Social threads: what is the need?

[Scyclone]

People visit forums for different reasons. And there often are big age, culture, etc differences involved too.

Some people come for genuine help/discussion
Some people come to troll
Some people come to laugh at others
Some people might have first hand negative experience with subjects that others casually joke about
Some people might ask for help/info on something that other people consider common knowledge and assume they are trolls or stupid or w/e.
A young person might think very different on a topic then a older person.
Text doesn't convey emotion/tone of voice/sarcasm very well, this is exacerbated by language/culture differences and leads to hyperbole to get ones point across.
Anonymity lowers inhibitions.

The list goes on and on as to why stuff can get out of hand.

Which one of these does Thermus qualify for? :P

On Topic - For me, it is good discussion to pass the time. Occasional reminders that some people are so lost in their delusions that it makes me question how they function in society. But overall, some good fun and comical mental images for the most part. Also prime trolling opportunities. While not on the level of distributing Corgi Porn, as Manakin has that covered :P, I consider what I do to be a public service.

[beedeehee]

People visit forums for different reasons. And there often are big age, culture, etc differences involved too.

Some people come for genuine help/discussion
Some people come to troll
Some people come to laugh at others
Some people might have first hand negative experience with subjects that others casually joke about
Some people might ask for help/info on something that other people consider common knowledge and assume they are trolls or stupid or w/e.
A young person might think very different on a topic then a older person.
Text doesn't convey emotion/tone of voice/sarcasm very well, this is exacerbated by language/culture differences and leads to hyperbole to get ones point across.
Anonymity lowers inhibitions.

The list goes on and on as to why stuff can get out of hand.

That I get entirely. It's just the trend of cherry-picking these topic to generate these reactions that is beyond me. I suppose that could fall into trolling.

[Wildtree]

Which one of these does Thermus qualify for? :P

None.... he's in a category of it's own..

[dextersmith]

How else would you increase post court?

[Grimbold21]

So that people can ridicule those with a different opinion and feel good about themselves?

What are you talking about? This is the internet...

[Scyclone]

None.... he's in a category of it's own..

True that :P

[ItachiZaku]

I'll be brief: what is this need to start threads on controversial topics (mostly on polarizing social issues) which we know will end up in flamewars and ishstorms due to the plethora of different POVs, along with the egos that come with them?

Sometimes it's new to you and you are looking for opinions on it. Sometimes you have a POV that is unique to the topic. Sometimes you do end up learning something that changes your mind or at least consider things a bit differently. Sometimes it is just to be an asshole.

[PC2]

Polls show most here are lefties. Someone has to go into social threads and spray some pragmatism into their starry-eyes.

[Scyclone]

Polls show most here are lefties. Someone has to go into social threads and spray some pragmatism into their starry-eyes.

Haha, true that. I don't see how a lot of these people function in society.

- - - Updated - - -

A lot of posters have the strong urge to express their reactionary views, because they know they can't say racist or homophobic stuff IRL without everyone shunning them.

There isn't a single person I've ever met IRL that dared to counter my arguments in a political debate, because they always have to fall back on stuff like: "but brown people are criminals," and for the most part the common people and working class people are very very anarchistic* in nature in their ideals, over here in my country at least... Just take a look at most belgian posters on this forum, they all tend to be very far on the left in their opinions on multiculturalism, equality, etc.

Not in the "hur dur we're against all forms of authority" kinda way, but in an "anti-capitalist and 'we distrust authority'" kinda way.

Why do I sometimes make threads on social issues? Because I tend to only read alternative newssites for my information and they often show things from a different point of view, or report on things the main media tends to ignore. So it's a form of: 'look here... this might be interesting and shed a different light on this subject'.

When your first point in discussion is to claim that everyone who dares argue against you is a racist... you lose validity right out of the gates. People don't really care about your grunge underground level articles of heavily opinionated bias, they aren't better or worse than the standard fair of left or right wing propaganda, but... I would venture to say that a lot of people who spout what they do here, do so knowing that they can't get scorned for the naivety or stupidity of their own commentary. This applies to the people who truly do act racist (minimal, surprisingly enough, when you discredit the people intentionally trolling) and the ones who claim that a sidewalk is racist for tripping a colored person (not quite so minimal, depressingly enough).

I tend to roll my eyes whenever I see your comments, just because I know that even if it is a point that I agree with... it will be laden with some scatter minded agenda.

[AeneasBK]

Discussion is the point. I learn stuff in these threads, and I get to better understand my own reasoning by explaining it to others and having it challenged.

Sometimes this.

[zenkai]

I'll be brief: what is this need to start threads on controversial topics (mostly on polarizing social issues) which we know will end up in flamewars and ishstorms due to the plethora of different POVs, along with the egos that come with them?

Because only them and narcissistic threads (ie whats your favorite color let me tell you mine) get bumped, people love to state their opinion on things.

[Dug]

I would like to change some people's minds but a lot of the time its like bashing your head against a brick wall.

[Archonite]

Discussion is the point. I learn stuff in these threads, and I get to better understand my own reasoning by explaining it to others and having it challenged.

I have that as well. Most of my replies arent typed out with the belief that ill convince others that im right, i type them out for myself to find flaws in my reasoning and attempt to correct them. Its easy to have a flawed, uninformed or incorrect opinion in your head if you never have it challenged. As such i dont really care wether or not i convince others but about challenging my opinions to attempt to improve my reasoning.

[Zecora]

I'll be brief: what is this need to start threads on controversial topics (mostly on polarizing social issues) which we know will end up in flamewars and ishstorms due to the plethora of different POVs, along with the egos that come with them?

Some people just want to see the world burn. And while on the internet, they use their gas cans freely.