Campfire talk

On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:20:52 -0400, "Wayne Harrison" wrote:


"riverman" wrote

There's nothing 'kum ba ya-ish' about it; people in real life who
deliberately poison conversation without cause are bullies and
assholes. And most folks just don't like bullies and assholes. Yet on
line, somehow its considered reasonable behavior. I don't get it, I
don't like it, and I don't want to participate in it.

--riverman

strange thing about my take on this is that i think the most mortal
damage is done by the vicious political wrangling,

IOW, it's all Clinton's fault...why do you hate America?

not the purely personal vitriol.

IMO, that's an odd perspective - that a person/friendship (either virtual or
real-world) would be "mortally damaged" because someone called their preferred
candidate de jour an asshole or whatever, but wouldn't be bothered much if
someone called _them_ an asshole or whatever (assuming both to be expressions of
true feelings).

the latter is almost gamesmanship; silly, mostly, containing some
pretty humorous stuff, if, like myself, you simply make random observations
of the arguments. the former, however, is reality in print, grim, and sure
to make for permanent enemies.

I'd offer that anyone who takes politics or the discussion thereof too
seriously, especially in such a "place" as ROFF, ought not to be discussing them
and probably, is better off from a personal mental health standpoint doing as
little thinking about them as they possibly can
..
of course, as ol rdean is want to say, ymmv.

Um - YMMV, as I is want to say...

yfitons
wayno(and i almost forgot--the family trashing is beyond the pale, imho.)

I guess I've missed most of that as I haven't seen much of it, but yeah, what
little I have seen is, at least, beyond the pale.

YFCOTGC,
R

wrote

wayno wrote:
strange thing about my take on this is that i think the most mortal
damage is done by the vicious political wrangling,

IOW, it's all Clinton's fault...why do you hate America?

not the purely personal vitriol.

IMO, that's an odd perspective - that a person/friendship (either virtual
or
real-world) would be "mortally damaged" because someone called their
preferred
candidate de jour an asshole or whatever, but wouldn't be bothered much if
someone called _them_ an asshole or whatever (assuming both to be
expressions of
true feelings).

well, richard, i guess my point (not very well put, i admit) is that the
personal stuff is mostly *not* true feelings. fr'instance, my cousin and i
constantly rib each other about our personal glitches, failures, and
foolishness, but we have the strongest male relationship i could imagine.
on the other hand, he and i differ strongly about politics, and have
learned to stay clear of such matters if we care to remain cordial.

the latter is almost gamesmanship; silly, mostly, containing some
pretty humorous stuff, if, like myself, you simply make random
observations
of the arguments. the former, however, is reality in print, grim, and
sure
to make for permanent enemies.

I'd offer that anyone who takes politics or the discussion thereof too
seriously, especially in such a "place" as ROFF, ought not to be
discussing them
and probably, is better off from a personal mental health standpoint doing
as
little thinking about them as they possibly can

my approach to the situation, exactly.
.
of course, as ol rdean is want to say, ymmv.

Um - YMMV, as I is want to say...

yfitons
wayno(and i almost forgot--the family trashing is beyond the pale, imho.)

I guess I've missed most of that as I haven't seen much of it, but yeah,
what
little I have seen is, at least, beyond the pale.

YFCOTGC,
R