Cancel Culture

[Gypsy Nirvana]

- well - we are 30 pages into this thread - and by all accounts it seems to be going fairly well - we have those who recognize this so-called Cancel Culture - and others who don't - and they are talking about it - so what more do you want from a forum site? - maybe a dose of Trotsky or Mussolini? - lol

- was just listening to this lady - who has a book out I should buy called 'Prey' - seems fairly astute - and a pretty good author covering very difficult territory - you can also check out her other book called 'Heretic' -

Prey: Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the Relationship between Immigration and Sexual Assaults in Europe - YouTube

 

[Gry]

From the good people at the Hoover Institution. We are blessed to live in such interesting times.

 

[Chi13]

TLDR that bullshit

Translation; Short attention span and unable to comprehend anything complex.

 

[White Beard]

 

[Chi13]

- Ahh - this whole lefty/righty palava all over again - does get rather tiring old bean - and as for ramming anything down your throat - what exactly has got stuck in your caw - can you be more precise? - rather than just using the obvious cop-out 'right or left wing issue' - and pasting it all over any issue that might concern people - as if all issues have to be blue or red - that might be the problem in itself - via people not being able to discuss certain issues reasonably - sensibly and logically - because that does not follow the narrative of their chosen political colour -

I'm with VerdantGreen on this. The fact is whether you like it or not, all this stuff about Cancel Culture is a prominent Right Wing argument. A simple search will answer that. The first post in the thread is from Sky news, an Australian newsite known for it's Right Wing views and owned by Rupert Murdoch. Right or Left is a description of political views, not a cop out.

This thread was started by a Super Mod (whatever that is, it sounds important!). Another thread about the Kalergi Plan, another Right Wing conspiracy theory is started by you, the site owner. The fact that the site owner and a Supermod started them gives more weight than if a member started them. To have them as sticky's gives further weight to their importance.

To have these threads as sticky's sets a political tone for the speakers corner. Personally I wish this site was not political in any way and I don't often post in these parts of the site anymore. It isn't really discussion; it is just opposing views at 10 paces (see reaction to the article I posted back a page for example).

 

[Gypsy Nirvana]

''I am quite Leftie, but Right or Left doesn't matter any more. We're entering a new area of politics. It's authoritarian or anti-authoritarian. That's it. You're either with or against this censorious mob who go: 'No, you can't say that, that's wrong. It's chest-feeding not breastfeeding. Tear down all the statues.' '

In full flow, he continues: 'It's a burgeoning religion with no repentance and no forgiveness. I never understood before how Nazi Germany could happen. Now I do. It makes me want to resist with every single ounce of my being.'

We meet at the Reclaim party headquarters in Central London in the week Laurence is launching a provocative poster campaign, featuring a statue of Winston Churchill being gagged. This, as Laurence hoped, is making many of us sit up and take notice.

He hasn't eaten yet today so is running on zeal with a huge scarf wrapped around his neck to keep out the cold.

Speaking of the poster, he says: 'I wanted it to be like a Clash album cover so people start to get it into their heads that politics is now rock and roll.

'The arts are meant to challenge cultural norms, but that's dead now. Politics is the only place you can challenge those little woke b*****ds.'

* interesting article about Lawrence Fox - a 'Cancelled' actor - so claimed to be -
Laurence Fox: The tyranny of the woke mob has made me realise how the Nazis came to power | Daily Mail Online

 

[Gypsy Nirvana]

I'm with VerdantGreen on this. The fact is whether you like it or not, all this stuff about Cancel Culture is a prominent Right Wing argument. A simple search will answer that. The first post in the thread is from Sky news, an Australian newsite known for it's Right Wing views and owned by Rupert Murdoch. Right or Left is a description of political views, not a cop out.

This thread was started by a Super Mod (whatever that is, it sounds important!). Another thread about the Kalergi Plan, another Right Wing conspiracy theory is started by you, the site owner. The fact that the site owner and a Supermod started them gives more weight than if a member started them. To have them as sticky's gives further weight to their importance.

To have these threads as sticky's sets a political tone for the speakers corner. Personally I wish this site was not political in any way and I don't often post in these parts of the site anymore. It isn't really discussion; it is just opposing views at 10 paces (see reaction to the article I posted back a page for example).

- If you are also looking for this so-called 'level playing field' - then post a thread - to create a balance - since you seem to feel like there is no balance of views here - and its all about arguments that you don't like - then make some about arguments/debates that you do like - lets hear it from you - it won't improve - If all you can do is complain -

- and if what you say is some 'right-wing argument' - then what is the left-wing argument against it? - discuss - that's what we do on forum sites -

 

[Chi13]

''I am quite Leftie, but Right or Left doesn't matter any more. We're entering a new area of politics. It's authoritarian or anti-authoritarian. That's it. You're either with or against this censorious mob who go: 'No, you can't say that, that's wrong. It's chest-feeding not breastfeeding. Tear down all the statues.' '

In full flow, he continues: 'It's a burgeoning religion with no repentance and no forgiveness. I never understood before how Nazi Germany could happen. Now I do. It makes me want to resist with every single ounce of my being.'

We meet at the Reclaim party headquarters in Central London in the week Laurence is launching a provocative poster campaign, featuring a statue of Winston Churchill being gagged. This, as Laurence hoped, is making many of us sit up and take notice.

He hasn't eaten yet today so is running on zeal with a huge scarf wrapped around his neck to keep out the cold.

Speaking of the poster, he says: 'I wanted it to be like a Clash album cover so people start to get it into their heads that politics is now rock and roll.

'The arts are meant to challenge cultural norms, but that's dead now. Politics is the only place you can challenge those little woke b*****ds.'

* interesting article about Lawrence Fox - a 'Cancelled' actor - so claimed to be -
Laurence Fox: The tyranny of the woke mob has made me realise how the Nazis came to power | Daily Mail Online

I find it hard to take someone seriously when they try to compare cancel culture to Nazi Germany. He is not commenting from a concentration camp, or being starved or gassed. And really, what irony, complaining about not being allowed to have his say, whilst having his say from a prominent newspaper/ online news source. These same people complaining about having their views "cancelled" are all having their say all over the internet ad nausium. Almost every news source has covered this in some way. Soon we will have a "cancel talking about cancel culture movement."

From my point of view this is mostly people complaining about being called out for some views such as racist, homophobic, and sexist. They want the right to abuse people like the "good old days".I am about your age Gypsy and grew up in an age where people got abused and bashed if they were gay, domestic violence was rife and swept under the carpet, and the indigenous people in my country counld not even vote. Discrimination on race and/ or sex was rifte. This has slowly changed for the better and some want to go back?

 

[Chi13]

- If you are also looking for this so-called 'level playing field' - then post a thread - to create a balance - since you seem to feel like there is no balance of views here - and its all about arguments that you don't like - then make some about arguments/debates that you do like - lets hear it from you - it won't improve - If all you can do is complain -

- and if what you say is some 'right-wing argument' - then what is the left-wing argument against it? - discuss - that's what we do on forum sites -

Yeah well I did post an article about this in the previous page, which is a good argument against what is presented in this thread. It was pretty much ignored, apart from a one line abusive response,"TLDR that bullshit". It's the internet and I don't care; It's kind of funny that a few paragraphs are too hard, but really I don't see debate in these threads, just people looking to support their own views, or abuse those who don't agree.
Anyway, I've given this more than I wanted. Back to my self imposed speakers corner ban.

 

[Gypsy Nirvana]

I find it hard to take someone seriously when they try to compare cancel culture to Nazi Germany. He is not commenting from a concentration camp, or being starved or gassed. And really, what irony, complaining about not being allowed to have his say, whilst having his say from a prominent newspaper/ online news source. These same people complaining about having their views "cancelled" are all having their say all over the internet ad nausium. Almost every news source has covered this in some way. Soon we will have a "cancel talking about cancel culture movement."

From my point of view this is mostly people complaining about being called out for some views such as racist, homophobic, and sexist. They want the right to abuse people like the "good old days".I am about your age Gypsy and grew up in an age where people got abused and bashed if they were gay, domestic violence was rife and swept under the carpet, and the indigenous people in my country counld not even vote. Discrimination on race and/ or sex was rifte. This has slowly changed for the better and some want to go back?

Yeah - I will agree - all this Nazi referencing is a bit rich - since being a National Socialist kinda lost its shine in the 1940's - but it gets the headlines - anything with 'Nazi' in it seems to get the headlines -

- The 'Good Old Days?' - when you could make a joke about an Irishman - and an Irishman could make a joke about you - or a Scotsman - or a Welshman - and no-one really took offence - because it was humour/banter - 'there is no greater talent - than to be able to laugh at yourself ' - someone once said to me -

* oh - here is some humour from the past - It Ain't Half Hot Mum Season 2 Episode 1 Showing The Flag - YouTube

 

[gaiusmarius]

An article on counter culture.

The Great Hypocrisy of Right-Wingers Claiming ‘Cancel Culture’

Conservatives don’t hate cancellation. They hate consequences—for themselves.

By Kali Holloway

March 19, 2021

Imagine complaining you are a victim of “cancel culture”—from the floor of the House of Representatives, no less—and then the very next day holding a packed press conference covered by every single major news outlet. Or wearing a mask with the word “CENSORED” on it while you deliver fully uncensored remarks to millions of broadcast television viewers. This is how Marjorie Taylor Greene—the first lady of political thea-tuh who tweeted about suffering the “slings and arrows” of a “vicious cancel culture mob”—has spent her time in office so far. In the rare moments between her anti–“cancel culture” rants on high-profile right-wing podcasts and TV shows, the Georgia representative posts incessantly about just how canceled she’s been to her social media audience of more than 735,000 followers.

Greene and the entire right wing are currently using “cancel culture” in the same way Rudy Giuliani used to deploy “a noun, verb and 9/11”—as a handy-dandy phrase to inoculate themselves from wholly valid criticism. (Rhetorically, “political correctness” is its more direct predecessor, but then Black Twitter invented the term “cancel” and white conservatives decided that, like everything else, they just had to have it.) The current ubiquity of the phrase belies its central thesis, since all the airtime and column space conservatives are given to talk about cancellation proves they were never cancelled in the first place.

Ted Cruz claimed at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference that liberals have canceled stand-up comedy, and “Judge” Jeanine Pirro called the shutdown of white supremacist safe-space Parler a “censorship that is akin to a Kristallnacht.” The theme of this year’s CPAC, by the way, was “America Uncanceled” (though even organizers canceled one of their speakers), and the Republican National Committee last summer actually issued a resolution that stated: “Freedom of speech is trampled on daily with the notions of ‘political correctness,’ the plan to eliminate so-called ‘hate speech,’ and the promotion of a ‘cancel culture,’ which has grown into erasing of history, encouraging lawlessness, muting citizens, and violating free exchange of ideas, thoughts, and speech.”


Republican Senator Josh Hawley claimed his loss of a book deal because he voted to overturn a democratic election and helped incite a treasonous insurrection was an assault on his First Amendment rights, writing, “I will fight this cancel culture with everything I have. We’ll see you in court.” (Hawley got a new publisher roughly two weeks later and hasn’t mentioned the lawsuit since.) Jim Jordan, another Senate GOP “Stop the Steal” booster, called cancel culture—not Covid, escalating white-supremacist terror, or sexual abuse of college athletes during his time as a campus coach—the “most dangerous” issue in the country, and cited Donald Trump’s being kicked off Twitter for inciting the Capitol insurrection as proof that cancellation will cause “long-term consequences to our democracy.”

These are laughable concerns from those who tried to cancel millions of black people’s votes in the last presidential election, and whose party is now cranking out literally hundreds of voter suppression laws to cancel Black people’s voting rights. It’s also a perfect illustration of the bait-and-switch tactic underlying all the phony Republican hysteria fueling so-called cancel culture. Conservatives’ indignation is really just anger over the fact that marginalized folks—mostly thanks to social media—can now call them out for all the things they regularly say and do to further racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic agendas and white mob violence. What these put-upon conservatives are really pissed about isn’t censorship or cancellation. It’s consequences.

Or rather, they’re against consequences for themselves. When they were the ones doing all the canceling, the right wing was actually fervently pro-cancellation. It’s not just the fundamental lie of “cancel culture” that’s so irritating, it’s the staggering hypocrisy of those who can’t stop, won’t stop whining about it. Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, in a tizzy over the discontinuation by the estate of Dr. Seuss of six lesser-known books with racist content, had the audacity to gripe via social media that “the woke mob” is trying “to erase our history and cancel anyone who disagrees.” This is the same Tom Cotton who wrote a whole legislative act aimed at banning schools from teaching the 1619 Project, the initiative exploring how the United States was indelibly shaped by slavery—or what Cotton blithely describes as “the necessary evil upon which the union was built.” Cotton is not concerned about the censoring of history; he’s just picky about what parts of history get erased. What the Arkansas senator really means when he gets prickly about preserving “our history” is making sure the mythical white-supremacist recollection of American events is the only version schoolkids can read. Along with racist Dr. Seuss books, of course.

There is an historic thread tying right-wingers who today call everything left of them communism, who label anti-racist and social justice movements like BLM terrorism, and the anti–civil rights racists and red-baiting McCarthyite “traditionalists” of yesteryear. You want to know who was actually canceled by these sorts? Abolitionist Cassius Marcellus Clay, who was ordered by a court to stop printing his abolitionist newspaper The True American, had all his printing machines stolen by an angry racist mob, and was twice the target of attempted assassinations. Callie House, mother of five and a formerly enslaved woman who fought for reparations for emancipated black folks, who was railroaded on phony mail fraud charges in 1917 and served a year in the Missouri State Penitentiary. Labor leader and Socialist Party Chair Eugene Debs, who spent more than two years in jail for a 1918 anti-war speech.

There was also Paul Robeson, who had his passport revoked by the US State Department for his political beliefs and was forced to spend more than a decade living abroad. Racism and red-scare hysteria also canceled the acting career of Canada Lee, who was blacklisted from movies and died broke in 1952 at the age of 45. The song “Mississippi Goddam” got Nina Simon banned from the radio and much of the American South, and the Federal Bureau of Narcotics essentially hounded Billie Holiday to death for the sin of stubbornly refusing to stop performing the anti-lyching song “Strange Fruit.”

But really, we don’t even have to look that far back in time for examples of right-wing cancellation. All these self-deputized anti–“cancel culture” cops were, just a few years ago, openly in favor of canceling NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who kneeled—instead of sitting, on the advice of a former Green Beret—during the national anthem to protest police brutality against black folks. When right-wingers attempted to paint Kaepernick’s protest as an un-American insult to the military, he reiterated his respect for the “men and women [who] have fought for this country,” and underscored the need for America to stand by the principles it claims to send citizens to wage wars over.

“They fight for freedom. They fight for the people. They fight for liberty and justice for everyone,” Kaepernick said way back in August 2016, just days after his first silent protest. “That’s not happening. People are dying in vain because this country isn’t holding their end of the bargain up, as far as giving freedom and justice, liberty to everybody.”

What’s more traditionally American than black folks’ peacefully protesting as a way to demand that this country actually fulfill its promise of “freedom and justice, liberty to everybody”? In response, the people who now won’t shut up about being shut down —those who Debs, in the speech that got him jailed, rightly described as those “wrapped up in the American flag, who shout their claim from the housetops that they are the only patriots, and who have their magnifying glasses in hand, scanning the country for evidence of disloyalty”—were very keen on canceling Kaepernick for exercising the First Amendment rights they now claim to cherish. That group was led by Trump, who pushed hard to have Kaepernick fired. In a now infamous 2017 speech, the then-president targeted “NFL owners”—an overwhelmingly Republican collective of billionaires—and essentially demanded that when a player knelt in protest, they should throw “that son of a bitch off the field right now.”

The NFL kowtowed to Trump, decreeing that players who did not stand during the anthem would be fined. Not quite satisfied, Trump doubled down on his cancellation demands, saying, “You have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there, maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.” Two years after getting Kaepernick and NFL safety Eric Reid effectively blackballed from their careers for exercising their constitutional rights, Trump claimed that “cancel culture, driving people from their jobs, shaming dissenters and demanding total submission from anyone who disagrees,” is “the very definition of totalitarianism.”

Marjorie Taylor Greene applauded Trump’s condemnations, posting social media messages alternately demanding “NO KNEELING” and thanking Trump “for pushing” the kneeling issue. The website Law Enforcement Today quoted her describing Kaepernick as a “destructive vocal influencer.” (Notably, when one of Greene’s conservative allies complained of censorship, Greene did a 180, tweeting, “You shouldn’t have to stop speaking the truth and posting about your political beliefs in order to continue your work…. And you are guaranteed free speech by the 1A!”) Cruz told his followers they should cancel rich spoiled athletes who “dishonor our flag” by committing to “never buy another shoe, shirt, or jersey.” Pirro called NFL protests for social justice “crap” and when Kaepernick sued the NFL for collusion, went on TV to loudly shout that Kaepernick didn’t “have a right to be in the NFL.” Yes, the woman who compared Trump’s Twitter ban to a Nazi pogrom against the Jews had the gall to demean Kaepernick as “a crybaby.”

Those calls to cancel Kaepernick, juxtaposed against the bogus concerns about “cancel culture” now coming from the same quarters, prove what was always painfully obvious: White conservatives don’t want free speech; they want to speak hate without repercussions. The most salient American conservative value is cultural dominance, and these people resent the cultural shifts they perceive as threatening that dominance. For so long, they took pleasure in canceling folks for challenging their power, punishing dissenters by ruining reputations, careers and lives. Now, they’ve seized upon the word “cancel” to describe the comparatively mild discomfort of being held vaguely accountable by the people they believe should shut up, and put up with the pain they actively seek to cause. The anti–“cancel culture” movement runs on resentment and fear—of the democratization of social authority and influence, which they believe whittles away at their position as the arbiters of morality, justice, and freedom—virtues they have always defined in transparently narrow, self-serving terms. I’m not sure I’ve seen a better encapsulation of what cancel culture is about than just after the white-supremacist Capitol coup attempt, when The Nation contributor Andrew McCormick described one participant’s rage over facing consequences she obviously regarded as meant for other people.

​

The sad part is, their powers almost fully remain intact. They’re just too greedy to recognize it.

Consequently, we get Tomi Lahren— the right-wing bullhorn whose entire career is such an unendingly tired and badly argued hot take about Kaepernick that she should have to pay him royalties and residuals from every paycheck—having the unmitigated nerve to call cancel culture “deadly and unAmerican.” Lahren has spent the last several months calling for conservatives to use cancel culture to cancel cancel culture, a plan demonstrating a stunning lack of vision or originality. What she means is that the right should keep perfecting the very thing they invented. Even as they complain of being victimized by it.

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/republicans-cancel-culture-kaepernick/

you are making this way more complicated then it needs to be. i have no issue with people deciding where to spend or not spend their money, its only when you want to force others not to spend or to spend that i have a problem. finding examples of ridiculous people saying silly shit and using that to say it doesn't exist is missing the point.

basically the argument you dug up and quoted above, goes like this, oh people are fighting back against having people they like cancelled, so that means cancel culture doesn't exist. then you bring a bunch of terrible examples. the ones you still see and hear about are the ones that didnt get successfully cancelled btw. because most normal thinking people don't like the idea of cancelling a human being. as Gypsy said this crowd is so rabid that there is never a path to redemption, if you apologize its not good enough. so yes i agree with Gypsy, this culture of absolutes and hate for non main stream thinking has to be resisted.

 

[Gypsy Nirvana]

- Thinking about it - years ago - must have been back in the early 1970's - I was delivering papers for this Greek Cypriot newsagent/shop-owner in Greater London - 7 days a week in the mornings - and I distinctly remember him telling me not to spend any money at the 'Paki Shops' several times - because he said they were terrorists who will try and take over the country - Apparently his family had been having problems with the Turkish Cypriots when he lived in Cyprus - who were trying to take over the country - so he said - and they were Islamic - like the Pakistani's - I guess you could call that an attempt to 'Cancel' the business of another for religious reasons - funny though today - just about all the newsagents and corner shops are now owned and run by people that originate from Pakistan and other Islamic nations around here - lol - maybe the Greek Cypriot shop-owner ended up getting 'Cancelled' instead?

Who Lives in Cyprus?


Cyprus has 1.1 million inhabitants, about the same as Rhode Island, but in an area around three and a half times the size. About 78 percent are Greek Cypriots (most of them Orthodox Christians) and about 18 percent are Turkish Cypriots (most of them Sunni Muslims). The country has three officially recognized Christian minorities — Maronites, Latins (Roman Catholics) and Armenians — and a small Roma, or Gypsy, community.

Cyprus: Why One of the World’s Most Intractable Conflicts Continues - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

 

[Cannavore]

No one can force to you to not spend your money somewhere lol.

Ben Shapiro being "cancelled" from colleges means nothing. You can still listen to his verbal diarrhea on the daily caller, his youtube channel, his twitter, his mainstream media appearances, and whatever else he does. These people are not banned from society lol.

 

[NEW ENGLAND]

Bah....ah...ah...ah


Cancel Culture is fake news.....LMAO

The leftys may be right , segregation may be the right course moving forward.

 

[VerdantGreen]

Gypsy, Gai, i'm really sorry to be kicking up a fuss about all this. Believe me, i don't relish the thought of picking an argument with the owner and supermod of the Cannabis forum and community i love so much.
I'm not asking for left wing bias.. that would be just as wrong as the right-wing bias that i'm objecting to.
All i'm asking for is neutrality.... and stickying your own pet subjects is not being neutral.
This is a cannabis community, to bring political discussion here is potentially deeply divisive -and i'm sure that many members here would think it best left alone (as do i)... though i do concede that maybe there is an argument for having these discussions - but only if they are conducted on a level playing field.
Gypsy, you are clearly more interested in discussing politics/culture these days than you are in discussing cannabis - but you've got to understand that this is still a canna forum and some of these topics that you are promoting are going to offend people and drive them away... - which seems a shame when we are largely here because we are united in our love of cannabis.
As someone who has spent the last 12 years here posting content, building a profile and little seed biz here, i object strongly to the imposition of that political agenda which i feel reflects on the nature of the whole site, including myself.
Again, i'm not asking for you to delete the threads or stop posting in the threads... there is nothing to stop you bumping them every day, but to make them stickies is biased and wrong mate, and it leads to people feeling alienated from the whole site - which is bad for the community and bad for business!
One thing i hope is beyond question is my love and loyalty to IC, and it is exactly that which is making me stand up and be counted about this issue.
sincerely,
VG

 

[Nannymouse]

'Cancel Culture' is not something new, gosh, the Egyptian pyramids and tombs are rife with it. History is written by the winners. World has been full of it.

I just wonder why it is as it is, right now.

 

[Gypsy Nirvana]

Gypsy, Gai, i'm really sorry to be kicking up a fuss about all this. Believe me, i don't relish the thought of picking an argument with the owner and supermod of the Cannabis forum and community i love so much.
I'm not asking for left wing bias.. that would be just as wrong as the right-wing bias that i'm objecting to.
All i'm asking for is neutrality.... and stickying your own pet subjects is not being neutral.
This is a cannabis community, to bring political discussion here is potentially deeply divisive -and i'm sure that many members here would think it best left alone (as do i)... though i do concede that maybe there is an argument for having these discussions - but only if they are conducted on a level playing field.
Gypsy, you are clearly more interested in discussing politics/culture these days than you are in discussing cannabis - but you've got to understand that this is still a canna forum and some of these topics that you are promoting are going to offend people and drive them away... - which seems a shame when we are largely here because we are united in our love of cannabis.
As someone who has spent the last 12 years here posting content, building a profile and little seed biz here, i object strongly to the imposition of that political agenda which i feel reflects on the nature of the whole site, including myself.
Again, i'm not asking for you to delete the threads or stop posting in the threads... there is nothing to stop you bumping them every day, but to make them stickies is biased and wrong mate, and it leads to people feeling alienated from the whole site - which is bad for the community and bad for business!
One thing i hope is beyond question is my love and loyalty to IC, and it is exactly that which is making me stand up and be counted about this issue.
sincerely,
VG

Oh - 'Kicking up a Fuss' - be my guest - and I'd rather use the word debate - than argument - it sounds much more civil - and although you may take up a contrary position to I within the debate - that does not make you an enemy - or someone to be disrespected - at all -

- You may deem that political discussion is 'deeply divisive' - and I may think that it is essential - if we are to have a progressive civilization - and not an idiocracy - since healthy debate is the essence of civil discourse - and whether I have this forum here to discuss difficult topics amongst us - such as this one - is really of my own choosing - and for the reason I have just expressed - I think that it is important - and we have the want and need for it here - otherwise The Speakers Corner - would be completely empty -

- and now we are back to the 'level playing field' analogy - inferring that this is some sort of sport - so who are the teams? - and what is the game?

- am I on the 'A' team - or the 'B' team? - it does make one wonder -

- This forum is rather tucked away on the site - not even mentioned on the main forum page - and its lost amongst at least a hundred other forums - mainly concerning cannabis - and has shown to be quite a popular forum - for members who don't mind discussing such difficult/awkward subjects and topics - that might be of interest in politics - current affairs/history or religion - and anyone is welcome to comment - Cannabis will always be a love of my life - it gives me much relief daily - and has done for almost half a century now - if it had not - then we wouldn't be having this conversation - because ICMAG would simply not be here -

- Once again - there is no political agenda here - is anyone trying to sell you copies of Das Capital or Mein Kampf? - are you getting spam P.M.'s asking for money for rifles from F.A.R.C? - are we running banners for 'Charlie Sheen for President 2004?' -

- Alienated from the site? - I don't think so - because you are all welcome to post your own threads about whatever you think are important issues - and engage in any thread you like - just the same as I am able to - so lets see what issues are of interest to you - what do you have to say - other than complaining about stickied threads - and an un-even playing field - step up to the plate - and bat -

 

[VerdantGreen]

Ok, thanks for the response. I won't play in a rigged game though, so whilst there is a political bias here through your choice of sticky's, i won't participate in the discussions - because that might look to others like my tacit approval of what's going on..... although i do find that quite difficult sometimes because i have strong opinions on some of these issues.

VG

 

[Gypsy Nirvana]

Ok, thanks for the response. I won't play in a rigged game though, so whilst there is a political bias here through your choice of sticky's, i won't participate in the discussions - because that might look to others like my tacit approval of what's going on..... although i do find that quite difficult sometimes because i have strong opinions on some of these issues.

VG

- well that's an easy cop-out - why not just make a thread on your strong opinions - if its good enough - we can make it a sticky too - get it out of your system - don't be worried about what 'others' think of you - be yourself - there is no competition here - or playing field - just a forum site where you can make threads and posts - so take advantage of it -

 

[VerdantGreen]

Sorry mate, Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park is where people go to stand up and be heard... everyone has an equal chance to get the people's attention with the merit of their argument and their debating skills.... you call this speakers corner, but your sticky'd threads are bit like setting up a 10K rig to drown everyone else out! They completely undermine all your arguments about free/fair debate and discussion being important, which otherwise are quite sound.
VG