[I've noticed a NUMBER of people post news articles and blog posts and other information from various sources. But they are not, themselves, writing anything. Like, no opinion, positive or negative. When people do this, are they looking for opinions on what was written? Or is it an FYI thing? Or are they in response to requests for information? Or something else?
This forum serves several purposes and one is simply a place to introduce information to an interested audience. So people will often post an article or blog entry of interest just to add to the general information. Lanya, for example, often posts articles from other sources. She is less verbose than, say, Michael or myself, but when she speaks she can debate with the best of them. Everybody has a different style in quoting other sources. I tend to cut and paste articles completely, while still providing a link to the original. Some people will cite the link and post nothing at all, preferring to allow the readers to click on the link if they are interested. Still others will cite a link and post a paragraph or two or a relevent quote from the original, so that you can read the entire original if the point interests you. Some add their own comments, others like to allow the source to stand on its own.
Incidentally, you should know that posting links can be very important. Quoting a source without appropriate acknowledgement can be a violation of copyright. Reproducing work from other sources can be done generally under the "fair use" provisions of copyright laws, but we have to be careful not to plagarize.
When I post an article, I am both looking to pass on information I think will interest people on the forum and to get the varied opinions that interest may generate. Its a great way to learn. Often, the information others provide adds to my knowledge. Sometimes, when a poster brings up a counter argument, I have to research the facts to make an informed reply. This broadens your horizons wonderfully.
You are right that many of us have been here for years, on and off, and certain relationships develop over time. You are also right that some people are more likely to flame than others. MT and I tend to rub each other the wrong way, but we usually get over it. Some others, and I will not single out anyone, seem to be at war with the world in general, or the opposite political viewpoint in particular. I don't think you'll find many debate sites where that isn't true to some extent.
