Is there a point to all this "Israel vs Palestine" bickering?

[Oliver]

What if the truth is demonstrably not in between?

So according to you, psychics, who fraud credulous people out of their savings, and truthers who desecrate the memory of the 9/11 victims all have valid points and should be left alone because it's their "opinion"?

What? I'm pro-discussion - no matter if Israel/Palestine, Truther/Debunker, György Gellér/JREF. So I disagree with the OP's stance that there is no point in all the "bickering", no matter what a topic is about. Even if I agree that very similar discussions in completely different threads are annoying.

Also: If the truth is demonstrably NOT in between, there is is no need to discuss a topic. However, just like in all the other examples, both sides have some valid points worthy to discuss, have they not? - And if so, why are you posting in those specific sub-fora then?

Not to mention that the I/P discussion is far more based on a real background than the rather wooish examples you mentioned.

 

[Pardalis]

Also: If the truth is demonstrably NOT in between, there is is no need to discuss a topic.

I agree with you, but proponents of the side that is wrong keep coming back, and keep pushing for their ideas and influence the credulous nonetheless.

However, just like in all the other examples, both sides have some valid points worthy to discuss, have they not?

No, psychics have no special powers, demonstrably so. Truthers have been successfully debunked and shown dead wrong, again and again. Bigfoot most certainly doesn't exist, the same with the theist god.

As for Liberals and Conservatives, you are right, that is a matter of opinion.

Not to mention that the I/P discussion is far more based on a real background than the rather wooish examples you mentioned.

No, you mentioned them. You made the comparison.

 

[Oliver]

I agree with you, but proponents of the side that is wrong keep coming back, and keep pushing for their ideas and influence the credulous nonetheless.

No, phsychics have no special powers, demonstrably so. Truthers have been successfully debunked and shown dead wrong. Bigfoot most certainly doesn't exist, the same with the theist god.

As for Liberals and Conservatives, you are right, that is a matter of opinion.

No, you mentioned them. You made the comparison.

If phsychics and truthers have no point, why are you discussing in those areas at JREF? And why are those discussions more worthy to discuss than the P/I Issue then?

In other words: What is your point in this thread?

 

[Pardalis]

You're the one who seemed to have a point to make by lumping together with the Israelo-Palestinian debate truthers, psychics and Bigfoot. What was your point?

 

[mortimer]

I know I've learned quite a bit about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from these threads. Isn't that the point of JREF and the Forums?

 

[quarky]

Right. Standing up for Palestinian civil rights= blaming the Jews.

How very mature. How very pathetic.

Out of all the bs arguments, I think you have come up with numero Uno.

If that was for me, I may have to retract my sentiments about Jewish sense of humor.

Not all Jews are funny.

 

[Crowlogic]

Is there a point to the Israel vs Palistine bickering? No!

 

[Thunder]

If that was for me, I may have to retract my sentiments about Jewish sense of humor.

Not all Jews are funny.

liberal jews are funny. conservative jews are scary.

=)

 

[gumboot]

You're the one who seemed to have a point to make by lumping together with the Israelo-Palestinian debate truthers, psychics and Bigfoot. What was your point?

I think Oliver's point is that the main complaint made in the OP is equally true of a multitude of other topics discussed in these forums. There are countless topics that continue in an endless back and forward.

Why did the OP choose to focus on Palestine/Israel?

 

[Tin Foil Timothy]

I agree with you, but proponents of the side that is wrong keep coming back, and keep pushing for their ideas and influence the credulous nonetheless.

Yes they do.

Of course your view of who actually is the side that is wrong is different to mine and many others.

Which means there is a point to the debate.

 

[Oliver]

You know, I just realized what your problem is Oliver, you're a damn relativist.

??? ... What do you mean by that, Goury? Personally I'm pretty much a maverick in everything I do, no matter what others think. Is that what you meant?

 

[quarky]

liberal jews are funny. conservative jews are scary.

=)

Same with bikers.

and candlestick makers.

(Conservative Jews might have the edge, in scariness, because they may have money.)

 

[Doctor Evil]

My observations lead me to conclude that the point of bickering seems to be generating that warm, fuzzy, feeling of being morally superior. Seems to be working quite well for many posters in the politics subforum.

 

[Pardalis]

??? ... What do you mean by that, Goury? Personally I'm pretty much a maverick in everything I do, no matter what others think. Is that what you meant?

It's written in plain English Oliver, you're not a maverick, you're intellectually immature.

 

[Darth Rotor]

Is there a point to all this "Israel vs Palestine" bickering?

Beyond pissing and moaning on an internet forum, no.

DR

 

[twinstead]

Well, 1337m4n, this thread pretty much illustrates your point, doesn't it?

 

[Dragoonster]

So essentially, all Israel/Palestine threads inevitably degrade into the same two issues:

1) Who started it?
2) Who is more evil?

My personal views on these issues are as follows:

1) Who gives a damn?
2) Who gives a damn?

That's my view too, but this is the issue I have a problem with:

1) Who's supporting one side with $billions a year and tech/weaponry and UN blocking of sanctions?

Well, my country is and I strongly disagree that we should support either side. Since the implications of the conflict are more serious than the conflict itself, specifically implications of this rather blind support, this issue is perhaps the most important foreign policy issue. For the US anyway.

Both primary antagonists, and the US, appear willing to just keep the status quo, which is utterly ridiculous. Same problem that always arises with various African genocides, which yes are arguably more serious than the Israel-Palestine thing (certainly in human life toll, perhaps not in political/regional/global ramifications though).

I know I've learned quite a bit about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from these threads. Isn't that the point of JREF and the Forums?

True. The vast majority of my knowledge of the conflict has come from a decade or so of internet debates about it. Prior to that I was naive, indifferent, and ignorant. Hmm...maybe it was better being that way though.

 

[Disbelief]

I think Oliver's point is that the main complaint made in the OP is equally true of a multitude of other topics discussed in these forums. There are countless topics that continue in an endless back and forward.

Why did the OP choose to focus on Palestine/Israel?

I think because of the sheer number of threads on the topic. I lurk in the Politics forum, but rarely post - especially on this topic. While there is much to be learned from the back and forth, there seems to be a new thread or two daily about a rocket attack, an IDF reprisal, or something along those lines. Almost every one of these threads devolves into the same exact arguments. Even in the 9/11 CT forum, where arguments have been hashed out repeatedly, there are different arguments for different aspects.

*back to lurking*

 

[tomwaits]

Is there a point to all this "Israel vs Palestine" bickering?

No...more like an asymptote.

 

[Slayhamlet]

No...more like an asymptote.

That's actually a rather ingenious way of describing it, if you consider the x and y axes to represent the degree to which people are biased towards either position.