Wanting to discuss some of the political topics I wandered over the Hannity.com site and joined the forums. There were lots of topics and categories but what most interested me was the Washington Politics forum that had discussions about many of the current hot subjects like health care reform.
Immediately you find out, especially in that forum, that there are many biased opinions about the subject. Also, it’s quite evident that Hannity has loaded his forums with dozens (if not hundreds) of cronies who rape and pillage any opposition to their right-wing ideals. Anyone who disagrees with or retorts to any of their ‘prized posters’ gets immediately banned. For someone touting the equalities of free speech he sure advocates hypocrisy as well.
I was careful to refrain from ‘flaming’, which is the art of arguing just to argue. When I brought a valid point to the conversation I was met with a beat-back by the forum members that carried with them their 30,000+ posts reputation in tow. You soon find out that there are physicians and medical industry personnel intertwined in these forums. When challenged they simply ban you which strips out your posts, your input and just about any trace of the opinions expressed by yours truly.
It’s frustrating that a popular newscaster, radio talkshow and Fox News commentator running what is supposed to be an ‘open forum’ for debate has such a tight stranglehold on what is said on his site’s forums. It literally boils down to his own form of censorship, keeping only the points of view that he reflects in his talk shows.
Fair and Balanced? No Way!
Yep, that’s their motto. Do they really practice that? No way! Twice I was banned from their forums simply for challenging their obvious plants. Those hired guns that have 30, 40, 50,000 + posts simply can’t be just ‘regular folk’ to have that many responses or comments. That, folks, is a full time job!
It was quite evident that some of the main bloggers in their forums were what I would call ‘professionals’ armed with all kinds of industry facts concerning industry profits, accounting, taxes, regulations, percentages, and surveys. No matter WHAT you provide as an alternative to those they are immediately discredited and, therefore, dismissed. If you persist? You are simply banned.
Liberals NOT Welcome!
Ok, I am NOT a liberal. I’m a conservative republican. But, I look at common issues that affect us all with an unbiased approach. Health care being one of those. When it comes to issues such as the provision of health care I am simply an American. And, one who believes that health care should be available to all. If our government has a plan that makes sense and is brave enough to tackle this powerful industry then i’m in favor. Having been the victim of what I would consider health care insurance abuse (or, even fraud), I can’t see anything but positive things in taking my health decisions out of the hands of profiteers.
Test It For Yourself!
Head on over to hannity.com, join the forums and dare to oppose any of the stalwarts of their forums. I dare ya! Let me know how long you last!
I have been a member of those forums for many years and I can tell you that you are wrong.
Based on what you said you got banned for contempt of members, which is a protection that also protected you and anybody else liberal or conservative.
The forums been around for a while too and people use it to chat a lot during the day, and you’re right there are a lot of professionals in there as well as some now that are unemployed like me. The number of posts is real. The only plants are the moderators that are there to do their job of keeping it civil.
The rules are simple and fair and if you take the time to read them before posting your life expectancy on the very civilized debate forum will be extended dramatically.
Just wanted to add and clarify that if you go to most forums and attack the forum itself rather than engage in debate you are asking for a ban and should not be surprised when it arrives.
If you would stick to debate you would find that there is a hearty band of liberals who staunchly plead the liberal ideology without censure and they do not get banned for views and also have high post counts and make good points that keep us conservatives sharp and honest. It’s a fun place to have a civil discourse with some really smart folks on both sides of every issue. Just don’t attack the host or the site and follow the rules. What’s unusual or unfair about that.
I understand what ‘most forums’ are for as i’ve operated several in the past. A political forum is where you ‘discuss’ topics of various nature hopefully without it turning into a flame war. To ‘discuss’ means to present opinions and views on the thread’s topic. And, as long as you stay on that topic and do not personally attack other participants then there shouldn’t be any problem. But that’s not the treatment I experienced under four separate registrations. Each time I participated in an existing thread about any of the ‘hot’ topics (primarily the health care debate) all the participants of the discussion that were in favor of it and posted their comments with facts and information were immediately banned. Not just myself….ALL of them. I would check those threads after re-registering and see huge gaps in all the discussion(s) where they deleted not just the members but their posts as well. These weren’t flamers and the discussion would simply get to a point where there was no logical response to the facts presented by a poster. In other words, they were deleted ‘just because’. And the ‘because’ was due to a stance that was the opposing view to Hannity’s ultra “Obama is the devil” rhetoric (not that I’m an Obama fan) and anything stated in those forums that supported Obama’s agenda was immediately cut out like a cancer. It was clear that the forums at Hannity were simply a platform to promote the conservative agenda, not discuss it. Unless, of course, you drank the Hannity kool-aid and chanted along with them.