No bullshit or snark. When you come to a place like this what is your motivation? Are you here to discuss issues? Or are you here to exchange ideas and share opinion? Are you here to educate yourself? The problem I've been having lately (and this isn't confined to here. This is more a blanket statement about the nature of sites like these) is that all those listed above seem to be very, very low down the totem pole. What seems to be the primary motivation for the majority of people (and the sole purpose of message boards themselves) is the notion that you have something to "prove".
I've just seemed to notice that a disturbing number of discussions on message boards seem to always eventually divide along lines that aren't necessarily about an exchange of ideas, discussion or critical examination. More often they're about that notion of proof: Proof that your opinion is superior, proof that you're smarter than someone else, proof that your tastes are more refined than others. I think I'm just as guilty of it as anyone (maybe it's not even a conscious decision or choice in many cases) but I just wonder where does this come from and how does the culture of a message board enable it.
I've just seemed to notice that a disturbing number of discussions on message boards seem to always eventually divide along lines that aren't necessarily about an exchange of ideas, discussion or critical examination. More often they're about that notion of proof: Proof that your opinion is superior, proof that you're smarter than someone else, proof that your tastes are more refined than others. I think I'm just as guilty of it as anyone (maybe it's not even a conscious decision or choice in many cases) but I just wonder where does this come from and how does the culture of a message board enable it.
