I agree with erika and DJ. Call her a troll or not, but she paid no attention to the very knowledgeable comments from Stephanie or megan or Strega anyone else; she dismissed them glibly and continued to reiterate her position using ad hominem and straw man attacks. She clearly came here to discuss this inflammatory topic with us but I didn't find much substance, if any, in her posts.

It's not the dissension that bothers me, it's the lack of intelligent argument. Illegal immigration is bad because it's illegal? Really?

Shari's not a troll. She's a time-challenged poster with very inflammatory views. But I don't see anything to imply she doesn't believe them. I disagree quite wholeheartedly, but that doesn't a troll make.

I agree with ita. Nothing about Shari says "troll" to me. It seems like politics are a topic she feels especially passionate about, so it's not surprising to me that it's one she talks about more than most.

I disagree with her on just about everything, but I do actually value hearing her opinions. I'm really not comfortable with calling her a troll.

It's not the dissension that bothers me, it's the lack of intelligent argument.

Eh, I can't get very worked up about that. My arguments aren't always intelligent or coherent either, and lord knows I'd hate to have that be the standard by which my value as a member of this community was judged.

Yes, Kate, but if you and I disagreed about something and I gave you links and cites and facts, I'm pretty sure that you would read and consider instead of dismissing.

I guess it's because I've never seen her anywhere but in Natter, popping in to post on political arguments (and I agree that it's going against the grain, but I'm with smonster in that I don't feel she engaged). I'll defer to people who feel they know her better, I just wanted to make sure it was known that erika wasn't the only one of that opinion.

Shari's not a troll. She's a time-challenged poster with very inflammatory views. But I don't see anything to imply she doesn't believe them. I disagree quite wholeheartedly, but that doesn't a troll make.

Shari, I don't think you're a troll, you've been around a long time and used to post on non-political stuff. I do think you are frequently trying to be inflammatory and have a tendency to set up straw men to knock down in the most argumentative terms, which to me indicates that you aren't really interested in engaging or having a disucssion at all.

I also have a really hard time forming a coherent argurment, and I think being able to have discussions here makes me more able to says something other than "How can you be so mean/dumb/rascist?!?!?!".

I also like the opportunity to talk to people who I disagree with, since in real life I just avoid talking about politics most of the time because I just get very emotional, and no one is going to be convinced to want gay marriage by me crying about it!

My arguments aren't always intelligent or coherent either, and lord knows I'd hate to have that be the standard by which my value as a member of this community was judged.

Kate, have I ever told you I adore you? I do.

Yes, Kate, but if you and I disagreed about something and I gave you links and cites and facts, I'm pretty sure that you would read and consider instead of dismissing.

Sure, but if I were the lone voice of disagreement and you and twenty other people were giving me links and cites and facts, I think I'd be a lot less likely to really engage. Look, I'm not saying I think Shari had a great argument; her responses did seem sort of dismissive to me. But I think it's a huge leap from there to "troll," that's all.

I am uncomfortable labeling anyone a troll for bringing up unpopular sides to a convo. I am also uncomfortable with discussing someone when they are not present in a convo to speak for themselves.

I skim and skip and quite frequently dark-grey, so I am not a judge of how often people post, or what other conversations have happened in the past.

Although I disagree with your position, Shari, and do think that some positions have some large logical holes in them, I have no problem with the conversation that was held on the last day.

I enjoy Buffistas for the discourse; please let us all -- I love you all! -- continue to be gracious, welcoming and thoughtful.