An Opportunity for Thinkers

 

The Place for Thinkers is an outgrowth of a desire to create a forum for those who want more than sound-bite discussions among real people without the filter imposed by left or right-leaning blogs. The typical site not only tends to create an echo chamber where one side goes to re-enforce their ideas and brutally marginalize the other side. Posts are frequently aggressive, ad hominem remarks.

The Place for Thinkers seeks thinkers from all sides of the issues who will take the time to think, read, and then write. We want their reasoned arguments, regardless of whether they support or oppose the main article. To make this a truly unique experience, we will block any posts that attack people or parties. For example, if you disagree with President Obama's economic policies, it will be acceptable to strongly advocate for a different approach, but not acceptable to say something like "he is trying to destroy America..." or "he is a socialist..." A civil way to discuss it would be to say, "I strongly disagree, and I think a better way to grow the economy would be..."

The Place for Thinkers wants to encourage people to try to influence others to hear another viewpoint, and to consider that, maybe there is more than one way to do things. By having a place where we can express ideas without being insulted or marginalized, maybe we can begin a broader process of grassroots discussion that is aimed at solutions that help us all versus ideas to assure partisan victories.

If you would rather be engaged as opposed to being a passive receiver of charged rhetoric, we hope you'll contribute and share the potential for this kind of dialogue with others who may differ with your opinions, but share your desire for civil discourse.