Seriously, but what is up with (mostly) "DVD Talk Legend" members being completely unable to engage in a rational discussion or debate?

I understand people enjoy the whole, "Yay, we all have opinions, so let us never discuss anything intelligently" approach to life, but stop forcing it on the rest of us.

It is frustrating when one tries to have a discussion or is engaged in a discussion about something and replies, only to have a bunch of obnoxious "shut up!" people coming in. It is one thing to respond like that to trolls, but to simply be anti-intellectual by discouraging rational debate in a thread, is a bit ridiculous. And sadly, derails threads by trying to complain that the rational debate is derailing a thread, when it is in fact on point.

Music Thread

Movie Thread #1

I thought our debate was fine in the middle thread there, so I hope it's not a reference to me. The last one I can see your point but adding the personal attack isn't going to help your case.

In general, when somebody starts a thread that says "What is your favorite [book/movie/song] from [artist]?" it is considered a thread crap to go in and say "Well, I think [artist] sucks!" -- even if your post is well written and intelligent.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009:

Billy Joel -- "Allentown"
Yusef Islam -- "Father & Son"
Frank Sinatra -- "My Way"

Not a reference to you at all. That was a case of rational discussion, which gets thwarted by random complaints about the discussion instead of comments that contribute to it.

That was not the case though. There were three artists listed and I answered. I did not go in and say "I think X sucks." I simply implied through my reply that I did not like one of the 3 musicians in the OP.

Yes, a thread crap in that thread, would be to go in and randomly post "X sucks!" But, to go in and answer the "poll" (sort of) the way I did in my initial post is not even remotely a thread crap. What I said was no different than any other post that stated a user's dislike of one of three of the musicians. If it was solely a Billy Joel thread and I popped in to randomly post that I hated Billy Joel, that would be trolling and thread crapping. I did not do that though.

I don't really see any issues in Movie Thread #2

I know, I edited the OP to reflect the change in that thread. Non-issue now.

I think, in particular in the movie thread, that comments like this:

don't exactly encourage a healthy debate. It's very dismissive and condescending to people on the other side of the debate, and sets a negative tone for further discussion.

Your posts in the Billy Joel etc thread were not what I would characterise as "rational debate".

My post in that thread sums up my view and the administrative action taken.

The question has now been asked and answered so.... until next time.... closing thread.