Stupidity of this forum

[The_Walrus]

How did this forum become so mind numbingly stupid and why don't the mods put more work in or resign and have new ones elected?

Sick of the anti-intellectual, anti-academic posters and conspiracy theorist paranoia here.

1 - how come everyone abandoned this place and what caused it to go down hill?

2 - what do you think can be done to fix this place?

3 - how can we get intelligent people to post here?

 

[Death Aflame]

It used to be alright, but for some reason it seems to have become overpopulated with characters who argue primarily from their gut instinct and worry about logical consistency and related works/evidence only after the fact (i.e. razorsedge). This is not to say their contribution to this board is useless, just that when it becomes the norm the type of discussion descends into a battle of characters and not arguments, moving it farther away from the philosophical discussion intended by this board.

Then their are others who seem to have shady agendas to promote (i.e. the national socialism of Norsemaiden) and little else, which often taints the discussion, veering it off course into pointless obscurity which no decent person really wants to engage with.

How can we get intelligent people here? Well Cyth posted on here for a bit, he is currently doing a master's in philosophy as far as I know, so he is an intelligent individual who is well read and generally civil in his discussion, but he seems to be the exception and not the rule unfortunately. I honestly, don't know how to get some decent debates going again, maybe it would be best just to try another board. The GMD Social board has some alright political discussion if you can stomach V5's zealous reactionary persona and Dakryn's pseudo-conspiracy theories and constant Ron Paul fellating (not to say all the things that he talks about are conspiracy related). So maybe try that, if that's what you're looking for? Cause I doubt this ghost town of a board will suddenly begin to thrive anytime soon.

Obvious suggestion: if you don't see a topic that interests you, start your own and see where it goes.

 

[razoredge]

My my nice and presumptuous.

Some of you may need some ancient revered "philosopher" to come to a philosphy of your own. More power to ya, I have stayed away from all such discussion and only read them, finding a certain degree of sadness in your worship and some thoughts that I found were no brainer philosphys or totally bizarre implications.

Myself having an attempt at insult placed on me, shall address... I could care less what someone else believes or follows, that is their personal rite. I simply state my conclusions and deductions on any given matter. I dont argue nor attack character, only to a degree after being personally confronted with insults. Im here to discuss that which I know about or have experience with. That too is my rite.

Anyone wanting to indulge in your favorite copy and paste philosophy of "the greats" may do so with no interference from we dumb fucks (as you all but directly called us). There have been a handful of these topics since I have come here, most recieved but a few responses, yet there they were for the intellects to enjoy. I did notice that is also what alot of the older topics were... based on famous philosophers thoughts. The few of them that I read seemed to go little farther than worship, but Im sure those that were involved enjoyed themselves and that is what counts.

So if you want discussion that meets your standards... have at it, whats stopping you, get at it and impress, you have the rite.

Thats my philosophy on this subject

 

[razoredge]

BTW Walrus, I am not anti intellectual or anti acedemic... Im am only anti entitlement for some who achieve their academic degrees.

Should one be able to prove to me that academic acheivement provides a flawless human

or that this world has not been governed by those

and that they have not managed to mostly fuck it all up

I may be intimidated, but until then... keep trying, I suspect it is the best those can do

 

[Dak]

Ron Paul is no "messiah", but compared to the elected and even non-elected alternatives, he was 1000x better.

As far as conspiracy theories go, yes, I do believe that rich and powerful people do things in secret to get richer and more powerful. If you do not believe this, you are basically an ignorant fuck, to put it bluntly.

 

[Death Aflame]

razoredge I did not mean to insult you, that was not my intent. I was merely putting forth an observation that may or may not be accurate (to my knowledge though I obviously believe it is accurate).

From what I have seen from you your approach is generally guided by gut feelings as opposed to arguments you have read and mulled over from others before arriving at your own philosophy. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as your very real history as a small business owner who got fucked due to market forces beyond your control was a very powerful example. IMO it contributed greatly to the communism/capitalist thread.

That being said, if you argue from your gut all the time without being versed in the debate before arriving to your own conclusion, it can lead to problems since you have no evidence to support your claims other than your own experience and a priori examples (which aren't entirely useless it should be said). I think it is safe to say certain discussions demand more from the participants than mere conviction to be of value.

@Dakryn: I was merely making a broad statement about your character based on a few examples I have seen where what you discussed appeared to be some sort of conspiracy theory (in Cyth's economics thread, IIRC). I guess it would have been more accurate to drop the conspiracy theory bit since that seems to be a relative rare indulgence on your part.

Anyways, I agree with some of your views, though not all obviously (you being a right wing libertarian, and me being a leftist) and in general you are better than most of the posters on this forum since you do contribute a lot of food for thought tbqh.

 

[The_Walrus]

good posts & thanks for the recommendation D.A.

 

[hexwind]

How did this forum become so mind numbingly stupid and why don't the mods put more work in or resign and have new ones elected?

Sick of the anti-intellectual, anti-academic posters and conspiracy theorist paranoia here.

1 - how come everyone abandoned this place and what caused it to go down hill?

Everyone has a different opinion on each subject, it's a forum,we are here to exchange ideas and talk, and what's the point of arguing about something that we all agree with, it's the same thing as playing guitar with similar 6 strings. and IMO the only thing that can make this forum (or this board) stupid is the narrow-minded people who don't accept the other's opinions and insult them coz they don't agree with them.

2 - what do you think can be done to fix this place?

People have to accept the opposite opinions even if they don't agree with.

3 - how can we get intelligent people to post here?

We should put ads on local newspapers maybe? are you serious mate?

 

[razoredge]

Fare enough, deathaflame. But as you know I put little value on polls, surveys and other potentially biased "proof" or propaganda. I try to find all angles of the big picture and in some cases have seen enough transpire to feel confident, proof in history or a course of events I suppose, not really a gut feeling. Gut feelings are impulsive and I dont feel that I am.

 

[Dak]

@Dakryn: I was merely making a broad statement about your character based on a few examples I have seen where what you discussed appeared to be some sort of conspiracy theory (in Cyth's economics thread, IIRC). I guess it would have been more accurate to drop the conspiracy theory bit since that seems to be a relative rare indulgence on your part.

Anyways, I agree with some of your views, though not all obviously (you being a right wing libertarian, and me being a leftist) and in general you are better than most of the posters on this forum since you do contribute a lot of food for thought tbqh.

I am way more ah, conspiratally? minded than I post, but for the obvious reasons as most people don't buy it.

I do at least try to offer a different viewpoint on matters than the same viewpoint that everyone receives from the various indoctrinating mechanisms of society (public education, media, etc).

 

[Resonator]

Here's a thought: Stop trying to get everyone thinking one way and let them have their freedom of expression. How about that shit?

 

[monoxide_child]

It used to be alright, but for some reason it seems to have become overpopulated with characters who argue primarily from their gut instinct and worry about logical consistency and related works/evidence only after the fact (i.e. razorsedge). This is not to say their contribution to this board is useless, just that when it becomes the norm the type of discussion descends into a battle of characters and not arguments, moving it farther away from the philosophical discussion intended by this board.

Then their are others who seem to have shady agendas to promote (i.e. the national socialism of Norsemaiden) and little else, which often taints the discussion, veering it off course into pointless obscurity which no decent person really wants to engage with.

How can we get intelligent people here? Well Cyth posted on here for a bit, he is currently doing a master's in philosophy as far as I know, so he is an intelligent individual who is well read and generally civil in his discussion, but he seems to be the exception and not the rule unfortunately. I honestly, don't know how to get some decent debates going again, maybe it would be best just to try another board. The GMD Social board has some alright political discussion if you can stomach V5's zealous reactionary persona and Dakryn's pseudo-conspiracy theories and constant Ron Paul fellating (not to say all the things that he talks about are conspiracy related). So maybe try that, if that's what you're looking for? Cause I doubt this ghost town of a board will suddenly begin to thrive anytime soon.

Obvious suggestion: if you don't see a topic that interests you, start your own and see where it goes.

i remember this board being good all the way back in 2003
but all the inteligent posters seemed to have left, i think it was going down-hill before that though, when "Derek" from the Nevermore board started posting and then all the psychos from other boards started feeling the need to post their two-cents in here, (not calling Derek psycho, he seemed to be one of the most sane/inteligent people here when he was posting, it's just that he seemed to be the first one to start posting here from another forum that i can remember) and then this forum went to hell when all the psycho people from other forums started posting here

if you could ban someone from the philosopher's forum without having them banned from ultimatemetal, i'd get rid of Razor's Edge, it would be interesting to see razor's edge posting in "Chat" or "Pop Culture" but here, he's too much of a "character" there's been a lot of threads where a piece of the thread totally degenerates into just being an argument between Razor's Edge and some other person, that might be acceptable (maybe even entertaining) on another forum, but do we really want to see that here?

Norsemaiden was okay back when she was posting every day, but she gotten kinda flaky since she stoped coming here frequently, she's not posting very much on topics she doesn't create, and the ones she creates are a little out to lunch

i don't think this ghost town will thrive again anytime soon, except maybe if we get the good posters from the GMD Social board,
trying to get new blood in here might be good, unless the new people we get are crappy people, like the last time we got a flood of posters from other boards

 

[hexwind]

Here's a thought: Stop trying to get everyone thinking one way and let them have their freedom of expression. How about that shit?

RESPECT IS HIGHLY REQUIRED THEN !!!!!

 

[monoxide_child]

As far as conspiracy theories go, yes, I do believe that rich and powerful people do things in secret to get richer and more powerful.

this isn't a "conspiracy"
it's human instinct
haven't you ever heard of Thomas Hobbes?

 

[BlackMetalWhiteGuy]

if you could ban someone from the philosopher's forum without having them banned from ultimatemetal, i'd get rid of Razor's Edge, it would be interesting to see razor's edge posting in "Chat" or "Pop Culture" but here, he's too much of a "character" there's been a lot of threads where a piece of the thread totally degenerates into just being an argument between Razor's Edge and some other person, that might be acceptable (maybe even entertaining) on another forum, but do we really want to see that here?

Honestly, razoredge isn't really that bad. His perspectives are unconventional and his education is questionable, but at least he can be reasoned with. deathmetalblackmetal was by far the worst poster in my memory.

 

[Death Aflame]

Starting to ban users from this already low-activity forum is definitely not the way to go, especially if the reasoning behind it is something utterly arbitrary as the 'character' of an individual.

As long as posters aren't needlessly hostile toward other posters I see no reason to ban them.

 

[razoredge]

Thanks BMWG... My ed ? yes you are correct... however I will say without means of insult... give yourself a few decades of "perspective" and you might understand where I come from sometimes.

Mono... you really amused me this time, it was personal for you, its easy to see, but of all people... you... GOT NO ROOM TO TALK. Of all that post here, you have me blown out of the water as a DMF (dumb mother fucker) regardless what you know, I rarely see any point and this recent post is visible proof. The only time I have seen a few that should have been banned was Firhuffer and way back WeareInflames (something along that lines) and it was due to personal attacking and insults.... yet I never called for it... so please... do grow up.

For all who are concerned, I care not to win popularity contests, be part of roast teams, you know the brotherly love got yer back mentality. I put up an alternative perspective because it DOES exist and IS part of the big picture. I'll make nor buy any excuse for mankinds selfish ways. Its never popular to hear opposition and the manor in which some react around here brings question to their stability in their own convictions.

My favorite adversary was Einherjar and sadly I believe I over frustrated him because above all he is strong in presenting his points and knows how to be respectable in the process. Thats the kind of person I respect. Not whiners, pompus asses, flame throwers, and tantrum tossers.

 

[monoxide_child]

Honestly, razoredge isn't really that bad. His perspectives are unconventional and his education is questionable, but at least he can be reasoned with. deathmetalblackmetal was by far the worst poster in my memory.

yeah
i'll admit that i've seen posters worse than Razor's Edge, but those specific posters aren't here anymore

 

[monoxide_child]

Starting to ban users from this already low-activity forum is definitely not the way to go, especially if the reasoning behind it is something utterly arbitrary as the 'character' of an individual.

As long as posters aren't needlessly hostile toward other posters I see no reason to ban them.

there has actually been a large number of people banned from ultimate metal, and i remember most of them being banned for things they posted on THIS forum, i remeber when the mod changed in the middle of 2003 and the first thing the new mod did was ban a bunch of people and close down a lot of threads, and i think he did the right thing there, he banned the people that shouldn't have been here and closed out the threads that had devolved into being crap

 

[razoredge]

yeah
i'll admit that i've seen posters worse than Razor's Edge, but those specific posters aren't here anymore

"devolved" ? Is that a word ?

does anyone else see a ...'s... in my sig ?

here is where it came from, this is a term that has been used to describe a type of automotive body design used from the mid/late 50's through the 60's. Nothing more. I have in the past been a bit of a gear head too.

my favorite