My impressions thus far

[Muddyw67]

I posted this commentary today on my site regarding my experience posting here.

I spent a couple of days posting at another Canadian forum which I believe is based in Alberta.

The majority of posters if I'm not mistaken were Western Canadians They had the advantage of being in operation for 5 years so had a large well established group of participants. I was struck by a few things

(1) That Canadian right wingers share the same behaviour patterns of their American counterparts.-they attack the poster, they are often manically shrill and disparaging

(2) That all of us including myself ,tend to make slogans and speeches rather that observations inviting commentary-this approach appears to merely escalate the above patterns.

(3) Canada has an elevated sense of regional grievances

(4) We have no idea what the social realities are in each others societies-thus we make stereo typical attribution errors. For example one participate posted a comment that went like this:

"Ontarians don't have the spine to get rid of the Federal Liberals because they associate Liberals with Canada itself."- This is in fact far from the truth. This has nothing to do with lack of spine but of a different set of experiences and cultural history.

(5) I also have no first hand knowledge of Alberta or the West except for BC-I have no idea what drives their relentless hatred of Ontario or if this feeling is a widely held view.

(6) Forums like the one I visited does nothing to narrow the gaps of ignorance nor expand awareness of each others realities-if anything they seem to exacerbate them.

(7) Participates (including myself) of the left and right are often dogmatically self righteous, and extremely poor active listeners and we are more motivated it seems in scoring points or belittling the poster and their views then contributing to a deeper understanding of issues or each others perspectives. Not all of the participants but a fair number of them

This experience has been useful and instructive and it has demonstrated to me where my short comings are which I will attempt to modify on my own site. I don't really find the experience participating here very edifying or even enjoyable so this will be my last offering.

[Argus]

I don't really find the experience participating here very edifying or even enjoyable so this will be my last offering.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey, finally we find something to agree on!

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[SirSpanky]

Participation in forums is what you make it. Perhaps alter your approach; I do nothing but learn here.

I do have a question from muddy's post though. I always hear people saying that lefty's are always on the offensive.

I hear that more than actual belittling and preaching from leftists. Point me to where you guys get that from.

[Argus]

Participation in forums is what you make it. Perhaps alter your approach; I do nothing but learn here.

I do have a question from muddy's post though. I always hear people saying that lefty's are always on the offensive.

I hear that more than actual belittling and preaching from leftists. Point me to where you guys get that from.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think you misunderstood. It's that lefties ARE offensive.

[August1991]

I posted this commentary today on my site regarding my experience posting here.

I spent a couple of days posting at another Canadian forum which I believe is based in Alberta.

The majority of posters if I'm not mistaken were Western Canadians They had the advantage of being in operation for 5 years so had a large well established group of participants. I was struck by a few things

(1) That Canadian right wingers share the same behaviour patterns of their American counterparts.-they attack the poster, they are often manically shrill and disparaging

.....

(7) Participates (including myself) of the left and right are often dogmatically self righteous, and extremely poor active listeners and we are more motivated it seems in scoring points or belittling the poster and their views then contributing to a deeper understanding of issues or each others perspectives. Not all of the participants but a fair number of them

This experience has been useful and instructive and it has demonstrated to me where my short comings are which I will attempt to modify on my own site. I don't really find the experience participating here very edifying or even enjoyable so this will be my last offering.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Come back, and post again. [it would help, MuddyWaters, if you could manage the various quote/character features of this forum. Not hard.]

"(3) Canada has an elevated sense of regional grievances"

Pas mauvais comme théorie politique du Canada.

[SirSpanky]

Participation in forums is what you make it. Perhaps alter your approach; I do nothing but learn here.

I do have a question from muddy's post though. I always hear people saying that lefty's are always on the offensive.

I hear that more than actual belittling and preaching from leftists. Point me to where you guys get that from.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think you misunderstood. It's that lefties ARE offensive.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Silly me, how could I get that wrong

[Hawk]

Muddy, what was the address to that other Western Canadian forums? Just wanna check it out, see what my fellow Albertans feel about some things hehe

[daniel]

...It's that lefties ARE offensive.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Another sweeping statement.

[PocketRocket]

.....which contributed nothing.

[Melanie_]

Muddywaters, even though you have said you won't post here again, I will take the chance that you will visit as a guest, if for nothing more than to read this thread. Your opening post was pompous and condescending, which might account for the lack of encouragement to come back. I get the feeling you came here as a little experiment for your own website, not to truly participate. This is unfortunate, as if you could get past the judgementalism and egotism of the few posts you made (certainly not uncommon in the posts of others on this forum!) you might have seen the true debate and exchange of ideas that actually goes on here. Maybe you could let us know where your own site is, and we can come and offer our opinions on it.

[stubblejumper]

(5) I also have no first hand knowledge of Alberta or the West except for BC-I have no idea what drives their relentless hatred of Ontario or if this feeling is a widely held view.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I live out west. My opinion is that this attitude has to do with envy and wee bit to do with the NEP. The Texas of Canada wasn't interested in sharing it's riches with the poor farmers,factory workers,etc.

If the NEP had stayed, my guess is we would have alot more oil reserves and it owuld be less costly. But then AB wouldn't be so damn rich!!

[mirror]

Muddyw67.........thanks for sharing your perceptions, and thanks to the others that encouraged you to stick around as well, and for the humour, even though some of us didn't even get it.

I tend to agree with some of the things you have to say and hope that you will come back. We need more moderates such as yourself around here to keep the extremists in check.

Someone mentioned NEP and how that was divisive, at least in Alberta. Well with the projections that I have seen for the future concerning Alberta's wealth that will be generated in the oil industry, we ain't seen nothing yet, as Ottawa will be reaching out for a good portion of it. Then the shit will really hit the fan, but greed has to be challenged, whether it is in a Toronto or a Calgary boardroom. Which is part of Christ's message about sharing the wealth, I believe.

Please reconsider.

[Argus]

Muddyw67.........thanks for sharing your perceptions, and thanks to the others that encouraged you to stick around as well, and for the humour, even though some of us didn't even get it. 

I tend to agree with some of the things you have to say and hope that you will come back. We need more moderates such as yourself around here to keep the extremists in check.

I'm not sure referring to the US government as "The Bush Reich" can be seen as the words of a "moderate". Then again, I suppose some people can consider anyone who agrees with them to be a moderate.

[mirror]

How many Reichs were there?