Honest opinions and name calling

[Mac (imported)]

Re: Brokeback Mountain

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, a bigot is defined as "one who regards or treats the members of a group with intolerance and hatred."

I see no intolerance or hatred expressed by anyone here, despite the accusations by some.

However, since you guys can't accept the opinions of others without resorting to name calling, I'm going to ask River to close this thread.

I agree, why can't the honest and thoughtful opinions of some members be accepted without receiving name calling and insults from others?

[punkypink (imported)]

An interesting question. Would you say for example, that a white supremacist's opinion about the superiority of the white race over other races, is any less honest and thoughtful? Just because he or she has a different thought process does not make it any less thoughtful. And certainly no less honest. Therefore, can we say that

honest and thoughtful opinions

render the person expressing the opinion immune to a frank honest critique of both the person and his or her opinion?

And were we to call a white supremacist a bigot or a racist, to the white supremacist, that is name calling and insulting no matter how bang on the money it is to call a white supremacist those things.

Maybe it is up to the white supremacist to wake up and see that is indeed what he or she is and change his or her ways, rather than taking offense?

[Mac (imported)]

An interesting question. Would you say for example, that a white supremacist's opinion about the superiority of the white race over other races, is any less honest and thoughtful? Just because he or she has a different thought process does not make it any less thoughtful. And certainly no less honest. Therefore, can we say that

334094240]
honest and thoughtful opinions

render the person expressing the opinion immune to a frank honest critique of both the person and his or her opinion?

And were we to call a white supremacist a bigot or a racist, to the white supremacist, that is name calling and insulting no matter how bang on the money it is to call a white supremacist those things.

Maybe it is up to the white supremacist to wake up and see that is indeed what he or she is and
[/quote]
change his or her ways, rather than taking offense?

There is a polite way to address a white supremacist, a bigot or a racist (merely by the use of those names alone) without including any additional insulting or deragatory terms in the discussion.

That was not the issue in the "Brokeback Mountain" thread. The people who were insulted with those deragatory names merely expressed an honest and polite opinion: (they saw female kissing as being acceptable but did not feel the same with regard to male kissing). They didn't use any deragatory terms in referring to others on the board. However, some others chose to insult those posters with deragatory terms.

As I see it, personal insults and deragatory name calling are acceptable if done to a conservative by a liberal, but not if done to a liberal by a conservative. Conservatives (but not liberals) have received vacations or even banning for such practices. PLEASE DO NOT BAN ME OR GIVE ME A VACATION FOR THIS HONEST OPINION.

I may occasionaly express opinions which are unacceptable to the liberals or challange their opinions which are unacceptable to me. However, I honestly try not to personally insult others or call them unkind names.

[Slammr (imported)]

There is a polite way to address a white supremacist, a bigot or a racist (merely by the use of those names alone) without including any additional insulting or deragatory terms in the discussion.

That was not the issue in the "Brokeback Mountain" thread. The people who were insulted with those deragatory names merely expressed an honest and polite opinion: (they saw female kissing as being acceptable but did not feel the same with regard to male kissing). They didn't use any deragatory terms in referring to others on the board. However, some others chose to insult those posters with deragatory terms.

As I see it, personal insults and deragatory name calling are acceptable if done to a conservative by a liberal, but not if done to a liberal by a conservative. Conservatives (but not liberals) have received vacations or even banning for such practices. PLEASE DO NOT BAN ME OR GIVE ME A VACATION FOR THIS HONEST OPINION.

I may occasionaly express opinions which are unacceptable to the liberals or challange their opinions which are unacceptable to me. However, I honestly try not to personally insult others or call them unkind names.

My criticism had nothing to do with conservatives or liberals. Only you, Mac, would jump to that conclusion. Maybe bigots was too harsh, but the statement, "I don't like to see guys kissing," is an expression of prejudice, and I'm surprised that people here, of all places, don't understand that.

"I hate gays," could also be an honest opinion, but do you think we would let multiple people post that in a thread? "I don't like to see two guys kiss," is just as offensive in my opinion. It might be your opinion, but it isn't one you need to share with the rest of us. What if the statement had been, "I hate to watch people of different races kiss?" That might be an honest opinion, but don't you think many here would find that statement offensive?

This isn't meant for Mac. I've long since given up explaining anything to him, but I've posted it hoping others might understand how offensive their honest opinions might seem to others.

[tugon (imported)]

I agree with you Slammr. I also wonder about the value of these sequel threads. The last was closed but we have to divert to another thread to rehash. A name comes to mind such as martyr when I read about poor conservatives being mistreated by the liberals.

[Mac (imported)]

My criticism had nothing to do with conservatives or liberals. Only you, Mac, would jump to that conclusion. Maybe bigots was too harsh, but the statement, "I don't like to see guys kissing," is an expression of prejudice, and I'm surprised that people here, of all places, don't understand that.

"I hate gays," could also be an honest opinion, but do you think we would let multiple people post that in a thread? "I don't like to see two guys kiss," is just as offensive in my opinion. It might be your opinion, but it isn't one you need to share with the rest of us. What if the statement had been, "I hate to watch people of different races kiss?" That might be an honest opinion, but don't you think many here would find that statement offensive?

This isn't meant for Mac. I've long since given up explaining anything to him, but I've posted it hoping others might understand how offensive their honest opinions might seem to others.

What good is the forum if we can't be open to opposing views as long as they are presented in a fair manner? I find many of your views to be offensive to me but will defend your right to express them. Thanks for the insult that I am dense just because many of my views may be different from your views.

What happens when you selectively supress the views of any one group or discriminate against then as being different?

First they came for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak for me.

River (and others) - please let this thread remain open so that we can hear the other views (without personal insults) on the subject.

[Dave (imported)]

All of you have to learn when to simply stop and say "I don't agree" ...

It doesn't require any more than those three words after one or two go arounds in the postings.

And no one is perfect, (including me) about letting an argument be and not trying to convince the other person of what they will never believe...

[MacTheWolf (imported)]

Well, I learned something. Saying you don't like to see guys kissing is an example of prejudice. Funny thing, I thought it was only an opinion. Silly me

[Riverwind (imported)]

OK everybody please stop.

Mac, I do see your point, and no you will never be ban for that.

Slammr I see your point,

HOWEVER.

The reason the thread was closed is because it looked like it was starting to be a bashing contest with no winners. I will not entertain an argument of this sort.

Some on this site see no problem with two guys kissing for the camera, others do, neither has anything to do with being a bigot or anything else, its just a preference.

Get over it,

Now I have a good mind to close this thread too but I will keep it open for the moment, keep in mind, I am not a vegetarian and I would not want that life stile but that does not mean I condemn others for it, nor does it mean I wish to watch their cooking shows.

I hope you all understand where I am coming from on this.

River

[Paolo]

Well, if you don't like to see guys kissing, keep your ass away from the MOM.

I have been know to do that before.

A crack like that in my presence would have landed SOMEONE in the emergency room. Or the morgue.

And just for the record, blatant displays of HETEROSEXUAL affection in public make me want to vomit.