What happened to this forum?

[afleitch]

Everything ebbs and flows with the passage of time.  Much like this board. 

Sure, I have negative things to say about the way things are from time to time, but that passes, and well, you can spot the hacks a mile away and toy with them at your will.

The one advantage to this board over many, many others is that in general the hacks don't run the forum and certainly don't moderate the forum for the most part (as much as they want to).

Are you kidding? Trolls run the forum because no one stands up to them and they're allowed to bully people unchecked.

Or people turn them into 'mascots' and feed them by publishing polls about them all the time. That's the one thing on here that bugs me more than anything.

[bullmoose88]

One other thing:  "Traditionalism" or whatever you defined there will come back into style soon enough, bullmoose.  Probably sooner than you want it to, especially if the economy doesn't fare so well.  Everything that is old becomes new again, eventually.  That is the lesson of life...

Probably true, unfortunately.
 

[Joe Republic]

Everything ebbs and flows with the passage of time.  Much like this board. 

Sure, I have negative things to say about the way things are from time to time, but that passes, and well, you can spot the hacks a mile away and toy with them at your will.

The one advantage to this board over many, many others is that in general the hacks don't run the forum and certainly don't moderate the forum for the most part (as much as they want to).

Are you kidding? Trolls run the forum because no one stands up to them and they're allowed to bully people unchecked.

... and whenever we try to actually do anything about it, people (such as yourself) scream "FASCIST CENSORSHIP".  You can't have it both ways, Bono.

[dead0man]

Everything ebbs and flows with the passage of time.  Much like this board. 

Sure, I have negative things to say about the way things are from time to time, but that passes, and well, you can spot the hacks a mile away and toy with them at your will.

The one advantage to this board over many, many others is that in general the hacks don't run the forum and certainly don't moderate the forum for the most part (as much as they want to).

Are you kidding? Trolls run the forum because no one stands up to them and they're allowed to bully people unchecked.

Or people turn them into 'mascots' and feed them by publishing polls about them all the time. That's the one thing on here that bugs me more than anything.

AYE!  The attention some of you people pay the well known trolls around here bugs the hell out of me.

[Dave from Michigan]

interesting this forum is different

[Verily]

Everything ebbs and flows with the passage of time.  Much like this board. 

Sure, I have negative things to say about the way things are from time to time, but that passes, and well, you can spot the hacks a mile away and toy with them at your will.

The one advantage to this board over many, many others is that in general the hacks don't run the forum and certainly don't moderate the forum for the most part (as much as they want to).

Are you kidding? Trolls run the forum because no one stands up to them and they're allowed to bully people unchecked.

Or people turn them into 'mascots' and feed them by publishing polls about them all the time. That's the one thing on here that bugs me more than anything.

AYE!  The attention some of you people pay the well known trolls around here bugs the hell out of me.

I agree, and I do admit to paying a bit too much attention sometimes.

[Keystone Phil]

interesting this forum is different

You sticking around? If so, welcome back. 

[Sam Spade]

Everything ebbs and flows with the passage of time.  Much like this board. 

Sure, I have negative things to say about the way things are from time to time, but that passes, and well, you can spot the hacks a mile away and toy with them at your will.

The one advantage to this board over many, many others is that in general the hacks don't run the forum and certainly don't moderate the forum for the most part (as much as they want to).

Are you kidding? Trolls run the forum because no one stands up to them and they're allowed to bully people unchecked.

Well, it doesn't happen in my forum.  I'm sorry that I can't have some influence in some of the less moderated areas of the forum, but I can't (nor do I wish to) control that.  Call me an optimist about the moderators, but it's because I work with them.

[NDN]

Having actually bothered to go through the archives of this site, I'm inclined to agree. But I think the problem is less a decline in posting, than simply a decline in any intelligent conservative contribution. This forum was already a bit of an echo chamber when I showed up, but it's becoming more and more apparent now after Obama's victory in Iowa.

[Smash255]

Their has been a bit too much trolling on the site, but for the most part you just have to know who not to pay attention to.  In regards to the right vs left split on the board.  Well it shouldn't come of that much of a surprise.  A few years ago we really were a 50/50 nation, Bush approvals were near the 50 mark, we had a very close election in 04.  Now we aren't.  Bush's #'s are horrible, when the dems have a huge advantage in favorabilty.  Polls show Obama and even Clinton trouncing all Republicans with the exception of McCain, who doesn't have much support from the conservative base.  You also have to keep in mind that the forum has a bit of a young bend to it.  I'm 25 and I'm probably older than 75% of the posters on here.  You also have an election coming up which heavily favors the Democrats across the board.  As a result the Dems are much more excited about the upcoming election than the Republicans are which also contributes into how much and what people actually post.  The younger generation tends to be a bit more liberal.  so you have a multitude of factors in why the forum tends to lean left as much as it does.

[Everett]

Since I don't have time for a thousand words, here's a picture:

[Keystone Phil]

Their has been a bit too much trolling on the site, but for the most part you just have to know who not to pay attention to.  In regards to the right vs left split on the board.  Well it shouldn't come of that much of a surprise.  A few years ago we really were a 50/50 nation, Bush approvals were near the 50 mark, we had a very close election in 04.  Now we aren't.  Bush's #'s are horrible, when the dems have a huge advantage in favorabilty.  Polls show Obama and even Clinton trouncing all Republicans with the exception of McCain, who doesn't have much support from the conservative base.  You also have to keep in mind that the forum has a bit of a young bend to it.  I'm 25 and I'm probably older than 75% of the posters on here.  You also have an election coming up which heavily favors the Democrats across the board.  As a result the Dems are much more excited about the upcoming election than the Republicans are which also contributes into how much and what people actually post.  The younger generation tends to be a bit more liberal.  so you have a multitude of factors in why the forum tends to lean left as much as it does.

^^^

Perfect example of the problem. Even in this topic, he can't help but show the hackery.

[NDN]

I don't see the hackery. He's right, a huge part of the left-wing bias problem is site demographics and the Republican Party candidates being generally less popular with the public. That could change, especially as regular posters age. Regardless, we need more Republicans and Conservatives (of all kinds) to make things interesting. Because frankly, I'm bored to death here lately.

[Jake]

Words like "huge" when the Congressional Democrats have Bush-like approval ratings, "heavily" when national polls show our most likely to be nominated candidate actually leading and the Democrats have really only a slight advantage in the Senate and probably will lose seats in the House.

[NDN]

Words like "huge" when the Congressional Democrats have Bush-like approval ratings, "heavily" when national polls show our most likely to be nominated candidate actually leading and the Democrats have really only a slight advantage in the Senate and probably will lose seats in the House.

Yes, Congress has abysmal approval ratings. However, the Democrats Top 3 Presidential candidates have much higher favorability rankings than the Republicans (sans McCain, who last I checked was still behind). As does the party in multiple polls.

[Keystone Phil]

Words like "huge" when the Congressional Democrats have Bush-like approval ratings, "heavily" when national polls show our most likely to be nominated candidate actually leading and the Democrats have really only a slight advantage in the Senate and probably will lose seats in the House.

Yes, Congress has abysmal approval ratings. However, the Democrats Top 3 Presidential candidates have much higher favorability rankings than the Republicans (sans McCain, who last I checked was still behind). As does the party in multiple polls.

Do you really think Hillary has a higher favorability rating than Rudy Giuliani? Get real.

[NDN]

Words like "huge" when the Congressional Democrats have Bush-like approval ratings, "heavily" when national polls show our most likely to be nominated candidate actually leading and the Democrats have really only a slight advantage in the Senate and probably will lose seats in the House.

Yes, Congress has abysmal approval ratings. However, the Democrats Top 3 Presidential candidates have much higher favorability rankings than the Republicans (sans McCain, who last I checked was still behind). As does the party in multiple polls.

Do you really think Hillary has a higher favorability rating than Rudy Giuliani? Get real.

Actually going by Rasmussen, which tends to have a bit of a Republican bias, she does. 48% to Giuliani's 40%, as of their 2007 December Survey. Those results correspond with multiple nationally conducted polls. And Hillary is obviously far from the 'inevitable' front runner that so many thought of her as just a month ago. The only GOP candidate who actually has equal-or-better numbers than any of the top 3 Dems is McCain.

Please understand that I'm not being partisan here. I thought that the Democratic Party was going to lose in 2004 just based on how utterly uncharismatic and contradictory Kerry was. I don't see the Democrats suffering from that problem this time around, unless the race does wind up being Hillary vs McCain (as so many ironically predicted a year ago).

[Jake]

Yes, Congress has abysmal approval ratings. However, the Democrats Top 3 Presidential candidates have much higher favorability rankings than the Republicans (sans McCain, who last I checked was still behind). As does the party in multiple polls.

What he said was wrong. Those Democrats in government don't have a large gap in favorability, nor is the gap large when you compare their front runner with the GOP's front runner.

[NDN]

Yes, Congress has abysmal approval ratings. However, the Democrats Top 3 Presidential candidates have much higher favorability rankings than the Republicans (sans McCain, who last I checked was still behind). As does the party in multiple polls.

What he said was wrong. Those Democrats in government don't have a large gap in favorability, nor is the gap large when you compare their front runner with the GOP's front runner.

I suspect part of this might be a matter of semantics. To me, 8% or higher between top tier candidates is large (or at least pretty significant). Maybe not to you. Also I wouldn't say either party has a real front runner at this point.

[Gabu]

Since I don't have time for a thousand words, here's a picture:

(picture)

That sounds about right.

[Gustaf]

I agree with Bejkuy. THe forum was smaller before and had fewer trolls. But the influx of Democrats thanks to the abysmal performance of the Bush administration is also part of it.

But welcome back. I remember you from the old days. And, me and other old-timers are constantly accused of complaining too much, like grand-fathers do, so I'll note that I actually think things have gotten better recently. Some of the worse trolls were banned and more Republicans have joined which has meant a move towards an actual debate climate here again.

But responsibility fall on all of us. I try to do my part by only bashing dumb leftists as opposed to going after everyone like I used to.

[Хahar 🤔]

Now I feel bad. Maybe I should pretend to become a super-capitalist to restore some balance.

[minionofmidas]

Markdel was not insightful, enlightened, or intelligent. He was a dumb troll.

He was not a troll. A shameless hack, yes.  Otherwise, I agree.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Strike the smilie.

Welcome back, man. Nice to see some of the old faces still dropping by.

[Wakie]

Markdel was not insightful, enlightened, or intelligent. He was a dumb troll.

He was not a troll. A shameless hack, yes.  Otherwise, I agree.

I'd say that is the best way to describe him.  He was an unapologetic extremist who was fond of insulting anyone and everyone who disagreed with him.

I think the problem with the forum is just a mirror of the problem of political discourse in this country.  In Alan Greenspan's book he talks about how in the 70s, 80s, and even to some degree into the 90s politicians would vehomently battle over issues during the day but they would pleasantly socialize in the evening.  Now the co-mingling of parties is rare.  Even within the parties there is division.

[Smash255]

Their has been a bit too much trolling on the site, but for the most part you just have to know who not to pay attention to.  In regards to the right vs left split on the board.  Well it shouldn't come of that much of a surprise.  A few years ago we really were a 50/50 nation, Bush approvals were near the 50 mark, we had a very close election in 04.  Now we aren't.  Bush's #'s are horrible, when the dems have a huge advantage in favorabilty.  Polls show Obama and even Clinton trouncing all Republicans with the exception of McCain, who doesn't have much support from the conservative base.  You also have to keep in mind that the forum has a bit of a young bend to it.  I'm 25 and I'm probably older than 75% of the posters on here.  You also have an election coming up which heavily favors the Democrats across the board.  As a result the Dems are much more excited about the upcoming election than the Republicans are which also contributes into how much and what people actually post.  The younger generation tends to be a bit more liberal.  so you have a multitude of factors in why the forum tends to lean left as much as it does.

^^^

Perfect example of the problem. Even in this topic, he can't help but show the hackery.

What exactly in what I posted is an example of hackery??  Was anything that I mentioned in my post something you disagreed with? 

Fact of the matter is the election this year favors the Democrats.  I hope you can at least to that and believe you have posted something to that effect.  Also Democrats are much more excited about the upcoming election than Republicans are.  These are all factors that play into, who posts on boards like these and how much they post.