Im new here, just checking this out.

[anthony]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

 

[there4eyeM]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

Welcome.
Get ready for some vitriolic responses to your self description. The majority here is either "right" or "left", with few of us resisting such assignations.

 

[White 6]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

Have fun. Er, it is quite often just shouting across the great divide. BTW, what is your subject, Professor?

 

[TemplarKormac]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

You will be horrified at the differing points of view here.

 

[Votto]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

So you are a big Trump supporter then?

Welcome!

 

[Votto]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

You will be horrified at the differing points of view here.

He should just sit at his computer and shout down the posts that offend him like they do at his college.

Sure, they can't hear you but I'm sure it will make him feel much better.

 

[citygator]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

As a fellow lefty I’ll tell you this is a right echo chamber and conspiracy nut haven. However I enjoy engaging with the righties here. 60% just tell me I’m a Marxist communist (far from it) but a few of them will offer a spirited debate. It’s entertaining and I learn a nugget occasionally. In a year I’ve converted so many righties to become lefties I lost count. I think the number is around zero.

 

[Votto]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

Have fun. Er, it is quite often just shouting across the great divide. BTW, what is your subject, Professor?

What divide?

 

[Votto]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

As a fellow lefty I’ll tell you this is a right echo chamber and conspiracy nut haven. However I enjoy engaging with the righties here. 60% just tell me I’m a Marxist communist (far from it) but a few of them will offer a spirited debate. It’s entertaining and I learn a nugget occasionally. In a year I’ve converted so many righties to become lefties I lost count. I think the number is around zero.

Marxist!

 

[HenryBHough]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

Nobody "lives" in California.

Exists under the boot of a fascist regime? Yeah.

 

[anthony]

He should just sit at his computer and shout down the posts that offend him like they do at his college.
Sure, they can't hear you but I'm sure it will make him feel much better.

That's an odd comment.

 

[Votto]

He should just sit at his computer and shout down the posts that offend him like they do at his college.
Sure, they can't hear you but I'm sure it will make him feel much better.

That's an odd comment.

It's an odd world

 

[White 6]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

Have fun. Er, it is quite often just shouting across the great divide. BTW, what is your subject, Professor?

What divide?

Here it is quite often the radical right trumpets versus any normal people and of course the radical left wing.

 

[anthony]

It's an odd world

Why would you assume that is my university, or in any reflective of what I do?

 

[Andylusion]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

So I'm going to warn you up front, what you are stepping into.

There is a minority of people on this forum, like me, who as long as you are civil with me, I'll be civil with you.

However, this forum is about as much free-speech as you can get, without it being like no-holds-bar Ultimate Fight. Meaning... if you do not have a thick skin, if you are not able to roll with the punches, if you can't handle people throwing poop....

This is not the forum for you. I promise. Many *WILL* discuss issues with you, but others are going to yell and scream.

This is how it is. I would suggest you familiarize yourself with the "ignore" functions, because we do have a large population of professional trolls, and they default to insults, rather than discussion.

If you need to know how that works, you click on their Avatar icon. A pop up window will open, and you can locate and click on the "ignore" button at the bottom of the pop up window, and then reload the page, and magically the troll disappears.

But I want to be open and honest with you, that if you are looking for the type of civil debate that you saw with William F Buckley and "Firing Line", with polite discussion from the 1980s... you likely won't find much of that here. Some... but not a ton.

 

[anthony]

polite discussion from the 1980s... you likely won't find much of that here. Some... but not a ton.

That's what I'm looking for, indeed. It doesn't look too promising so far. But thank you for your honesty.

 

[anthony]

Nobody "lives" in California.
Exists under the boot of a fascist regime? Yeah.

Seems like good living to me. Looks like your from Massachusetts. I lived in New England for a long time, I love your state too. But then again, I love pretty much of all of America.

 

[P F Tinmore]

He should just sit at his computer and shout down the posts that offend him like they do at his college.
Sure, they can't hear you but I'm sure it will make him feel much better.

That's an odd comment.

It's an odd world

He doesn't believe in free speech for everyone. Hypocrite.

 

[Billy_Kinetta]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

Welcome, anthony.

Beware those who claim to be civil.

 

[Marion Morrison]

Hello,
I'm new. Not sure if this is the right forum for me, but interested in civil discussions on politics, to pass the time.
Trying to get a feel if this is that kind of place, or if it's just shouting across the great divide.
I live in California. Philosophically I'm on the extreme left on most issues, but am what I consider 'pragmatic' in my voting.
I am a professor at a decently large University.
Cheers.

Oh boy!
Well, welcome here!
























Good luck with that.