at first glance your comments read like an argument against school integration. but I think the value, at least for me, was where you made the point that social media legitimizes the words of the foolish, mean and awful people.

in any event it was a great post and caused thought and introspection on my end.

.... any thoughts on the decline of the media? Is there such a thing as investigative journalism anymore? Is there such a thing as non-partisan journalism anymore?

On the occasions I flip through FB, I am shocked at what passes for journalism, or "news". More often than not its nothing more than a shocking headline that's out of context or completely fictitious.

the few times I go to a news website I'm a bit surprised at the volume of click bait ads all over it.

seems to me a business that wants to be believed and taken seriously at their word would want to avoid such things.

This site, the Early911SR, and Rennlist are my only social media exposure.

I’ve only been active on Rennlist and PPOT. Dropped Rennlist when they wanted to charge for access to Off Topic.

Now it’s just here with you knuckleheads.

I’ve talked about you guys so much, even my wife says to ask the guys on PPOT when we have a question.

Edit. I did have a FB account to see what was going at my old high school/home town. Never really posted and closed it.

I heard a comedian once say that those who promote smoking pot claim that it "enhances your personality". He then posed the question "what if you are an a__hole?" It seems to me that the internet has "enhanced the personality" of many people.

If people trolled in real life like they do on this forum, at the very least, they would an outcast and ignored and in some cases they would be found in a dumpster somewhere with some part cut off. As already observed, the become emboldened by the lack of consequences for their rude, crude behavior.

Discussion that used to be held face to face in coffee shops on Saturday morning is now available 24/7. The lack of face to face proximity allows people to hurl insults with impunity.
I’ve been guilty of it. It’s easy. But the thing that is easy to do is not often the best.

The media say that Trump is damaging the Presidency, what they don't realize is that their behavior is damaging journalism.

It was funny back in the day, and evidently that azzhole Bill Cosby consumed a bunch...but his routine was about cocaine. Pot....other end of the spectrum....

This is my only forum these daze (left RL when Rocket did), ..but I used to be on a few music/band list servers, and was an active taper/trader of live shows. Met many, many fine folk at shows that I already "knew" from online....

Those sites had the same sense of "community" ...twas good ;)

I think the internet has made me a bit more polite. The constant exposure to rudeness, name calling, low integrity arguments, etc really helps highlight to me that I don't want to be like that.

Also the permanence of posts and comments are a bit scary. On a few occasions If looked back at some decade + posts Ive made on various forums and have felt shame for childish posts.

Yes, there are journalists in the field all the time, may risking their lives. They are discredited repeatedly by our president, who calls their efforts”fake news.” Facebook is a bunch of opinions. Used to be these opinions were created by distorting the reportage of the real journalists. Now the just make stuff up, no need to maintain even a thread of a connection to reality.

It has made me more polite. I used to engage in some of the worst behavior. I had an epiphany, and now, like you, I don’t want to be like that. When a thread devolves to name calling I step away.

^^^^THIS ! I don't need to have the last word in a pointless argument, no minds will be changed by flinging poo.

This is the Porsche Tribe. A common affinity for, held by members.

If you truly get the message you do not keep reverting back and repeating the same old preconceived notions. Your thinking evolves as new information is added.

If no change in thinking takes place that then makes you ignorant losers. Americans are by in large to varying degrees losers. You etal do not have the capacity to see your own madness even when illuminated for you. There is no clarity in your own self reflection as it is all distortion based upon a false or skewed personal narrative. You etal never question the veracity of what you know or think that you know.

Only the fait accompli of your own self destruction will change your perceptions. You will then be forced to face reality or perish.

this is the only forum I do.
no twittering, facebook or any crap like that, but yes I do think the later ones have a very negative effect.
for one people have "phone cohunes". no one is fact to face and it is much easier to say things you would not normally say.
also people get use to saying everything on line.
look at the idiots that post that they want to go shoot up some place like a school.

No doubt the social media is less civil than face to face contact but I also think our politicians have a big impact on how we behave on the internet. Most have very uncivil and disrespectful behavior toward their peers and toward the opposite party.

On PP, I find most people very civil with the exception of a few in politics and religion.

Wish I had the opportunity to come face to face with some of these folks and know them better.

I have some good friends who disagree with my political views and we just agree not to discuss it since neither of us is prepared to change our views.

Now get off my lawn!:D

With all due respect Tabs, you are notorious for "repeating the same messages" of impending destruction. You then conclude that if there is "no change in thinking" (meaning agreeing with your belief) makes anyone who disagrees with you an "ignorant loser". Bear in mind that there are many areas that you agree with me (see what I did there?) especially when it comes to fiscal conservatism and the position that years of deficit spending has put us in.

I applaud your confidence in yourself but disdain your high and mighty conviction that all others are ignorant losers. I encourage you to consider to let him without (this) sin cast the first stone.

Let me also remind you that he who dies with the most toys (or investments) is still dead. It is what your do with the prosperity you have achieved to help others that will be your lasting legacy. Otherwise, your body will be worm food while others dine on the riches you have stored up and left behind.

Always observing, questioning, postulating, testing and learning gets you called names around here. By "not" I assume you mean going along with the conventional wisdom. The conventional wisdom is safe, but as you say, you don't learn much from it.

They are discredited by their own conduit to the public. I salute the real journalists who care enough to research and deliver. Unfortunately their work is often lost in the depths of the agenda their particular outlet is trying to forward. Our President may be overly vocal about his views but lets not be naive and believe the news outlets who employ these journalists are anywhere near fair or impartial and just reporting the "news"