Hello Doug; I see you're feeling melancholy today. As you noted, there are definitely some great things that were part of our past that no longer prevail. Playing outdoors, knowing all the neighbors, meeting people in person instead of electronically, etc., things have changed haven't they!
As for posting on bulletin boards, of course we don't personally know others but we still do offer a glimpse of ourselves. Perhaps it may seem a "contest" at times but that's certainly not the point of it all. Whenever and wherever one posts, one is offering a point of view; one that will likely be accepted by some and rejected by others. If there's one thing I can take to the bank - it's that no matter what I ever say, there will surely be those who disagree!
And that brings up a critical value of bulletin boards; that while disagreement among members is natural; one should pay attention to the LEVEL of disagreement. If I post something on board X and 50% of the members disagree with my view, I may not be surprised. But if 90% of the members disagree with me, I need to think twice about both my view and the board as a whole; that is, am "I" wrong, or is "the board" wrong?
The value of a bulletin board is twofold. One, it allows sharing of views and information; and two, it gives feedback to the poster. The second part is just as important as the first! When the feedback is not as one expected, one needs to ask oneself - why?
Reality itself is generally formed by consensus. Science describes the reality of the physical world. If 90% of the people see a shirt as being red; we can safely assume the shirt is red by definition. For those in doubt - an explanation of the electromagnetic spectrum can show them the color they see is in fact "red" and that perhaps they have a visual problem. A bulletin board, via feedback, may help one to re-evaluate one's views or beliefs.
I started posting on boards during the 1990s and I guarantee you my views on some things have changed since then; and I'm sure they'll change even more in the future. Feedback from family, friends, co-workers, and even bulletin boards, is what helps us grow.
Feedback is not always pleasant, but it is always valuable. Without critical feedback in life, I might start thinking I was perfect, LOL!
Well man, I guess I'm starting to ramble....should get back to your post....
Whatever the case, I suspect we each agree without about half of what the other says; a fairly typical board result. My mind is obviously not as "open" as yours - but I prefer it that way for my own mental clarity. As for mainstream news; well, it's called "mainstream" for a reason - it's the least biased!
I'm sorry to hear you haven't benefited from this board. Are you sure about that? Hopefully you're exaggerating just a little bit.
If you don't feel like posting for a while; that's understandable - we ALL need breaks every now and then. But I like reading many of your posts - so don't stay away too long!
Best wishes,
Tim in NC
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