do "political" threads serve any purpose...

other than to just let everyone vent spleen at their scapegoat of choice?
is it all just penis measuring or does some sort of effective dialogue/dialectic emerge from this great volume of [virtual] hot air? who's actually modified their "position" or openly accepted "the other's" point of view? is all this getting worked-up and pissy at all fun? are these "political" threads perhaps really just the sparks of cultural friction or, (as much as one cares to generalize to the extent that i seem to be doing here), are they substantively informative on issues that are of functional concern to one's person and the well-being of the state?

i suppose that, in so much as we require the necessary evil of government, the myopic pettiness of people 'must' have its vociferously spoken say in how its institutions are conducted... but to what extent do any of these "arguments" have a productive impact on the body politic? and if, as i'm obviously tending toward leading, there's very little (if any) purpose served, why bother to spend the time/energy on them?

in short, if one really cares that much, shouldn't one be getting involved in the actual political process rather than just bitching about it?

cheers
-g

Yes, the Politics forum serves a purpose.

It allows people from different perspectives to come together and interact. Interaction one rarely sees at the partisan sites. And interaction is getting involved. Here a person may explain his political views and be exposed to those of others in neutral territory.

I agree that the name-calling and melodrama can get tedious, but it can also be entertaining.

Don't like the Politics forum? Don't enter the Politics forum.

Problem solved.

lol @ political post questioning political posts.

what purpose does this one serve.

Originally Posted by SlikWiLL13

what purpose does this one serve.

exactly!

Why isn't spleen venting enough purpose in itself?

@OP: boy you ask a lot of questions
ok here we go then...

Originally Posted by georgi345

other than to just let everyone vent spleen at their scapegoat of choice?

no

Originally Posted by georgi345

is it all just penis measuring

yes

Originally Posted by georgi345

or does some sort of effective dialogue/dialectic emerge from this great volume of [virtual] hot air?

no

Originally Posted by georgi345

who's actually modified their "position" or openly accepted "the other's" point of view?

nobody

Originally Posted by georgi345

is all this getting worked-up and pissy at all fun?

sometimes

Originally Posted by georgi345

are these "political" threads perhaps really just the sparks of cultural friction

likely

Originally Posted by georgi345

or, (as much as one cares to generalize to the extent that i seem to be doing here), are they substantively informative on issues that are of functional concern to one's person and the well-being of the state?

lol no

Originally Posted by georgi345

oi suppose that, in so much as we require the necessary evil of government, the myopic pettiness of people 'must' have its vociferously spoken say in how its institutions are conducted... but to what extent do any of these "arguments" have a productive impact on the body politic?

zero

Originally Posted by georgi345

and if, as i'm obviously tending toward leading, there's very little (if any) purpose served, why bother to spend the time/energy on them?

because its often hysterical to watch stupid people make asses out of themselves while patting themselves and eachother on the back for mutual internet validation, though admittadly the whole "whaaaa i hate obama whaaaa kenyacrycry" thread spamming phenomenon has gotten very boring and quite lacking in the lulz department.

Originally Posted by georgi345

in short, if one really cares that much, shouldn't one be getting involved in the actual political process rather than just bitching about it?

you're seriously asking a bunch of potheads to get up from their couches and do stuff?

anything can have a purpose or meaning ... as long as their is one fool to fight for it .. it is worth it

It's possible some people that post here ARE activists.

I learn alot reading the threads, for me its an education somewhat since I don't really watch TV. Also a good place to brush up on debate skills, art of the logic of argument, great training for lawyer types, Type A personalities etc etc.

So, fundamentally what the original poster is asking is, "Are having discussions worthwhile?". I would answer yes.

Oh, and there is no such thing as a necessary evil. Its just an evil.