This Forum Has Taken A Sad Turn For The Worse

[frank81]

The answer then is turning a blind eye?

I think the answer is to do what you would in any social circle, internet or real life, when the manner in which someone expresses their opinions is disagreeable. Which is not the same as disagreeing with their opinions.

You can turn a blind eye, you can tolerate it, you can give them a subtle nudge to make them aware (as algale tried to do with this thread), you can be more blatent, you can hope they get tired and go elsewhere, you get the point. Use your own judgement, we are all big boys.

[keakap]

I totally agree with this statement in regard to discussing such issues as politics...no one's mind will be changed, just further polarization and alienation....

Couldn't be more wrong.
Unless the overbroad generalization (no one's) is only for effect, not literal.

Observation, not opinion.

[frank81]

And you're free to lose your freedoms.
Best way to do that is keep quiet.

Was it Franklin that replied to the question "what have you given us?" simply "A Republic, madam, if you can keep it."

Most people, imho, are ignorant, and happily, of their government. Here we are!

One of the best feelings-of-the-day is to speak the truth and be called a fool for it. For you just know that someone saw that, and took notice.

I disagree.

Keeping quiet does not equal inaction. Words alone, especially public words, seldom get anything of importance accomplished. Words are the opposite of action.

Keeping quiet, especially in 1% of your daily communication, does not equal ignorance nor acceptance.

I once heard a quote regarding playing musical instruments that said "If you are always loud, you are never loud." There is a certain finesse required in getting a group to see things your way and do something about it. Sure it is admirable to speak an unpopular truth, its also very easy to do it in a foolish way and ruin your message.

[keakap]

(parenthetically, now that my nerves, by metabolism and my adrenalin have "quieted" down, I'm curious(er) to learn what you think I meant in that context by "quiet". Thanks.)

You have the constitutional right to say anything you want, but the constitution also gaurantees you the freedom to make a fool and a pariah of yourself.

Pardon me, and I mean no offense, certainly, but things perhaps are getting a little off course.
The Constitution (briefly) formalizes those things upon which the country had been created over a decade previously, key of which is the well known (and often misspelled) "they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights..."

Your "Second Freedom", as it is sometimes called, is not a "Constitutional right", and the Big C strives instead to "guarantee" that government does not have a right to take it from you.

Interesting. If gov't doesn't have the right to take your freedom away, why should any citizen? And more interestingly, to what porpoise?

[keakap]

There are some bed wetting, thumb sucking, hippie, commies on the this forum but telling them that is what they are does little good. ...

Ah, so, sometimes ya just gotta love diversity!

;-)

[pennview]

"we are all big boys."

Then, what's the beef?

[frank81]

"we are all big boys."

Then, what's the beef?

There is no beef. I say we are all big boys meaning we don't need a moderator to solve the issue (or non-issue). We don't have moderators in real life, we just do what we see fit.

[keakap]

I disagree.

Keeping quiet does not equal inaction. Words alone, especially public words, seldom get anything of importance accomplished. Words are the opposite of action.

Keeping quiet, especially in 1% of your daily communication, does not equal ignorance nor acceptance.

I once heard a quote regarding playing musical instruments that said "If you are always loud, you are never loud." There is a certain finesse required in getting a group to see things your way and do something about it. Sure it is admirable to speak an unpopular truth, its also very easy to do it in a foolish way and ruin your message.

"Disagree" with what?
A common problem with o/l discussions is a reader deciding what a writer meant, then arguing a point he the reader just created.

But speaking of Franklin and the issue in general, I could never be persuaded that "Words alone, especially public words, seldom get anything of importance accomplished".
I mean, can you envision at the Constitutional Convention Mister Madison shouting across the chamber floor "Yo, Thomas, chill!"

[keakap]

There is no beef. I say we are all big boys meaning we don't need a moderator to solve the issue (or non-issue). We don't have moderators in real life, we just do what we see fit.

Great point!

[admin]

While I appreciate the thought that started this thread (of considering the things we post), it has now reached an unproductive point and is being closed.