Are there ever any forum discussions about the realities of social issues?

[Jim]

This is mostly just an emotional outburst, but I’m not entirely sure that the answer is no. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any discussion about social issues in any Internet forum, where anyone seems to care about the actual reality of what’s happening in the offline world around them. It all looks like strictly a roleplaying game to me, a mockery of formal debating where each person makes their own rules and keeps their own score, but one rule everyone seems to agree on is not to inform themselves about the reality of anything they’re debating about. One possible explanation I can think of is that there are better ways for people who are actually trying to help solve the problems, to get ideas and encouragement from each other, which could be why I never see that happening in Internet forums. Maybe Internet forums are strictly for social interaction, and bringing reality into the debating would spoil the RPG.

 

[Duke_Leto]

I think many of the people who post in online fora are relatively shut-up, not getting out much, and discussion of social issues makes them uncomfortable because A) These aren't issues they can relate to and B) If they can afford to be shut-in, they likely come from a relatively privileged background.

 

[Michelle71]

Forums don't really discuss change, in my experience. That conversation is reserved for academics within private groups.

 

[Nakosis]

This is mostly just an emotional outburst, but I’m not entirely sure that the answer is no. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any discussion about social issues in any Internet forum, where anyone seems to care about the actual reality of what’s happening in the offline world around them. It all looks like strictly a roleplaying game to me, a mockery of formal debating where each person makes their own rules and keeps their own score, but one rule everyone seems to agree on is not to inform themselves about the reality of anything they’re debating about. One possible explanation I can think of that there are better ways for people who are actually trying to help solve the problems, to get ideas and encouragement from each other, which could be why I never see that happening in Internet forums. Maybe Internet forums are strictly for social interaction, and bringing reality into the debating would spoil the RPG.

Probably true. I don't know enough outside my own realm of experience except what is portrayed by the media which I don't have a lot of trust in.

I tried to find the "right" side between Israel and Palestine a few years ago and there are so many reported sides to this story I can't really say who is wrong and who is right.

I can't make a decision based on the news. Not saying it's fake or biased but it is usually designed to the interests of a specific audience.

Most of these issues have been going on for many years, before I was born and will likely go on far into the future. Folks get onto a social cause but nothing ever get fixed. Interests just dies down as some new cause takes its place.

I can't fix the world and I don't expect the world to be fix by any social crusade. If you believe otherwise, more power to you.

What I can do is work on myself. Improve how I treat, interact with the people around me. That's what I choose to focus on. I suppose you have a right to be frustrated but how long are you going to wait for the world to change?

 

[siti]

This is mostly just an emotional outburst, but I’m not entirely sure that the answer is no. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any discussion about social issues in any Internet forum, where anyone seems to care about the actual reality of what’s happening in the offline world around them.

Well I dunno! I joined RF to have discussions about religion (mostly) - and that seems to be what happens here (mostly) - I wonder if that's why they call it "Religious Forums"?

Anyway, I don't usually discuss "social issues" and even less usually what I may or may not be doing about them on internet discussion forums - I just get on with it - within my community and, to some extent, as part of my work...but since you have raised the subject, my wife and I have, over the last 15 years or so, built sanitary toilet facilities in rural communities that lacked them, provided homes (in our own home) for orphans and one homeless elderly person (not related to us), I provide free professional advice to schools on waste management and laboratory design (I can't afford to build them from my own resources - but I can help them to keep the cost down by careful design considerations), we regularly clean the gardens of elderly people in our community, clean the entire road when we do our own perimeter, we have rebuilt and repaired houses (using our own funds and energy) and cleared trees (using our own chain saw etc.) after cyclones...and all without feeling the need to mention our religious beliefs or lack thereof (actually my wife is a non-denominational Christian and I am probably best described as a naturalistic-pantheistic-leaning humanist)...

We see our neighbours as our friends (whether we know them well or not) and not as targets for proselytization...but our approach to social issues is to see a need and then do whatever we can to help...that's it. I don't feel the need to talk about it too much - although my wife and I do talk about what we might be able to do when we see someone in need. We are never short of "social issues" to be doing something about but I didn't join RF to talk about these. And to be honest, my presence on RF is more about entertainment - its something to do when you need to take a break from the "realities of social issues".

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Forums don't really discuss change, in my experience. That conversation is reserved for academics within private groups.

This.....

Academia in my opinion is perhaps the only "true forum" where change can happen.

 

[Jim]

Anyway, I don't usually discuss "social issues" and even less usually what I may or may not be doing about them on internet discussion forums - I just get on with it - within my community and, to some extent, as part of my work...but since you have raised the subject ...

And to be honest, my presence on RF is more about entertainment - its something to do when you need to take a break from the "realities of social issues".

Thanks. That helps confirm what I’ve been thinking.

 

[Jim]

Forums don't really discuss change, in my experience. That conversation is reserved for academics within private groups.

This.....

Academia in my opinion is perhaps the only "true forum" where change can happen.

Thanks, both of you, for that. That reminds me of something I’ve been forgetting, about what needs to change in popular thinking. It also reminds me about patience and perseverance.

 

[Katja]

I can't make a decision based on the news. Not saying it's fake or biased but it is usually designed to the interests of a specific audience.

So, read multiple news sources for multiple points of view. Consult the sources *they* cite. Why would you think a bunch of strangers on the internet giving their opinion (without any proof, or possibly even statement, of their qualifications of knowledge about the issue/situation) is going to make you any more informed about these issues?

Social issues can't change overnight. It's hard to organize with a bunch of who-knows-who from all over the world with different schedules and motivations and abilities and time constraints. Better to get out there and participate in your local world and issues and charities and politics and be the change you wish to see in the world, rather than talking about it with a bunch of people on the internet who aren't in much of a position to help you do anything about it.

 

[Jim]

Thanks to all of you. This discussions has been very comforting to me.

 

[sayak83]

This is mostly just an emotional outburst, but I’m not entirely sure that the answer is no. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any discussion about social issues in any Internet forum, where anyone seems to care about the actual reality of what’s happening in the offline world around them. It all looks like strictly a roleplaying game to me, a mockery of formal debating where each person makes their own rules and keeps their own score, but one rule everyone seems to agree on is not to inform themselves about the reality of anything they’re debating about. One possible explanation I can think of that there are better ways for people who are actually trying to help solve the problems, to get ideas and encouragement from each other, which could be why I never see that happening in Internet forums. Maybe Internet forums are strictly for social interaction, and bringing reality into the debating would spoil the RPG.

Like this?
Good news :)

 

[Enoch07]

This is mostly just an emotional outburst, but I’m not entirely sure that the answer is no. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any discussion about social issues in any Internet forum, where anyone seems to care about the actual reality of what’s happening in the offline world around them. It all looks like strictly a roleplaying game to me, a mockery of formal debating where each person makes their own rules and keeps their own score, but one rule everyone seems to agree on is not to inform themselves about the reality of anything they’re debating about. One possible explanation I can think of that there are better ways for people who are actually trying to help solve the problems, to get ideas and encouragement from each other, which could be why I never see that happening in Internet forums. Maybe Internet forums are strictly for social interaction, and bringing reality into the debating would spoil the RPG.

Nope real issues are ignored.

Real people with real problems are ignored.

 

[Stevicus]

This is mostly just an emotional outburst, but I’m not entirely sure that the answer is no. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any discussion about social issues in any Internet forum, where anyone seems to care about the actual reality of what’s happening in the offline world around them. It all looks like strictly a roleplaying game to me, a mockery of formal debating where each person makes their own rules and keeps their own score, but one rule everyone seems to agree on is not to inform themselves about the reality of anything they’re debating about. One possible explanation I can think of that there are better ways for people who are actually trying to help solve the problems, to get ideas and encouragement from each other, which could be why I never see that happening in Internet forums. Maybe Internet forums are strictly for social interaction, and bringing reality into the debating would spoil the RPG.

I see a lot of people walking around with their eyes transfixed on their phones. Whatever is going on around them in the real world is either too boring or irrelevant to whatever it is they find online.

As for social issues, I think some people truly care, while there are others who seem to view it more as a game or a form of entertainment. And admittedly, some of it can be entertaining. Some people do come up with some good zingers and some slam dunk arguments.

Some forums have the same people who get to know each other over the years - so it's not like dealing with a one-dimensional "opponent" in a debate. RF is like that to some degree.

I don't know if it's still around, but there was a funny site called Flame Warriors, in which the various personality types of message board denizens are outlined in hilarious descriptions.

 

[Jim]

Like this?
Good news :)

Yes! Thank you!

 

[Quagmire]

Wow, great thread topic, Jim.

I noticed a long time ago that the people whining about the sad state of the world and the people working to make it better are almost never the same people.

Maybe the internets main contribution to the cause is that it gives the whiners someplace to be where they won't be in the way as much.

 

[Jim]

Thanks again to everyone. I’m all better now.

 

[PureX]

This is mostly just an emotional outburst, but I’m not entirely sure that the answer is no. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any discussion about social issues in any Internet forum, where anyone seems to care about the actual reality of what’s happening in the offline world around them. It all looks like strictly a roleplaying game to me, a mockery of formal debating where each person makes their own rules and keeps their own score, but one rule everyone seems to agree on is not to inform themselves about the reality of anything they’re debating about. One possible explanation I can think of is that there are better ways for people who are actually trying to help solve the problems, to get ideas and encouragement from each other, which could be why I never see that happening in Internet forums. Maybe Internet forums are strictly for social interaction, and bringing reality into the debating would spoil the RPG.

Welcome to the human condition, in which nothing matters but what effects us, directly. And especially what effects our egos, directly. WE are the definition of 'reality'.

As weird as this is to say, I think we have to learn to love this about us, to say that we love humanity. And that's not an easy thing to accomplish.

 

[Quintessence]

I'm not sure I fully understand what it is you are talking about, Jim, but I think it's worth saying this:

It's usually not a good idea to base your impressions about the world on the internet. I'm saying that to myself right now as much as I'm saying it to you.

 

[icehorse]

This is mostly just an emotional outburst, but I’m not entirely sure that the answer is no. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any discussion about social issues in any Internet forum, where anyone seems to care about the actual reality of what’s happening in the offline world around them. It all looks like strictly a roleplaying game to me, a mockery of formal debating where each person makes their own rules and keeps their own score, but one rule everyone seems to agree on is not to inform themselves about the reality of anything they’re debating about. One possible explanation I can think of is that there are better ways for people who are actually trying to help solve the problems, to get ideas and encouragement from each other, which could be why I never see that happening in Internet forums. Maybe Internet forums are strictly for social interaction, and bringing reality into the debating would spoil the RPG.

Can you give a few examples of the kinds of topics you're thinking of?

 

[Jim]

Can you give a few examples of the kinds of topics you're thinking of?

No.