Reply #38: The hostile atmosphere almost always cuts off debate. There are some threads I won't bother to post

[CTyankee]

on because I fear it will just result in a string of obscenities, adding nothing to the discussion. So I'm stopped before I even begin. For instance, I don't think we can have much of a debate on the merits of Hillary's campaign messages. No careful evaluation, no dissection and then a well thought out rebuttal. I say this as someone who is undecided on who should be our candidate (but I am leaning to Edwards). A calm reflection on what she is proposing is enough for me to get a better idea of who she is. But I see fewer of those posts and more obscenity laced rhetoric.

DU is at its best a terrific place to learn a lot. The folks here who post from all over the country, and the world, have a perspective that each of us individually cannot have. I have been grateful, also, for the help of DUers who have a better base of knowledge on an issue than I have, when I want to write a LTTE and I need some grounding on the topic.

My point is that nothing can be gained by simply repeating tired slogans and name calling ("corporate whore" is one; tell me exactly what corporation, what was being whored, when, etc. Give me hard facts, back up your argument, I'll listen).