The Degradation of Political Debate

[Remiel]

You mean like discussion and debate? Oh the horror. The radical feminists should just be able to state their opinions without opposition. *sarcasm*

Where did I say anything about radical feminists?

[-1=e^ipi]

Where did I say anything about radical feminists?

Where did I make a claim that you said anything about radical feminists?

[Remiel]

The radical feminists should just be able to state their opinions without opposition. *sarcasm*

Do you now need us to explain the very simple concept of "implication" to you?

[Moonlight Graham]

From the OP article:

Anonymity – on newspaper comment streams, on Twitter and in other social media — is surely a factor. But it’s not the only one.

Well, it's probably the biggest factor, at least in terms of low-blow Trudeau remarks about the break-in. I like anonymity because it gives people the freedom to say exactly what's on their mind without the fear of the consequences. It's a lot more honest.

There are things like increasing negative attack ads that also play a factor, but those are only done because, pragmatically, attack ads work and swing votes and perceptions. If Machiavelli wrote The Prince in 2014 he would probably have a chapter on using attack ads to secure political power. Politics is all about power, how to attain it and how to maintain it. This hasn't changed since the day one human ruled over another because he had a bigger stick.

If discourse has changed, I blame it on us the public. Politicians pander to what thevoters like so to secure votes.

[eyeball]

Yes. It would be very difficult to implement. It would require a level of government control over the internet comparable to North Korea.

If that ever did occur, I would hope that the population would rise up and overthrow the government.

I would too but I wouldn't count on it happening. Sadly, sycophancy runs deep in Canadians.

[overthere]

I feel degraded by this debate

[WestCoastRunner]

The degradation of debate on this forum occurs under the status updates.

[eyeball]

The degradation of debate on this forum occurs under the status updates.

Really? I had no idea. I never read them.

[jbg]

Really? I had no idea. I never read them.

Nor do I. I guess it's a rare area of agreement.

[GostHacked]

Yes. It would be very difficult to implement. It would require a level of government control over the internet comparable to North Korea.

If that ever did occur, I would hope that the population would rise up and overthrow the government.

It's already happened. So, when is the overthrow?