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Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/13/2006 11:19:05 PM

Termyn8or

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Ever been called a nigger, spick, chink, faggot, queer or anything ?

What did you do ?

People have to learn to grow up. Let me put it this way :

You are sparring or practicing wresting or who knows what. Your friend, actually opponent at the moment gets in on you really good. Gets the drop on you and wins mercilessly. Are you angry ? No. Why ?

The reason there is no anger is because anger is manufactured within one's self, if cannot be put there externally. Like love, YOU and you only make the decision that you love someone.

You can have sex and not fall in love, and by the same token you can get into a fight and not fall into hate. Think about it.

What I am saying is no matter how strongly you are compelled to feel something, the decision still rests with you. You have the choice.

I am in no way perfect in this but I think it to be a valuable, advanced and noble trait of our Race.

The Human Race dammit !

T

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/13/2006 11:31:38 PM

UtopianRanger

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

Ever been called a nigger, spick, chink, faggot, queer or anything ?

What did you do ?

People have to learn to grow up. Let me put it this way :

You are sparring or practicing wresting or who knows what. Your friend, actually opponent at the moment gets in on you really good. Gets the drop on you and wins mercilessly. Are you angry ? No. Why ?

The reason there is no anger is because anger is manufactured within one's self, if cannot be put there externally. Like love, YOU and you only make the decision that you love someone.

You can have sex and not fall in love, and by the same token you can get into a fight and not fall into hate. Think about it.

What I am saying is no matter how strongly you are compelled to feel something, the decision still rests with you. You have the choice.

I am in no way perfect in this but I think it to be a valuable, advanced and noble trait of our Race.

The Human Race dammit !

T

Hmmm.... although I agree with your basic premise, I don't think the title of your thread is aptly named.

- The Ranger

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/14/2006 12:52:40 AM

Chaingang

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I doubt you will find thicker skinned people anywhere in the world than many of us posting to these boards. My own skin is rhino-thick...

But there's a difference between what many of us actually find offense and just plain tiresome. I think many of us object to the tiresome nature of some comments and therefore feel free to gripe about them for that very reason. It seems to me that the alternative is to merely stand mute in the face of the tedious comments made by others - for myself I won't do that. As I have many dear friends in the gay community (I am not gay myself, not that it matters) I often feel quite strongly if anyone tries to pick on that particular group.

If people feel free enough to say offensive things maybe they had best be prepared to hear back from people with opposing views. And if they can't take the heat...well, you must know the rest of that one.

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/14/2006 8:14:31 AM

truesub4u

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chaingang

If people feel free enough to say offensive things maybe they had best be prepared to hear back from people with opposing views. And if they can't take the heat...well, you must know the rest of that one.

Chaingang..... reverse that... and it stays the same.

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/14/2006 8:38:09 AM

Chaingang

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Hmmm, if I understand you correctly you are saying I should stay away from places where I will hear or read possibly offensive comments?

Problem: the whole of CM is a public forum. There is no forum that isn't open to all. My analogy would be that someone is standing on a soapbox in the town square shouting his venom. Yeah, I'll have something to say about that. Sorry to disappoint you.

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/14/2006 9:05:59 AM

truesub4u

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chaingang

Hmmm, if I understand you correctly you are saying I should stay away from places where I will hear or read possibly offensive comments?

Problem: the whole of CM is a public forum. There is no forum that isn't open to all. My analogy would be that someone is standing on a soapbox in the town square shouting his venom. Yeah, I'll have something to say about that. Sorry to disappoint you.

Say all you want... expect them to continue on as if you're not there... just as you are doing. You are only acknowledging their existence when you oppose them... or they oppose you.

That's the only thing that disappoints me....

So when you're done standing on the soap box.....next to the one you're condeming... because they are condeming... it will be nice to see your postings again on other subjects.

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/14/2006 9:51:31 AM

Chaingang

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quote:

ORIGINAL: truesub4u
Say all you want... expect them to continue on as if you're not there... just as you are doing. You are only acknowledging their existence when you oppose them... or they oppose you.

Well, one must do what little one can.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
- Anon (see: http://www.tartarus.org/martin/essays/burkequote.html)

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/14/2006 10:09:31 AM

JohnWarren

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quote:

ORIGINAL: truesub4u
Say all you want... expect them to continue on as if you're not there... just as you are doing. You are only acknowledging their existence when you oppose them... or they oppose you.

That's the only thing that disappoints me....

So when you're done standing on the soap box.....next to the one you're condeming... because they are condeming... it will be nice to see your postings again on other subjects.

So you think John Milton was wrong in Areopagitica? What is the best way to deal with falsehood, from your point of view? It sounds as if you are advocating allowing it unopposed license.

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/14/2006 10:34:50 AM

Mercnbeth

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quote:

So you think John Milton was wrong in Areopagitica? What is the best way to deal with falsehood, from your point of view?

I doubt Mr Milton would have concerned himself with a joke posted in the 17th Century equivalent of the internet. But if he did perhaps he'd quote himself thusly; "Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to my conscience, above all liberties."

Although my favorite quote of Milton, and my interest in him derived from a Star Trek episode; "Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven." I am always conscience and aware of my second favorite Milton quote; "Deep-versed in books and shallow in himself."

The best way? Laugh AT it. Any other response allocates credibility to the falsehood and/or prejudice. People may have had the same thoughts as Archie Bunker but when they heard people laugh AT his prejudices I'd suspect many reassessed their own false beliefs.

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/14/2006 10:53:58 AM

truesub4u

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnWarren

quote:

ORIGINAL: truesub4u
Say all you want... expect them to continue on as if you're not there... just as you are doing. You are only acknowledging their existence when you oppose them... or they oppose you.

That's the only thing that disappoints me....

So when you're done standing on the soap box.....next to the one you're condeming... because they are condeming... it will be nice to see your postings again on other subjects.

So you think John Milton was wrong in Areopagitica? What is the best way to deal with falsehood, from your point of view? It sounds as if you are advocating allowing it unopposed license.

Being how I don't know much about John Milton... I can't say either way. What I can say.. is just exactly what I have said.... It will be nice to see Chaingang responding to other post again... when he comes off the same soap box he says others are standing on.

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/14/2006 11:07:41 AM

JohnWarren

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth
The best way? Laugh AT it. Any other response allocates credibility to the falsehood and/or prejudice. People may have had the same thoughts as Archie Bunker but when they heard people laugh AT his prejudices I'd suspect many reassessed their own false beliefs.

I fully agree. Back in 1987 when the KKK announced a march in Hattiesburg where USM is located, there was a great stir and many calls for "counterprotest" and civil disobedience. I advised a group of students I was working with to stand on the parade route and laugh as the group walked by. (At no time did I realize just how foolish the klansmen would actually look; Hollywood couldn't have done a better job). A small group followed my advice and it was clear that the laughter hurt the robed morons much more deeply than the insults and catcalls in which they seemed to revel.

Hate need not be answered with hate, but it must be answered lest pluralistic ignorance lead to it being accepted as normal.

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/14/2006 11:54:44 AM

Mercnbeth

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quote:

I advised a group of students I was working with to stand on the parade route and laugh as the group walked by. (At no time did I realize just how foolish the klansmen would actually look; Hollywood couldn't have done a better job). A small group followed my advice and it was clear that the laughter hurt the robed morons much more deeply than the insults and catcalls in which they seemed to revel.

I would have been right there with you! GREAT WORK! And great real life example of passive aggressive disarmament of fools! Good for you and your group John!

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/14/2006 12:02:37 PM

truesub4u

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Hell I would of joined in group standing there laughing myself.

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RE: Free Speech 2b, thin skin - 3/14/2006 1:14:08 PM

JohnWarren

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quote:

ORIGINAL: truesub4u

Hell I would of joined in group standing there laughing myself.

Actually, if anyone had really taken the time to look, they would have joined in. The Klan was able to bring out only four marchers and only two of those from Mississippi. One was bent over and really looked like the result of unholy lust between a lonely farmboy and his charges. Only one looked half way decent and we later heard that he was expelled from the Klan because they discovered he had jewish blood.

The most amusing part was before the parade kicked off. An American Nazi, in full uniform, had shown up and the four were debating including him or if his presence would "bring them into disrepute."

Damn, it was hard not to laugh.

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