The Silent Majority

[Never]

Myst:
"so... I think that was just the epitome of the coward/silent majority. Thanks for proving my point, unregistered. *slips you a twenty*"
No, he wasn't silent. Typing in all caps and calling you annoying isn't being silent - that's being very unsilent in fact. If you want to call him or her a coward - well, at least he's not a silent coward.

 

[Siren]

Okay ya all, my silent=coward statement has been taken all out of context

 

[Desert Amazon]

 

[crystalhunting]

Well....part of the problem is how the society we live in dictates so-called common values,We live in a very individualitstic and selfish society.It is very common to hear the term "I dont care!""It doesnt involve me!"....very common phrases.


Where we used to have communities that COULD speak with a common voice,now every person is a fortress,and every house is a fortified castle


He/She who look into the face of Evil and does/says nothing is condoneing it.


We really do need to remember that ALL of us are responsible for our actions.....as well as being a human in deeds and thoughts.


We rise together.....or fall by ourselves..It is a choice.



Lecture over.

CH

 

[christo]

Evil thrives when good men do nothing.

Someone wise said that once. I don't know who. I don't know if it was Jesus, Jefferson, or Shaquille O'Neal. I don't think it was Shaq.

 

[Juspar Emvan]

OK getting bored with the board. But a few exasperated thoughts that come to mind . . .

Never
No, he wasn't silent. Typing in all caps and calling you annoying isn't being silent - that's being very unsilent in fact.

I thought hiding behind the anonimity of 'Unregistered' did actually make them a good example of silence. Taken to the nth degree, solitary anonomous opposition is useless. The issue with not standing up for what you believe in is the apathy represented by not making your personal views important. If you have a view, express it, stand up and be counted.

PacificBlue
I was posting MY OPINION! I didn't say I was superior, nor do I think I am. If I gave that impression, I apologize.

PacificBlue
In the spirit of that statement, let me ask you this when was the last time you spoke out of gang violence, drunk drivers, drug-addicted mothers, or the homeless. What one thing in the past week did you do to help a cause that you felt strongly about besides just giving your opinion on the subject?

Gee I wonder why people got that impression?
But hey, not to knock it really, just if you want to express an opinion, stand up for it. Don't fall for the insipid, wishy washy, please whoever happens to be around right now, bullshit.



Folks, this is just a stange and bizzare community. Just like anywhere, there are people, attitudes and opionions you don't like. Just like anywhere, you gotta deal with them, bitch about it, confront it or go and talk it over quietly. I'd almost say stop bitching about it, but hey, you're entitled to your way of life, however fucked up I think it is. But just like real life advice, I'd say if you don't like it walk away from it. Find others who share your views to be comfortable with, and open minded people who oppose them to grow with.

 

[Cheyenne]

Savage Kitten- I love your kitty picture!

 

[Never]

"I thought hiding behind the anonimity of 'Unregistered' did actually make them a good example of silence. Taken to the nth degree, solitary anonomous opposition is useless. The issue with not standing up for what you believe in is the apathy represented by not making your personal views important. If you have a view, express it, stand up and be counted."

If saying what you think only counts when you do so unanonymously then why did she respond?
Don't we vote anonymously? That's standing up for what you believe, isn't it?
Isn't everyone on this board posting anonymously?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Being anonymous is the reason I like the internet.

 

[*Lazer*]

I have never had a problem speaking up when I thought it was harmful or hurtful to another. It was for myself that I could not break the silence. When those who are supposed to protect are silent it paves the way for confusion. Great evil can take place in silence, all it takes is a moment. Self betrayal is perhaps the most hideous thing of all.

Some are silent because they are afraid, or will not be heard, or think they are not important. Long ago I was silent and the price of that silence I will never forget. So I do not automatically assume that someone is evil or malignant when they fail to speak. I was neither of those things, I was simply afraid. It is easy to say here in this protected spot that you would come out loud and clear on the rightous side. Real life however has a way of throwing hooks and curves into your best intentions. It was a huge leap into the abyess to decide to break the silence.

Once I found my voice I found the courage to question intentions and ideas, people. Those things can sport a high price tag. One I am more then willing to pay. The highest cost for me is to be silent when my heart tells me to speak. So I try to keep the memory of my fears in plain view. It reminds me that there is always one more way to view the world.

 

[bluntforcemama]

Savage Kitten- I love your kitty picture!

So do I! I broke out laughing and I think I woke up the whole house!

 

[Bob Peale]

Re: I'd say something, but I am being silent.

Silence = partiicpation.

Why do you think the first thing that is taken is free speech> whenever there is a political coup, the airwaves and press are always silenced.

Think about it.

Ok, I did. That's contradictory.

I can believe that silence equals weakness, even that silence equals fear, and on the outer edges, silence equals ignorance, but I'm having a hadr time with the silence equals participation.

Not that it doesn't sometimes, but I don't see it as an absolute.

Sometimes people are silent because they've seen what happens to someone who makes noise. It's somewhat paradoxical; if you don't say something, you don't know if you stand alone or as part of the masses. But if you speak out, you're often made to feel that you're an oddity.

I think silence has a direct correlation with power. The more you have of one, the less people percieve they have of the other.

 

[Cheyenne]

So do I! I broke out laughing and I think I woke up the whole house!

Me, too! That is one determined looking cat, like she is running in the Kentucky derby down the home stretch. It captures the spirit of kittens perfectly- always on the go, and suspended in mid-air sometimes it seems.

 

[Barb Dwyer]

A bit off topic- but in the same ballpark

For all of life:
Don't sweat the small stuff. Others have said it as well, pick and choose your battles. Do take a stand and back up your beliefs. People are not mind readers - you must express yourself. But there is a right way and a wrong way to do this. There are societal norms we must all follow. We do not live in a vacuum. We have to get along with, or at least tolerate, others.

Regarding the BB, I see no reason to be nasty to someone else. Certainly I have the skills and the intellect to debate or argue an issue without resorting to name calling, mud-slinging or personal attacks. So does almost everyone here.

I also have the opportunity to ignore or walk away from a potential hornet's nest. That is called judgment, self-restraint and maturity. Many people here do not possess these skills - or, if they do, they do not use them effectively.

A high number of people seem to confuse the BB for a chat area. In chat, time is of the essence. You must respond quickly - sometimes without thinking. You REACT. This is a powder keg for people with quick tempers or extreme sensitivity. It is only normal to retaliate and say things in the heat of the moment in those situations.

Theoretically, the BB format was introduced to allow people to share well-thought out opinions. This isn't a horse race - although you'd never know it around here with the rush to post. There are no rules that say you must answer RIGHT NOW!

It is obvious that many people like to take their time, compose their thoughts, write them down (use spell-check! LOL) and THEN post. If you have ever taken a class in sociology or psychology or anger management, then you are aware that it is advisable to step away from a situation for a while. Parents are often counseled to 'count to ten' before reprimanding their children. Kids are instructed to take a 'time out' Couples undergoing marital counseling sessions are told to ask the other person for space so that they don't lash out in anger in the heat of the moment.

Why do some people here, then, treat this place differently? If they were to stop, read another thread, surf another site, or even turn off the computer and come back later, they would have time to analyze things. For example, is this topic REALLY worth me getting my knickers in a twist? Is this a cause I really believe in? Is the world going to end if everyone doesn't agree with me? If I call so and so a bitch or an idiot, will that make me feel better? For how long? Will I come across as the bitch? Will my REACTING to something someone else said about me resolve any of the problems? Or will it create more? Will my writing something mean and cruel and hitting the submit button really change the other person? Or their viewpoint? Why does everyone have to agree with me? Will I crumble and die if the world doesn't revolve around me?

I guess you get my point. I believe if people took more time to organize their responses, there would be less infighting here, fewer trolls, and more time for the important stuff. Like making new friends, having fun and talking about SEX!

PS I love the kitten picture, too, Savage Kitten!

 

[*bratcat*]

says who???

 

[PacificBlue]

Gee I wonder why people got that impression?
But hey, not to knock it really, just if you want to express an opinion, stand up for it. Don't fall for the insipid, wishy washy, please whoever happens to be around right now, bullshit.

I only apologized for seeming superior, not because I was retracting what I said. I think it was a misunderstanding of how I worded what I meant, that's what I was apologizing for.

Now as far as what I said in my orginal post...I was attempting to bring up another point to the topic. Did I say I went out and spoke out against these things on a weekly basis, NO.... Thus the reason I said... "In the spirit of"...taking the original comment on the thread in a different direction... The thread and discussion interested me...so I put my two cents in.

I obviously should have worded both statements better.

PacificBlue

 

[Siren]

Let me give you an example to help clarify my position