You know, I liked it better when...

[TreeFrog]

You know, I liked it better when threads in the Politics, Environment, and Social section were mainly about local issues. I get all the national and world viewpoints I need in the media. But SoWal.com/bb filled a real need about providing a rumor mill and discussion forum about issues that concern us in SoWal day to day.

-Has interest in local issues waned?
-Are we just glad to have a place where our own viewpoint on major issues can actually be heard?
-Do we realize that the viewpoint we've just expressed, which seems so personal to us, is just the same as the one expressed by thousands, if not millions, in the national media?
-Do we hope that a post on a local forum is going to make a liberal see the light about a conservative viewpoint, or vice versa?
-Or is it just easier to get up on a soapbox and rant about your favorite national figure than it is to have a personal and potentially edgy encounter with your neighbor about a beach access?

I know it hasn't gone away completely, with the recent discussions of the high school play, items on the beach overnight, and beach access, etc. But there sure is less of it.

And on a more significant note...



Where has 30gAy gone? We need him now.

 

[Jdarg]

I agree. It's hard to find the local issues when they are buried in the national issues.

 

[Kurt]

I'm open to suggestions. I don't know that we need to add another forum but maybe non-local issues should go to the lounge?

 

[Andy A]

I don't agree. The "All About SoWal" forum should address local issues. This forum offers me and others a lot of information we wouldn't receive otherwise. Yes, it is a chance for some of us to vent and express our opinions even though we realize it may not change anyone's mind. And, that by the way, is part of the problem. Most Americans are too pig headed to look at the other side with any objectivity. That includes me. Don't confuse me with "facts", my mind is already made up.

 

[Miss Kitty]

I'm open to suggestions. I don't know that we need to add another forum but maybe non-local issues should go to the lounge?

FTLOG...NO, please NO!!!!

 

[DD]

FTLOG...NO, please NO!!!!

DITTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kurt]

I don't agree. The "All About SoWal" forum should address local issues. This forum offers me and others a lot of information we wouldn't receive otherwise. Yes, it is a chance for some of us to vent and express our opinions even though we realize it may not change anyone's mind. And, that by the way, is part of the problem. Most Americans are too pig headed to look at the other side with any objectivity. That includes me. Don't confuse me with "facts", my mind is already made up.

So do you think the PES forum should be non-local only?

 

[Smiling JOe]

I'm open to suggestions. I don't know that we need to add another forum but maybe non-local issues should go to the lounge?

I agree. I gave up on it a while back, but I use to post any non-local issue, even if serious, in the Lounge, where I think it belongs. I think the thread headers are fairly clear that the topics should relate to SoWal (I would extend that to the SoWal area which might also include NoBay (area located north of the Bay)).I feel the same way about the Walton Sun -- if it ain't local, put it in it's own section that we can never open if we choose. I used to enjoy reading every word in the Sun, before they expanded to include AP stories. Now, I scan thru it in less than five minutes.

 

[Jdarg]

How about put the non-local stuff in the entertainment forum? I am constantly entertained by many of the threads and posts.

Now that I am thinking about it, maybe the local issues should be in the All About SoWal forum, which truly does break them out from other issues. Keep the political forum truly for conversation and fistfights about the election, religion, etc.

 

[Smiling JOe]

FTLOG...NO, please NO!!!!

Andy A makes a good point, and I have learned a few things reading some of the National news threads, as I'm sure others have. Maybe the Lounge isn't the appropriate place for serious non-local stuff. Perhaps a new forum entitled, "National Topics -- serious," would be a good place to post such things.