As we get into the meat of a new election cycle we can expect a fresh interest in the Think Tank forum. In an age of rampant information I would like to implore you to follow a few guidelines when posting.
1. Source your information: This is the most important information you can give to support your arguments or opinions. If you are inspired to post or respond with facts, figures, quotes, ect… Provide your receipts. I also encourage you to follow the source back to it’s origin.
2. Don’t post blind articles as responses to other people: If you are posting something related to the topic, summarize it’s importance. Still post link.
3. Avoid team politics and making assumptions about other’s beliefs. If someone agrees with a Republican on one issue, it does not make them a Republican. Most issues are far too complicated to have only two points of view, but in American politics especially we push the ‘with us or with them’ ideology.
4. Argue the issue, not the person. Avoid personal attacks to your fellow posters. Sensationalism and name calling may be more common than not from our politicians, but we can do better and be civil.
5. Don’t occupy an echo chamber: Explore other’s beliefs, read their articles, follow their sources. If you don’t consider your counterpoints you’ve never truly considered your belief. Dismissive statements like ‘I don’t read Democrat Propaganda’ or ‘You can’t trust any article by a Republican’ isn’t a debate, it’s the lack of one.
6. It’s OK to be wrong and to change your opinion. You should do this often as you get new information. Feeling right is less important than being correct.
Just some things I hope we all keep in mind. I expect better from y’all then out politicians because I have have very low expectations of politicians. Now grab your ankles and get ready for a rough year.
