This is now the ONLY thread for why you post in P & M

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

May 31, 2018 15:20:40 GMT -5 dondub said:

You forgot hating the military, supporting terrorist activist organizations, despoiling America with pro LGBTQ policies, limiting religious freedoms, disrespecting the flag etc.

I forgot hating the military. I mentioned Hamas. am for freedom of contract, so religious freedom and LGBTQ freedom are totally consistent- and when you get right down to it, the left don't support either. I mean they like ***some*** LGBTQ community people, but if you're a gay Jew who prefers the company of black men in the evening-- and you say something nice about Trump-- Nope, not you! And I did forget disrespecting the flag. Sorry.

[Opti]

Can we please go back to why people post and read? If you want to opine about what the other side thinks and other usual crap, drag down other threads or start a 'I believe I know what you think' thread. I think the latter is a fool's game. But have at it, if that's where your head is at.

Thanks you!

[dondub]

Reply #13 is just the usual goofy crap Opt4, no big deal.

[retread]

May 30, 2018 20:59:29 GMT -5 @richardintn said:

I'm just going to tag on to your thread (since you offered to let people do so)...

I do it for the days when I get 22 "Likes"... like today.

Hey Richard, all likes are not created equal but at least a few of those you got today were from me.  That's not to say the ones you got from me were inherently more valuable because they came from me, but the reason I gave them could be.  

I think it's a good idea follow the like notification back to the post rather than just look at the numbers.  Was I being kind, polite, or helpful?  I place a substantial value on those likes, particularly if several people liked those posts.  That tends to indicate I've affected some people in a positive way.

Was the post funny and gave several people a giggle?  That's worth something too, but maybe a tad less than the helpful ones.

Was I harsh with someone, then someone else who doesn't like that person threw a like on my post?  Maybe I count that like as a -1 instead.

I tend to hate reading posts in P/CE because most of the time people are talking AT each other.  Today there was talking and listening in some cases.  An actual dialogue.  Differences were still observed but there seemed to also be some desire to acknowledge where there was agreement on opposite sides.  So it was mostly a good day for me too. 

[countrygirl2]

You folks are whats wrong with the right, to believe just shit.


You forgot hating the military, supporting terrorist activist organizations, despoiling America with pro LGBTQ policies, limiting religious freedoms, disrespecting the flag etc.



To say such a thing because we believe there should be compassion, respect of others ideas, a safety net, insurance, and following all the freedoms is what is so wrong with you people.

[Green Eyed Lady]

I have no idea.

The End.

[Green Eyed Lady]

I know why I read here. I read because every once in awhile, something makes me want to do further research. Or? Something makes me rethink decades-old opinions. When we stop learning, we just stagnate.

[retread]

I know why you post here. To get writing style advice from experts like me.

Jun 1, 2018 8:10:01 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I have no idea.

The End.

That's a great story but it needs an equally great intro. I suggest trying something like: Once upon a time ...

If you really want to punch it up, create something completely original such as: A long time ago on a message board far, far away...

[Artemis Windsong]

I think I have friends here who care when the world is beatin' the jit out of me.

[Green Eyed Lady]

Jun 1, 2018 9:29:51 GMT -5 retread said:

I know why you post here. To get writing style advice from experts like me.

Jun 1, 2018 8:10:01 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I have no idea.

The End.

That's a great story but it needs an equally great intro. I suggest trying something like: Once upon a time ...

If you really want to punch it up, create something completely original such as: A long time ago on a message board far, far away...

Gimme a break.  I've only had one cup of coffee.  I promise to only post-coffee post in the future. 

[Green Eyed Lady]

Jun 1, 2018 9:41:01 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

I think I have friends here who care when the world is beatin' the jit out of me.

I would agree. There are some really great people here with some really great advice. It's not always warm snuggly advice but it is, most times, exactly what a person needs to hear.

[retread]

Jun 1, 2018 9:52:05 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Gimme a break.  I've only had one cup of coffee.  I promise to only post-coffee post in the future. 

One cup should last you all day.  You really need to cut back.

[Green Eyed Lady]

Jun 1, 2018 10:04:19 GMT -5 retread said:

Jun 1, 2018 9:52:05 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Gimme a break.  I've only had one cup of coffee.  I promise to only post-coffee post in the future. 

One cup should last you all day.  You really need to cut back.

My mom bought me a cup about that big.  She stated that it was more a gift to the people around me than it was a gift for me.

She might be trying to tell me something.

[retread]

Jun 1, 2018 7:12:28 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

You folks are whats wrong with the right, to believe just shit.


You forgot hating the military, supporting terrorist activist organizations, despoiling America with pro LGBTQ policies, limiting religious freedoms, disrespecting the flag etc.



To say such a thing because we believe there should be compassion, respect of others ideas, a safety net, insurance, and following all the freedoms is what is so wrong with you people.

To be clear, the part in italics was not said by someone on the right. 

[retread]

Jun 1, 2018 10:23:59 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

My mom bought me a cup about that big.

How does you mother feel about adoption?

[Green Eyed Lady]

Jun 1, 2018 10:35:24 GMT -5 retread said:

Jun 1, 2018 10:23:59 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

My mom bought me a cup about that big.

How does you mother feel about adoption?

I have no idea. I'd ask her but she's really grumpy today. The apple doesn't fall far.....

Although....it would be nice to have a sane brother.

[retread]

Jun 1, 2018 10:43:12 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Although....it would be nice to have a sane brother.

I guess that counts me out. Are you flexible on the sanity requirement?

[Green Eyed Lady]

Jun 1, 2018 10:48:34 GMT -5 retread said:

Jun 1, 2018 10:43:12 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Although....it would be nice to have a sane brother.

I guess that counts me out. Are you flexible on the sanity requirement?

I could substitute "willing to do yard work".

[djAdvocate]

May 31, 2018 13:20:01 GMT -5 Shooby said:

May 31, 2018 11:58:39 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

I know what you mean.

I have some very conservative Trump supporters in my family that I love very dearly. I would love to be able to discuss their political beliefs with them, but don't want any hard feelings if we disagree.  I can come here and read what other people (probably very similar to my relatives) think and get a better understanding of where they're coming from.

I haven't found very many people on message boards seeking "understanding" of where others are coming from.  

me neither, honestly.  i suddenly feel lonely.  HOLD ME, SHOOBY!!!! 

[djAdvocate]

May 31, 2018 11:52:50 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

May 31, 2018 10:46:02 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

does yours have a fetish for feet?

No, mine has a fetish for wet hair, especially hot sweaty hair that's been under my sun hat while I was outside gardening in the inferno we blandly refer to around here as 'summer.'

She gets on the couch behind me, wraps a paw around either side of my head, sticks her nose into the most sweaty, stinky part and huffs like an addict sniffing glue.  I feel like I'm somehow being harassed.

At least she's not as bad as the beagle, who liked to treasure hunt in the litter box.

 

we have a spaniel that does that.  we call it "kitty roca".  utterly gross.

[retread]

Jun 1, 2018 11:03:00 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Jun 1, 2018 10:48:34 GMT -5 retread said:

I guess that counts me out. Are you flexible on the sanity requirement?

I could substitute "willing to do yard work".

Great.  I actually like yard work, although I have to caution you that I mow my lawn on a diagonal.  Looks like we have a deal, Sis!

Oh, and there's no turning back now.  All sales are final.  Resale is not an option.

[djAdvocate]

Jun 1, 2018 8:10:01 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I have no idea.

The End.

for the adoration of your minions? 

[Green Eyed Lady]

Jun 1, 2018 11:39:10 GMT -5 retread said:

Jun 1, 2018 11:03:00 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I could substitute "willing to do yard work".

Great.  I actually like yard work, although I have to caution you that I mow my lawn on a diagonal.  Looks like we have a deal, Sis!

Oh, and there's no turning back now.  All sales are final.  Resale is not an option.

Wonderful.  But just so you know?  I'm the oldest.  I rule....Brother O'Mine.

[Green Eyed Lady]

Jun 1, 2018 11:42:21 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Jun 1, 2018 8:10:01 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I have no idea.

The End.

for the adoration of your minions? 

lol....I think I'd be starving to death if I depended on that for my daily bread!

[retread]

Jun 1, 2018 11:51:05 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Jun 1, 2018 11:42:21 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

for the adoration of your minions? 

lol....I think I'd be starving to death if I depended on that for my daily bread!

Well dj did bring a flower.  Some flowers are edible.  Just sayin' 

[djAdvocate]

Virgil- thanks for the long thoughtful post.  but i think you are way off the mark.  i will go through one point at a time and say why:

My $0.02: The more heated a debate, the more critical it is to abstain from sarcasm, summary dismissals and (most importantly) profanity and charged/contemptuous language such as "bullshit"

i don't really have heated debates here.  i know it might seem that way to some, but really, i am perfectly calm about 99% of the time, and the rest of the time, i step away and do other things.

, "bigotry", "hatred", "worthless", "brainwashed", "propaganda", "debunk", etc. unless your purpose is to confront, provoke, or escalate. The simple reason being that use of any of these devices implicitly, inexorably declares the writer to be "here to score points, [...] to feel smart, to prove [(s)he's] better than [others], or to educate [others]" as opposed to being a passive learner.

i rarely use those words.  they are not helpful to debate, imo.  for example, on the "brainwashed" thread, i don't believe i ever actually used that word.  what i DID do is explain that a steady diet of Limbaugh CHANGED my dad from an outwardly caring person who had some sense of civic responsibility and basic love and respect for others to an insular, bitter, and afraid man.  you can call that whatever you like.  i honestly don't know WHAT to call it.  but i would not call it "better" for him, or anyone around him. 

Hence if you want to be perceived as a passive learner rather than an interrogator, critic, bully, polemicist, etc., avoid all these things. If you don't, and you're accused of being hostile, it's your own fault.

once you have learned calculus, you really don't need to go back and take the course another 3000 times.  seven years is longer than i went to college, Virgil.  is using the word "bullshit" helpful in understanding others? NO. which is why i only use it with people who i feel i understand well enough already to believe two things: they will probably never change, and they simply don't care what i say.

A few examples of non-equivalence, for reference:

Hostile, provocateur: "Why should we f-ing care?"
Passive, learner: "I don't understand why we should care. [Brief explanation.]"

Hostile, provocateur: "And yet they still love their brilliant POtuS. Can anyone figure out why?"
Passive, learner: "And yet their support for Pres. Trump endures. I'd like to hear from one as to the justification."

Hostile, provocateur: "I don't have time to read your BS sources."
Passive, learner: (says nothing)

Hostile, provocateur: "This s-t has been so thoroughly debunked."
Passive, learner: (says nothing) [or] "This article [citation] refutes X and Y, and I see no fault in their logic. [Explanation, given in academic language.]"

One final note: if members are mocking and/or pig piling on a particular poster, whether the poster deserves it or not, don't jump in with 'hear hear's, amens, attaboys, or comments contrasting good with bad. If you do, you've instantly gone from passive learner to point-scorer and your behaviour will not soon be forgotten.

thanks.  based on your list, i think that i fall mostly into passive learner (although i consider myself an ACTIVE LEARNER, for the record).  IE: as i pointed out on another thread, i get accused of saying things like "you are fucking stupid", but i would challenge anyone to find me saying such a thing.  there are three reasons for that. 

1) i don't think ANYONE here is stupid.  you will find others that make that claim, but they are not me.

2) i don't tend to attack ad hominem.  i might say "what you said is stupid" but that doesn't mean YOU are.  i say stupid shit fairly regularly.  that doesn't make me stupid.  ditto for everyone else.

3) i tend to not draw conclusions about people.  someone who repeats endless drivel from right wing blogs today, might awaken tomorrow and repudiate all of that stuff, and start repeating endless drivel from left wing blogs. 

oh, and i also don't like talking about myself.  but since that is the subject of this thread......

[Green Eyed Lady]

Jun 1, 2018 11:58:33 GMT -5 retread said:

Jun 1, 2018 11:51:05 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

lol....I think I'd be starving to death if I depended on that for my daily bread!

Well dj did bring a flower.  Some flowers are edible.  Just sayin' 

That's good news. While you are doing the yard work, you can pick us some dinner. Stay away from the dandelions. Mom likes to make wine from them and when she drinks.....

[djAdvocate]

Jun 1, 2018 11:51:05 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Jun 1, 2018 11:42:21 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

for the adoration of your minions? 

lol....I think I'd be starving to death if I depended on that for my daily bread!

[djAdvocate]

oh, i recognize that using cuss words alienates some posters, and that probably DOES inhibit my ability to get to know them.  but that's me.  i use cuss words.  either people can deal with it, or they can't.  i am fine if they can't deal with it.  there are enough people that can that it still makes the board worth it to me.

i think a lot of the Virgil critique here goes back to my style of posting, which actually has little to do with my point.  and that's fine.  i accept that critique.  but i don't accept that it means that i disrespect people or don't value their intelligence and input.  those things are utterly false.  so, if that is part of the critique, i reject it.

[Green Eyed Lady]

Very nice, djAdvocate!  I hadn't heard of that singer before today.