Okay, I've watched this over the last day or two, and here's my take on the current situation...
The Study is meant to be for serious discussion of non-martial arts related topics. We're all agreed on that, yeah? The essential problem is that, really, that isn't what it's being used for. It has become a home of single agenda ideals and for the spouting of rhetoric. That's not discussion. Bill has taken the brunt of the blame for this, both from other members, and from himself (by taking the approach that this thread, although incredibly similar to others from the past here, predating his arrival), and has come up to defend his stance. Unfortunately, for better or worse, this defense has simply shown the biggest problem I currently see in the study... namely, that it is not being used for it's purpose: discussion of non-martial arts related topics.
Oh, don't get me wrong, there's plenty of non-martial arts related threads in there.... but very little discussion. Instead, we have Bill (sorry to single you out, but hey, you did that yourself to begin with here) posting what he considers "facts"... which really are little more than highly biased and misleading spins on facts, more in line with the concept of opinion, rather than the actual simple facts themselves. People take those opinions, and argue facts against them... but Bill doesn't answer the counter argument. Instead, he posts more of his "facts". From the way he described it here (and correct this if it's wrong, Bill), he feels that he's providing credible sourced information, and is using that to express his argument. But the thing is, that's not discussion. It's parroting, it's spouting rhetoric, it's hiding behind someone else's opinion. If you have an opinion yourself, or a reasoned thought about something, put it down. And be willing to hear others.
Recently I decided to get involved in a thread (in the Study) on guns "saving lives". I was on the side of more gun control, but looked at a larger impression, based on my observation of the US, the membership here, friends on facebook, and my personal study (as well as scholastic study) of history, psychology, cultural sociology, and so on. My posts were my opinions, and my take on the entire situation. There were a few things that other members called me on, with them either asking for me to present a solution to the issues I'd identified (in my opinion), or to challenge my interpretation of some facts in historical and legal aspects. Each of the people who engaged me in that manner did so in the form of a discussion... which lead me to realize, for one thing, that in some areas I had been given a more "idealized" version of some history, that had other interpretations. So I learnt from that. And hopefully others might have gotten some food for thought out of my posts as well.
This thread (the guns-save-lives one) was started by Bill. However, he didn't supply any counters to the discussion being put forth, he simply said (essentially) "Oh yeah? Here's more examples of the one thing I'm talking about". That's not a discussion. And that is the common trait we see.
There is a lot of talk in this thread about "well, just don't go in there.... just ignore it..." But here's the thing. A lot of us like good discussion. Some of us thrive on it. We like it when people challenge us, we like it when we're argued with. In my case, it helps me solidify, or clarify my own opinions and beliefs on things... and if my opinions or beliefs don't hold up against the argument, I can change them when armed with better information. So the Study can be a great place to go, for that purpose. But if all you get is "fingers-in-the-ears" parroting of others highly skewed opinions, spouting extremist rhetoric at you, without there even being the image of listening to what you're saying, why would we visit the threads there? Honestly, I see a lot of Bills threads and posts, and want to add to the discussion, but there's no discussion being had. There's just Bill, spouting a single belief, with his only support being those ultra right-wing personalities (who freely admit that their job fits more into "entertainment" than "information"... so why they're being looked to as "reputable sources" by Bill I can only put down to a lack of critical thinking), completely ignoring every post that demonstrates the issues and problems with what he's presenting. That's not a discussion, it's one person who refuses to listen. Why would I waste my time joining that?
In the end, no matter how much of the content is political, social, welfare-related, gun-control related, or anything else, if there isn't actual discussion being had, that's what's keeping people out of it. Ignoring it, really, doesn't solve the problem. The only thing I can think of is to encourage actual posting of discussion/debate. Because the biggest problem with the Study right now is that that isn't happening. And it's not happening because a few people simply won't engage.
Remember, the Study is for the discussion of non-martial arts related topics... not the badgering of others with them.
Anyway, that's where I sit. I'll wait and see what Bob is doing with it.
