Quote:
Originally Posted by Mat Sklansky
In another thread I lamented that I feared nothing was ever accomplished in political discussions. Even if correct about the other stuff, this is a clear exception. Gizmo may have just prevented someone reading this actual physical harm from happening, unaware of the locking" problem.
I'm not so convinced that nothing ever happens. For starters, consider that most threads (and most political arguments) have more spectators than participants. There is an audience, and they are presumably being swayed one way or another even if the opposing arguers aren't, and even if the audience themselves aren't aware of it.
As an example, missiledog/shame trolly is often ridiculed for almost anything he posts. Not many people engage him seriously, and he doesn't really help his cause when he gets fixated on weird crap (like LirvA) or molests the font color palette. However, he is relentless in pushing certain topics, and if you pay attention over the course of a few years you notice that there are quite a few areas where his influence has become a normalized part of forum discussion without most people remembering he was the source.