Jason, see what i mean? deleted.

LOL!

don't check the site for a few days and i miss all this? i was busy picking up some coal for Gary:)

hmmm...no response from Game05 on paternity....guess he took that sharp stick & put it in his eye..... : )

Peace, love & harmony is over rated.......beating people with bibles is just plain annoying. My daddy taught me to never argue politics or religion....politics, well I do have my opinion & I do voice it from time to time, religion on the other hand is just a losing battle....some of the posters on here make me want to lose my religion.

Game 05

Thanks, I dont know if anyone realizes that your really my dad, (ha)

Self fulfilling prophecy - - "Could be the disrespect shown to the person who comments......."

One of the first lessons in "The Thinking Toolbox" (a book I bought for family learning) is "When it is Dumb to Argue." It says that it is dumb to argue when it is: 1. Not socially appropriate at the time 2. When neither person has any real knowledge about the subject being argued 3. THIS ONE IS FOR US ----> When one of the persons involved is angry or isn't thinking clearly.

One rule is: If you are angry or too emotional, you aren't going to do anything but hurt the cause you feel is so important. You should remove yourself from a discussion when you are emotional.

I've been my meanest or most persistent here when I was high on flu or allergy medication. So, I shouldn't come here while on drugs OR while on the natural drug of EMOTION. =P

(This book also defines discussion, disagreement, argument, and FIGHT. A "fight" is NOT an argument. It's different and shouldn't happen at all.)

I would never post my real name. There are too many crazies out in internet land.
I visit many message boards/forums like this one, and all of them are slowing down, due to Facebook.
I've noticed over the years that participation seems to be seasonal.
With this forum, most likely it is the attackers that drive people away. I've had to close one account and open another just to get someone off of my back. No one likes to be attacked for their opinion and the newcomers who see that are reluctant to jump in. It drives many people away.
It's one thing to disagree with someone's opinion, but quite another to start calling names and making someone feel stupid for how they think.

There may be one other side to the reluctance of posters to contribute to the discussion. My Grandfather always said a debate should be a path to a solution not a conflict of personalities. Light hearted back and forth is entertaining. Bickering is not entertaining.

From time to time a subject comes up that hits a nerve and we all respond with a sharp tone before we think our statement through. We should spend a few moments understanding what is it in ourselves that makes us behave like two children and one toy. I have failed to do a head check from time to time and I will try harder to not shoot from the hip. In fact maybe "shooting" should be changed to sharing.

Jason.

I think you should take that training yourself.

Kyle

You are 100% right, but I love the Gary Jules verison. I dislike the tears for fear one. Not my musical taste.

Minor point, Gary Jules covered Mad World which was written by Roland Orzebal of Tear for Fears

PatB,
unmoored is fairly close in his assessment of why (more) people don't post. In my opinion it's because most people don't have a tolerance for this type of battle. Some folks are terrible at spelling or punctuation and all it takes is one assault from one of our grammar masters and they aren't coming back.

In my initial post I didn't post aliases to "take a first punch", I did it because they are some of the folks that have been here the longest. I thought they would recognize that and I guess maybe some of them did and others didn't.
I could trade barbs all day long with anyone on this site, but it doesn't take long and after a few shots back & forth it obviously annoys eveyone else and even I am ready to stop. Some people take this and themselves way to seriously.

We all have our own opinions and it's great that we get to share them. Are mine any more valuable than anyone elses? No. Are any of them going to change the world? Probably not.
I wish everyone had a computer and would write on here. Instead there are probably 100 or so regulars that continue to return and wage the verbal battles week in and week out. Why? We must enjoy it or we wouldn't return, right?
I'm just glad the advocate hasn't set this up to allow everyone to "vote posters off the site". I doubt I would last more than a few hours if that were the case.

The anonymous thing... I kind of like it that way. What makes you think my name isn't Jason?

Although it did degenerate into the usual back-and-forth thread,I did manage to get 38 comments but most of them were from the "usual suspects". I still think you should haveto post your real,given name to be able to post here just like LTTEs.
Patrick Barnes

Get Smart.
You wanna post a song? This songs fits the topic, I think.

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places
Worn out faces

Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere
Going nowhere

Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression
No expression

Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow
No tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which Im dying
Are the best Ive ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
Its a very very
Mad world
Mad world

-Gary Jules.

Rebecca, that's interesting! I found two relatives on here!

PatB,
I think you get the picture. It can be fun or...not!

Going to Wal-mart now to purchase a basket full-o intelligent dialogue.

Thank you Mike

Oh! I forgot to tell you all that I found out I was related to one of you. I won't say WHO because I don't want to embarrass that person. =P

jasonbourne

As always, you threw the first punch and you relish in the childish back and fourth which you call humor. To each their own but as much as you like to think so; your comments and opinions on my blog were not missed. It's not like I missed out on an intelligent dialogue.

Now, let's allow the other posters to answer the Pat B's question because I'm sure we have better things to do than act like a bunch of fifth graders. You can have the last word.

I'm through, I didn't start out to have an argument but I'm not gonna be a shrinking Violet. Call it what you want but you don't have the only opinion.

From PatB's note above...
"Any ideas as to why no one seems to care anymore"?

I care a great deal!

I didn't want to use the persons name anymore because I felt I had harmed him enough already in my first attempt to point out long standing representatives of this site.

"You" was my only option.

And then there is the famous group out there known as "you". The folks that attack the "you" posters may be outside of that delightful curve. But they are entertaining.

This may come as a shock to you, but I am not opposed to "everything" you write. I tried to toss you some humor and you failed miserably at catching it. Cest la vie!

I don't comment on your blogs because you can be somewhat of a... Well I don't want this post removed so I'll let you use your imagination.

Sensitivity Training anyone???

Made bail so I'am back.

Rebecca, you are right about these comments being a reflection of our community. And for that matter the Victoria Advocate's news coverage should be a reflection of local, state, national and world news. But then the Editiors ask us what we want to see on the front page.

I have always thought of the general population in terms of a Bell shaped curve regarding most issues. The bulk of us fit somewhere in the 20 to 80 percentile with most of us around 50%. At each end we find about 20% at each end of the curve. This group of posters are all over this curve and then we have a few near the 5 percentile at each end. These folks just live to play with sharp sticks.

This may be part of the problem. Why make your beliefs known if someone is going to poke you with a sharp stick because they must never be doubted. The best cure for the problem would be an indepth dicussion on civility, respect, integrity, logic, ethics and just a smedge of honesty. Cain't hurt!

Liberal love letters as opposed to? I'm not the only one that writes a political blog but it's only one you are in opposition to Jasonbourne. I believe I am outdone by at least 4-1. That's your prerogative but that doesn't make your statement true, unless you say that the New York Times/ Wall Street Journal poll are both liberal. I think you're one of those that think anything that's not conservative is liberal. I am proud to be a liberal democrat...If I would have not posted a blog today, would I have been a target of your ridicule? As for your opinion of me or anything else; I think you know the answer.

After six years, I've gotten immune to being singled out by other partisans for being partisan.

Thanks guys and gals, I needed that.

I've had someone from this forum find my phone number and call me a few times. I won't say who, because, I honestly don't know who they are on this forum! I've met a few of the bloggers here AND a few of you have met at least one of my children. =D

The only think harmful around here is the smell of decomposing brain tissue.

Happy Xmas and a Merry New Year! Hoe hoe hoe!

That's funny jasonbourne! However, I think I am only in second place on the boot offs. I can think of at least one person who has had more screen names than me!

As to folks not posting--I miss some of the old posters from a few years ago who could hold a decent discussion, while disagreeing, to come back again the next day to do all over again.

And Rebecca is right, there is not as much anonymity here as you would hope.

My children don't even poke at each other that much. =P

Jason, I realize that you are right. But, I'm still going to have higher expectations for adults.

Well, about the most consistent thing on this site is "Mikes weekly liberal love letters". Not saying you are bad Mike, just saying you are consistent.

Edith has been here for a while despite her State record for being booted off more than anyone (ok, I made that up)

Add it all up and it makes for a lot of fun. I don't take all of this that serious because were all just a bunch of folks with a little too much time on our hands. We're all one big dysfunctional family.

As for myself, I would like everyone who fits the bill to go get some sensitivity training. Jeez, it's an internet forum no one here will be contacted by Simon and Schuster to sign a contract for publishing rights to the nonsense written here. Pulitzer??? Nope, none of you will get oone of those. I assure you Rebecca, the community will not suffer as a result of what is written here.

I don't care what people call me or say about my posts. I don't rat people out for writing bad things about me or bending the rules. I look at the source and laugh. I know many here consider it their duty to rat someone out if what they wrote was mean or bad. I say to the worms of the world, get a life. C'mon folks, get a grip. It's a forum so lighten up a bit.It's fun to make fun of someone when they write or say something silly or ignorant. I expect nothing less from you folks if I do.

Warning: the following sentence contains feelings and thoughts that some of you (Kyle) may consider harmful. Please do not read or let your children see it.

I really do hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

game05, this isn't just the internet, this site represents our community. I expect better of my community. If you want internet brawl, there's got to be a place where you can do that - like over at Soul Pancake. I don't want that here. Not in my small community. That's just me. You may be a stranger here, but some of us are not anonymous.

That's just me. I have high standards for you. I want you to have high standards for me. Even around "strangers" on the internet. =P

Thanks for all of the comments. Good to see that there are some reasonable peopel out there.
Jesse,
I should have been clearer. The raw number of comments may not have dropped that much but I was mostly noticing how many articles,LTTE,opinions,etc. get no comments at all.
Pat Barnes

Game05.

You are right, but allow me to go a bit further. There are some who wish others leave and ushering in the pre-2007 VICAD site. All I have to say is tough! Sorry, but the cat is out of its hat, the toothpaste is out of the tube. It is too late. How can someone asked for a return to “normalcy”, when the Opinion Page for the past 15 years has been angry and mean.

Some people need to start to recognize that there is a new generation of posters coming and the game has changed. Even if yours truly wouldn’t be here, someone else would and during 2008 election, for example there were three or four “angry” young people besides me challenging the older and more conservative posters. With the 2012 election coming up, things on here will much, much worse than in 2008. Tempers and heat will rise by someone writing something stupid to the editor. Heck even the SPEAK OUT section has series of personal cat fights. I remember in 2007 there was a Hispanic guy trying to be the angry activist for gay “rights”, a Elderly police guy who post that Germans are the best people in the world, and a whack out religious nut job that makes the current version look like Joel Osteen.

Mr. Williams

people want a board free of people being snippy at each other, yet not have posts deleted by the mods--you can't have it both ways. it's one way or the other. in my opinion, people can be a bit overly sensitive to comments made by anonymous people-welcome to the Internet.

someone vaguely mentioned the lack of blogs/articles that were comment-worthy, and i do certainly wish the Editorial Staff of the VA took a stand one way or the other and actually voiced an opinion within that "Editor's Opinion" section of the paper. "Refugio's Residents Rise to Back their Team," or "Group Gains Nonprofit Status; Becomes Strong Force" aren't opinions, but fluff pieces. a section of the newspaper that took a stand on issues would certainly draw more interest and comments from readers.

or maybe the "Question of the Day" could be asked of local politicians instead of just asking random people what their favourite colour is.

it's tough to ask bloggers to write about more opinionated stuff because they're free to say whatever they want. i guess it just so happens that nobody wants to write a blog about the Confederate flag or RV parking that would get us in arms.

but mostly we just need Gary to post more comments, because those are almost always the longest comment threads:) (i mean that in a good way, Gary)

There are a few people who dominate & drown out all others......I am now bored by them.

, and anti-Christ (because I am a Catholic) Could you please produce the evidence of your statement.

BS Spotter.

You just asked the million dollar question.
“Why do we tend to oppose corporate welfare on the national level but rally behind it at the local level?”
You can comment on my blog entitled “Hypocrites ‘R Us” (http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/weblo... )
From where I sitting at I view many who write to the Victoria Advocate as hypocrites. Many of them I know personally. Just like one land owner angering voiced his opinion about a so-called Socialist President but urge OUR State Rep and OUR State Senator to be socialist with a certain county’s ground water.

In closing let me repeat from my own blog. “People, who vote certain way, voiced their so-called opinions on this paper and this site daily. They stated that people should get a job etc. Yet these same people voted for and supported no new businesses, so that prevents/hinders the people, they routinely criticized, to WORK and get off the government teat. Not everyone wants or desire the government to feed, clothed, and shelter them.”

Mr. Williams

All they have to do is put the word abortion on the front page. An article on the vagina monlogues would probably also generate some conversation.

Well then, here's something to spur activity:
Why do we tend to oppose corporate welfare on the national level but rally behind it at the local level?

Comment here: www.victoriaadvocate.com/weblogs/para...

Unless *Χ*ριστός insults people. =P

Kyle, I'm actually thinking of itisi's comments to you on the recent PRO CON as the negative example here. It was a comment just to poke at you. You usually educate or inform or crack a joke when you comment. You don't come in and just single someone out and poke at them...

Agree with Rebecca - I'm guilty of being a sucker and the PRO and CON idea doesn't attract a nuanced approach to commenting.

Although you cannot control the content of comments, they can be directed towards relevancy and intelligent debate by framing articles and questions appropriately.

Newcowboy & Rebecca -
I tend to agree with both of you- I went some period of time, skipped the blog section completely- sometimes it is not worth voicing your beliefs or opinion. Seemingly, one can become open game at will.

So far this time around, I have been labeled stupid, racist, pro-"big-brother", ummm..., uninformed, and anti-Christ (because I am a Catholic) Pretty sure I was labeled a few others - don't recall descriptive titles appointed.

Sad...... but - I still weed through it as I do want to know others opinions and beliefs.

Just a bit like walking through the cow pen to view a new calf. I have to step into some "stuff" to see the joy.

Same morning ritual here, PatB. Three things discourage comments:
1) flame wars between two commenters -- ROW story and x-rated video shop stories as examples
2) stories in which the people who ought to comment are not engaged or probably don't read the paper -- the bullying in schools story is an example
3) readers who feel there is no point in commenting on some stories because the Advocate will close comments or bar controversial comments -- the whole idea of Huizache (today's paper) seems behind the times when mainstream culture celebrates Frida Kahlo, Baldemar Huerta and Oscar Casares, but I'd never try to comment on the story.

I agree, New. I hate labels, too. Most of us are strangers, so we can't assume so much about each other.

I think the PRO CON section has acted as an arena where people are invited to fight it out. Which makes me wonder if this forum is serving as a community builder or a community destroyer.

Interesting. After reading your blog I checked our numbers and you can see slight drops in June, July, October and November. This usually happens because of the holidays and summer break. However, there don't seem to be huge drops.

Jessica Puente
Interactivity editor
361-580-6311
jpuente@vicad.com

Could be the disrespect shown to the person who comments - if your opinion doesn't fit how others see the world - you are attacked or labeled or considered ignorant.

Why bother?