The Welcome To Political Hotwire Thread.

Sparta · 08-03-2007, 07:30 PM

This thread is for giving a generic welcome to new members. I'd like this thread to be helpfull for anyone considering membership, or to those who have already decided to participate. I'd like the senior members to offer advice on debate tactics, or anything else that you can think of that would be helpfull for a new member. Please be aware, I will be deleting posts that do not meet that criteria for this thread.

Example.

It would be helpfull if you don't create an online persona such as Jimmy the Bartender, Crusty the Clown, or Jeff Beard the Pirate. No one will take you seriously, and the effort required to maintain a lie will eventually drive you from participation.

Vortex · 08-03-2007, 07:58 PM

I told TennesseeRain that no one would believe she is from Tennessee with that accent of her's and not everyone knows about Joe Strummer, but did she listen.

Good advice there Sparta. If you had gone with Spartacus, well, you wouldn't be the SuperMod you are today.

Welcome to PH folks, take nothing and no one for granted. And use the ignore feature from time to time, vacations are very important.

Think for myself · 08-03-2007, 08:04 PM

Hi, my name is Think for myself, because I like to think for myself.

I'm 39, overly tattooed, proud papa of two Boxers, and I live in NorCal.

I'm a really nice guy who treats everyone fairly and with the utmost of respect. I am a Liberal with a bit of Libertarian thrown in. I am looking forward to talking and getting to know all of you.

Distressed American · 08-03-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparta

This thread is for giving a generic welcome to new members. I'd like this thread to be helpfull for anyone considering membership, or to those who have already decided to participate. I'd like the senior members to offer advice on debate tactics, or anything else that you can think of that would be helpfull for a new member. Please be aware, I will be deleting posts that do not meet that criteria for this thread.

Example.

It would be helpfull if you don't create an online persona such as Jimmy the Bartender, Crusty the Clown, or Jeff Beard the Pirate. No one will take you seriously, and the effort required to maintain a lie will eventually drive you from participation.

My advice:

Do not waste people's time just saying vague stuff like "you are a partisan hack". Attack the arguments. Not the person. That will get you nowhere but spiraling back and forth.

If you think people are not being honest, show where they are dishonest. But, do not spend a lot of time calling them liars.

If you think that their biases prevent them from accepting established facts present those facts and do not waste you time continuing to force them down their throat. It will get you nowhere. Those that can't accept facts, won't.

freckles · 08-03-2007, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Think for myself

Hi, my name is Think for myself, because I like to think for myself.

I'm 39, overly tattooed, proud papa of two Boxers, and I live in NorCal.

I'm a really nice guy who treats everyone fairly and with the utmost of respect. I am a Liberal with a bit of Libertarian thrown in. I am looking forward to talking and getting to know all of you.

You only own two boxers?
So do you do a lot of laundry or generally free ball it?

Think for myself · 08-03-2007, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freckles

You only own two boxers?
So do you do a lot of laundry or generally free ball it?

Took me a second, but that was a good one.

Babylon · 08-03-2007, 08:56 PM

Welcome all new members! You absolutely have to try the Flashchat feature, it's Amazing, and highly active...

Gammacrat · 09-08-2007, 03:43 PM

Here are some ideas which could form the basis for a New Third party.

THE "FOUR CORNERS" PLATFORM:

CHARTER INVESTMENT
Taxes are not the only way. The states ALREADY invest in the stock market for pensions. If Washington provided funds to them for investment the eventual profits could be spent on Health Care and Education?

HEALTH INSURANCE
First we would pay for it with a combination of the Charter Investment revenues (see above) and corporate taxes.
Everyone would get a National Health Insurance Card but you would be put into different categories depending on your age and employment. These categories would NOT be based on government planning but rather on the current system. If you currently have a job which provides coverage you would receive the same coverage. All others would be left in what we call a “rationed base” category. The status of this category could change from year to year. There will never be enough money or Doctors to provide comprehensive coverage for all. However this is certainly an improvement on the current broken system because it ensures at least basic coverage for all.

THE MID EAST
The Jews’ interpretation of scripture is incomplete. A complete reading of the OLD Testament reveals that the original covenant was flawed because it concentrated too much power in one people. It couldn’t last. The destruction of The Second Temple was God’s sign that it’s end had come. The Gentiles of Europe used to be pagans and now they follow a Jew. The Old Testament predicts a new homeland and a New Covenant for the Jews so this is NOT CONVERSION

THE OATH
There must be a new kind of sensitivity training mandated in all schools. Some people just don’t listen and for them we must have a back up plan. Our plan is based on a set of rules. The following is one possible suggestion for what those rules might be. It’s difference is that instead of focusing on what to do and what not to do, it focuses on why.

1. Nobody asked to be born. Everybody has a contribution to make.
2. Don't jump to conclusions. People will react to the way you treat them.
3. Only offer constructive criticism. People who aren’t established are more vulnerable.
4. Some things are chosen and some things are given. An opinion is the same no matter the source.
5. Harassment accomplishes nothing. Don’t confuse when someone is afraid with when they’re annoyed.
6. Job discrimination will not make someone disappear.
7. Mistakes can matter, but the big picture is the main thing.
8. I will first consider the needs of society before having children.
9. There must be equal opportunity, not equal outcome. It is right to give grants for higher education, but only loans for buying a home.
10. Breaking certain taboos will lead to a burnt out culture.

mogar · 09-10-2007, 08:31 PM

hullo. my name is mogar. as you will probably soon find out, i'm very socialist/leftist. whether that is good or bad on this site remains to be seen. i think i'm going to like this site.

Blueneck · 09-10-2007, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogar

hullo. my name is mogar. as you will probably soon find out, i'm very socialist/leftist. whether that is good or bad on this site remains to be seen. i think i'm going to like this site.

Welcome, Mogar. Lots of righties on this site, but if you're willing to argue with them they're kind of fun.