Why Do You..

Ok, I drift into this Conversation Forum from time to time. I was posting replys here, but then I realized "I am here to relax and enjoy myself, not poke somebody in the eye or get poked in the eye".

In 30 years, I have never had my mind changed on my religious or political beliefs. Neither have I changed anybody's mind. And it gets downright hostile here. It's not that I can't hold my own in one of these threads, its just that it seems to me that we meet here to find some common ground and to put aside the devisive rhetoric that plagues the rest of our lives. I can't seem to find the point to it.

So my question is, why do you do it? Or is it more friendly than it seems in the threads? Without much effort, I can tell you who's position will be what and probably even what they will write.

So why?

Your Friend,
David

There are many reasons guys post here. Some probably think they can change a mind or two, some like to get up on a soapbox, some are blowing off some steam, some have an agenda to advance, some just like to talk about a variety of subjects, and some like to make trouble and stir the pot.

Of course there are also posts here where people ask for assistance with a variety of topics.

Back in the day, barber shops used to be places where folks met to shoot the breeze and discuss all manner of things from politics to philosophy and religion. And the barber would make sure that the conversation remained civil and polite.

Thats basically the idea of the Conversation forum, except the mods dont shave people..! :)

I dont always get involved in conversations, it just depends on whats being talked about. There have been threads here that have been thoroughly educational and I've really learnt alot from other peoples points of view.

Granted, there will be the odd thread that goes south if the topic is a particularly heated one, or if someone gets wound up or decides to stir the pot, but this is a rare occurance in my experience. For the most part, the conversations here are civil, polite and informative and I really enjoy getting involved.

I guess it really comes down to what you want to get out of SRP. If you want it to be straight razor shaving resource only, then thats cool and we're all here to help. If you want to talk about Gordon Browns tax policy as well (such as it is... :D) then thats cool too, and there will be a variety of opinions and responses to mull over.

Its definately a great forum that way, and the membership base here are very polite and helpful. I've seen so many forums where posts descend into hurling abuse within a dozen posts, and mods are using the forum as some sort of power trip, and its just totally rubbish to be there.

But here we have a mix of it all. Interest in the topic, polite and knowledgable members and a great management team who keep things on track and let us talk about things over and above the sites raison d'etre. We're very lucky I think..! :)

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

There are many reasons guys post here. Some probably think they can change a mind or two, some like to get up on a soapbox, some are blowing off some steam, some have an agenda to advance, some just like to talk about a variety of subjects, and some like to make trouble and stir the pot.

Of course there are also posts here where people ask for assistance with a variety of topics.

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I understand. I know that there are many topic posted here. I was just wondering about the ones that really get under peoples skin.

I may be really underestimating the ability of the members here to leave the thread and "let by-gones be by-gones".

I sure hope this question doesn't heat anybody up.:D

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Originally Posted by Stubear

Back in the day, barber shops used to be places where folks met to shoot the breeze and discuss all manner of things from politics to philosophy and religion. And the barber would make sure that the conversation remained civil and polite.

Thats basically the idea of the Conversation forum, except the mods dont shave people..! :)

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Ok - fair enough! I can except that!:beer1::beer1:

I think it is obvious why people spent their time on forums related on shaving and razors. What it comes to 'conversation', for me it is probably just exchanging ideas on various topics around the world. Seeing another point of view is one of the best things here.
I'm not trying to change how other people are seeing things. I might change mine if i find that i've been wrong. I try to keep myself from getting upset or provoked as i know it doesn't get anywhere.

Related to some other international or national forums, conversation here is really friendly and civilized. Most of the time. Maybe this is just like in the barber shops of the old days.

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Originally Posted by Sailor

I think it is obvious why people spent their time on forums related on shaving and razors. What it comes to 'conversation', for me it is probably just exchanging ideas on various topics around the world. Seeing another point of view is one of the best things here.
I'm not trying to change how other people are seeing things. I might change mine if i find that i've been wrong. I try to keep myself from getting upset or provoked as i know it doesn't get anywhere.

Related to some other international or national forums, conversation here is really friendly and civilized. Most of the time. Maybe this is just like in the barber shops of the old days.

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I have a feeling I'm giong to get a whole lot of responses like yours. My curiosity is quickly being satiated.

Stubear:
Back in the day, barber shops used to be places where folks met to shoot the breeze and discuss all manner of things from politics to philosophy and religion. And the barber would make sure that the conversation remained civil and polite.

Sailor:
Related to some other international or national forums, conversation here is really friendly and civilized. Most of the time. Maybe this is just like in
the barber shops of the old days.


Exactly, my take also,,, I always think of the Convo as our little version of Vegas too "What goes on here stays here"

Myself I really don't have many people where I live in the first place, and most everyone here is pretty much the same when it comes to politics and religion... So this forum let's me debate with intelligent gentlemen that have sometimes very different views than my own....

You know... I've actually had my mind changed on some political views based on discussions like this. It's not often, but it's happened. Of course, I tend to be open minded and ready to admit that my position is wrong if I'm shown compelling evidence...

I'm kinda with you. I'll jump in here with philosophical quandaries, general ethics, and what have you, but I avoid the hard politics and religion.

It's not that I find that aspect of the discussion on SRP unfriendly. In fact, I think it is far more friendly than most places.

It's not that I can't "man up." Politics was my thing for years.

But I have plenty of other places to discuss those things, and the simple fact of the matter is this:

There are certain beliefs that if I know someone holds them, I cannot respect them. It's only a couple things in particular, so it's not like I want everyone to think like I do. I'm open to diverse beliefs, but these couple things really, really bother me.

However my own life and mind has brought me to these conclusions, there are some things we still debate that I think are so archaic in terms of ethics that I just can't like someone who argues the point, and I don't understand how anyone can believe things like that. To me, people who argue these things are like people who argue in favor of bringing back public stoning for trimming your beard, or selling off your daughter for marriage in exchange for a cow.

Once I know, my opinion of that person is forever tainted.

I know that sounds immature. It probably is. But on some of these issues, we're all immature. That's why it gets so heated.

So I just stay the hell out of a lot of the political discourse here. I like you all too much to let something like that taint my thinking to the point where I don't want to talk to someone.

Its because I am right and the rest of you need to straighten up! This is meant to be to funny though true. Enjoy it for what its worth (not much sometimes), you never know when you might learn something.

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Stubear:
Myself I really don't have many people where I live in the first place, and most everyone here is pretty much the same when it comes to politics and religion... So this forum let's me debate with intelligent gentlemen that have sometimes very different views than my own....

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I will have to say there is a pretty eclectic mix of intelligent gentlemen here. But let's face it. People who will take a very sharp piece of steel with no training wheels on it, and hold it against areas that would be very bad to cut, are probably more alike someplace than different.

I live in Michigan, and politics here is pretty volital. It separates families from one another. So maybe I'm sensitive to it from that point of view.

But working for GM, I have to work even harder to find a happy place every day. This is that place. So, for me, I like to keep it that way.

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Originally Posted by MistressNomad

I'm kinda with you. I'll jump in here with philosophical quandaries, general ethics, and what have you, but I avoid the hard politics and religion.

It's not that I find that aspect of the discussion on SRP unfriendly. In fact, I think it is far more friendly than most places.

It's not that I can't "man up." Politics was my thing for years.

But I have plenty of other places to discuss those things, and the simple fact of the matter is this:

There are certain beliefs that if I know someone holds them, I cannot respect them. It's only a couple things in particular, so it's not like I want everyone to think like I do. I'm open to diverse beliefs, but these couple things really, really bother me.

However my own life and mind has brought me to these conclusions, there are some things we still debate that I think are so archaic in terms of ethics that I just can't like someone who argues the point, and I don't understand how anyone can believe things like that. To me, people who argue these things are like people who argue in favor of bringing back public stoning for trimming your beard, or selling off your daughter for marriage in exchange for a cow.

Once I know, my opinion of that person is forever tainted.

I know that sounds immature. It probably is. But on some of these issues, we're all immature. That's why it gets so heated.

So I just stay the hell out of a lot of the political discourse here. I like you all too much to let something like that taint my thinking to the point where I don't want to talk to someone.

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I really respect the fact that you did not disclose what those things are. This thread would have taken a decidely different turn.:)

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Its because I am right and the rest of you need to straighten up! This is meant to be to funny though true. Enjoy it for what its worth (not much sometimes), you never know when you might learn something.

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:roflmao:roflmao:roflmao:roflmao:roflmao

I am really starting to like this thread.

John Stuart Mill comments on this very topic in "On Liberty," Chap. 2 Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion:

"In the case of any person whose judgment is really deserving of confidence, how has it become so? Because he has kept his mind open to criticism of his opinions and conduct. Because it has been his practice to listen to all that could be said against him; to profit by as much of it as was just, and expound to himself, and upon occasion to others, the fallacy of what was fallacious. Because he has felt, that the only way in which a human being can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject, is by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion, and studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind. No wise man ever acquired his wisdom in any mode but this; nor is it in the nature of human intellect to become wise in any other manner."

There is more at this link: II. Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion. Mill, John Stuart. 1869. On Liberty

Besides that, who else do you want to talk with besides a bunch of straight razor goof balls? :)

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Originally Posted by Alembic

I really respect the fact that you did not disclose what those things are. This thread would have taken a decidely different turn.:)

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Well, in the interest of full disclosure, I just can't like someone who doesn't like sharp shinies. :D

I post here because it is interesting. I don't, particularly use forums to get away from the world, if anything I use them to get involved with the world. I think this forum has a great many insightful people, and I take a great deal of pleasure in having my views challenged and also in challenging other peoples. I would like to think I've made a few people stop and think for a second, or at least presented a counter argument in a way that makes them see the other side of the coin. Certainly I have experienced that.

I think my posts in the conversation are perhaps some of the only posts that I've ever made that get thanks, not via the button, but via PM.

I also know that when I post a thread in here, I will get balanced replies, and that the folks here will actually understand what the hell I'm talking about. You could look to my thread on discrimination as an example.

I think it is friendlier than your perceive it. For me, discussion is almost a drug, perhaps it is not for you.

Incidentally, there are a many people who I have disagreed with on here. I couldn't tell you who they are though. They are a great many people on here who's opinions I respect, and I fully imagine the list is quite similar. Even though I have no idea who would be on the first one, I forgot a long time a go.

This thread, in many ways, optimizes this section.

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Originally Posted by honedright

John Stuart Mill comments on this very topic in "On Liberty," Chap. 2 Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion:

"In the case of any person whose judgment is really deserving of confidence, how has it become so? Because he has kept his mind open to criticism of his opinions and conduct. Because it has been his practice to listen to all that could be said against him; to profit by as much of it as was just, and expound to himself, and upon occasion to others, the fallacy of what was fallacious. Because he has felt, that the only way in which a human being can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject, is by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion, and studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind. No wise man ever acquired his wisdom in any mode but this; nor is it in the nature of human intellect to become wise in any other manner."

There is more at this link: II. Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion. Mill, John Stuart. 1869. On Liberty

Besides that, who else do you want to talk with besides a bunch of straight razor goof balls? :)

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Oh, I have no problem with the criticism and discussion of ideas. I like to scrap an I like to get clarity on my beliefs. I was just wondering why people would want to spoil their relaxation with scrapping here. I think I'm getting it.

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Originally Posted by Alembic

In 30 years, I have never had my mind changed on my religious or political beliefs. Neither have I changed anybody's mind. And it gets downright hostile here.

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:) You haven't been a member of many online communities, have you? :)
I have, and I can say without a doubt that the conversation is the most polite and well behaved 'general' discussion forum I've been a part of.

While threads can sometimes be heated, generally there will be no name calling, insults, threats, or other things that spoil the mood.

Even 'the study' on martialtalk.com is a much more hostile environment despite being moderate fairly strictly and it is one of the more friendly ones I've seen. The worst one was a private place where I am a member. Insults were the order of the day, and I've even seen death threats posted in public.

I hope everyone understands that I have no problem with the discussions. And, I am not trying to bury my own head in the sand. I just niavely did not expect this at a forum where people shave with straight razors.

Maybe I should have expected it. I think maybe straight razor shavers could have an opinionated independent streak. : )

I think you should expect any place where a large group of people have contact with each other to have these types of discussions.

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Originally Posted by gregs656

I think you should expect any place where a large group of people have contact with each other to have these types of discussions.

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I think that depends on what
brought the people together in the first place. These types of discussions take place here because there is a forum for them. All of the rest of the forums are for shaving and liesure. If these took place in the honing forum, I woul think the mods would kill them.

My only question was why do you want to?

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Originally Posted by Alembic

I hope everyone understands that I have no problem with the discussions. And, I am not trying to bury my own head in the sand. I just niavely did not expect this at a forum where people shave with straight razors.

Maybe I should have expected it. I think maybe straight razor shavers could have an opinionated independent streak. : )

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Well consider this: Once you find a group of people who you come to respect and in some cases truly befriend, you tend to talk to them about things other than whatever interest originally brought you together. I see it as a tribute to the group, if I'm honest :)

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Originally Posted by richmondesi

Well consider this: Once you find a group of people who you come to respect and in some cases truly befriend, you tend to talk to them about things other than whatever interest originally brought you together. I see it as a tribute to the group, if I'm honest :)

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Good points. I like it.

I post here because I know I'm right and I want the rest of the world to think like me.

Not really. It's just enjoyable sometimes to share ideas with the same straight razor internet folks we already are familiar with about things other than straight razors. Casual conversation has also been chronicled in the chatroom occasionally

I come here to pick fights and rouse some rabble. I do my best to not respect the opinions of others, and demean those who think differently. So far, it seems to be working out for me.

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Originally Posted by Alembic

"I am here to relax and enjoy myself, not poke somebody in the eye or get poked in the eye".

And it gets downright hostile here. It's not that I can't hold my own in one of these threads, its just that it seems to me that we meet here to find some common ground and to put aside the devisive rhetoric that plagues the rest of our lives. I can't seem to find the point to it.

Your Friend,
David

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I'm with you 100 percent, David. This is why I no longer participate in forums dealing with controversial subjects; all I was doing was arguing with folks who were as entrenched in their thinking as I was in mine. No one's opinion was changing.
So, all in all, I found these threads to be frustrating and pointless. Now, I stick with the fun stuff!

http://images.needfulemporium.com/ma...serialNumber=1

Forget the BS I posted earlier. There can be no other reason why I participate in The Conversation forum except that:

I :banghead: am a :banghead::banghead: glutton :banghead::banghead: for pain :banghead::banghead:

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Originally Posted by MistressNomad

or selling off your daughter for marriage in exchange for a cow.

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Even one with a high milk yield?

Well, I suppose if it's a super-cow, perhaps. :D

If I could've gotten a cow for my ex-wife, it would have been an even trade.