This page complements our blog, Practical Politicking, and because we believe fighting to win elections must come first, we’re practical about our politicking. In our opinion pragmatism does not mean capitulation nor does realism mean compromise. In today’s political realm it is impossible for us to get everything we want so we embrace the goal of obtaining our most important ideals. With our prac
tical attitude about politicking we are obviously aware that many people do not share these beliefs and have very different desires. We welcome you to express those dissenting views here and to engage in civil discourse but we recognize we may not change your minds nor may you change ours. What we do demand is that all comments, exchanges and threads be civil. To that end we urge you to read the guidelines that follow and note that we reserve the right to block any participant and/or remove any comment. GUIDELINES FOR USE
Please read these guidelines before sharing or commenting on this page. We feel strongly that if you do, and internalize these principles, you and every other participant will have a more pleasant, productive and positive experience. ASSUME BENIGN INTENT
When you are reading another participant’s comments, do your level best to assume that their intentions are good, that they are not out to offend you, hurt your feelings, or incite a riot. Simply having a strong opinion on a subject is not evidence of maliciousness, even if your opinion is 180 degrees in the opposite direction. As you are reading, take a moment to think about how strongly you feel about your views and then imagine how the other person must feel equally as strongly about theirs. Unless you are certain that someone means to hurt you with their words, give them the benefit of the doubt. CONTEXT IS KEY
Please remember that this is an *online discussion forum* it is not a two-way conversation between you and the person whose comment you just finished reading. If you don't read through an entire thread before responding to a given comment, keep in mind you may be missing something. Expect to be quoted. If you are going to share something publicly, expect to back it up. This is an opinion forum, and if you are going to share your opinions openly you shouldn't mind being asked to clarify them or having people question your reasoning or intentions. Benign intent should be assumed on a *personal* level, but tone and inference are easy to misinterpret online. Desire to be understood, as much as you desire to understand others. It's part of mutual respect. BACK UP YOUR OPINIONS WITH FACTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE
If you state your opinion without reference to factual data to back it up, expect to be challenged. This doesn't mean you are required to provide factual data to back up everything you say here, but it does mean that your fellow participants have a right to ask for it if they disagree, or to provide facts themselves to refute what you are saying. If they do, you should not take offense or feel attacked. You may still disagree, but it is your responsibility to defend your own statements, not theirs to accept them at face value. OWN YOUR EMOTIONS
Carefully consider use of adjectives, interjections, and other emotion-laden parts of speech as well as emoticons. We are here to discuss what we *think* not necessarily what we *feel*. Although what we think will be influenced by what we *feel* it is never fair to judge what others *think* purely on the basis of how you think that makes you feel. No one here can make you feel anyway. You choose your own feelings and are responsible for your own reactions to comments. STYLE IS NOT SUBSTANCE
Differences in writing style should be expected and welcomed. They are *not* topics in and of themselves. Forcefully making an argument using a lengthy comment laden with lots of links to factual material may not be evidence of a member hitting someone over the head, it may be an attempt to be thorough, to demonstrate passion for the material. By the same token, short comments are not inherently shallow or factually inaccurate. If you can make your point succinctly or with a minimum of references, feel free to do so. Context is key (see above). If you don't like reading a certain style of post, don't read them. Just don't be *offended* by them just because they are not *your* style.
