anyways, just wanted to use that thread title once I thought of it.
no offense to anyone intended, except:

As an online education, I have engaged in debate in political issues on this forum for a while, and my original intent was to understand points of view I do not share.

Sometimes I have learned something, but since the war I've not learned a great deal. is this me, or is the nature of the debate?
could be either or both.
I have noticed an increase in belligerence of posts, on both sides, to the point where I'm not really sure I'm getting anything out of these debates except as an onlooker to increasing entrenchment, paranoia, and generally less than polite behaviour (understatement).

As a weird side issue, I've found that the remaining threads in the regular lounge no longer interest me, and threads in the isolated political lounge are less and less substantive and more and more divisive.

Therefore I exist in a quandry.

I WISH to discuss political issues, but I find that more difficult.

Just wondering what others thought, or if others think I"m way off base here.