The situation in this forum has changed. It used to be discussion-first—people would comment on a post, step away for a few hours, and come back to pages of back-and-forth. Real conversation, heated at times, with a mix of viewpoints that actually engaged the issues. It needed moderation heavily at times, and some members were banned because they exchanged banter, pushing things far enough to cross lines.
There were memes and sarcasm then too, but they didn’t replace the discussion. Members like AZmasterblaster (RIP Lyle) often added real commentary alongside articles, which kept threads moving and substantive.
Now that balance has shifted. A lot of that has been replaced by meme chains instead of dialogue. This isn’t aimed at one group—it applies across both sides of the political spectrum. Whatever side you’re on, if the shoe fits…