Is boards changing Ireland in a bad way?

Biggins · 11-10-2011 10:27AM

Cruthers wrote: »

Boards.ie has got to be the dasest of board sites anywhere in the world.
This site is populated with the greatest number of dumb muppets.
I am now leaving boards and could not be bothered having anything to do with it.

You mean dumb muppets that can't spell either?
Seeing as your post contribution is not that great, your absence won't be missed. Toodle-pip!

Donal Og O Baelach · 11-10-2011 10:29AM

listermint wrote: »

Em Let me see, Everything you said was a broad generalisation, So No I dont think it is,

And yes I think you need to go back to internetz college ........

listermint wrote: »

Can you explain please donal?

Maria has inserted so many generalisations that is laughable.

She must also not be aware of how people use the internet in terms of saying what ever they like. Some to just get a raise out of people like Maria. So yes I do think an understanding of exactly what occurs on the internet is warranted. And its very relevant to opening such a topic in the first place.

So again whats 'miserable' about the post?

Well, compare the two posts above. While the 2nd is still quite condescending to the op (who asked a fairly interesting question in a reasonably humble and polite way), your first reply is basically saying "Ah get back in your box you fool"
Why didn't you explain your points, as in the 2nd post, in your first reply?

hooradiation · 11-10-2011 10:37AM

orourkeda wrote: »

yay

Sadly, it's more like this

(slightly NSFW, i guess. Maybe)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOdoXlJA9Nw

orourkeda · 11-10-2011 10:40AM

hooradiation wrote: »

Sadly, it's more like this

(slightly NSFW, i guess. Maybe)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOdoXlJA9Nw

Is that the guy who does Joe Swanson

billybudd · 11-10-2011 10:44AM

It is more healthy than silence.

Donal Og O Baelach · 11-10-2011 10:44AM

As regards a forum like this having a damaging effect on the fabric of Irish society, the argument for that would follow the same lines as the theory that the internet cultivates certain perverted behavior.

The idea is that a person living in "normal" society would be less likely to act on, or practice, any strange behavior- until he/she is in contact with like minded people - and then these acts become acceptable.

I suppose the same theory applies for ways of thinking - so a latent racist might go through life tolerating other races in an accepting society, but that can change to suit the mood of the tribe. (Germany in the 1930's would be an example of this).

hooradiation · 11-10-2011 10:53AM

orourkeda wrote: »

Is that the guy who does the tick Joe Swanson

That is Patrick Warburton, yes.

Kasabian · 11-10-2011 11:07AM

The internet and forums like this can do some good, they can also do some bad, if you are principaled enough and open to at least hearing another point of view it can be quite enlightening.

The problem as I see it is the need to voice an opinion on every little thing without fully embracing the argument or context.

Some people should have their keyboards removed, some should have their's blow up and others should be restricted on the time they allowed on a forum.

But thankfully we live in a some symblance of a free society so all opinions, even the one's of hatred and bigotry are able to have a voice.

Me I just filter the extreme BS and now and again laugh. Get's me through the day.

listermint · 11-10-2011 11:19AM

Donal Og O Baelach wrote: »

Well, compare the two posts above. While the 2nd is still quite condescending to the op (who asked a fairly interesting question in a reasonably humble and polite way), your first reply is basically saying "Ah get back in your box you fool"
Why didn't you explain your points, as in the 2nd post, in your first reply?

I do like your 'get back in your box you fool' reference as i had visions of Mr T.

On that note thank you for the reply

Chuck Stone · 11-10-2011 11:26AM

I blame the Illuminati. They want us to fight each other so they can suck the blood out of our children when our attention is elsewhere.

blackie4 · 11-10-2011 11:30AM

I think maybe the recession is causing a lot of resentment because people are short of money and worried about the future. Therefore, they start to look at others and question their entitlements. People didn't mind so much when jobs weren't so scarce, but I would imagine the same thing is happening in other countries too regarding immigrants, etc. Look at Mail Online sometime and see what they say about immigrants changing Britain, receiving benefits, etc. Hopefully, things will improve so that we stop being so nasty towards each other.

Saila · 11-10-2011 11:33AM

understanding of AH fail
this is more worrying, that some think lots of the one liners are real opinions and think that lots agree with them

Full.Duck · 11-10-2011 11:38AM

No its just AH in general.

11-10-2011 11:55AM

Saila has made a very good point dose anyone else notice how the nasty comments often get a huge amount of thanks and the thanks is often by people who rarely write a post...that is the sort of thing that gets me thinking.

I could not be nasty its the way I was reared manners are everything bla bla, but I was so tempted to reply to the people who thought the woman looking for nappies for her 4 year old son with downs syndrome and autism was too entitled, with something my mother would say which is ......' may it never darken your door'.....i.e may you never have a child that's handicapped

4leto · 11-10-2011 12:01PM

Boards is fun, it has absolutely NO impact on our wider community.

You have 2 modes what you say on an anonymous website and what you say and believe in the 3D world.

This in a way is just fantasy. But in saying that I really would incarcerate and execute every scumbag in Ireland.

Wertz · 11-10-2011 12:12PM

boards.ie changing Ireland? Last I noticed there are 4 million odd (some might say very odd) people on this island...not sure on the numbers here but at a guess it's maybe 20K active regular users across the whole site (open to correction here)....whilst that figure might form a broad cross section of the country's population it is not even 0.2% of the total number of people...even allowing for children and people over 70, it's probably still not even 1%.
So although the admins and owners of the site would love to think that the place has such a huge influence, I really think that's getting ahead of ourselves...

...and personally I find the deviation in opinions on everything on this forum (and others) to be refreshing... it's good that there's a place that you can come and see the opinions of others who you may never interact with IRL. There's nothing wrong with some healthy honesty about how other peope feel even if it doesn't sit well with your personal outlook. Better out that in.
Where else is there that gives normal Joe Soap the chance to talk about what he/she really thinks about something....the traditional media only gives us the opinions of "betters".

[edit] All in all I'd have said that this whole site has more of a positive influence on the country than a negative...it has helped me personally loads over the years with such mundane stuff as where to buy X, how to do Y with my computer, what to watch on telly and countless other things. You get out what you put in as far as I can see...

krudler · 11-10-2011 12:12PM

mariaalice wrote: »

I know the above sound a bit dramatic but hear me out!

I have been on boards about five years and I like it a lot.

Maybe I was living in a bubble or something, but I use to think the sort of people who were enraged by loan parents or who want to shoot everyone on social welfare, or were enraged by polish people here 'taking our jobs' etc...... were a small knuckle dragging minority, but they don't seem to be because the down right vile, nasty vicious comments you get in reply to some threads is disturbing.

So my point is, is boards changing Ireland in bad way by giving an outlet to that type of knuckle dragging comment.

Talking to people about this I have got two different replies.... Ireland was always like that and the Nazi party would have had a field day in Ireland as people would have been queuing up to join, or no public discourse in Ireland is becoming more self adsorbed and nasty in a way that it never was.

is this of the "if you dont have anything nice to say then dont say anything" type of reasoning? what a dull world it would be if everyone kept their opinions to themselves. AH is full of sarcastic responses from people that probably dont actually think that way in real life, its the internet, get over it.

jimthemental · 11-10-2011 12:14PM

4leto wrote: »

This in a way is just fantasy. But in saying that I really would incarcerate and execute every scumbag in Ireland.

Your narrow minded post here really pisses me off. You should be thinking globally.

Liam Byrne · 11-10-2011 12:18PM

I know what the OP is on about, though, and it's not JUST After Hours.

Even in a few of the forums where - shall we say - you'd expect at least some level of decency and etiquette there's an AMOUNT of nasty venom and deliberate twisting of words and all sorts of dirty tactics going on, and that's even before you examine the opinions being expressed, which would have left me floored if I read them 20 years ago when, in my naivety, I thought most people were reasoned, objective, honest individuals.

Maybe the issue is that boards provides a platform where you get to see those views and personalities first-hand, rather than being insulated from them ? In that case it's not boards fault, just the fact that the mindset and bigotry and venom isn't behind closed doors anymore ?

Wibbs · 11-10-2011 12:22PM

There's also the keyboard warrior factor. That's a biggie.

professore · 11-10-2011 12:26PM

Donal Og O Baelach wrote: »

As regards a forum like this having a damaging effect on the fabric of Irish society, the argument for that would follow the same lines as the theory that the internet cultivates certain perverted behavior.

The idea is that a person living in "normal" society would be less likely to act on, or practice, any strange behavior- until he/she is in contact with like minded people - and then these acts become acceptable.

I suppose the same theory applies for ways of thinking - so a latent racist might go through life tolerating other races in an accepting society, but that can change to suit the mood of the tribe. (Germany in the 1930's would be an example of this).

This is an excellent point. There are a lot more hate filled people out there than you might think - and a lot of them portray themselves as "respectable" and "pillars of society".

You will see this if you try to do something that would improve the lives of many in their community but makes no material difference to their lives - e.g. apply for planning for a community centre - many people will object out of pure bad mindedness or to make them feel they have some power - even people not living anywhere near it.

Throughout history there have been no shortage of henchmen to suppress others for the dictator of the day, or to betray their fellow men for minimal reward. They are just waiting for a chance to bring their neighbours
down a peg and will hang them at the first available opportunity. If you read about the Nazis or Stalinist Russia you will see this in action. Have a look at the current Presidential campaign even.

Lest you think I'm a depressed cynic, there are also a lot of great people out there who pleasantly surprise you from time to time. Make time to find out who those people are and f**k the rest

professore · 11-10-2011 12:31PM

Liam Byrne wrote: »

I know what the OP is on about, though, and it's not JUST After Hours.

Even in a few of the forums where - shall we say - you'd expect at least some level of decency and etiquette there's an AMOUNT of nasty venom and deliberate twisting of words and all sorts of dirty tactics going on, and that's even before you examine the opinions being expressed, which would have left me floored if I read them 20 years ago when, in my naivety, I thought most people were reasoned, objective, honest individuals.

Maybe the issue is that boards provides a platform where you get to see those views and personalities first-hand, rather than being insulated from them ? In that case it's not boards fault, just the fact that the mindset and bigotry and venom isn't behind closed doors anymore ?

By their nature these people are expert at disguising their true personalities and are thought of by many as fantastic people. Bertie Ahern is a master of the art. Not for nothing did Charlie Haughey say "He's the man. He's the best, the most skilful, the most devious, and the most cunning of them all."

KyussBishop · 11-10-2011 12:37PM

Boards is large enough to reflect viewpoints and opinions from all stretches of Irish society, from the englightening/intelligent, the humourous/non-serious, as well as the idiotic/ignorant.
It doesn't really change the country much at all though, it just reflects all the good/bad/neutral aspects of our society.

While some of the more ignorant posts can be kind of depressing/frustrating, they're not really harmful as you usually get a healthy amount of counterarguing to these posts;
if anything, some of the more ignorant posts are actually useful and informative, because you can learn a lot about the topic from the ensuing arguments, and the opportunity to learn how your own opinions may be wrong.

lastlaugh · 11-10-2011 12:52PM

mariaalice wrote: »

I know the above sound a bit dramatic but hear me out!

I have been on boards about five years and I like it a lot.

Maybe I was living in a bubble or something, but I use to think the sort of people who were enraged by loan parents or who want to shoot everyone on social welfare, or were enraged by polish people here 'taking our jobs' etc...... were a small knuckle dragging minority, but they don't seem to be because the down right vile, nasty vicious comments you get in reply to some threads is disturbing.

These people are a figment of your over active imagination.

mariaalice wrote: »

Talking to people about this I have got two different replies.... Ireland was always like that and the Nazi party would have had a field day in Ireland as people would have been queuing up to join, or no public discourse in Ireland is becoming more self adsorbed and nasty in a way that it never was.

These people you were talking to, they are idiots, do not listen to them ever again.

StephenHendry · 11-10-2011 12:56PM

i think boards is great for whats going in the world, better than any newspaper imo and i've found stuff out on boards that i would have heard later on. you will always get WUMs , trolls etc. but they exist everywhere really off line as well as here.

Batsy · 11-10-2011 12:56PM

mariaalice wrote:

I use to think the sort of people who were enraged by loan parents or who want to shoot everyone on social welfare, or were enraged by polish people here 'taking our jobs' etc...... were a small knuckle dragging minority.

No. They are the majority, the normal ones.

Those who are in favour of those things are the small, knuckle-dragging minority. They are what are known as liberals.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 11-10-2011 01:04PM

OP, those people still represent a very small minority. Please don't generalise the entire country or this entire website due to some neanderthals

FloatingVoter · 11-10-2011 01:09PM

Neanderthals had bigger brains so we killed them off (after shagging some of them). Just thought that needed saying.

/running away

Batsy · 11-10-2011 01:10PM

Frank Whispering Skeleton wrote: »

OP, those people still represent a very small minority.

No, they don't.

lastlaugh · 11-10-2011 01:13PM

StephenHendry wrote: »

i think boards is great for whats going in the world, better than any newspaper imo and i've found stuff out on boards that i would have heard later on. you will always get WUMs , trolls etc. but they exist everywhere really off line as well as here.

Whatsa WUM?

Is boards changing Ireland in a bad way?

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