Boris Johnson

The ivory tower comment has me in stitches. There was a great flamewar on another forum in which that comment was made, and it's just made me think of that, and it's funny.

No, no parallel universe.

And no I wouldn't sink any discussion regardless of what the subject is. And nor have I or would I censor (except for the removal of spam or anything that could jeopardise access from a work place like hardcore porn). I'm very much of the opinion that forums should be open places in which anything can be discussed.

That said, I also think the argument and discussion and debate are different things.

The beliefs and thoughts of an individual about politics tend to be grounded in the past experience of the individual, socialisation and so many other factors. They are strongly held ideas, everyone has an opinion that they hold dear even when they may not have a party or person they wish to follow. I'm not saying that politics should have no place at all, but that the pointless flame war on right vs left, this vs that is just silly and changes nothing.

An enlightened and serious debate on something would be very welcome indeed, as would be awareness of the things that directly affect us.

There's also a very big difference between tabloid level name-calling and a well-researched & presented piece on a specific thing that affects us all directly.

I guess it's hard for me to explain why this thread seems daft to me as I'm not especially eloquent, but it's mostly that instead of having a debate we've gone straight down to what does resemble an argument. It's not researched, considered, informed, it looks and smells like a flame war, and not a debate.

There's a big difference between a campaign to write to MEPs (why would it be European Parliament btw?) and a 'debate' in which emotive and silly terms like "red Ken", "Tory fop" and the virtues (or lack of) of the Evening Standard are being bandied about. One has a lot of value, the other is hot air.