Now don't get me wrong; I am one who tries to make peace on JU. I will say what I have to say, but I will also try to be sensitive to the feelings of individuals on here.
But I have found that a good number of people on joeuser fall into one of two categories: the JU "preps" and the JU "rebels".
The JU "preps" are just like the preps in high school or college. They will present a pollyannish world view and will avoid controversy at all costs. They're not good subjects to solicit an opinion from, because, frankly, they don't HAVE one. They think JU is a popularity contest, and their blogs and replies often reflect this (they are NOT to be confused with the many wonderfully sincere joeusers who are natural peacemakers and this comes across in their writing).
The JU "rebels" are those who will disagree with you if you say the sun's going to rise tomorrow, just for the sake of disagreement. They are ubiquitous among popular bloggers and popular sites, and often aren't as much about making a point as they are about creating controversy. Their posts/responses tend not to consist heavily of their own thoughts, but those of their favorite prominent pundit.
I realize that the majority of bloggers on joeuser don't fall into either category. But there are enough of each of these groups to make a day of blogging a tad bit frustrating. But that, I suppose, is the price you pay for the heavy exposure JU provides.
So, blog on, preps and rebels! (and everyone else).
signing off,
Gideon MacLeish