Gay Apartheid

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Alex

Uh, you may need to read what you write more carefully. You did not say that all RABID right-wingers are ignorant. You said that typical right-wingers are ignorant.

No, Alex, you are incorrect.

I pithily implied agreement with the "typical" statement, but then went on to write (say) my own, separate statement - a clarification which specifically and purposefully included the modifier RABID because that's the point I meant to make.

My "same thing" reply was a bit of snarkiness in response to an obvious* opening for humor, not a statement by me. Sheesh.




* so obvious, I was not the only person to make the same joke.

[Alex]

Remember a while back when we had a discussion about how you were making a joke so often that people began to assume it was the truth of your position?

The "joke" that right wingers are generally idiotic or evil is made so often around here I don't really care if anyone pretends an individual instance of it is meant as a joke. I have hardly any doubt that it is widely considered to be essentially true.

[innerSpaceman]

Well, for a person who is averse to smilies, I respectfully suggest you improve your abilities for recognizing humor without them.


And it's one thing to make that assumption about me when I make a joke over and over.

This was, to my knowledge, the first time I made such a joke about rabid right-wingers, and on top of that ... I don't make any secret of the fact that I hold rabid right-wingers in the highest disregard ... so what's to make any "assumption" about?


Yes, I will say it again RABID right wingers are morons. Not typical right-wingers (whatever that means).

[Alex]

Oh, I have no real difficulty recognizing when you think you're being funny. A smiley wouldn't have helped what you wrote.

So, would you define "rabid right-winger" so we do know who here you may consider an ignorant moron?

[innerSpaceman]

Yes, rabid, as used by me, means frothing at the mouth. If what comes out of their mouth is or resembles mad-dog froth, that's what I mean by rabid.


As for the other picayune problems expressed about me .... really? You've got a problem with, or must find exceptions to "All black people have dark skin?" Really?

I was just using the most generic example I could muster that related to the subject of prejudice. Sheesh. Do you have a problem with "All stars are bright," or is that one ok to avoid your freakishly sensitive generality-avoidance systems?


That's SHEESH with a capital S and H and E and a second E and another capital S and a 2nd capital H. SHEESH!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Alex

Remember a while back when we had a discussion about how you were making a joke so often that people began to assume it was the truth of your position?

The "joke" that right wingers are generally idiotic or evil is made so often around here I don't really care if anyone pretends an individual instance of it is meant as a joke. I have hardly any doubt that it is widely considered to be essentially true.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Yes, rabid, as used by me, means frothing at the mouth. If what comes out of their mouth is or resembles mad-dog froth, that's what I mean by rabid.

So...either your statement applies to basically no one (because basically no one literally froths at the mouth unless they have some sort of medical problem) or it applies to whomever you deem to be "rabid", which sounds rather subjective to me.

If I say "all jerks are jerks" it's not too hard to say that makes sense. If I say "everyone who agree that gay people are evil are ignorant morons" I am giving an exact frame of reference. If I say "all people that say right-wing things to degree x are ignorant morons" leaves x vague and definitely qualifies as a broad-brush, all-or-nothing, us-against-them, hatred and prejudice filled statement.

Whether or not you know any right-wingers (and you DO) painting any group as this or that undermines you. It bears repeating.

I'd like to clarify that I'm not speaking just to iSm, but to JW and anyone else who wants to post hatred-filled bias (and yes, there are plenty among us, including myself, who needs reminding often).

This, I truly believe: There is no solution to our problems, to our divided country, and to the basic ongoing epic struggles humans have faced for all of our existence that involves demonizing the opposition.

You are hurting your reputation, you are hurting your own cause, and you are hurting humankind.

You may call it hyperbole. I do not. Solutions do not begin at the top. They begin at the bottom, in every day conversation, in the small things we repeat to ourselves and to each other.

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Agreed.

So...either your statement applies to basically no one (because basically no one literally froths at the mouth unless they have some sort of medical problem) or it applies to whomever you deem to be "rabid", which sounds rather subjective to me.

If I say "all jerks are jerks" it's not too hard to say that makes sense. If I say "everyone who agree that gay people are evil are ignorant morons" I am giving an exact frame of reference. If I say "all people that say right-wing things to degree x are ignorant morons" leaves x vague and definitely qualifies as a broad-brush, all-or-nothing, us-against-them, hatred and prejudice filled statement.

Whether or not you know any right-wingers (and you DO) painting any group as this or that undermines you. It bears repeating.

I'd like to clarify that I'm not speaking just to iSm, but to JW and anyone else who wants to post hatred-filled bias (and yes, there are plenty among us, including myself, who needs reminding often).

This, I truly believe: There is no solution to our problems, to our divided country, and to the basic ongoing epic struggles humans have faced for all of our existence that involves demonizing the opposition.

You are hurting your reputation, you are hurting your own cause, and you are hurting humankind.

You may call it hyperbole. I do not. Solutions do not begin at the top. They begin at the bottom, in every day conversation, in the small things we repeat to ourselves and to each other.

How am I demonizing by pointing out uncomfortable truths?

I use the term "right-wing" in the same manner that conservatives like to use the word "liberal"; that is, the extreme fringe of that end of the political spectrum. In my opinion, no one here on LoT is what I would refer to as right-wing. Nor do I believe that the majority of conservatives are right-wing, or hold the same insane paranoid views. But by pointing out that the lunatic fringe on the even right exists, I get pilloried. Nice.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by JWBear

How am I demonizing by pointing out uncomfortable truths?

I use the term "right-wing" in the same manner that conservatives like to use the word "liberal"; that is, the extreme fringe of that end of the political spectrum. In my opinion, no one here on LoT is what I would refer to as right-wing. Nor do I believe that the majority of conservatives are right-wing, or hold the same insane paranoid views. But by pointing out that the lunatic fringe on the even right exists, I get pilloried. Nice.

Frankly, in my opinion you're doing the same thing as scaeagles does/did - posting stories and links that are meant to outrage/panic people from extremist websites. They're just the other extremists and since we're a liberal leaning board it's supposed to be more acceptable.

Extremists are extremists.

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Frankly, in my opinion you're doing the same thing as scaeagles does/did - posting stories and links that are meant to outrage/panic people from extremist websites. They're just the other extremists and since we're a liberal leaning board it's supposed to be more acceptable.

Extremists are extremists.

The articles I linked to are hardly "extremist", and any thinking person should be outraged at what is going on. Another false equivalency.

[BarTopDancer]

VCPM.