Posting on Political Forums: Useful Endeavor or Waste of Time?

[Philosoraptor]

I have seen more than a few folks here suggest that posting ideas and opinions on a political chat room is an utter waste of time, and that one's time would be better spent actually "doing something". It is often worded as an insult, and it is inferred that it is in fact utterly useless.

Is it or isn't it? Are we all here right now total time waster slackers? Or are we involved in something real, something that is making a difference? What is so wrong with knocking heads, exchanging ideas and concepts about improving our lot in life?

Is it totally wasting time or is it in some way a real, legitimate use of our time and our brains? If it is a waste of time, then what the hell are we all doing here right now? Should we be ashamed of ourselves, or proud?

[patrice]

1. Not enough choices. It depends . . . .

It depends on the postor and how effective s/he is with persuasion and rhetoric. Some people post simply to inspire and engage in hostility. I don't think that is very effective in bringing about change.

[yurbud]

2. if it was a waste of time, why does it seem like an army of paid shills

show up and repeat the same talking points whenever some issues come up? Probably the most prominent was Jeff Gannon. Suddenly there were hundreds of posts about how it was homophobic to notice he was gay, and if you tried to engage the poster in a discussion about it, they just kept repeating themselves.

Earlier in the Bush years this was crucial for me because it was a chance to see there are other people who are thinking the same things and can remember history further back than half an hour ago. That sense of comraderie gives you the confidence to keep going and even act because you know others are out there.

[IChing]

8. They show up all the time, the truth is something they try to suppress

by many various means.

Some agents take on a pushy, arrogant, or defensive manner:

1) To disrupt the agenda 2) To side-track the discussion 3) To interrupt repeatedly 4) To feign ignorance 5) To make an unfounded accusation against a person.

6) In some situations, to get control, the agent will tell the activist:

"You're dividing the movement."

Provocateurs

1) Want to establish "leaders" to set them up for a fall in order to stop the movement. 2) Suggest doing foolish, illegal things to get the activists in trouble. 3) Encourage militancy. 4) Want to taunt the authorities. 5) Attempt to make the activist compromise their values. 6) Attempt to instigate violence. Activisim ought to always be non-violent. 7) Attempt to provoke revolt among people who are ill-prepared to deal with the reaction of the authorities to such violence.

"A slight breach in orthodoxy is sufficient to terrify authoritarian ideologues who see in it the collapse of the system of thought control that has been so effctive in depoliticizing American Society." Noam Chomsky.

[yurbud]

16. therefore, if worth disrupting, must be worth something.

[bowens43]

3. Conversation: Useful Endeavor or Waste of Time?

Communication with like minded people is not a waste of time.

[bryant69]

4. It is no more a waste of time than any other human activity.

Take that as you will.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[JeffR]

5. It's a false dichotomy

Many people here do all kinds of things in addition to posting here. I know the kind of posts you're referring to, Philosoraptor; it's comparable to remarks like, "I don't watch TV, I read" or "I don't eat cheese, I eat sausages". Why do just the one if you can do both?:shrug:

[Brazenly Liberal]

6. Just one question.

When someone posts that participating on a discussion board is a waste of time, there's just one question to ask: "Then what the hell are YOU doing here?"

I have ZERO patience for people who say stupid things like that. Nobody knows what I do with all my time and nobody is in a position to judge whether or not I'm spending it productively and wisely.

OH, wait, I lied. I have a few more things to say to them:

Ned Lamont.
Swift Boat Liars
Downing Street Memos
No WMD's
etc
etc
etc

For many of us, we first learn the truth about these and other issues via the research done by others posting on internet message boards, mail lists, chat rooms, etc. For many others, trapped in a red state or a red town, these places are the only ones they can find encouragement and support and a sense of belonging to a community that isn't to the right of Mussolini.

[patricia92243]

15. You said it better than I could! Thanks! n/t

[porphyrian]

7. It's both, and sometimes possibly neither.

This poll creates a false binary. To say that there is no merit to exchanging ideas and opinions, regardless of subject matter, is false, although the degree to which it benefits life, the universe and everything is subjective and ultimately unknowable, as we cannot objectively judge the bigger picture of which we are part. On the other hand, claiming that our online memetic exchange is going to change the world is as ridiculous as claiming rock and roll will. Or as accurate, again depending on its place in the unknowable bigger picture. What we can claim for certain is that a number of posts here do little to move the masses, while others seem to inspire people to a great degree. Hope has been restored to the hopeless, calls to action have been met with record turnout. Others are ignored completely.

What we should ask ourselves is "does this have any value to me?" It's an easier question to answer, although many will still get it wrong.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

9. Polling on Political Forums: Useless Endeavor or Waste of Time?

[AZCat]

13. Hey!

Where's the clicky? I can't leave this post until I find the clicky!

The world must know my opinion! FREE THE CLICKY!!!

[Extend a Hand]

10. It is important

I use this forum as my main source of news. I really appreciate the variety of topics covered and the comentary.

[Cha]

11. Sorry for those sittin' around

thinkin' they're wastin' their time here!

[Nabia2004]

12. You forgot "Entertaining"

I find my attempts at sharing enlightenment to be at times entertaining and relaxing.

[Rex]

14. I find it funny when people do that.

Here they are, posting on a political forum that it is a waste of time to post on a political forum that it is a waste of time that it is.

You have no idea how much laughter I've received from DU over the years, I'm sure I've provided my share of unintentional side splitting.

[TreasonousBastard]

17. Other. A lot of it is...

a complete, utter, waste of time and bandwidth, but we can't discount the amount of information available and the sense of community fostered by all of these groups.

[Swamp Rat]

18. Useful Endeavor n/t

[Lars39]

19. At the best of times DU has acted as a think tank

and helped promote change for the better.
Kick the the meaty threads that educate and organize.
DU is what you make of it.