[user104658]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

If a currently valid topic is posted but there is NO ensuing Debate or Discussion - then THAT is the fault of the members and NOT the topic subject posted.

But THAT is NOT how this is thread has played out and it is NO 'Stellar Example'.

There have been 33 posts ensuing from this Topic being posted, a lot of them intelligent and serious, and some light relief as well, BEFORE the "I'm Quitting" post by Kizzy - since which there have been a further 32 posts - how is that indicative of 'No Debate' or 'Discussion'?

There are PLENTY of members who DO want 'Academic Discussion' - THAT is beyond question.

The title is misleading and deliberately inflammatory and (from the content of the first post) it's obvious that the thread was posted because you read it and it confirmed your already-held beliefs about the situation... that is confirmation bias. The accuracy of the reporting doesn't actually matter as much as the reason for posting it. That's what I mean by the majority of the threads being posted in that mode; "I've been telling you this for ages and here is some more evidence of what I was already saying!". There are a tonne of these threads. As for the discussion that follows? Nothing new to see. Same people reiterating the same opinions they've had on every other thread with a vaguely similar topic (there are dozens). Not one vague attempt at altering or expanding opinions based on the discussion. There is no debate.

Or rather, the threads operate more like political Trump vs Clinton, Labour vs Tory, "debates" rather than academic debates - i.e. people seem to believe that the point of the debate is simply to present their own argument, which they believe 100% and unshakably, in such a way that "the audience" will be swayed by their immense proof and skillful oratory. Except that there is no audience, and as such, it's a complete waste of time. Anyone who is on here "debating" who feels that they have no capacity for altering their opinion in any way is wasting their time, and that currently - quite simply - applies to the majority of threads.

It DOES make me sad because I honestly don't think it has always been so static and stale. Even to use us an example; in our early days there were CONSTANT arguments that would stem from simply misunderstanding each other completely, something that I don't think has happened for a long time. There used to be plenty of compromise and thoughtfulness alongside the bickering name-calling... those things are not the problem. It's how self-assured everyone has become, and how quickly threads descend into back-patting and circlejerking.