It has been for me.

Whenever I have told my friends or some relatives that I participate in a political forum, a good one, not nasty, they generally say I need to quit that. I haven't followed up on the why in detail. I presume they think it's hardening my opinions in my old age.

Actually, IMO, it has done me a lot of good. There are several reasons. For one, I think I'm more informed than average due to participation herein. That's not only from reading other's opinions, but also from researching and paying attention to so-deemed news.

Another reason, simply, is that I have learned a lot about how to express my thoughts with mere words, and it's a blessing. It helps sort the feelings, emotions, body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, muddled sentence structure, etc., from the purity of mere words. It has broadened my vocabulary and provided practice in concise word, sentence, paragraph, expression, structure.

It has also taught me a lot regarding figuring someone out in ways that matter in debate, where they are coming from, etc., by reducing the interaction down to mere words. It eliminates the influence of body language, facial expressions, tone, etc. I like the purity of the debate platform and the anonymous factor.

There is spillover. It helps with debates or arguments in person too - getting to the nitty gritty quicker, with practice of just analyzing words. That's hard in person. Easier on a forum. But familiarity of the usual arguments gives a head start. Usually I read it first here.

I don't think of it as hardening my opinions, but instead being more assured that I'm on the right track, re reality, etc.

I think this forum is a gift, maybe unintentional.

But anyway, Thanks Saeed.

I am told it is one of the very few, if any, political forums on hunting and shooting websites that allows both side to express their opinions!

It is very generous of Saeed to host us.

I consider the pf no more or less a platform to discuss internationally. I get to converse with Mike and Jtex, M.E. and Jdollar, Shanks and Saeed.
Nobody's mind is changed, nobody "wins" here. (the retards beg to differ,) but we all can have honest conversations without the worry of hurt feelings or damaged relationships. Shrodinger used to call it "venting a spleen" and ok, but I think the value of the PF for we participants is to be able to express feelings, preferences, prejudices, maybe even anger and as long as it's in some kind of civilized manner there are no repercussions. Not so in real life.

I enjoy a good debate. This forum is valuable and Ive learnt a lot from it over the years. Its a good place to learn how to express your opinions and also get your butt handed too you occasionally too. Which doesn't do any harm.
While it might seem like ho opinions are changed, I definitely go away at times very thoughtful and some of the "oppositions" commentary does add too my ongoing thought processes.
My downside I think is I can be a little too forthright at times.
My upside is I seldom hold a grudge for long.

For me this place is of value, so yes, cheers Saeed! You bloody monarchist!

But also lots of misinformation as well
Or rather put, misplaced opinions
The name calling is stupid
Overall, funny and entertaining

quote:

Originally posted by shankspony:
I enjoy a good debate. This forum is valuable and Ive learnt a lot from it over the years. Its a good place to learn how to express your opinions and also get your butt handed too you occasionally too. Which doesn't do any harm.
While it might seem like ho opinions are changed, I definitely go away at times very thoughtful and some of the "oppositions" commentary does add too my ongoing thought processes.
My downside I think is I can be a little too forthright at times.
My upside is I seldom hold a grudge for long.

For me this place is of value, so yes, cheers Saeed! You bloody monarchist!

You silly lot!

You gather at a place run by a pair of Semites!

A Muslim and a Jew!

We never stop laughing at you lot with your convoluted political opinions!

Speaking of convoluted, you should tell him about the Balfour declaration.

Yep we laugh too you know.

The ARPF continues to be valuable in its designed capacity -- protect the other forums from 'kak.'

quote:

Originally posted by shankspony:
Speaking of convoluted, you should tell him about the Balfour declaration.

Yep we laugh too you know.

Snort!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I am told it is one of the very few, if any, political forums on hunting and shooting websites that allows both side to express their opinions!

It's that and more, somehow.

I tried participating in other political type forums several years ago but didn't continue long because the debates got too nasty IMO. Nothing constructive there.

This forum has had episodes but the culprits didn't last long. Either they couldn't stand the reality check heat or were banned. I don't know which and didn't keep tabs. I do remember a couple of notorious trolls and spammers who were banned after repeated warnings from admin.

So, this forum is unique, IMO, but not sure why. Maybe just luck. I'm pretty sure it's attributable to the quality of the participants more than anything else.

==================================================================

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

You silly lot!

You gather at a place run by a pair of Semites!

A Muslim and a Jew!

We never stop laughing at you lot with your convoluted political opinions!

I was curious about the word Semite, since I never use it. So I looked it up:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Semite

Semite, obsolete term, popularized in the 19th century, that originally described a member of any people who speak one of the Semitic languages, a family of languages that includes Arabic, Hebrew, Amharic, Aramaic, and Tigrinya, among others. The term was later used in an ethnic sense, even though there has never been a shared Semitic identity among Semitic-speaking peoples. When used in that sense, Semite often referred specifically to people of Jewish origin, regardless of what language they spoke, a reflection of the antisemitism that was concurrent in 19th-century Europe.

===============================================

It makes little difference to me regarding your self-ID since it apparently has practically no bearing or your influence on content.

It does appear that from your POV and posts that the forum is just a toy, for your entertainment.

That's all the more reason to consider the forum's uniqueness as just luck.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

You silly lot!

You gather at a place run by a pair of Semites!

A Muslim and a Jew!

We never stop laughing at you lot with your convoluted political opinions!

We get tired of plain white bread from time to time, need a sandwich of rye, or a bit of couscous...

AR is part of my morning ritual, for good or ill...

As someone once said, it’s Saeeds personal little ant hill, when he is bored he can give it a poke or a lick and watch the ants run madly about.

I only look here when I have nothing else to do, which isn’t often.

He must be bored a lot!

This place takes on a character of its own anyway.

He doesn't need to prod it.

But we know he does, and enjoys it.

It's not a mystery. He informed us it's so.

In that regard Saeed is no different to any of us. I know I get just as much fun prodding him and getting a response.

That's right Shanks.

I get fun out of it too.

I don't know that I derive any benefit from any forum, but I do enjoy the discourse. The AR site in general is one I have frequented for quite a while. I consider it to be some of the better ones. The PF is easy for a super tolerant, practical conservative like myself to feel comfortable in. Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Leeper:
I don't know that I derive any benefit from any forum, but I do enjoy the discourse. The AR site in general is one I have frequented for quite a while. I consider it to be some of the better ones. The PF is easy for a super tolerant, practical conservative like myself to feel comfortable in. Bill

Bill,

Your posts have always been well reasoned.

And I do see that you are not affected by the media hype!

I obviously get some enjoyment/use out of it or I wouldn't spend as much time here as I do.

. . . the only thing this forum is useful for is wasting time.

That too.

So, I'll ask - has anyone ever changed their opinion as a result of something they learned here, directly or indirectly, better or worse?

I can answer that for myself but would like to read other's answers - IOW learn something. I/we might be surprised.

There are occasionally golden nuggets to be found in this subforum.

But generally they are offered up as levity, and have nothing whatsoever to do with politics.

Things like fishing, gardening, cooking, music, horses, hunting, and guns. You know, important stuff.


.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by shankspony:
I enjoy a good debate. This forum is valuable and Ive learnt a lot from it over the years. Its a good place to learn how to express your opinions and also get your butt handed too you occasionally too. Which doesn't do any harm.
While it might seem like ho opinions are changed, I definitely go away at times very thoughtful and some of the "oppositions" commentary does add too my ongoing thought processes.
My downside I think is I can be a little too forthright at times.
My upside is I seldom hold a grudge for long.

For me this place is of value, so yes, cheers Saeed! You bloody monarchist!

You silly lot!

You gather at a place run by a pair of Semites!

A Muslim and a Jew!

We never stop laughing at you lot with your convoluted political opinions!

Shhhh Saeed, DJT will sent the brown shirts after me and deport me to Dubai !!!!!

Don

I don't know what to make of that Don.

I'll just assume it's a silly joke.

It might be a diversion in this thread.

But anyway, Saeed has posted some stuff herein that stirred me to do some research on the history Semites.

Some of it is contradictory, but overall I think it can be sorted out.

It's difficult to be concise with it all mostly because the history is so long, many years.

So, I ran across this, maybe due to some algorithm, perhaps stirred herein.

Let us know if it's accurate.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/vide...1mF?ocid=socialshare

Early Civilizations of Palestine Explained
This episode explores the early history of Palestine - from its Neolithic agricultural roots to the rise of Iron Age kingdoms. Learn how the land was known as Canaan, Eretz Yisrael, and eventually Palestine, shaped by Canaanite cultures, Egyptian influence, and early Israelite kingdoms. We also trace the origins of the name "Palestine" and the enduring symbolism of the olive tree in Middle Eastern civilizations.