John
I visit a lot of sites- and see a lot of views. When I want to talk to people, I want to talk to people like you, Dale, Cogito, Wharfie, Mary, Suma, Sam- and I'm forgetting a few people - it's not like you're an echo chamber- Mary and I have disagreed a lot, for example, but we do not hold completely antithetical values. I wouldn't enjoy bantering with the Taliban, either, FWIW. There are a lot of people I really don't want to talk to, about anything I care about, who say things so repugnant to me, I can't stand their ideas. I'm absolutely sure it's mutual- that's been made perfectly clear. I see no value added in meeting those people anywhere. I wouldn't have them to my house, and I try not to discuss anything important with them- because no one will change their mind one iota, and there is no value added there.
I think it's very open minded of Dale to try for many sides of the political spectrum- but I find it highly unpleasant to rub shoulders with people whose views I see as corrosive and ultimately destructive to the kind of society I want. It's not like either side gets anything out of the rubbing- or at least I hope they don't. I sure don't find much value in it. It's pretty clear some of them enjoy dropping by to set off stink bombs, as you say, which is part of their non-charm. |
