beast of the east
Active member
One of the things that I find really cool about the redmen.com community is the ability to for the most part discuss really hot topics where there are divergent perspectives. Much of our country is so polarized that any websites that allow posts on the most relevant topics confronting our society as for the most part opportunities for posters to belittle opposing opinions, get very angry, and for the most part call each other names.
There was a period as recently as a few years ago, where the "politics and religion" forum on here had to be shut down because there was so much hostility and inability to control emotions that it was totally counterproductive as an exchange of ideas and opinions.
Former Pa. governor Tom Ridge, the first director of Homeland Security in the aftermath of 9-11, said at the time that American politicians and the public in general had lost their ability for civil discourse. He said an essential aspect for the success of the two party system was to sometimes have vastly different viewpoints on the problems that face our society, but to respectfully listen to opposing opinions, and then both sides figure out the right thing to do.
In recent years, despite an ever widening divide between left and right, on redmen.com we've been able to discuss really difficult subjects from different perspectives, from contributors of different races and ethnicity, political persuasion, and economic and cultural differences. For the most part I think this redmen community has handled this interchange really well. On occasion, there have been flareups of anger, which is to be expected when such topics are discussed.
As a result, despite some very different viewpoints I've come to respect and like some posters with very differing opinions on some subjects. People such as Fuchsia, Tom in Salem, Chicago Days, JohnnyFan, and many others present differing views that are cause to contemplate and reflect on. Posters such as Ezi Uzi, Paul Masell and most of you are often so well informed on a variety of issues and write such well organized and cogent, coherent thoughts that they are a pleasure to read, regardless of perspective. Even Fun, who I have a communications detente with that has worked reasonably well, often posts things that are so well researched and composed that I have been inclined at times to break the detente and tell him. There are so many of you who contribute frequently on these off subject topics (such as Monte, and Mjmaher) that it is a reason in itself to log on here.
My point is that while we are all primarily here to discuss SJU basketball, which we all are passionate followers of, I often find it refreshing to discuss politics and religion here in a mostly friendly environment that has largely been respectful even when disagreeing. The community here has been pretty good at labeling off basketball subjects as such, so that those who would rather not read such dialogue, could pass it by.
It was really disappointing that a mod or mods chose to pull the midnight madness thread. One of the posters in that thread, not with his own opinions, but links to others, was Jerseyshore Johnny, one of the most universally respected posters here. The midnight madness event was one of those where basketball bisected political discourse of today, and I enjoyed reading the perspectives while not posting myself. One of the revelations for me at least, was that the term "thug" when used by non-African Americans was perceived as a racial slur. WHile I may have had a contributing opposing opinion on that topic, I will say that I learned something that I will hold onto for restraint when using that word in the future.
While I fully appreciate the mods overseeing discussions here, I hope in the future that we can continue to discuss these topics because in my experience at least, there has been a whole lot less of hurling insults that occur on other websites, and more of a forum for constructive dialogue. Erasing such discussions doesn't make root causes go away, and such avoidance of tough topics among intelligent men and women only serve to polarize us further.
There was a period as recently as a few years ago, where the "politics and religion" forum on here had to be shut down because there was so much hostility and inability to control emotions that it was totally counterproductive as an exchange of ideas and opinions.
Former Pa. governor Tom Ridge, the first director of Homeland Security in the aftermath of 9-11, said at the time that American politicians and the public in general had lost their ability for civil discourse. He said an essential aspect for the success of the two party system was to sometimes have vastly different viewpoints on the problems that face our society, but to respectfully listen to opposing opinions, and then both sides figure out the right thing to do.
In recent years, despite an ever widening divide between left and right, on redmen.com we've been able to discuss really difficult subjects from different perspectives, from contributors of different races and ethnicity, political persuasion, and economic and cultural differences. For the most part I think this redmen community has handled this interchange really well. On occasion, there have been flareups of anger, which is to be expected when such topics are discussed.
As a result, despite some very different viewpoints I've come to respect and like some posters with very differing opinions on some subjects. People such as Fuchsia, Tom in Salem, Chicago Days, JohnnyFan, and many others present differing views that are cause to contemplate and reflect on. Posters such as Ezi Uzi, Paul Masell and most of you are often so well informed on a variety of issues and write such well organized and cogent, coherent thoughts that they are a pleasure to read, regardless of perspective. Even Fun, who I have a communications detente with that has worked reasonably well, often posts things that are so well researched and composed that I have been inclined at times to break the detente and tell him. There are so many of you who contribute frequently on these off subject topics (such as Monte, and Mjmaher) that it is a reason in itself to log on here.
My point is that while we are all primarily here to discuss SJU basketball, which we all are passionate followers of, I often find it refreshing to discuss politics and religion here in a mostly friendly environment that has largely been respectful even when disagreeing. The community here has been pretty good at labeling off basketball subjects as such, so that those who would rather not read such dialogue, could pass it by.
It was really disappointing that a mod or mods chose to pull the midnight madness thread. One of the posters in that thread, not with his own opinions, but links to others, was Jerseyshore Johnny, one of the most universally respected posters here. The midnight madness event was one of those where basketball bisected political discourse of today, and I enjoyed reading the perspectives while not posting myself. One of the revelations for me at least, was that the term "thug" when used by non-African Americans was perceived as a racial slur. WHile I may have had a contributing opposing opinion on that topic, I will say that I learned something that I will hold onto for restraint when using that word in the future.
While I fully appreciate the mods overseeing discussions here, I hope in the future that we can continue to discuss these topics because in my experience at least, there has been a whole lot less of hurling insults that occur on other websites, and more of a forum for constructive dialogue. Erasing such discussions doesn't make root causes go away, and such avoidance of tough topics among intelligent men and women only serve to polarize us further.
Discussing the event on line does not really do it justice if you want to focus on the students and the entertainment. 
