Mods - Is there somewhere to discuss politics and PCa?

Alf,
You can do it there if that forum allows for that discussion. But I know many moderators at many sites and it's almost a consensus...

It's been my experience that once you induce the political discussion then the peace no longer prevails. If members go and decide to inject the political side then they will take sides that will transcend the common good of supporting each other anywhere they find each other. I have my own political views but I have never stated my political side here.

It's bad enough that folks know my religious side...

But seriously, HW is not that place for religion and politics. This is the place for supporting one and all affected by this disease. Your call to take it to Paul's site is quite acceptable as long as he allows it. But when you come back here ~ it's about PCa...

Not that that alone doesn't have factions...

Tony

Alf, in my experience politics is a very different social animal in America. You just don't discuss politics in America, it's frowned upon. You could walk up to a cooler at work and ask a co-worker how he had sex with his wife the night before but you cannot ask him his political beliefs. It's simply taboo in most settings.

Growing up in Europe I had relatives who were registered fascists, and others who were registered communists. Put them all in a room, as often happens with family in Europe, and you can imagine the fireworks. As kids we would laugh and tape them. Wish I still had those cassettes.

I think it's a good rule. You need to be very close to someone, certainly int he same room, to have a political conversation that won't degenerate in this country. Some people are extremely polarized here. Do it online, and it is bound to degenerate into insults, endless talking points, statistics that can be interpreted differently and manipulated, and shallow propaganda taken as fact by both sides used to belittle the moral judgement of the other. It's a vicious game here and I think it would end up taking away from the intentions of the site.

There are a ton on political forums out there where regulars would jump at th eopportunity to discuss healthcare issues in the US.

I think the real key is to discuss policy, not politics. As an example, the provisions of the health care law are no longer political.... they are policy....the law of the land. We should be able to discuss the law and it's effects as policy, but invoking political commentary, ie the "other side" (sorry David), is in my opinion, political and that is where the discussion goes downhill. Just my 2 cents.

JNF-

Since you bought it up....my "other side" remark was taken right out of context to what my intent was. I found it interesting how the HW process works.

First, a poster snapped back at me, then another. THen a sharp remark from a moderator. Then, and I almost had to laugh, another "locked" thread. And you do you know what? Not one person in that string every asked me to explain what I meant. I find that odd. So quick to condemn, so quick to censor or lock, but hey, why not ask the person that wrote what he wrote to explain first. There might be an explanation, etc.

I spend time visiting other communities at HW for other maladies, and can honestly say, I have only seen this endless "locking" of threads here at HW PC. No where else. I have heard the argument, that it is because mor lattitude is allowed here. I don't think so. I can name other commnities at HW where they even more openly encourage religious sentiments.

And for the record, and I don't care if anyone believes it or not, but when I wrote "other side", it was in the context of meaning, there are always 2 sides to a story, and what was being presented was just "one side", there is a side in the medical insurance disucssion that likes to use "scare tactic", the other term I used. That's not my opinion, that is a fact in that discussion. I wasn't even thinking of any political party, personally, I don't think any side, group, party, etc, is innocent here.

If my name is going to be thrown around, I would like to think I at leat have the right to defend it.

david in sc

142 - it was a very interesting and sad story that I posted that started that thread. my concern was for the poor woman in the story, and knowing that it wasn't a "rare" case. not my fault, that folks are just dying to make something political about it and other subjects. my heart was out for the victim in the story, that is what i hoped would be picked up upon.

david

Tud, the plight of the victim was meant to be the subject of the thread. I know, I started the thread and my heart was touched and heavy by the victim in the article. Sorry I ever posted it.

david

Tud, if I don't hear naturally by 1 pm, either by phone or e-mail, I will be on the phone. I e-mailed my doctor's nurse, who is a great liason/advocate for me, a thorough update Sunday night. I know they know, that I am anxiously waiting results. Was just looking at my weight chart, lost a full 15 lbs in the past 14 days. Still have zero natural appitite, which is bizzare considering I do most of the cooking, and grilled out 3 times in the past 5 days (of course it smells good, lol), but there is no part of me that feels any sense of hunger. Got to be a real answer out there, just hope that answer isn't too drastic. But I am prepared mentally for worse case scenerio, just hoping I am dead wrong in what I am thinking. I have enough on my plate the past 4 years, I certainly don't want to more severe and worse problem to deal with.

david

Politics is a funny thing with me. I will keep this 100% neutral. In the county I am living in, in the state I am living in, in a general election, my county always votes 90-95% in the opposite way to the party that I hold dear. So, being a numbers guy, I realize that year after year, my vote really doesn't count for anything, but I believe strongly in our U.S system of free elections, and feel its my civil duty to vote regardless of the outcome, and I will dutifuly vote on election day as I always have since I was old enough to vote in 1972.

David, I'm a hundred percent sure you had ZERO intention of starting a political row in the other thread, but it's just so darn hard to avoid.  Not to be argumentative, but just to explain my reaction to the phrase "the other side:  you had already talked about changing the structure of Medicare, taxing the rich more, paying less to the rich because "they're getting such a huge break."  These phrases made it pretty clear where your thinking aligns politically. Then, in your next post, you basically faulted "the other side" for using scare tactics and laying a guilt trip about grandchildren being saddled with debt. 

Speaking in general terms for those "on the other side", a lot of people have grown weary of being dismissed in those very same terms as wrong-thinking, using scare tactics, and so forth.  I'm sure there are similar phrases that people who feel as you do find insulting or denigrating.  Left, right, or in between, the issues have become so incredibly serious that it's almot impossible to discuss them without hurting feelings.  Every discussion runs the risk of jumping the tracks with the least provocation. 

I know what you mean about feeling your vote doesn't count.  Much like you, Beth and I live in a state where our candidates don't stand a snowball's chance.  It's frustrating, but that's our system.

Especially in an election year, politics is definitely a third rail topic.  Here at HW, I'm sure we have members of every conceivable political persuasion, and I hope as we make our way through November we can avoid worrying about political differences and concentrate on dealing instead wth what unites us:  a determination to help our HW friends deal with the struggle against prostate cancer and related health issues.  Peace to you.

F8:

I agree and disagree with you.

I agree that politics and religion are third rails here and we should not let it go too far.

But some very important topics cannot really be separated out from politics. The health care reform issue is fraught with politics. Seriously, did anyone expect David's topic NOT to get locked eventually?

Almost all of the people who post here are highly intelligent. First of all, they are computer savvy enough to get here and based on the writing I see, can express thoughts quite well.

Intelligent people tend to be politically aware. Many of us are just flat out interested in politics.

I think you have to let some of these threads continue for a bit, as these are important issues. So I disagree with F8 that any thread that smacks of political controversy should be cut off at the knees.

142, you  did an excellent job on that thread. You let it go a bit, tried a friendly warning, and when that didn't work you locked it. That's fine.

Mel

 

Davidg:

I have no desire to start a political forum. There are loads of those available. Hey, just look at Yahoo groups or just read assorted news articles that have comments.

My plate is full with my job and unfortunately some serious medical issues right now.

I should probably do what you do and just stay out of any political discussions. But, having some definite opinions, it is hard for me to refrain from expressing them.

Yes, I too have had it up to here with the FOX/MSNBC thing. Although I definitely lean towards one of these, the continued insults and name-calling from both sides of the aisle is the worst I've ever seen. There is no rational discussion on either side. Lord forbid they may actually give credit to their opponent on some point.

Mel

 

LOL It's interesting to me to watch "other forums" that allow political discussion. Even here in this thread to discuss whether it can be discussed or not has differences of opinion.

That's about all this forum can handle and keep it's eye on the ball of support and sharing.

I'll use JFK's remarks on politics which I happen to admire and believe in as an independent...

"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future."

You can easily replace the political parties here for a doctors specialty and apply it to today's state of affairs in prostate cancer...Here's my attempt...

"Let us not seek the Urological Oncology answer or the Radiation Oncology answer, but the right answer that suits each of us as individuals. Let us not seek to fix blame for how treatment has taken place in the past and be responsible for our own future."

To argue about the past or present ideology is to take your eyes out of focus and apply lenses, There are better (or worse) websites for that.

Tony

Post Edited (TC-LasVegas) : 9/4/2012 2:46:10 PM (GMT-6)

Its interesting, politics is about your body and religion is about your spirit…...