Self censorship and free will. (It rambles, a bit).

[FlamingoBlue]

The main difference between human beings and the rest of the animals is that we have free will. Of course, some of us are more free than others, but, in cyberspace we can pretty much say what we want. There are constraints and restrictions that
limit our capacity to accept and/or understand things, both new and old. However, it is one thing to accept the fact that someone has a belief that differs from your's and another to agree with it. To accept someone's position means that you have to first try and understand it. Whether you agree with it or not really isn't all that important as long as you can keep an open mind.

The wonderful thing about the WEB is that you can preview your thoughts in print before you press the send button. I tend, now, to reread whatever I type to see if it is really what I feel and to consider the impact
that it may have on others,even though my true identity is hidden from you. I call that responsibility. (Even when I am having fun, I try to see whether or not anyone will be hurt by what I say).

Maybe all this negativity I see in daily life has to do with selfishness and lack of understanding. Who knows? Truly, it is possible to disagree with someone without resorting to name calling.

I am not suggesting that any of what I have said is applicable to anyone but me. You may chose to agree or disagree
with me. That's what is so wonderful about having free will. Sexually speaking, there are ideas here that I can not agree with but I still try to understand them.

 

[Wizard]

You put that very well........thats what I have been trying to say but you have said it much better...........Good point........

 

[KillerMuffin]

Somewhat concise, relatively clear, and directly to the point. There simply isn't much one can add to that Blue, you've hit the proverbial head with the tongue. Or something like that. If I was a teacher, I'd give you three gold stars for that.

Just one thing though, I thought the thing that seperated humans from the animals was our lack of fear of the vaccuum cleaner? One of us has been grossly misinformed.

 

[Cheri]

Maybe all this negativity I see in daily life has to do with selfishness and lack of understanding. Who knows? Truly, it is possible to disagree with someone without resorting to name calling.

Perhaps instead of attributing the negativity to selfishness, laziness would be more appropriate. To read a person's post and respond with any degree of empathy requires effort. It is always easier to toss off some quip than actually choose to understand the meaning and motivation behind a quote. Now I'm not saying that everyone who posts "I want to fuck a tree" has any deep seeded longing that needs to be addressed by anyone other than the proper authorities. Instead could we try to read each post and respond with some measure of empathy we would give our idiot relatives who can bore anyone in a 10' circle of them to tears...(sorry just went to family reunion)
Didn't mean to come off sounding like such a goody-goody know it all...

 

[FlamingoBlue]

Check this out.

blue

 

[RonG]

Nice post Mr. Blue. May I add a supporting statement from the early Web Visionary, Thomas Jefferson: Every difference of opinion is not a difference in principle.

Funny how those Eurocentric smart guys from the 1800s seem more relevant every day.