NationStates Jolt Archive

Often on this forum I read posts that discuss a news article. What they don't realize is that there is a difference between a news story and a news article. There are two sides to every story and people keep on biasly judging the situations they come upon with a poor articles from poor sources that are one sided and not even credible. Next time, research the story and don't just repeat what somebody else said. It just doesn't make good discussion.

You are completely right.

I think this happens because this is the Internet, where there is the rapidity of a conversation but not the social rules of conduct associated with it. I think that in this area we should think twice before hitting that reply button and use the same courtesy, if not more, with the people on here as we would do with people in real life.

Use the 'page three, page six' rule.

The first page of posts usually are going to only really contain posts by people either responding to the heading, the title or something in the subject matter. Maybe one or two that just say "Old" or have eyeroll smileys. Page two will be replies to those that also haven't read the article either or pleas to actually read the thing. Page three you finally get people who read the article. These people are usually intellegent enough to do some critical reading and actual discussion begins.

But on page six the researchers have found other sources on the story that bring it into a different light, and then the ball is really rolling. Peak is reached at page ten or so when people don't want to read the whole thread and the recycling begins.

That'll save you some time and frustration.