My rant about political posts.

[KathyTX]

There have been many threads on this board that are nothing but political nonsense and blame, and not really about the hurricane or the victims at all.

We know some of you are liberal and hate Bush. We know some of you are conservative and hate the Dems. We get it. But we're tired of listening to it. (Okay- I should probably say "I" instead of "we". But I'm confident that I speak for many- possibly even a majority- of posters with these statements.)

I'm tired of having this forum, where many people who are angry and frightened about a very real human tragedy and looking for answers and reassurance, hijacked with political jabs and nonsense.

This forum is about PEOPLE, not about political bickering.

There are lots of forums on the web that welcome political debate, and I truly wish that those who want to make every post political would expend that energy on the forums that welcome it.

Rant over. For now.

 

[LoraJ]

I enjoy the political posts. I learn a lot from them. I'm always dissapointed when they are closed.

I think many of us are angry and we want to figure out what went wrong and this has been a great forum to sort out our frustrations and share information.

 

[ThAnswr]

Katrina is natural disaster that caused a human tragedy.

The aftermath and actions taken by agencies and individuals is a political process that also caused a human tragedy.

People on both sides of the political aisle see that.

And learning how to maneuver through the bureaurocracy from those of us who've been through it is also part of the "picking up the pieces of your life".

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well said Kathy!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

There have been many threads on this board that are nothing but political nonsense and blame, and not really about the hurricane or the victims at all.

We know some of you are liberal and hate Bush. We know some of you are conservative and hate the Dems. We get it. But we're tired of listening to it. (Okay- I should probably say "I" instead of "we". But I'm confident that I speak for many- possibly even a majority- of posters with these statements.)

I'm tired of having this forum, where many people who are angry and frightened about a very real human tragedy and looking for answers and reassurance, hijacked with political jabs and nonsense.

This forum is about PEOPLE, not about political bickering.

There are lots of forums on the web that welcome political debate, and I truly wish that those who want to make every post political would expend that energy on the forums that welcome it.

Rant over. For now.

It's sad when a human tragedy gets turned into a political or racial football. I believe part of the problem is our overwhelming "drive-thru mentality" we have in America. There's an expectation of swift service for anything and everything... including making everything right after a natural disaster. If immediate satisfaction is not received, then the blaming starts in earnest.

It's also part and parcel of the extreme partisan nature of our country today. If there's an opportunity to score a point or two against the opposition, it's seized upon with a vengance. It seems like we are forever attempting to win yet another person to one side or the other. It's the neverending election campaign so many dreaded for so long.

Sadly, it's probably just a pipe dream to think that a board like this could avoid the jabs and bickering that are so prevalent throughout the country. We are inundated with it daily, so it's going to seep in here.

 

[Geoff_M]

Kathy, two big thumbs up!

 

[Southern4sure]

Thanks Kathy!......

 

[CheshireVal]

I enjoy the political posts. I learn a lot from them. I'm always dissapointed when they are closed.

I think many of us are angry and we want to figure out what went wrong and this has been a great forum to sort out our frustrations and share information.

I agree with this. I sometimes enjoy debating in those threads-- it's a healthy way to vent frustration. I can understand why threads will be closed because of personal attacks and rudeness, but the ones that just break down into a political debate don't seem to be hurting anybody

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I think that viewing ones political beliefs on these boards is a better way to understand everyone's point of view. If you don't agree or like it then I would suggest you not reading the posts so that way you don't get upset.

It would be a wonderful world if we could all get along and agree on everything but I have to say I think it would be boring. I enjoy a good and intelligent debate. I do agree with you that many people sometimes get a little bit upset and make rude comments so hopefully in the future that might subside?

 

[rcyannacci]

I agree with this. I sometimes enjoy debating in those threads-- it's a healthy way to vent frustration. I can understand why threads will be closed because of personal attacks and rudeness, but the ones that just break down into a political debate don't seem to be hurting anybody

I agree. Yes, this is a Disney board, but people who like Disney can't be politically-minded too? This is a community, and (I guess for now...) we are part of the community. I bought my lime green lanyard, anyway, and I can't wait to meet up with some of my political DISers in the parks some day...even the ones I disagree with.

 

[ThAnswr]

And there really is such a thing in the real world as "getting your mind off things".

 

[beattyfamily]

There have been many threads on this board that are nothing but political nonsense and blame, and not really about the hurricane or the victims at all.

We know some of you are liberal and hate Bush. We know some of you are conservative and hate the Dems. We get it. But we're tired of listening to it. (Okay- I should probably say "I" instead of "we". But I'm confident that I speak for many- possibly even a majority- of posters with these statements.)

I'm tired of having this forum, where many people who are angry and frightened about a very real human tragedy and looking for answers and reassurance, hijacked with political jabs and nonsense.

This forum is about PEOPLE, not about political bickering.

There are lots of forums on the web that welcome political debate, and I truly wish that those who want to make every post political would expend that energy on the forums that welcome it.

Rant over. For now.

Thanks!

 

[KathyTX]

I agree. Yes, this is a Disney board, but people who like Disney can't be politically-minded too?

Absolutely, we can be politically minded too.

But if your last 200 posts are single-minded hateful political diatribes against or jabs at whatever you consider "the opposition", you're not really adding any thoughtful or helpful dialog.

 

[Laura]

It would be a wonderful world if we could all get along and agree on everything but I have to say I think it would be boring.

 

[jrydberg]

As one who as been frustrated by some of the politics of this, I don't think the problem is the discussion of politics, per se. After all, the disaster has some fundamentally political aspects. But sometimes it just degenerates into:

"Bush is an idiot! He's the worst ever!"

"No, he's not!"

"Yes, he is!"

"No, he's not!"

Sometimes I get the feeling substantive posts are ignored because they might actually shed some light on the subject rather than perpetuate the bickering.

In short, I think political dialogue is great. Trying to score political points with a jab here and there is annoying, IMO. Your mileage may vary.

 

[rcyannacci]

Absolutely, we can be politically minded too.

But if your last 200 posts are single-minded hateful political diatribes against or jabs at whatever you consider "the opposition", you're not really adding any thoughtful or helpful dialog.

OK- I guess its just easier for me to ignore most of the mean-spirited posts. It's fairly easy to recognize who's in it for the discussion and who's in it for the kill. I just skip past those posters.

 

[rcyannacci]

Sometimes I get the feeling substantive posts are ignored because they might actually shed some light on the subject rather than perpetuate the bickering.

I agree...why don't you start a "substantive discussion thread about the political implications of Katrina" and see how it goes.

 

[Geoff_M]

OK- I guess its just easier for me to ignore most of the mean-spirited posts. It's fairly easy to recognize who's in it for the discussion and who's in it for the kill. I just skip past those posters.

But that's kind of hard when it starts to permeate a board... which I think is Kathy's point.

 

[Charade]

I agree...why don't you start a "substantive discussion thread about the political implications of Katrina" and see how it goes.

I give it less than one page before it gets ugly.

 

[robinb]

But that's kind of hard when it starts to permeate a board... which I think is Kathy's point.

Of course it permeates this board. The lack of appropriate and adequate response and leadership from our elected officials has made this natural human tragedy much, much worse. How can you remove the "politics" from that?