When I first joined FR we learned from the older signups how to debate and to use links for proof. That kind of thing is gone now. And posters aren't using HTML to quote others so there's proof of what was said. They just make stuff up. You probably remember making statements and having to prove them with links too. Now posters don't care. They ignore links (except for old school posters) and info and make wild claims and accusations. It's like waking up in a foreign land.
You probably remember making statements and having to prove them with links too.
Definitely. People at one time demanded you support what you said, and you did the same. It wasn't totally uncommon for me to amend my view or even change it because of a convincing series of posts from somebody who took the time to craft his position and support it with evidence. I am a much better prepared conservative because of those experiences. People didn't just call you a name for not agreeing immediately but actually seemed to see a reason to try to bring you around to their way of thinking. That was one of the things I always liked about this place. Now, the whole tone has changed, and it seems harder and harder to make any headway in a discussion. People are tending more and more to post past each other and it just becomes a lot of noise. I don't know if such things as used to happen can still be found, but I hope so.