Seriously...

[blue]

There is only 5 or 6 people that are regular posters on PT that are conservative/libertarian/AIP. I may be wrong on this, if I am please correct me, but I believe I am in the minority as a conserevative/AIP member.

Do posters that try to speak for the majority on PT need to make trolling posts/threads to try and chase off the minority?

Does my being pro Second Amendment, or pro choice make me a second class or inferior dog/cat owner? If it does, why?

[pomtzu]

Do posters that try to speak for the majority on PT need to make trolling posts/threads to try and chase off the minority?

No, but it won't stop as long as there are those around to feed the ones that try. You notice I didn't use the "T" word.

IMO - the "majority" just prefer to avoid a confrontation, and they also respect the beliefs and opinions of the "minority". They lurk, read the posted comments, form their own opinion, and keep their mouths shut.

And with that said - I will shut up.

[Medusa]

If we have a little time to actually think about a point made, it's possible that we'll realize that our argument is important only to ourselves and we'll think twice before posting it. Sometimes it's good to let the opinions of others gel a bit, rather than to reply in rapid fire.

[moosmom]

Amen, Ellie!!!

I choose my battles very carefully.

[Karen]

Blue, many people here follow the rule Grandma tried to teach us, "If you cannot say something nice, say nothing at all." Still others prefer not to discuss their politics here on a pet board, others decide not to discuss them publicly at all.

Not everyone thinks fighting about politics is fun. And as this is a place mainly for pet discussion, I know some think discussion of politics is out of place.

Do not assume anyone's political leanings because of their lack of posting on the subject. The one thing we have in common here is love for our pets - that's all that matters!

[chocolatepuppy]

Blue, many people here follow the rule Grandma tried to teach us, "If you cannot say something nice, say nothing at all." Still others prefer not to discuss their politics here on a pet board, others decide not to discuss them publicly at all.

Not everyone thinks fighting about politics is fun. And as this is a place mainly for pet discussion, I know some think discussion of politics is out of place.

Do not assume anyone's political leanings because of their lack of posting on the subject. The one thing we have in common here is love for our pets - that's all that matters!

Well said Karen. I prefer not to spend all my pc time in the doghouse, although I do lurk. I come here for 'pet' talk. On most things though, I must say, I agree with you Blue.

[Pam]

No, but it won't stop as long as there are those around to feed the ones that try. You notice I didn't use the "T" word.

IMO - the "majority" just prefer to avoid a confrontation, and they also respect the beliefs and opinions of the "minority". They lurk, read the posted comments, form their own opinion, and keep their mouths shut.

And with that said - I will shut up.

Ellie hit the nail on the head. I hardly ever venture into the Dog House any more and have stopped posting comments. Trust me, there are lots of us around but we choose to not deal with the rudeness.

[K9soul]

I agree with the others. I lurk and browse but do not participate in political discussions and arguments. Political issues are much like religious issues in that you just generally are not going to change how someone feels about it. A lot of the political fights seem to mostly be one side versus the other side and who can get the best pot shots in at the other and who can do the best job of proving the other party "wrong." I have no desire to get involved in it.

[caseysmom]

There are many people with differing political views than myself that I have the utmost respect for. Many times blue you come across as condescending and arrogant, just keeping it real.

[RICHARD]

People wear their politics on their shoulder. They assume that who ever has an 'opponent' ideal and they cannot say, "Oh, you have an opposing view and I respect that."

Nope, they go ALL G-STRING and walk around trying to pluck out an opinion that just don't sit right with them.

Tough shoot, because when anyone that sits at opposite ends of a table decide to get their craniums outta the nether regions, things work out.

They move the table out of the room and everyone parties.

I look at politics like this - If you start a convo with a person about politics, and still are able to sit in each other's presence - you managed to respect each other.

I find some politics funny, others serious and most boring.

The only difference between a politician and me is when I eff up, hardly anyone takes notice.

The real reason that some people are so adamant about THEIR politics is that they invest so much of their lives into backing their candidate, they cannot admit they elected an effing moron.

All the effing morons I elected/voted for don't define me, 'speak' for me or care about me.

They just spend my money!

[aTailOf2Kitties]

has anyone ever changed their political opinion on anything just because they read an opposing view on a message board? Discussions usually start civil enough but eventually turn into cut-and-paste-battles between worthy opponents with a case of the blabber-fingers, posting endless articles and stories supporting their views.

This is a pet forum and I've never seen "a certain person" post anything about his pets since I've been here. Have I missed something?

[Randi]

Blue, I can tell how miffed you are that most PTalkers don’t agree with your political views, or your desire for arming the citizens of USA. What a bummer, eh!

You most definately are in minority here, or I would not be here!

Years ago, we used to have fun on PT, we shared good advice and stories about our pets. I fear that many people who browse PT and see all kinds of political bickering, refrain from joining - they would surely expect this Forum to be for pet lovers.

Having seen your posts over a period of time, I was beginning to wonder if you have any pets yourself, because you seem to be posting about everything else than pets.

There are Forums out there for people like you - maybe you should join one. I’ll provide a link here for you:
http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/
... and one more: http://www.politicalcrossfire.com/


It’s outrageous that you can accuse ES for being a troll and turn her thread about a National Park into a political fight! It doesn't seem ES can anything without a nasty comment from you. I believe quite a few of us are SO fed up with it!

[Karen]

blue does have two dogs, and a cat who adopted him. He has talked about them, just not in the Dog House.

[Pam]

Blue I don't know enough about your posts to comment. I have stopped reading the Dog House for the most part and definitely stopped posting. To be honest I wish that the Dog House had never been invented. It has caused me to see a side of some people that I would have preferred remain hidden, and I have lost respect for a few PTers. I am not alone in my feelings on this.

[Catty1]

So much is in how something is said...

It's the difference between:

1. "Dogs should be on leashes all the time!" and
2. "I think/it's my opinion that dogs should be on leashes all the time."

The first expression makes it sound like an absolute truth - the second expression, the speaker OWNS their opinion, and makes it clear that it is THEIRS only.

So, speak FOR yourself, for your own side, not AGAINST anyone else. That works a lot better.

JMO