Political Crossfire Forums

This isn't a political thread. It's a thread about how people discuss politics.

Some people read others philosophically as if they speak rigorous ideas to be analyzed. The goal is to figure out what language is right.

Other people read others psychologically as if they speak ideas within their own limits. The goal is to find compatible language.

How do you read people?

on internet forums like this, the only thing you can really go by is the written word, so i look at grammar, spelling, word choice, etc to try and gauge their level of education/intelligence and then go from there

I take people literally. Usually I'm dismayed when they don't return the favor.

I tend to read posters based on how I perceive them over time ie as reasonable or reactionary or whatever. That's why Rev for example doesn't ever bug me when he trolls, and why I can have a grass roots disagreement or even stoush with Thundertaker but I still like him. I guess most people do this which explains how I get away with my rants.

I don't bother to read most people's posts, let alone make something beyond a sarcastic or inflammatory comment on them as a person

IRL: I smell them.
On the tubes: I try and imagine how they smell.