nuggler wrote:
Y'know what? They are due respect. Seriously.

Barack Obama, and Democrats in general, love their country. I think, if pressed, most non-lefties here would acknowledge that. But John McCain and Republicans love their country too, just as I do. If you can't acknowledge that and can't drop this the-other-guy-is-evil pose you are part of the problem.

There are people here I respect, and a few more I'd like to respect. But by denying their opponents' basic humanity they are perpetuating a division that will prevent us even looking at the big picture, at the real peril we are in. Like two camps in a lifeboat flinging buckets of water at each other, ignoring the rising water in the boat. I'll go farther than saying they aren't helping—I'll say they are a big part of why the boat is sinking.

That respect isn't being granted here. Some of y'all will use any stick to beat your opponent regardless of what you have to tear down to get that stick or what you get on your hands while you swing it. You justify it by saying these people have got to be stopped!

Think for a moment what a negative thing that is to order your life around. Then think about the damage you do when you complete the sentence: by any means necessary. The means determine the ends, folks. One day this election will be over. Can the side that squeaks out a victory really govern if they have to fight dirty to win? The country is too narrowly divided to roll over bitter opposition. But really, this is a utilitarian digression; can you really accomplish anything positive with hate?

 nuggler wrote: 
       Yeah, I'm a bad guy.

 lowelltr wrote:

 
Maybe not you personally but the general (& accurate) perception is that the right-wing contingent is behind another FOUR MORE YEARS of NeoCon human & spiritual debasement. I have taken it upon myself to resist that probability at every turn. If my doing so presents itself as a generalization when all indications point to more right-wing thinking then maybe it is unfortunate that the individual gets tarred. But its a two-way street & as the saying goes, If you can't take the heat....& there's a lot of heat right now. I still don't think that this is what is causing the disintegration though. The real reasons run a lot deeper methinks.

You wanna see hatred & getting personal....? Check out Bokey's post. I haven't seen that degree of bile flow here for some time.

 steeler wrote:

 

 I would urge everyone to stop making these sweeping statements because it, more than anything, contributes to the malaise — here on RP (microcosm) and throughout America.  . 

Well, and the lefty liberals should understand this, it certainly FEELS true....
 

 lowelltr wrote:

 

See, Lowell, this is where I disagree.  The great majority of folk here know how to engage in sincere dialogue on the issues. You and I have done so on a number of occasions (not that you and I are role models! ).  I could name a lengthy list of those who do the same. Those who do not — and they are on both sides of the political spectrum — are in the minority. Yet, we hear statements like the one you have made here — we "conservatives" are outnumbered and being shouted down, etc. It simply is not true.

 I would urge everyone to stop making these sweeping statements because it, more than anything, contributes to the malaise — here on RP (microcosm) and throughout America.  . 

Dude, I'm not trying to sell you anything - it's fairly obvious you're not buying my opinions or anything else from me...not that I care one way or the other............ nuggler wrote: 

Hell, I've been attacked here as a conservative( and a liberal) and I'd take Bush out with my bare hands if I had the chance.

 This stuff going on here  has NOTHING to do with politics and EVERYTHING to do with ONE persons serious mental health issues. If everyone would recognize this and ignore the source when it starts spewing hysteria the problem would resolve it self.

 Too bad Obama didn't start any free mental health clinics in Chicago- there is a very clear need for at least one.
 What a shame.
   oldviolin wrote: 
  No, she wants strife and hatred , the principles she practices and has dedicated herself to spreading everywhere she can.

 hippiechick wrote: 

Please. You know what I'm talking about. Today is not the day for me to try and bridge anymore gaps. I asked you long ago to stop.
You could have voiced your opinions without painting everyone that disagreed with you as some kind of idiots, and you wouldn't stop.
You want Peaceandlove? Really.? Really? Oh, really? I don't think so.

 oldviolin wrote:

 

I understand.  But that was my point. The problem stems, in large part, from the making of sweeping statements, lumping people into pre-determined categories, and, generally, refusing to listen.  There are many here — the great majority, really — who engage in sincere and earnest dialogue on this forum on a regular basis.  Taking a sledge hammer to those gnats who buzz around with no  apparent constructive goal probably is not the answer. And it certainly isn't the answer if those who engage in sincere dialogue are unfairly linked to the activities of the gnats through the use of tired generalizations.

 

Short version:  Not sure how throwing gas on the fire helps.                

 lowelltr wrote: 
Well then, don't try to sell us another FOUR MORE YEARS. What are you people thinking, with all due respect....?

 hippiechick wrote:
I like you. You're funny!

 oldviolin wrote: 

All of us "non-leftist" types (RPeeps all) are so outnumbered, overwhelmed, and tired of others' derision, that we resort to the 'ol fight or flight instinct....Zipper's chosen fight, the vast majority of us have chosen the other..........

 oldviolin wrote: 
With intelligent discourse, people win. They become more enlightened and educated. With name calling and insults, the conversation deteriorates.

Blaming her insanity on "one poster" is like blaming the bailout failing on Nancy Pelosi.

 steeler wrote: 

I think that it was actually directed at one poster in particular. After a couple of years of it, she just tripped a breaker and went off.
All this has been coming to a head. It doesn't really matter does it? Nobody wins, everybody loses. JMHO

 ScottFromWyoming wrote: 

Perhaps. Not sure how that helps matters here, though.

If it was meant as satire, so to speak, then one wonders why it has engendered so much spewing of bile.

 If the intent was to point out the folly of our way, and to nudge us to take a look at ourselves and the way we treat each other here, it seems to have backfired.   

 samiyam wrote: 
Good observation, Sam. I would go so far as to suggest you post your comment in Drach's journal as an honest reminder & possible attempt at curing one of the fundamental flaws of this disintegrating RP community. That is if you & other concerned participants should decide on making an honest run at stopping the rot. Others here hailed by the community as being "honest" spokespersons, their "efforts" amounted to naught. They carried their bias with them which is not really honest, you see. I don't think its too late, you know. Even as one of the terminally shunned I kinda like this community. I've learned a lot about the human dynamic playing out in a medium that prior to RP was completely foreign to me. Encourage them to drop the granfalloon in favor of reconnecting with their human core that has been increasingly dimmed by the individual PC preferences & egos of a few reigning over what would constitute a healthy community. Time to take the dictators to task maybe....? If you don't know who they are I've had them sussed for a while.

 jadewahoo wrote: 
Uh...yeah! Do take it as a compliment!

 AugieK wrote:And that, I'll definitely take as a compliment... regardless of your intent.

 Monkeysdad wrote:Uh... I'll choose to take that as a compliment! 

 jadewahoo wrote: 

Drach?  You've come back to me?