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31.07.2020, 15:26
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | You won't last long here if you can't ignore a few personal insults 
Take it proudly, it means you stood up for something. | | | | | Absolutely. | 
31.07.2020, 15:49
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: |  | | | Fair enough - just concerned at the inconsistent modding of such things.
I daresay if I came up with the term bixxxamonious or cuxxamonious, I might expect a ban. | | | | | taxonomy: a member of the genus Snowflakeosaur | 
31.07.2020, 15:53
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | Was there actually a time where there was that much less polarization? | | | | | No. | Quote: |  | | | I imagine society often like waves on a beach. | | | | | I like this!
Organic as opposed to constructed. | Quote: |  | | | But I like discussing these things because you can usually always gain some new insights and perspectives | | | | | Me too.
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31.07.2020, 16:09
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: CH
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | I think the first question is: Was there actually a time where there was that much less polarization? I'm not concluding anything here, it's a legitimate question. I remember the town I grew up in as bustling with life. Today is a different story. But was it really that 'bustling' or was it merely my perception at the time which was imprinted, because I had never seen a bigger city? (Again, no conclusions, just raising questions)
There can be multiple reasons society is polarized (whether that's new or always has been). | | | | | One of the reasons is media of course, bombarding us with news and "info" we don't necessarily need or want to digest or are relevant in any way...I personally don't recall this atmosphere 10 years ago, let alone 20. I think this is not a subjective opinion, at least not for every country. I'm glad we live in a country where media and public opinion are not so divided and strident.
Last edited by greenmount; 31.07.2020 at 16:36.
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31.07.2020, 16:16
| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | taxonomy: a member of the genus Snowflakeosaur | | | | | That is pterrible banter.
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31.07.2020, 17:46
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Baselland
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why?
So far no reaction/elucidation or rant etc. and I’m curious… | Quote: |  | | | That is pterrible banter. | | | | |
Please don’t tell me it was just a typo HartMoss – expect better from you  – still dealing with my anaspepsia [sic] and BTW why the “S”?
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31.07.2020, 18:00
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Baselland
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why?
Please don't take this personally but why don't you get off the fence and tell us what you really think? | Quote: | |  | | | Attempt to summarise this thread:
Oh, society is polarised. Why?
Yes, some people think differently from others. Even very, very differently.
Yeah, because they're superior.
Huh?
My qualifications/education/mind-set/knowledge of literature or suffering, clever ability to provoke is/are superior to yours.
Really, they are.
Seriously? Can't you get over it?
Here we have ways to practice English. Grammar. Phrases.
And Goobledygook. Creativity. Carelessness. And the Russians, don't forget the Russians.
Huh? What is the point?
Yeah, definitely more "huh?".
Cooperation can be great.
What's considered good manners is cultural or subjective.
Lots of -isms mean lots of different things to different people. The others are wrong.
Only the superior will engage in the stimulating debate. After all, it's a magic yardstick.
No, it's a wank. | | | | | Forget the Russians at your peril | 
31.07.2020, 18:56
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: ZH
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | Please don't take this personally but why don't you get off the fence and tell us what you really think? | | | | | Is this addressed to me? I already did say what I think about it, several pages ago: | Quote: | |  | | | Oh, I think some people just fancy themselves as some romaticised version of an agent provocateur, without whose jabs and stirring the parts of society they [imagine that they] touch would be condemned to a dull and petty existence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_provocateur https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_...teur_(personne)
Having once cast themselves in this exciting role, they convince themselves that their provocation is a blessing to the lowly (or at least proof of their own intellectual or moral superiority), and thereby legitimise, in their own minds, all sorts of silly or nasty behaviour, casting it in the name of open discussion. | | | | | It seems to me that on fora, just like in Real Life, some folk don't move on from the gold star they won in the junior school debating team, still believing that discussion subsists, per se, in taking an opposing position (devil's advocate, agent provocateur, etc.). They hope to stand out (or firmly believe that they already do) as brilliantly different and as the brave, lofty thinker who single-handedly manages to turn things in a different direction.
Some people live in (or even build their very identity in) such an unwavering mindset, so that when anyone agrees with them, they feel affirmed by the agreement (just like everyone else does, to some extent), yet whenever anyone disagrees or criticises them, they can quickly interpret it as proof of the great value of their stimulating, thought-provoking contribution, and how, in this lonely (or amusing, as they may see it) role, they don't need anyone's approval, anyway (being accustomed to their status as "different"), or don't choose to respond (or not politely so), because they're superior. It's tidily self-perpetuating, ad nauseam.
It's also a way to claim complete freedom to do and say whatever they like, quite irrespective of the effects on anyone else.
I don't think this choice of self-oriented behaviour is specific to EF. It happens in all sorts of fora, it happens in the comments sections. It happens in groups of all kinds: the pub, in the club, at school, at university, at work and in families. It is perhaps a little harder to glow convincingly in EF, in particular, as the contrast is not so sharp, since this forum is teeming with many highly intelligent, highly qualified, very experienced people, each with a bagful of their own gold stars of many different types.
Although I'm a firm believer that people can change and grow, I observe that people with this self-belief seem particularly resistant to change, even when their behaviour may be harmful.
And even when it does not harm anyone, as NickyTuesday said: | Quote: | |  | | | Provocation can became monotonous. | | | | | | 
31.07.2020, 22:30
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: CH
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why?
These so-called agent provocateurs can be funny, but what we have on EF are far from it. Well, maybe with a few exceptions... Some of them are frankly incredibly predictable and not really special....actually not at all.
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31.07.2020, 23:47
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Used to be Basel.
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: |  | | | That is pterrible banter. | | | | | This rex my options for rebuttal.
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01.08.2020, 01:38
|  | Member | | Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Carouge GE
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | Is this addressed to me? I already did say what I think about it, several pages ago:
It seems to me that on fora, just like in Real Life, some folk don't move on from the gold star they won in the junior school debating team, still believing that discussion subsists, per se, in taking an opposing position (devil's advocate, agent provocateur, etc.). They hope to stand out (or firmly believe that they already do) as brilliantly different and as the brave, lofty thinker who single-handedly manages to turn things in a different direction.
Some people live in (or even build their very identity in) such an unwavering mindset, so that when anyone agrees with them, they feel affirmed by the agreement (just like everyone else does, to some extent), yet whenever anyone disagrees or criticises them, they can quickly interpret it as proof of the great value of their stimulating, thought-provoking contribution, and how, in this lonely (or amusing, as they may see it) role, they don't need anyone's approval, anyway (being accustomed to their status as "different"), or don't choose to respond (or not politely so), because they're superior. It's tidily self-perpetuating, ad nauseam.
It's also a way to claim complete freedom to do and say whatever they like, quite irrespective of the effects on anyone else.
I don't think this choice of self-oriented behaviour is specific to EF. It happens in all sorts of fora, it happens in the comments sections. It happens in groups of all kinds: the pub, in the club, at school, at university, at work and in families. It is perhaps a little harder to glow convincingly in EF, in particular, as the contrast is not so sharp, since this forum is teeming with many highly intelligent, highly qualified, very experienced people, each with a bagful of their own gold stars of many different types.
Although I'm a firm believer that people can change and grow, I observe that people with this self-belief seem particularly resistant to change, even when their behaviour may be harmful.
And even when it does not harm anyone, as NickyTuesday said: | | | | | Nothing near to my reality...I did get what you mean: don't stir the calm waters that we made for so long...you said I am a provocateur, that is far from real...I was provocated by Trump, Brexit, Corona threads...my posts are the answer to those who are pleasing the media owned by billioners...
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01.08.2020, 05:58
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: ZH
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | you said I am a provocateur, | | | | | No, I didn't. | Quote: | |  | | | I did get what you mean: don't stir the calm waters that we made for so long... | | | | | No, you didn't.
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01.08.2020, 08:59
| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | So far no reaction/elucidation or rant etc. and I’m curious…
Please don’t tell me it was just a typo HartMoss – expect better from you – still dealing with my anaspepsia [sic] and BTW why the “S”? | | | | | I don’t make mistakes, Lt | 
01.08.2020, 09:49
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lugano
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | Your attitude can be so dickamonious at times. | | | | | And here I thought it was skankamonious.
Tom
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01.08.2020, 11:29
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: La Cote
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | These so-called agent provocateurs can be funny.. | | | | | You mean people having different opinions? It is hillarious. Or actually quite natural. Agent provocat. is an interesting term in the same vein as Enemy of the nation that McCarthy, Stalin and Chinese gov unsurprisingly agree on. | Quote: |  | | | ..but what we have on EF are far from it. | | | | | Another generic jab at EF.
What do we have on EF? We have people on EF. In all sorts of flavors. Some opinions will stick out, I usually salute those who are courageous to share them to provide all shades and nuances that issues come with. The oposite of polarity. Let's not dampen one of the EF strengths.
Happy 1st of Aug in our amazing host country where true diversity matters.
__________________ "L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi “The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman "Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein
Last edited by MusicChick; 01.08.2020 at 11:39.
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01.08.2020, 11:59
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | You mean people having different opinions? It is hillarious. Or actually quite natural. | | | | | I mean people who deliberately provoke to create a reaction. I like people who have different opinions than mine and write them in good faith and politely. Quite a lot, some of them. There are quite a few here. Agents provocateurs, on the other hand, are hilariously predictable. And uninteresting.
If you really like diversity, please accept my diverse opinions too.
Happy anniversary to this amazing country! I couldn't agree more with that, though it doesn't have much to do with the subject of this thread. Switzerland is anything but polarised, and I hope it stays that way.
Have a wonderful weekend, MC.
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01.08.2020, 12:10
|  | Roastbeef & Yorkshire mod | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Neuchâtel
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | I mean people who deliberately provoke to create a reaction. I like people who have different opinions than mine and write them in good faith and politely. Quite a lot, some of them.
| | | | | There is a world of difference between posting to deliberately provoke and simply having a difference of opinion.
The world would be a very boring place if everybody agreed about everything. The important thing is to be able to discuss our opinions in a calm and rational manner without resorting to insults.
Sadly some people seem to post solely to provoke and get a reaction.
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01.08.2020, 12:13
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: CH
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why? | Quote: | |  | | | There is a world of difference between posting to deliberately provoke and simply having a difference of opinion.
The world would be a very boring place if everybody agreed about everything. The important thing is to be able to discuss our opinions in a calm and rational manner without resorting to insults.
Sadly some people seem to post solely to provoke and get a reaction. | | | | | Exactly.
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01.08.2020, 12:15
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: La Cote
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why?
There will be always different opinions that people to different degree will see (or not) as 'deliberately provoking' because their level of tolerance to diversity is different.
So how 'deliberately provocative' something is really depends on how much tolerance people give to others to think differently, speak differently, diverge from what they consider that the norm is. People attribute the intent to provoke while it seems their own level of tolerance is simply just saturated.
I am glad that overall in general EFers seem to be tolerant to other points of view and control their impuls to react in an uncooth way to all that they might consider different, non standard, unexpected or surprising. Other media have a problem with this, imho.
__________________ "L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi “The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman "Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein
Last edited by MusicChick; 01.08.2020 at 12:26.
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01.08.2020, 12:19
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lugano
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| | Re: Polarised society:Why?
Electrical plugs are polarized here (but not in Italy, Germany, or France), so why not society?
Tom
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