Beck's Ratings Crater

[Geo]

Here it is if anyone cares to read it. It is in a Sarah Palin thread in a tangent about red chicklets.

It was my response to Andrew G for saying I am "dilusional" if I believe the forum is balanced.

http://www.sowal.com/bb/politics-current-events/52451-sarah-palin-belongs-fox-news-2.html#post712689

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My belief that the board is balanced is not based on chicklets. Rep aside, I think the board is balanced based on the content I read and the personalities of the individual posters/where they seem to reside on the political continuum. I believe there is a yin for every yang.

My assumption is that you see posters like Bob, Lucifer Sam and AlphaCrab as being extreme left/liberals whose posts can be a little "in your face".

To balance that out, nonconservatives see posters like you and Walk the Walk as being extreme right/conservatives whose posts can be a little "in your face".

SWGB lives in lefty land and makes Andy A crazy. Andy A lives in righty land and makes SWGB crazy. Both are wonderful people who come from very different walks of life and view the world very differently.

I think of 30A Shopper and Margarita (and lately Idlewind) as being the resident moderate righties who will call BS on both sides and who will meet in the middle for discussion leaving snarkiness aside. Scooterbug, Goodwitch (Glenda Wood), Rita and Jenny Dargavell occupy this position for me on the left side. Very sharp reasonable and trusted posters on both sides here.

Then there are a few posters who are hard to pin down in one spot on the political continuum because they make judgement on an issue by issue basis and make an honest attempt at drawing conclusions based on data. Sometimes they will surprise you with an opinion different than what you might predict. Smiling JOe, Buz Livingston and 30A Skunkape come to mind and to a lesser degree I might put myself in this category.

We have many posters who add immense value to the board by providing information/data about the area, about real estate, etc. who only peek in the political forums occasionally and extend olive branches. Alicia Leonard and Mango come to mind.

Granted I have only named a small number of posters (apologies to anyone I didn't mention- everyone is a valued contributor) but I believe I have made a reasonable case for why I think this board is balanced. If you disagree, rather than labeling me as delusional- how's about you take the time to refudiate (let us not forget this is a Bash
Palin thread ) my argument.



G

 

[Geo]

What the hell is a "conservative" response?

You are WAY too caught up in labels.

I specifically mentioned Huckabee as one of those on the right whose criticism/call for civility was possibly causing a decrease in Beck's ratings.

He's a Republican. He said it on Faux to Beck's target audience. Is he too "liberal" to count? :roll:

I tend to label and group responses too but I try to do so irrespective of where they land on the political continuum. Here are some of those labels/groupings:

reasonable
fair
great point
logical
well supported (with facts, data or examples)
funny/witty

unreasonable
partisan/biased
weak argument/lacking support
inflammatory
disengenuous

I have always had a problem with the idea that in politics you are one thing or another (e.g. conservative/liberal, dem/repub). It is ridonkulous that because I think one way on issue x that it can be concluded that there is some match in where I stand on a different issue. In many cases, those matchings completely conflict.

The most obvious example-

Folks who are for small government and against the government "take over" of health care insist that the government should have a say in the doctor's office when a woman is considering a legal medical procedure to terminate her pregnancy.

 

[Andy A]

Geo, this is the first time I have seen your poster analysis. I agree that it is a very well thought out summation of the ones who post most regularly but I still believe there is a lot of bias on the board on both sides but much more relevant on the left.
It is no secret I think the Political forum should be an open free for all. I also understand why it isn't but I personally know of two on the right who are no longer allowed to post. I know of none on the left side of the aisle.

 

[scooterbug44]

People on both sides have gotten warnings and been banned - both for short periods and extended/forever periods.

The rules apply to everyone equally - you just see a bias because you are trying to find one.

You didn't seem to notice that both SWGB and Lucifer Sam haven't been posting lately.

 

[Geo]

Geo, this is the first time I have seen your poster analysis. I agree that it is a very well thought out summation of the ones who post most regularly but I still believe there is a lot of bias on the board on both sides but much more relevant on the left.
It is no secret I think the Political forum should be an open free for all. I also understand why it isn't but I personally know of two on the right who are no longer allowed to post. I know of none on the left side of the aisle.

Thx Andy. I am aware of a few posters (both lefties and righties) who have gone away (I get the impression it was involuntarily). But I get the impression that some have since reincarnated. Perhaps we will see all of our friends again- hopefully more behaved iterations of them.

 

[Andy A]

People on both sides have gotten warnings and been banned - both for short periods and extended/forever periods.

The rules apply to everyone equally - you just see a bias because you are trying to find one.

You didn't seem to notice that both SWGB and Lucifer Sam haven't been posting lately.

SWGB is back as of today and I am pleased to see that. It is my belief he left temporally of his own accord. As to why LS has not been seen, I haven't a clue. I agree the rules apply equally to everyone but my question is are the enforced equally? Personally, I don't think so, but in fairness, those who are banned are unknown as are those who just quit posting. I reiterate, I would like to see the political forum open except for inappropriate language. If anyone is too aggressive they will be duly called out, which includes this poster just as has happened in the past.

 

[Matt J]

Like most tyrants Beck had his fun and now he's circling the drain. Beck was a pretty good way to realize that the person you were talking to was an unwavering person who wouldn't or couldn't research facts for themselves and could be told anything as long as it was written on a chalkboard by someone wearing a tri-corner hat.

That said I was utterly shocked that Fox News didn't cover Reagans 100th birthday. We watched it on CNN of all networks that covered it in its entirety. Hardly a mention over on the great conservative bastion Fox. At the same time I assume that some right wingers were fully expecting Reagan to rise from the grave and start slashing taxes for the rich.

 

[Andy A]

SWGB, it is good to see your overall attitude toward those on the right...the ones with experience and common sense hasn't changed. Its just as convoluted as ever. Welcome back!

 

[AlphaCrab]

SWGB is back as of today and I am pleased to see that. It is my belief he left temporally of his own accord.

Yes, Andy, he hath Risen.

 

[Matt J]