Is this Sandbox too political?

Again, purely your opinion and speculation on your part with the negative adjectives you use. Now, Mr Gristle, although we disagreed on many things, I thought you at least were intelligent. But in my OPINION, you seem to be bitter, or angry, about absolutely nothing. I haven’t checked, but most replies here don’t agree with you. But, by all means, carry on.

Can you respond to my Toilet Paper thread? I’m just trying to keep things “balanced”!!!! Originally Posted by bambino

Most replies here are the same 8-10 (being generous more like 4-5) people. Mr. Gristle seems to have a better understanding that the world is a much bigger place than the scope of your keyboard and handle of Tito’s.

Again, purely your opinion and speculation on your part with the negative adjectives you use. Originally Posted by bambino

Not sure there was a question as to whether it was my opinion. But thanks for confirming, I guess.

As for the rest, not interested in playing that game.

TP threads all yours. Covered some good ground today, some additional takes, got provider involvement AND drank some good bourbon. Seeing some more non-political threads and they're getting some good reactions. Hope it can last.

Not sure there was a question as to whether it was my opinion. But thanks for confirming, I guess.

As for the rest, not interested in playing that game.

TP threads all yours. Covered some good ground today, some additional takes, got provider involvement AND drank some good bourbon. Seeing some more non-political threads and they're getting some good reactions. Hope it can last. Originally Posted by HDGristle

TP is an important part of everyone’s day. Why do you think they sell out of it daily? Don’t underestimate it. Prolly a more important subject than most of the political threads. Currently drinking Windsor. Just a go to whiskey. Nothing special.

You might want to check out my birdwatchers thread.


BTW Mr Gristle, the Sandbox has reached the elusive “balance”!!!! 9 threads on political bullshit, 9 threads on other bullshit on the first page of the Sand Box!!!! We’ve achieved equilibrium!!!!!!! :

Added stuff. Originally Posted by Devo

Very good additions

The bottom line even though the OP doesn't like hearing it is this forum gets a lot of clicks and people are going to talk about topics they are interested in.

Not that hard to understand

TP is an important part of everyone’s day. Why do you think they sell out of it daily? Don’t underestimate it. Prolly a more important subject than most of the political threads. Currently drinking Windsor. Just a go to whiskey. Nothing special.

You might want to check out my birdwatchers thread.


BTW Mr Gristle, the Sandbox has reached the elusive “balance”!!!! 9 threads on political bullshit, 9 threads on other bullshit on the first page of the Sand Box!!!! We’ve achieved equilibrium!!!!!!! : Originally Posted by bambino

That's not how I would see equilibrium. Still work to be done. Progress? Sure. Sustainable? We'll see. Can we or will we draw in more folks for convos? Is it replicatable?

Sustainable cultural shifts don't just happen overnight. And as we've seen in this thread, resistance to change is high.

Look at how many clicks we've generated just from having a handful of people disagree with and mock my viewpoint. Imagine how many more we can generate with a greater variety of content.

I'm still interested in getting more opinions from others though. Let's see if they weigh in.

Getting back to OP's question (if I can even remember what it was now...)
Pre 2016 there were maybe 10 political posts total. In the last 18 months, there have been 10 political posts a day, mostly by the same people. (don't quote me on those numbers - I'm only using it as an example)

My [least] favorite response in any of the political posts in the sandbox is "I guess the libs don't care because they're not replying". No, it's because it's way too toxic here for (what I assume) most 'libs' to waste their time talking to the wall. You've alienated most libs and are only stroking the egos of like-minded individuals, not having an open discussion. What's the purpose of discussion? To change someone's opinion?
Side note - when did 'truth' become an anomaly? It's legitimately the most frustrating part of living in these political times for me.

I for one don't spend every waking hour on eccie; I typically only visit the site on weekends when I'm less busy. I don't have all day Saturday or Sunday to wade through the pages and pages of replies in each thread. If I find a topic worthy of my time (and I admit that I choose ones that I've either already replied to or are 'fresh' - aka not more than 3-4 pages long), I'll reply, but for the most part I ignore the long threads.

As for the guy who said most hobbyists are republican is pretty closed minded. That's like saying guys who are over 6' tall are the only ones who hobby. I'm sure there are quite a few libs here that make decent scratch and visit hos often. If you're going to go down that path, most libs support abortion, so there's that

“when did 'truth' become an anomaly?”

For me when Pelosi said regarding Obamacare, “ We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."

Thanks for weighing in, yinzer. We don't fully agree and we certainly don't have to but I see solid points of common ground.

There's a strong undercurrent of tribalism within this board culture that is not tolerant towards dissenting opinions. Conflicts abound and the reasonable voices in the middle get drowned out by a sea of hyperpartisan rancor because the vocal sqwuak like like seagulls and shit everywhere. Political threads feed that need for attention and projecting strength and dominance. How many of them begin by looking for a fight or as pure shitposts to troll the opposition rather than a legitimate discussion of the issue?

Same happens in how we interact with providers and the way some of the vocal providers interact with us. The moderate voices get tired of slogging through the bullshit and either give up or put their focus elsewhere.

Part of the mistake I see is focusing on only binary options and a "my way or the highway" attitude which fosters toxicity.

... OR the simple fact that somebody starts a thread
and then another poster hi-jacks it and takes the
thread in a different direction.

... Just stay on-point. ... Or start yer-own thread.

It's NOT complicated - please don't make it so.

### Salty

That overly simplistic

... And yet - there it is.

#### Salty

Thanks for weighing in

... OR the simple fact that somebody starts a thread
and then another poster hi-jacks it and takes the
thread in a different direction.

... Just stay on-point. ... Or start yer-own thread.

It's NOT complicated - please don't make it so.

### Salty Originally Posted by Salty Again

This is icky, hijacking threADs is in the bylaws . You have been here since ASPD, can you honestly say that this board or Indys was ever not one hijack after another?

This is icky, hijacking threADs is in the bylaws . You have been here since ASPD, can you honestly say that this board or Indys was ever not one hijack after another? Originally Posted by AmishGangster

It’s like holding in the NFL, you can call it on every thread. But holding in the NFL is more obvious.

There's a strong undercurrent of tribalism within this GOVERNMENT culture that is not tolerant towards dissenting opinions. Conflicts abound and the reasonable voices in the middle get drowned out by a sea of hyperpartisan rancor because the vocal sqwuak like like seagulls and shit everywhere. Political threads feed that need for attention and projecting strength and dominance. How many of them begin by looking for a fight or as pure shitposts to troll the opposition rather than a legitimate discussion of the issue? Originally Posted by HDGristle

FTFY. This has been brewing since at least Obamacare, perhaps earlier. Society, Icky included, are following the same trend as our government officials. More divided, less willing to listen, etc. i don’t think its a trend that will stop anytime soon. I think its going to get much worse before gets better. There is no herding these cats