Political Apartheid In Screenwriting

Question

Every single time I post anything off-topic about the Democrats acting idiotically (as they are wont to do), I get the same response - namely "what does this have to do with screenwriting"?
In other words "Burn the witch!"
Let's ignore, for the moment, the fact that the only time the self-proclaimed "board police" get upset is when a conservative or libertarian voice is raised- all kinds of silly off-topic communist/Marxist/anti-American/pro-Iranian opinions are voiced here without incurring the ire of those who claim to safeguard the topical integrity of the forum when I offer a post.
Instead, let's get to the heart of the matter. I believe that a conservative screenwriter doesn't stand a chance in Hollywood, and unquestionably faces an uphill battle here, and I'd like to know exactly why.
Certainly, the board's moderator has singled me out for castigation, while simultaneously turning a blind eye to all kinds of off-topic left-wing rants to post with impunity. Indeed, the same left-wingers who post off-topic are the first to throw vitriol in the form of silly name-calling. Why?
I get this response from liberals in general whenever I post any topic touching on politics. Nasty personal attacks. Straw men. Appeals to authority. Emotional responses that strive to do anything but address the substance of my posts. Why?
Why is this? Why can't liberalism suffer scrutiny, much less debate? Huh?

The answer is simple: the central tenets of liberalism are silly and self-contradictory.
Liberalism cannot live on talk radio for two very simple reasons - scrutiny and accountability. The silliness of its precepts couldn't make it past a hour-long uncensored call-in session. You can't justify tossing billions at GM, only to watch it go bankrupt a month later while you toss billions of tax cash at GM's competitors. You can't convince the American people that there is a health care "crisis" when fifty people are lighting up your phone lines to tell you that such a "crisis" is nothing but the misguided figment of the liberal imagination. You can't have Nancy Pelosi deriding the health insurance companies as "villains" while she simultaneously collects the villainous money from them by the bagful and refuses to return it. The silliness of liberalism can't survive even the lowest speed collision with Reality.

I have posted a full length screenplay here. I am interested in bringing a realistic, mature political perspective in writing. But a political leaning cannot be separated from writing any more than religious or socio-economic background can.
Why is it that so many of you (though not all of you, by any means) seek to squelch my opinions?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Why is it that so many of you (though not all of you, by any means) seek to squelch my opinions?[/nq]
Your tongue in cheek parody definitely worked better than complaining about it, but as for the crowd response you already know what it's going to be. It's the same response it's always been, except I was tempted to throw in "It's a dog eat dog world," when you mentioned your friend getting screwed over with the Kia.
So either you like the feeling that you're being persecuted or you don't know any better. As it is, your right to express your opinions has already been confirmed by many in the group, even among those who would disagree with you.
After all, writers have traditionally been pro-Free Speech.

But as for the validation of a political point I'm not sure it's ever been done in this group, period.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Every single time I post anything off-topic about the Democrats acting idiotically (as they are wont to do), I get the same response - namely "what does this have to do with screenwriting"? In other words "Burn the witch!"[/nq]
Hardly.
First off, there isn't really a board moderator; Alan runs the moderation SOFTWARE, which filters out cross-posted messages and some (but not all) spam. None of your posts - that you've mentioned, at least - have been filtered; what's happened is that people who also post on this board have responded to your posts. That's kinda' what we do, here - we post, we respond to posts, we response to responses... y'know, conversation.
[nq:1]Instead, let's get to the heart of the matter. I believe that a conservative screenwriter doesn't stand a chance in Hollywood, and unquestionably faces an uphill battle here, and I'd like to know exactly why.[/nq]
To the extent that it's true, it's because huge numbers of people involved in the arts - including film and television - are politically liberal rather than conservative, and so tend to support people who share their beliefs, often at the expense of people who don't share their beliefs. This is an industry that runs on relationships, so people tend to get hired, and rehired, based on whether people like them and like working with them as much as the quality of their work.

This can't possibly be news to you.
[nq:1]Why is it that so many of you (though not all of you, by any means) seek to squelch my opinions?[/nq]
Because people here don't particularly like you, and don't agree with your politics, and this isn't a democracy ruled by the idea of fair- ness. It's a social forum that's open to anyone and everyone, but like any such place there are regulars who come here day after day and they tend to set the tone of the place. If a lot of conservative writers and writer-wannabes started showing up, the tone of the place would probably change somewhat. A lot of the liberal writers would probably - eventually - drift away, just like conservative writers have done because they've found the place to be too liberal for their tastes.What you're doing is the equivalent of going into a rock n' roll bar and playing country music on the jukebox, and then complaining that no one's willing to get up and dance with you. Most of us here* aren't country music fans, and the fact that you don't like that about us doesn't change that. Nor does your ******** and moaning about how terrible rock n' roll music, nor your extolling the virtues of country music. You're welcome here, like anybody else.

You're welcome to post about whatever you want, as it's an unmoderated group beyond the robo-moderation preventing cross-posting. You're welcome to flame us all, talk about screenwriting, talk about politics, talk about your favorite cheesecake recipes, whatever. Just like everybody else here is free to do likewise - including ******** and moaning about your off- topic posts and your politics and whatever else they care to. It's an open forum.

Life Continues, Despite
Evidence to the Contrary
Steven
*where has Suzy gotten herself to, these days?

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Your tongue in cheek parody definitely worked better than complaining about it, but as for the crowd response you already know what it's going to be.[/nq]
You think?..
Maybe my tongue remains cheeked.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]What you're doing is the equivalent of going into a rock n' roll bar and playing country music on the ... of us here* aren't country music fans, and the fact that you don't like that about us doesn't change that.[/nq]
Translation: You are exactly right, Paul. We are the logical equivalent of a bunch of intolerant rednecks who choose to discriminate against you and harass you based on your political leanings, just like the way a bunch of toothless, illiterate rednecks might pummel a nigra or a queer if he came into our redneck bar and questioned our beliefs. Deal with it, Paul, because that's the way it is, Dude.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Every single time I post anything off-topic about the Democrats acting idiotically (as they are wont to do), I get the same response - namely "what does this have to do with screenwriting"?[/nq]
Obviously, no one's paying attention to Nancy Pelosi's obsession with spreading giallo cinema across the nation via legislation.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]What you're doing is the equivalent of going into a ... that you don't like that about us doesn't change that.[/nq]
[nq:1]Translation: You are exactly right, Paul. We are the logical equivalent of a bunch of intolerant rednecks who choose to ... came into our redneck bar and questioned our beliefs. Deal with it, Paul, because that's the way it is, Dude.[/nq]
You better not miss your bath again next Saturday night, Steven.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Every single time I post anything off-topic about the Democrats acting idiotically (as they are wont to do), I get the same response - namely "what does this have to do with screenwriting"? In other words "Burn the witch!"[/nq]
***, I love it when you guys play the victim. It's the only time you're genuinely entertaining.
[nq:1]Why is it that so many of you (though not all of you, by any means) seek to squelch my opinions?[/nq]
"I disagree with what you say, but I defend to death your right to say it," as Voltaire said.
No one is trying to silence you. You can shoot your **** fool mouth of all you like, just don't expect us to give you a cookie for it.

Cheers,
B

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]No one is trying to silence you. You can shoot your **** fool mouth of all you like, just don't expect us to give you a cookie for it.[/nq]
Hmm... Obviously, a "**** fool mouth" can be addressed forthwith by the facts.
Maybe you could tell us how doling you billions of tax dollars to GM in February, followed by a bankruptcy discharging billions of dollars in GM debt to taxpayers, followed by doling out billions of dollars to GM's competitors (including foreign manufacturers) makes sense?

Got a clue, pal?
Huh?
Perhaps, you could tell us why I'm a "damned fool" for asking?

Huh, Sport?
Care to give it a shot? Let's hear you your damning refutation of my obvious idiocy.
I'm all ears.

Usenet · Answer

Okay - how many political threads have I started? You know, it used to be zero, but I think during the election I started one. I don't come here to post about politics. I kinda think political discussions are boring.
Okay, how many political threads have you started?

Here's the thing - You can say whatever you want in a post.

I can say whatever I want in a post.
It seems like you want me to agree with what you say - and that is up to me. But when I do not agree, it is somehow violating your rights. No. Actually, for you to want me to agree with you is violating my rights. You want me to change. I control whether I change or not. For you to want to change me is a serious problem. I believe in live and let live - if you wish to believe something, that's fine with me (as long as it's an opinion - when you believe that the Earth is flat, I may argue with you).
No one is squelching your opinions (they are right there in your posts, aren't they?) - but some people have other opinions, and you should respect their rights to have those opinions.

- Bill

Usenet · Answer

Political Apartheid In Screenwriting
2 Remysun Aug 2
4 Steven J. Weller Aug 2
7 Steven J. Weller Aug 2
10 Brian Christgau Aug 2
12 wcmartell Aug 2
With my new Google Groups filter, this is what I see in this thread. Oh yeah!

Political Apartheid In Screenwriting

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