't see your side on a topic, just let the issue go or try to present your position differently.

 

[greyhammer90]

I will agree that I don't understand why it's become kosher to admit that you troll political threads. Used to be that if someone was likely or admittedly peppering threads with extreme positions to get a rise out of disagreeing posters, they were banned. Suddenly in politics/culture threads, posters are not just permitted to implicitly troll, trolling is admitted to regularly. I get that modding is difficult, and I don't envy them the task, but it feels like the hands off attempt has lead to a marked decrease in intelligent discussion. Pat was a good poster but he made racist statements and was an asshole in politics threads. He was warned then banned. Same with Jughead. Those felt like better times to me.

 

[Irish YJ]

I will agree that I don't understand why it's become kosher to admit that you troll political threads. Used to be that if someone was likely or admittedly peppering threads with extreme positions to get a rise out of disagreeing posters, they were banned. Suddenly in politics/culture threads, posters are not just permitted to implicitly troll, trolling is admitted to regularly. I get that modding is difficult, and I don't envy them the task, but it feels like the hands off attempt has lead to a marked decrease in intelligent discussion. Pat was a good poster but he made racist statements and was an asshole in politics threads. He was warned then banned. Same with Jughead. Those felt like better times to me.

Honestly, I think posters like Buster who find no value in the other side are troll like, and folks who only post sensationalist ravings/headlines without articulating their positions or have zero willingness to truly debate are troll like. And the guys that have been called trolls aren't typically the ones tossing insults and F bombs around either.

 

[Bluto]

Which is why I don't understand how some of these posters are fans of ND. ND stands for so many things on the opposite side of their belief spectrum.

This pretty much sums it up for me.

 

[greyhammer90]

Honestly, I think posters like Buster who find no value in the other side are troll like, and folks who only post sensationalist ravings/headlines without articulating their positions or have zero willingness to truly debate are troll like. And the guys that have been called trolls aren't typically the ones tossing insults and F bombs around either.

Where did I ever state a preference for one side or the other above? I simply said that if posters are admitting that they are trolling, they should be treated like they are trolling. Trolling used to mean a paddling.

 

[Bluto]

I mean this about sums it up.

Before 2016 the politics sections of IE was a blast and a real source of intelligence conversation. I'd have more in-depth discussions on there than in plenty of the classes I was taking at the time. Whiskey, Wooley, Wizards, even Lax would all post. I learned a great deal from articles and websites linked by Whiskey and Wooley specifically. The insights from Grahambo, iirc a CIA contractor, were always top notch.

Then a steady stream of trolls appeared. The more dignified posters simply ignored the place (see: Whiskey, Wooley) and rarely got involved and what it currently amounts to is little more than a half-dozen IE trolls being intentionally obtuse and arguing with cack and myself. Well Cack is toast and I'll be messaging Whiskey to delete my account too so I think greyhammer is right on the money. I don't know what North Dakota, loomis, and ickythump are going to talk about now. Bluto isn't going to take the bait like I did.



It most certainly did. It turns out that after two years of having the same conversation with the same people who seamlessly shift from whataboutisms to strawmans, it's easier to just say "you're a fucking idiot." So in that sense Lax is right I was being exhibit A of 2018 political discourse. But then again it's not really discourse when one side states plainly they they "just troll the political threads because there's no point having a 'serious discussion'." And I think that's why I wasn't banned a year ago (even though I was occasionally trying)mods knew I was arguing with clowns.

I never told a poster like Lax, Wizards, Irishff, johnnycando, ndaccountant, acamp, etc etc to fuck off. I reserved my ire for the same half-dozen clowns who were not interested in engaging in a real conversation and/or who posted textbook xenophobia. greyhammer posted a few months ago a pretty succinct take on why it was impossible to have a conversation in good faith with the same half-dozen IE "Conservatives."

Hasta vaya bien Buster.

 

[Irish YJ]

Which is why I don't understand how some of these posters are fans of ND. ND stands for so many things on the opposite side of their belief spectrum.

Wooly actually said he doesn't have any personal beliefs. What you just said appears to be another passive aggressive dig on the half of the nation that voted for Trump. ND doesn't oppose sitting down with NK, being satisfied with unbalanced foreign agreements, or even open borders.

 

[Bluto]

This. There's been an interesting shift since Trump took office. One side says the other is now openly racist, sexist, xenophobic, and lots of other labels. At the same time the other side sees nothing but insults and unfair labels thrown their way. As a perfect example, my brother has an ex-girlfriend that he keeps in contact with on Facebook. After the election she started railing on Conservatives who voted for Trump. My brother tried to have an honest discussion with her, and she called him out as misogynistic simply because of who he voted for and he should issue an apology. He didn't say anything trolling or inappropriate, and he's far from misogynistic (He's usually the door mat for women in relationships).

That's where we're at right now though. Both sides don't understand each other, even more so than ever before perhaps (At least going back to the Civil War). People need to learn that throwing out insults and calling people names does nothing to help them see your position, and you're certainly not going to win any friends that way. It's divisive, and it serves no purpose in honest discussion. If someone doesn't see your side on a topic, just let the issue go or try to present your position differently.

Dude, the two half sane black guys in the GOP (Micheal Steele and Colin Powell) came out and stated that racism within the GOP was problem. What’s interesting to me is they are now nowhere to be found. The GOP has been pedaling racist busllhsif on various levels for quite some time. Watch the documentary “Boogie Man” about Lee Atwater. It lays out the reasoning behind that strategy pretty clearly.

 

[Irish YJ]

Where did I ever state a preference for one side or the other above? I simply said that if posters are admitting that they are trolling, they should be treated like they are trolling. Trolling used to mean a paddling.

Got ya. Agreed.

 

[Irish YJ]

Dude, the two half sane black guys in the GOP (Micheal Steele and Colin Powell) came out and stated that racism within the GOP was problem. What’s interesting to me is they are now nowhere to be found.

I truly wish CP would have run. He bowed out though long before Trump citing his own lack of passion. Steele, outside of his Fire Pelosi tour bus (which I loved), is a big meh, so I understand why he's disappeared. But he disappeared from politics long before Trump for a gig as a talking head.

 

[ulukinatme]

I will agree that I don't understand why it's become kosher to admit that you troll political threads. Used to be that if someone was likely or admittedly peppering threads with extreme positions to get a rise out of disagreeing posters, they were banned. Suddenly in politics/culture threads, posters are not just permitted to implicitly troll, trolling is admitted to regularly. I get that modding is difficult, and I don't envy them the task, but it feels like the hands off attempt has lead to a marked decrease in intelligent discussion. Pat was a good poster but he made racist statements and was an asshole in politics threads. He was warned then banned. Same with Jughead. Those felt like better times to me.

It's one thing if people are trolling, but those that take the bait are just as guilty. Wooly has trolled people for years and he's still here.

 

[Bluto]

I like Trump primarily because he is an agent of chaos.

Look I thought GG Allin was cool at one point so I get it, but do you really think Trump is an agent of chaos? He’s an agent of fat, pampered billionaires. That’s like the opposite of chaos.

 

[ulukinatme]

Look I thought GG Allin was cool at one point so I get it, but do you really think Trump is an agent of chaos? He’s an agent of fat, pampered billionaires. That’s like the opposite of chaos.

I think Trump very much is an agent of chaos, and in part I believe that's why many Conservatives voted for him. Many of us in the Midwest felt abandoned by the traditional established party heads. Looks at how divided Ohio has been in recent years. Pennsylvania is in the same boat, and in the last election Michigan obviously felt overlooked by the left, and they turned to Trump who campaigned hard there. As much as I hate to say it, I think Michael Moore was right. Trump is like a hand grenade that forgotten voters could throw and disrupt Washington, a big "F U" to the establishment. Struggling middle class families had enough of the traditional politician's lies, and what better way to voice displeasure than to elect the least political person on the ballot. That's chaos.

 

[Irish YJ]

I think Trump very much is an agent of chaos, and in part I believe that's why many Conservatives voted for him. Many of us in the Midwest felt abandoned by the traditional established party heads. Looks at how divided Ohio has been in recent years. Pennsylvania is in the same boat, and in the last election Michigan obviously felt overlooked by the left, and they turned to Trump who campaigned hard there. As much as I hate to say it, I think Michael Moore was right. Trump is like a hand grenade that forgotten voters could throw and disrupt Washington, a big "F U" to the establishment. Struggling middle class families had enough of the traditional politician's lies, and what better way to voice displeasure than to elect the least political person on the ballot. That's chaos.

Yup. Definitely not part of the political establishment like the Clinton or Bush family.

 

[Bishop2b5]

An embicile that uses...

Of all the words to misspell in your post...

 

[ACamp1900]

Tacos trump hate....

 

[Irish YJ]

Tacos trump hate....

 

[ulukinatme]

Oh man...now I want tacos, and Taco Bell is closed.

They make the best tacos.

 

[NDdomer2]

Wow this is now a political thread

 

[ACamp1900]

Wow this is now a political thread

Stupid bigot!!


(Now it’s a political thread).

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Buster also requested deletion.

 

[Bluto]

I think Trump very much is an agent of chaos, and in part I believe that's why many Conservatives voted for him. Many of us in the Midwest felt abandoned by the traditional established party heads. Looks at how divided Ohio has been in recent years. Pennsylvania is in the same boat, and in the last election Michigan obviously felt overlooked by the left, and they turned to Trump who campaigned hard there. As much as I hate to say it, I think Michael Moore was right. Trump is like a hand grenade that forgotten voters could throw and disrupt Washington, a big "F U" to the establishment. Struggling middle class families had enough of the traditional politician's lies, and what better way to voice displeasure than to elect the least political person on the ballot. That's chaos.

That’s the thing though. How does empowering billionaires and corporations create “chaos”? I guess doing so moves us closer to being back to a pre New Deal state of things. If one goes back and looks at the history of that time it was pretty “chaotic” in that it was really shitty for most working class Americans and was marked with all kinds of class warfare and political violenece. Why anyone would want to return to that is lost on me.

I find it strange that working class Americans are empowering people that would seek to tear down and lay waste to the very institutional reforms that allowed many of their parents and grandparents to escape from poverty and move into the middle class in the first place.

 

[IrishLax]

The next person that makes an OT political post in this thread is getting permabanned.

 

[johnnycando]

I can’t navigate to see who has left in regards to ban?

Jughead and Buster Bluth?

What created the issue? Politics?

Can someone give me a TLDR rundown on the debacle?

 

[Irish YJ]

I can’t navigate to see who has left in regards to ban?

Jughead and Buster Bluth?

What created the issue? Politics?

Can someone give me a TLDR rundown on the debacle?

Praet left citing job/priorities
Cack and Buster requested to be deleted (politics)

 

[johnnycando]

Take down the politics bring back the gentlemans club

Here hear

 

[johnnycando]

Praet left citing job/priorities
Cack and Buster requested to be deleted (politics)

Why’d the far left bros leave. They got frustrated? Man just ignore the thread. They’re too good around here to leave over politics.

Cack and Buster need to get their asses back over here.

Praetorian needs to just step away like I’ve done. (Easier said than done but eventually it just becomes easy with habit.)

 

[Irish YJ]

Why’d the far left bros leave.

Cack and Buster need to get their asses back over here.

Praetorian needs to just step away like I’ve done. (Easier said than done but eventually it just becomes easy with habit.)

Purely my opinion, but I think Praet is just being practical based on PMs from him. I bet he lurks from afar. Great guy and hated to see him go.

Probably a healthy choice for Cack, as I think he's unable right now to stay out of the politics side. I hope he comes back during football season.

Buster, I didn't see much activity from him outside of the political threads, so not sure how much of a draw IE is for all things football. I'd bet he's got other outlets (boards) for his political passions.