Provocative Posts Make Longer Threads
- Thread starter mso489
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Great observation MSO. I can totally understand trolls and people who try to prove that they are wrong. Say something offensive and you will be the star of the forum for a week. Say something informative and you will be the last person writing on the thread. Such as
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/how-a-tobacco-can-be-differant-with-each-smoke
Threads like this will get only few posts if you are lucky. Anyway, I always try to stay away from offensive/negative posts. I was here when someone was proud of being Youtube Pipe Community, I was here when someone insulted someone for resurrecting an old blend of pipe tobacco and I was here many other times, however I chose not to post. It is not only this forum by the way. There are only few people in this world that you can get as much technical as you want while having a conversation. The others are only for discussing weather, prices and TV shows. I am so sorry for this world.
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/how-a-tobacco-can-be-differant-with-each-smoke
Threads like this will get only few posts if you are lucky. Anyway, I always try to stay away from offensive/negative posts. I was here when someone was proud of being Youtube Pipe Community, I was here when someone insulted someone for resurrecting an old blend of pipe tobacco and I was here many other times, however I chose not to post. It is not only this forum by the way. There are only few people in this world that you can get as much technical as you want while having a conversation. The others are only for discussing weather, prices and TV shows. I am so sorry for this world.
Argue about what? You're allowed to hate whatever you want to hate, and you aren't obliged to care about anything. Gotta do better than that if you want to start an argument.
mso: Provocative threads often provide an opportunity for us to showcase our perceived intellectual superiority or to promote some ideology or other that we consider to be superior to others. For some, perhaps negativity is a way of dealing with things that they fear in the hope that someone will respond with the answer to a question that has no answer. For many on Internet forums, it's simply a twisted way of entertaining oneself by figuratively rolling a grenade into a room and finding pleasure in viewing the aftermath. Finally, some provocative threads are started by those who want genuine discourse, but who haven't yet learned that the Internet isn't the wisest choice of venues. Face-to-face is the best way, IMO, and the only way that I will participate in provocative discussions.
I have offered nothing new here, or even particularly wise. But you asked
I have offered nothing new here, or even particularly wise. But you asked
I'm afraid a few of you have missed the point of the OP and question. Provocative is in the eye of the beholder! The owners of this forum created folders like General Discussion and Food and Drink for a reason. And people create threads like What Music Do You Listen To and whether you like art, FOR A REASON. I know because I own and operate a few forums like this myself. If this place was STRICTLY all pipes all of the time, it would get stale. The whole point to these general discussion threads and the reason why many of them create more posts is exactly because more people have more to say about the topics within! And that is their point and value.
The POINT of general discussions is meant to HEAR differences of opinion, not shut them down. If the thread is deemed "provocative," all that really means is that it is either open to more viewpoints or that the OP's was further off the mainstream. But remember, Einstein's views were way off the mainstream in his day too, but that did not make his views wrong.
Unfortunately, some people mistake differences of opinion as an attack on their own ideas and values, and just as in the thread about Star Wars, rather than merely offer differing views, or to agree to disagree, some few people chose to attack the OP PERSONALLY, and me, even though I tried to keep my posts of a more neutral nature.
What makes this a free country is our differences! If we all thought alike, it would be a very boring place. And when someone attacks another just because their POV differs from theirs, they take from that freedom. ---You are free to agree but not to differ, well, that smacks of Joseph Stalin, not America. When reading these threads, you should take them and the posts within for what they really are--- a chance to get to know each other better and for friendship and camaraderie and for healthy agreement or disagreement, not to beat anyone up who does not share your personal group-think until they leave, because in the end, all that accomplishes is to harm this forum and end up with a small group of people who think just like you, and in the short time I've been here, I have already heard mention of a few great former members who brought great colour and contrast to this group--- who left, and are missed by many.
Just remember--- this group is not all about YOU. Or me. Or any other one person!
To those few out there reading this who assault others who does not think just like themselves with your intolerances I say, think of the group rather than just of yourself and grow up. On the Star Wars thread we spoke of the historical roles of men and women--- well, real men are secure enough in their own views that they don't need to attack others for theirs. Treat these general discussions for what they really are--- the spice of this group to have real give and take on diverse topics far beyond just a block of wood you stick in your mouth; an opportunity to learn about others and to make friends. In the end, if a thread just doesn't suit or interest you, there will always be another that will.
Regards,
WayneG
The POINT of general discussions is meant to HEAR differences of opinion, not shut them down. If the thread is deemed "provocative," all that really means is that it is either open to more viewpoints or that the OP's was further off the mainstream. But remember, Einstein's views were way off the mainstream in his day too, but that did not make his views wrong.
Unfortunately, some people mistake differences of opinion as an attack on their own ideas and values, and just as in the thread about Star Wars, rather than merely offer differing views, or to agree to disagree, some few people chose to attack the OP PERSONALLY, and me, even though I tried to keep my posts of a more neutral nature.
What makes this a free country is our differences! If we all thought alike, it would be a very boring place. And when someone attacks another just because their POV differs from theirs, they take from that freedom. ---You are free to agree but not to differ, well, that smacks of Joseph Stalin, not America. When reading these threads, you should take them and the posts within for what they really are--- a chance to get to know each other better and for friendship and camaraderie and for healthy agreement or disagreement, not to beat anyone up who does not share your personal group-think until they leave, because in the end, all that accomplishes is to harm this forum and end up with a small group of people who think just like you, and in the short time I've been here, I have already heard mention of a few great former members who brought great colour and contrast to this group--- who left, and are missed by many.
Just remember--- this group is not all about YOU. Or me. Or any other one person!
To those few out there reading this who assault others who does not think just like themselves with your intolerances I say, think of the group rather than just of yourself and grow up. On the Star Wars thread we spoke of the historical roles of men and women--- well, real men are secure enough in their own views that they don't need to attack others for theirs. Treat these general discussions for what they really are--- the spice of this group to have real give and take on diverse topics far beyond just a block of wood you stick in your mouth; an opportunity to learn about others and to make friends. In the end, if a thread just doesn't suit or interest you, there will always be another that will.
Regards,
WayneG
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