Was I extreme?

[Rockymtnman]

I wanted to make a thread to allow for people to post something they believe, think, did, etc and people can respond on what they think.

Please be respectful.

I will start first. Someone was messaging me and he said something along the lines of, “I got off of the apps because there were too many mentally unstable people .” I found this offensive, I have good friends who have mental health issues and I told him I didn’t want to talk to him because of his comment. Soooo, was I extreme?

No. It’s your life. You set the boundaries.

 

[Rockymtnman]

Ok, next topic for anyone who would like to respond. Let’s talk about nicknames for the other side. “MAGAtard” and “libtard” what do we think? It is using the “-tard” part of the r word.

Is it necessary? Should we use it regardless?

Don’t believe any word or part of a word is necessary. One can always find another to take its place. However, I don’t find any word to be offensive. I mean I could say magaloid ( maga + mongoloid) maglodyte ( maga + troglodyte) as it conveys the same general sentiment.

 

[Chernosoth]

Mental illness may be more common than mental health on the internet, especially in the PB. Between the rage posters and bots, we may forget most people aren't batshit.

 

[LilKitKat]

...However, I don’t find any word to be offensive...

what about some other "slurs" used to describe Black people, Jewish people, Hispanics, Japanese people, Chinese people, the LGBTQ community...and so on.

I am pretty sure those words are considered offensive even if you dont (?)

 

[LLCox]

If you can't let comments roll off of you like water on a ducks back you don't need to be here. They smell you are angry and it's like blood in the water. It's never about the subject it's about the flamage. Internet rage is so cute.

 

[Rockymtnman]

what about some other "slurs" used to describe Black people, Jewish people, Hispanics, Japanese people, Chinese people, the LGBTQ community...and so on.

I am pretty sure those words are considered offensive even if you dont (?)

I personally don’t think words should offend. I mean, it’s just sound. If someone calls you a slur then you know what kind of person they are and move on. However, that’s just me. Not saying other people need to feel the same way at all. But why waste energy on someone that has outed themselves as a racist, misogynist, etc?

 

[LoneMilf]

I don't believe any word is inherently offensive. It always depends on the way it's used and the intention of the one using it. It's the intention to cause offense that is ruining debate and should be countered.

 

[LilKitKat]

I personally don’t think words should offend. I mean, it’s just sound. If someone calls you a slur then you know what kind of person they are and move on. However, that’s just me. Not saying other people need to feel the same way at all. But why waste energy on someone that has outed themselves as a racist, misogynist, etc?

I don't believe any word is inherently offensive. It always depends on the way it's used and the intention of the one using it. It's the intention to cause offense that is ruining debate and should be countered.

I understand your perspective but I think youll find the history of many of those words I alluded to will get some pretty different reactions to how you might be thinking about it...and likely none of them are positive.

 

[Chernosoth]

Words on the internet are mostly just words on the internet, for a little while. Now there are AI bots pushing the humans out. Mostly clear meaning and sloppy grammar are starting to disappear under waves of grammatically correct gibberish. As humans leave, there won't be much reason left to have an internet at tremendous and rising costs of electricity and infrastructure. Then we'll be back to talking to our neighbors and families as all the social interaction we will ever have. Giving offense and taking offense will both be more carefully considered.

 

[AnomalyLady]

Words on the internet are mostly just words on the internet, for a little while. Now there are AI bots pushing the humans out. Mostly clear meaning and sloppy grammar are starting to disappear under waves of grammatically correct gibberish. As humans leave, there won't be much reason left to have an internet at tremendous and rising costs of electricity and infrastructure. Then we'll be back to talking to our neighbors and families as all the social interaction we will ever have. Giving offense and taking offense will both be more carefully considered.

You think it will be in our lifetime that internet goes away, or just loses its appeal?

 

[Politruk]

You think it will be in our lifetime that internet goes away, or just loses its appeal?

Computers are just a passing fad.

 

[AnomalyLady]

Computers are just a passing fad.

Wow, I never thought of that, I always thought they would continue to run our lives. We now have technology on our phones, in our televisions, on our wrists.

 

[Chernosoth]

You think it will be in our lifetime that internet goes away, or just loses its appeal?

I expect the military will be the last user, since it funded the creation of the internet. When it finally can't afford that anymore is anyone's guess.

 

[AnomalyLady]

I expect the military will be the last user, since it funded the creation of the internet. When it finally can't afford that anymore is anyone's guess.

What do you mean in your last sentence, when the military cannot afford the internet?

 

[Chernosoth]

What do you mean in your last sentence, when the military cannot afford the internet?

The $ is losing global currency status. The government will be forced to default most or all of its debt, or hyperinflate, which nobody wants, so it will probably default. When it can't borrow a cent and must absolutely stay in budget, everything will get deep cuts, including the military, which has recently been nudged aside by the pharmaceutical industry taking a bigger slice, so that's a deeper cut.

 

[Typo Fu Master]

If you can't let comments roll off of you like water on a ducks back you don't need to be here. They smell you are angry and it's like blood in the water. It's never about the subject it's about the flamage. Internet rage is so cute.

Nailed it.

 

[Rockymtnman]

I understand your perspective but I think youll find the history of many of those words I alluded to will get some pretty different reactions to how you might be thinking about it...and likely none of them are positive.

Of course there will be people that are offended and words can certainly have very negative connotations Humans are fragile and easy to anger, for the most part and can be bated by words or rhetoric into a myriad of reactions. I don’t discount those feelings or the reaction, merely saying I find letting other people decide how you’re feeling to be a waste of energy.

 

[Jw75766]

I wanted to make a thread to allow for people to post something they believe, think, did, etc and people can respond on what they think.

Please be respectful.

I will start first. Someone was messaging me and he said something along the lines of, “I got off of the apps because there were too many mentally unstable people .” I found this offensive, I have good friends who have mental health issues and I told him I didn’t want to talk to him because of his comment. Soooo, was I extreme?

The thing I hate most about chats/text/email is that there's really no way to determine tone of written text. Something could be meant completely innocent and depending on the readers current mood, be interpreted a completely different tone than intended.

I suppose in this case, more context would definitely be needed in order to make a more educated opinion.
If this were the only interaction, the single quoted sentence, and no previous communication was made (meaning no prior chat history), I'd say a better approach would have been to explain that you find it offensive and see if proceeding comments were altered to respect your feelings. However, when it's all said and done, you don't HAVE to talk to anyone you prefer not to....

 

[AnomalyLady]

The thing I hate most about chats/text/email is that there's really no way to determine tone of written text. Something could be meant completely innocent and depending on the readers current mood, be interpreted a completely different tone than intended.

I suppose in this case, more context would definitely be needed in order to make a more educated opinion.
If this were the only interaction, the single quoted sentence, and no previous communication was made (meaning no prior chat history), I'd say a better approach would have been to explain that you find it offensive and see if proceeding comments were altered to respect your feelings. However, when it's all said and done, you don't HAVE to talk to anyone you prefer not to....

Those are really good thoughts and suggestions!

For context, I did tell the person I was speaking with and they didn’t even respond so c’est la vie!

 

[Jw75766]

Ok, next topic for anyone who would like to respond. Let’s talk about nicknames for the other side. “MAGAtard” and “libtard” what do we think? It is using the “-tard” part of the r word.

Is it necessary? Should we use it regardless?

Resorting to insults and/or insulting labels typically shows a lack of desire or ability to bring intellect to a conversation. I know, I used to be like that. Riding on emotions instead of appealing to people's minds and rationality. On the rare occasion I enter the political battlefield where grenades are being lobbed back and forth, I try to present ideas that will hopefully make someone think. I don't try to "win" my point. Frankly, 99% of the discussions and arguments I've ever had in political capacities have ended up zero sum or both of us leaving disliking the "other side" even more. It's counter productive and only empowers those who benefit from political unrest.

 

[Jw75766]

Those are really good thoughts and suggestions!

For context, I did tell the person I was speaking with and they didn’t even respond so c’est la vie!

Well, someone isn't going to be respectful, there's the damn door, is my philosophy.

 

[AnomalyLady]

Well, someone isn't going to be respectful, there's the damn door, is my philosophy.

Pretty true! All I can do is voice my opinion, if people can’t respect it, I didn’t loose too much.

 

[Jw75766]

Politics are such a volatile arena of emotional unrest. I don't care where someone finds him/herself on the political spectrum kaleidoscope, I like to have friends on all sides of a political palette. I only talk politics with a very select few but I always am open to listening to views of every side. Challenging and engaging conversation either reassures my perspective by making me research my supporting views or makes me reevaluate my positions if I think my views are not as solid as I believed.
People should try to be a bit malleable when it comes to politics. True open minded people will not shy away from offensive positions but listen and give a thought provoking response.

 

[AnomalyLady]

Politics are such a volatile arena of emotional unrest. I don't care where someone finds him/herself on the political spectrum kaleidoscope, I like to have friends on all sides of a political palette. I only talk politics with a very select few but I always am open to listening to views of every side. Challenging and engaging conversation either reassures my perspective by making me research my supporting views or makes me reevaluate my positions if I think my views are not as solid as I believed.
People should try to be a bit malleable when it comes to politics. True open minded people will not shy away from offensive positions but listen and give a thought provoking response.

I totally agree. And I think part of having a good political conversation is not trying to trigger the other person.

 

[Jw75766]

Unfortunately, most political forums are approached by participants with proverbial guns locked and loaded. Everyone on guard ready for a fight.