Having read through more than a few of these PAD threads I have noticed something I find very disturbing. Not just the vehemence but the virulently aggressive attitude many members have towards not only the PAD or the PPP but also to any who hold viewpoints opposing their own. Its as if there is a need to demonise people with whom they don't agree.

I don't understand this myself. I am firm believer that everyone has the right to their opinion, even if I think it misguided or foolish, it is still their right. It certainly does not mean I need to hate the person or consider them evil.

I can't decide if this is a sign of political immaturity, emotional immaturity, narrow mindedness or just plain bigotry. But, frankly, I find it deeply disturbing and can't help but wonder about the emotional stability of some people who seem so obsessed with hating those that don't agree with them.

Not too sure about bigotry, but....

"political immaturity, emotional immaturity, narrow mindedness" or a combination of all three does the trick for me.

There is one ex-pat here (I see most evenings) that I will now no longer engage in conversation when it comes to some subjects. If your opinion differs from his, you're wrong, if you raise a point that he can't challenge, it's then raised voice, finger pointing and table banging.

He isn't a bigot, but he is the most immature 66 year old I've ever met.

I hit him the other night with "My father always told me that the first person to raise their voice just lost the argument"

He really didn't like that.

"I may not agree with your viewpoint but I will defend to the death your right to hold it."

This is not word perfect Voltaire but I think it makes his point

Must be the time of the year, I rarely venture into the higher forums but decided to comment on the "30 day visa exemption changed to 15" thread. I happened to mention something along the lines that it would mean hardship for some expats and was immediately run down by a frothing, howling pack yelling that any expat doing visa runs was a disgrace to humanity and unfit to live in any country, let alone the Land of Smiles.

Having read through more than a few of these PAD threads I have noticed something I find very disturbing. Not just the vehemence but the virulently aggressive attitude many members have towards not only the PAD or the PPP but also to any who hold viewpoints opposing their own. Its as if there is a need to demonise people with whom they don't agree.

I don't understand this myself. I am firm believer that everyone has the right to their opinion, even if I think it misguided or foolish, it is still their right. It certainly does not mean I need to hate the person or consider them evil.

I can't decide if this is a sign of political immaturity, emotional immaturity, narrow mindedness or just plain bigotry. But, frankly, I find it deeply disturbing and can't help but wonder about the emotional stability of some people who seem so obsessed with hating those that don't agree with them.

I have to wonder how honest you are being with yourself.

I don't know you enough to push your buttons, but for example, I don't want anything to do with anyone who hates people purely for the color of their skin, race or religion. I think that they are wrong. I think they are stupid and I think that they are evil. I don't want to have any discusions with Nazis. It is a waste of my time.

Quite honest, in fact. Nowhere did I say I intended to have a discussion with people whose opinions differ from my own. Just that they have the right to their opinions.

And you should be honest with yourself here as well UG. I was referring specifically to the PAD/PPP threads where people have posted an accumulation of nasty, aggressive and hate filled posts when in fact, neither side is a Nazi.

Sorry, you did refer to the PPP/PAD situation in your first paragraph, but you go on to talk about opinions in general for the next two paragraphs which seemed to be your theme.

Please look at the title of your thread which refers only to opinions and says nothing about specific ones.

I think it's only natural that people like others that agree with them and dislike someone that does not. Yes, we all should try to be better human beings and rise above it but when frustrated, it soon becomes anger. That is where the line should be drawn. A simple "agree to disagree" is much better than personal insults. Compond that with, not many knowing each other on a face to face level, some enjoy getting a rise or large quanities of replies. That is where the "mod squad" must break it up but after all, their only human. I couldn't do it. I would be banning people from right to left. Not because im power hungry but because they didn't agree with me.

What the hel_l am I talking about? Im going to sleep.

Sorry, you did refer to the PPP/PAD situation in your first paragraph, but you go on to talk about opinions in general for the next two paragraphs which seemed to be your theme.

Please look at the title of your thread which refers only to opinions and says nothing about specific ones.

True, UG but I find it indicative that you felt the need to point out an extremist example in order to force home your opinion.

Why not choose an example that makes it obvious why you feel the way that you do?

If I'm in the mood, and it's a topic I either know something about or at least am interested in, I like to fight fire with fire !

I will (literally) spend hours searching out facts to counter some fanciful BS someone has posted (no suegha, I'm not referring to you ! ).

I find often, when confronted with the real story, a lot of them will slink back under their bridge and quiet down (for a while at least). But others go off the deep end.

That's when it gets fun !

Throw a few more facts at them. String them a little more rope. Then sit back and snicker when they hang themselves. Some go into such a frenzy I swear there must be froth and spittle flying out their mouths as they slam their keyboards and spew out more nonsense.

You can often tell which ones are on the edge so to speak. When you point out their errors or prove they are wrong, or even simply offer a reasoned, logical counter to their point, they are unable to respond (coherently at least).

Instead of responding in a similarly logical manner, they start into the name calling and profanities. Their fate is written in their posts.

Of course there are those who make a point of ignoring anything/anyone that proves them wrong, or doesn't agree with them. They skip right over the proof/facts and continue their line of BS. I'm not sure if it's arrogance or ignorance that makes them do it. Maybe a bit of both.

The reactions of various long time TV members to this recent political crisis has had me shaking my head. I never realised how many vindictive people there are (amongst the long timers).

The last time I recall seeing such a level of, I guess you could call it anger, between TV members was in the Pai shooting thread back in February. What I've seen in the last week or so has dwarfed that though.

Makes me wonder what would happen if anyone should up at a TV Party, wearing a yellow or red shirt.

Because, UG, life is not about black and white all the time, life is usually about shades of gray and by trying to make it seem as if its only about all right or all wrong, black or white you are merely proving my point that for some people there can be nothing else.

Because, UG, life is not about black and white all the time, life is usually about shades of gray and by trying to make it seem as if its only about all right or all wrong, black or white you are merely proving my point that for some people there can be nothing else.

No, it sure isn't black or white, is it? That was the problem I had in posting about these events. I was very sympathetic to the fact that the "red folks" are geetting the short end of the stick in Thailand, but I felt that the democray here was too fragile to survive any further suffering of Thaksin and his cronies. I am not unhappy the PAD one this first round and I probably would not be unhappy if the red squad won round two (sans Thaksin). It's too much to wish for of course, and we'll just have to see how events unfold. Too many bad guys.

I find this topic particularly interesting. One thing I have noticed is that most of the most vocal protagonists are either very old hands or fairly new hands that have been busy .... most of them qualify to see this hidden little part of TV, but no contribution from them so far,on any topic, and I can only draw one conclusion.

They are either so wrapped up in their own opinions that they fail to see outside their world.

Or

They may have noticed that there is a world outside theirs, but they are far too blinkered and unable to comment on subjects other than their self-programming............ yaaaarrrrr.

//edit/ one too many the's/great band/ but not applicable here/ PS/JDinasia is a bit of a tosser

//edit/ one too many the's/great band/ but not applicable here/ PS/JDinasia is a bit of a tosser

Resorting to name calling already ! Tsk tsk.

There were a few tossers on both sides of the discussions recently. And a lot of ill-informed/un-informed people.

And I suspect a lot of the "vocal" newbies, aren't exactly "new".

I will (literally) spend hours searching out facts to counter some fanciful BS someone has posted (no suegha, I'm not referring to you ! ).

Phew!

Opposing views....

It could have been the title of a mysterious new television series, shot on a way off tropical island in the gulf of Thailand

But, to be serious, I feel exactly as SBK and I have to admit that there are a few members who can make my blood boil even in non-tropical temperatures.

I am trying (trying.....) to back off and not answer anymore to certain posters as it really doesn't matter WHAT you write or how, because they will jump from a tree branch on your shoulders and start cutting into your words and reasonable arguments with a sharp blade until your words are cut into pieces and fed to the wild animals.

No matter what happens...''you'' are wrong and they will keep on telling you so until you give up.

The sometimes blind fury they are defending their own views and opinions with is impossible to ''break'' so to speak.

Most of the times, if one argues, with facts, they will come up with a ''not true'' argument without explaining why.

I have to say that I have had countless discussions in my life, man to man or man to woman, but always (almost always... ) with an outcome, a solution but at least staid friends.

It seems that this kind of discussion on internet is impossible; sometimes the discussion goes so far that people who don't even know each other...never even met, become real enemies and start attacking the other with insults, just because the opposite party doesn't agree, whether correct or incorrect.

How silly and immature...

LaoPo

Because, UG, life is not about black and white all the time, life is usually about shades of gray and by trying to make it seem as if its only about all right or all wrong, black or white you are merely proving my point that for some people there can be nothing else.

I chose a clear example of an opinion that most people might disagree with and might annoy them. Why would I choose a "grey" one? You said that you think "everyone" has a right to their opinion. Did you not?

You have done a far better job of pointing out that most posters - including the moderators - want to "win" any argument that they are involved in on the net and are perfectly happy to stretch or ignore the truth in order to do so.

Maybe you have answered your own question about why we can not accept other people's opinions?

You know what, I am not going to get into this with you. If you can't understand what my point is by now, then its really not worth my effort to try to explain, yet again, is it?

It seems to me that you keep changing your point, but as you are a moderator, I will desist from any futher comments.

Actually, I think my point was pretty clear in the OP. I did see you trying to side track it tho.

And, UG, I am posting as a person here, not a moderator. And really, I don't see why it should matter if one can stay civil?

As I said, I find the vehemence, the vitriol and the vindictiveness (the three V's of intolerant people) among many of the posters here quite disturbing. I can't understand why people can't agree to disagree without getting nasty, personal or feel the need to press home their point in a manner that does them no service since it shows neither a thought out process or any logic whatsoever.

//edit/ one too many the's/great band/ but not applicable here/ PS/JDinasia is a bit of a tosser

Resorting to name calling already ! Tsk tsk.

Am I wrong (and I have been called far worse)

My stand, for an example, is this.......

Tiggs and I have disagreed in the past about some subjects (well, usually just the one) but we both adhere to Voltaire's statement..... I would love to have a beer with him and chew the fat (a bottle of Sancerre would be better) there are a few people that inhabit 'General' and 'News Clippings' that I doubt I would enjoy even being in the same room with them..... they are just table bangers who do resort to real name calling and then stick their fingers in their ears chanting "La la la la la, I can't hear you"

I don't think they should get out more, for the sake of the general public, they should get out less.

Must be the time of the year, I rarely venture into the higher forums but decided to comment on the "30 day visa exemption changed to 15" thread. I happened to mention something along the lines that it would mean hardship for some expats and was immediately run down by a frothing, howling pack yelling that any expat doing visa runs was a disgrace to humanity and unfit to live in any country, let alone the Land of Smiles.

Yes I started to get drawn in by those "anyone who enters Thailand without a visa is a low life scum bag working illegally" types. They just sit on their own high horses and totally fail to understand that everyone is different and has different circumstances.

I think the recent troubles have brought out the worst in people and live in hope that it was only keyboard warrior frustrations and not an indication of the true nature of the beast. Certainly the way some posters put their views over and the views themselves left a lot to be desired.

In the end, had the storm the Bastille legions had their day, what would have been the difference between Suvarnabhumi airport and Tiananmen square? Both were "illegal" occupations of public facilities, our close association with one cause people to lean towards actions we condemmed in the other.

Oh well, all ended peacefully at ground zero though the echoes rumble on up there in General.

btw I accept that my association between Suvarnabhumi and Tiananmen may be tenuous and stretches credibility but in my opinion it is close enough.

//edit/ one too many the's/great band/ but not applicable here/ PS/JDinasia is a bit of a tosser

Resorting to name calling already ! Tsk tsk.

Am I wrong (and I have been called far worse)

My stand, for an example, is this.......

Tiggs and I have disagreed in the past about some subjects (well, usually just the one) but we both adhere to Voltaire's statement..... I would love to have a beer with him and chew the fat (a bottle of Sancerre would be better) there are a few people that inhabit 'General' and 'News Clippings' that I doubt I would enjoy even being in the same room with them..... they are just table bangers who do resort to real name calling and then stick their fingers in their ears chanting "La la la la la, I can't hear you"

I don't think they should get out more, for the sake of the general public, they should get out less.

That's true that is. There are a few members whom I have had differences of opinion with, but hey, we chat about it respect each others views and sometimes agree to differ and move on. And I would love to meet face to face and crack open a good un. I must taunt Taddy with my latest case contents...

ps sbk I 1000% understand your point!

Im going to stay in Bedlam, where it's safe. It's scary out there

It's a good point SBK. And no doubt you're in a far better position than the rest of us to have seen some of the more particularly rancid comments before they get deleted. One thing that really struck me in the News Forum during the whole airport thing was that many people didn't even seem that interested in news. The few times that any actual news was posted in a thread (I'm not talking about new topics being started in reaction to some news), it was, in the main, completely ignored. Most people seemed trapped in some kind of 'intellectual' narcissistic trance, unable to stop shrieking about the same few basic themes that are repeated ad nauseam in the News Forum anyway, and spewing bile at whoever disagreed with them.

I hate aggressive posters. They make me want to smash their faces in

x2

Most people seemed trapped in some kind of 'intellectual' narcissistic trance, unable to stop shrieking about the same few basic themes that are repeated ad nauseam in the News Forum anyway, and spewing bile at whoever disagreed with them.

Yep....... sad, isn't it.