The mentality of the posters on this site. — Page 2

DG, you're totally right about peoples' priorities. As an old person, I say it's a situation which gets worse with time. We could probably debate for days about why this is so.

So let's not right now!

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Actually, Rath's point is an interesting one, considering the thread title I chose.

I, personally, approach this board with the same mentality I approach any of the interactions I have with the world. If I find it serious, I'm serious. If it's obviously a frivolity, then I'm . . . well, frivolous.

But there are obviously many here who take this to be a playground - hence the proliferation of the scorned sock-puppet brigade.

I just see this as another avenue of connection - and don't alter my own being to suit the means, so to speak. Basically, I need to back off and accept the limitations.

And on the side - Namo, am I really that predictable? Thrice? They make pills for this I'm sure. I should probably look into them.

DG, now you have me thinking.

I think most of us only click on the threads which seem interesting to us, no matter what the reason is that we come here.

The fact is, almost no one clicked on the Veteran's Day thread. ( until it got heated).
It wasn't interesting to most of BWW.

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LOL-anytime there's a heated discussion, argument, vicious dishing or the like, the hits go sky high.

I wonder why that is? no I don't.

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And Phyllis, your point of addressing what is actually said as opposed to what isn't intrigues me, as well. Recently, you seemed to be bothered by what you felt was making light of a gay-bashing situation. But when you voiced this thought, you were also met with defensiveness and, some would say, derision.

So, why is that? You apparently had the written proof of your concern laid out for everyone to see, and yet, it still wasn't met with approval. Although, for the record, I agreed with you - shock, surprise.

So, what is it that makes people so unwilling to address a question of their thoughts - whether stated, or as the Catholics like to carry on about, omitted?

Wow, Yawper - that's quite a history lesson! Mike seems very invested - his passion is palpable.

Thanks for sharing that.

Veteran's Day. I never really know what to do with it, so personally, I tend to ignore it.

Not that I wish any soldier harm, but it is difficult to celebrate those who are actively fighting a war (in a volunteer army) which I have opposed from the beginning. Vietnam is a little murkier, because of the draft, but even then there were choices to be made.

I know that the "I oppose the war, but I support the troops" catch phrase is popular, but it never made sense to me. I guess one way of looking at it is that one IS supporting the troops by opposing the war...but I'm not prepared to sully someone else's day of commemoration for something they may have believed in and sacrificed for by taking to the streets.

I will spend the day in my own little conundrum, but will NOT take advantage of the many Veteran's Day sales out there that are honoring those "fighting for our freedom"...you know, those who aren't actually in the country to take advantage of the fantastic 20% off on a luxury down comforter.

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For or against the war, the thought of those fighting in either extreme cold in Afganistan or the heat of the desert of Iraq, or any war in any country for that matter-in trenches, away from their loved ones, knowing they can die any moment, giving their lives for us, people they don't even know, deserves more than just appreciation.

I'm putting all political issues aside-just give some thought to what those people are actually doing day by day and think of what we do day by day. No matter how we feel about the politics involved in this war or any war, those fighting for us believe they are doing just that. I really wonder how people could not feel much for them. AGAIN-all politics aside.

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Very well said, Jane2.

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The Christian Right believes that what they are doing is fighting to set our souls free. And they believe it sincerely ... with the current government's support. I understand that they are living in the comfort of home and aren't risking life and limb, but still...they are fighting for something they believe in.

At the risk of digging myself in deeper, let me try to explain my perspective.

Just because someone has good intentions and believes in what they are doing, doesn't make it the right thing. The sacrifices the soldiers are making are no doubt great, and I'm sure they are existing in a living hell. I regret that and *do* actually have great sympathy. But I'm not prepared to thank them for fighting to keep me free, because to the core of my being, I don't believe that is what is happening and frankly, to do so, would feel like double-speak.

I do, however, keep them in my prayers and am frequently moved to tears by the senseless and persistent loss of lives amongst the troops in Iraq. And I hope to God that they are brought home safely soon.

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I would like to thank Iflit for taking the time to carefully write out what also expresses "the mentality" of this poster.

I too cannot get behind the notion that every action committed by a person in a military uniform (from the grunts to the ones with stars and bars) is in and of itself "keeping us free." In fact, in the latter half of the 20th century, that notion was pretty much destroyed.

Last week I meant to start a thread about the report that was issued that found that 1 out 4 homeless people in the US are veterans. Please consider that figure again: 1 out of 4.

Yet so many Americans seem to feel good about themselves because they drive around with "Support Our Troops" magnets on their vehicles. And that is the whole bit that they do to "support."

I tell this story every year, but when my partner (retired military) sent out emails asking the people in his life (many of whom are Republican "Rah Rah America, Our Troops Keep Us FREE!" types) to contact their representatives to tell them to oppose the increase in age at which military retirement benefits begin, exactly one person (not counting himself) did so: me. Yet MOST of those people he sent the email to have those damn magnets on their vehicles!

To me posting in a thread seems of a piece with those magnets. If it makes people feel good, no harm really. But it doesn't really change anything. And it doesn't really help those homeless veterans.


Out of Uniform and on the Street

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iflit--your problem is with the American people, not the military.

The members of the military don't get to choose whether wars are good or bad. They are trained to fight at the direction of the Commander-in-Chief, who is elected by the people--in this case twice.

So we shouldn't really give or withhold our support based on our support for this particular war. Your problem is with the people who elected George Bush or allowed him to take office.

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I just find it utterly bizarre that one can truly make some sort of assumption about someone based on whether a thread is 'clicked' or not 'clicked'. For me, it kind of goes hand-in-hand for the 'Pray for...' threads or 'X is happening to me and I need support.'

I know enough about other posters' lives (and certainly my own) to know that a lot of sh*t goes on that doesn't ever get posted. There have been several rough patches for me this year (actually...this whole year has kind of been a rough patch). But I'd never actually post the details about it. It's just not me to do something like that. I also assume that many others here have their own sh*t going on in their lives that they don't feel comfortable posting about. So I simply would never make a judgment call by the lack of response to a thread. I'm even trying (but not necessarily succeeding, right, PJ?) to not judge too much what is actually posted. Cause who knows what the f*ck could be going on in a person's life that causes them to react in a certain way.

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