We are diminished.

[DG]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 12:34am

The board seems to have gotten a little lighter - not only in terms of some actual content, but also in our capacity to allow thoughts, feelings and expressions that lie outside our immediate comfort zones.

I think I'll go watch the last documentary I rented, which ironically is titled AMERICA: FREEDOM TO FASCISM.

All I can really think of to quote from is WICKED, which is kind of funny considering the rep of the show here - "I hope you're happy now."

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 12:40am

Hmm, I have lost my comfort zone here!

[DG]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 12:49am

"Not only is it extremely cruel to persecute in this brief life those who do not think the way we do, but I do not know if it might be too presumptuous to declare their eternal damnation." - Voltaire

[erikaamato]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 12:51am

That Voltaire was one smart Frenchman.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 12:55am

WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT SPEAKING YOUR OPINION, DG??? GET BACK IN YOUR CAGE!

[DG]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 12:56am

Rav - I'm quite used to yelling through bars

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 12:57am

I believe in live and let live.

And I also believe in Aunt Eller's line in Oklahoma "I don't say I'm no better than anybody else, but I'll be damned if I ain't just as good."

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 12:58am

I agree. It hasn't felt "right" on this board for a few months now. It seems like every two seconds someone is biting someone's head off about something.

[etoile]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 1:53am

Agreed.

Now that I'm in a position to address some earlier post, and boy do I have a lot to say, I guess this is the thread in which I'll do it. But I'll keep it brief and touch one just one aspect. Okay, maybe two.

Sick people who wish to do harm to others will always be with us. Will always walk among us. Will always find a means of inflicting the maximum amount of damage their sick minds can envision. Some will always fall through the cracks. Some will always want to be a footnote in history...and they can do it with something as simple as a match. Do we outlaw and restrict matchbooks and Bic lighters next? Yes, in some places we do.

Sick people walk this earth, in every country, in all parts of the world. Heinous acts and deranged behavior are everywhere. It's part of the human condition. Again: It's part of the human condition. It will never be quelled totally.

But my main point is that we, the United States of America, are willing to let the whole world watch acts within its borders unfold and be reported in full. Aberrant and abhorrent behavior is not unique to this country or its society, but we allow the whole world to watch us. So while the same sick and disgusting behavior is played out in various fashions in other parts of the world, because after all it is human behavior, abet at its worst, we allow, permit, and embrace the rest of the critiquing and judging world to see us with our warts and all. Our carnage is displayed for the whole world to see.

So before anyone wants to judge us too harshly as a society I'm of the belief that other atrocities exist elsewhere but are not as publicly known or acknowledged. Some have taken years to become known. I have no doubt that some acts, in some areas of the world, will never be known. So to that I say God bless our First Amendment. God bless our Constitution. God bless America, especially with, and in spite of, all its warts.

But please, let's allow BWW to return to its normal salacious comments from the newly pubescent and the consistently lascivious.

Updated On: 4/18/07 at 01:53 AM

[DG]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 1:57am

DJ - I'm not sure anything has actually changed here, I just think it's become more 'vivid'. The foundation of our community seems to be pretty much the same, except that more people are participating (although, it has to be acknowledged that the off-board communication has had an effect on many interactions.)

What scares me, though - and this, I guess, is kind of what you're alluding to - is that the increased participation is leading to rather negative consequences. Instead of using the availability of increased numbers of viewpoints, styles and perspectives to enlarge our potential awareness, we seem to frequently devolve into forced group-think mentality. I feel very much like I did when I tried to watch JESUS CAMP earlier today - a little queasy.

My thread is in direct response to the removal of a particular discussion that was causing a fair amount of turmoil here. But my fear is, instead of allowing the turmoil to educate, enlighten and inform, the response of some seems to have been to just remove it - because it didn't sit within their preconceived notions of what THEY consider acceptable. And it's especially saddening to me because this discussion was actually exhibiting some real thought and dialogue - and that's something that isn't exactly common around here.

I'm just sorry that the community - and I look to them, not the administrators, who seem to do their best to allow diversity here - found it necessary to squelch what amounts to free expression. I knew we were in trouble when there were a few posts exclaiming, "I understand the point, but I don't accept the expression."

Well, welcome to a world where multiple expressions have to find a way to co-exist - even if what that amounts to is to just ignore. And citing arbitrary boundaries of what 'most think acceptable' is absolutely beside the point. If we're not going to allow, then write a rule book and require oaths of compliance to participate.

I would hope that we could be better than that.

[DG]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 2:02am

Etoile - nice post. And I'm happy you found a place to put it.

[RadiGal2]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 2:28am

DG- I was also dismayed when I came home to find is missing, there were some alarmists and people refusing to engage but rather stand and furiously stomp their feet -- but all-in-all it was a robust conversation and ended to soon. Simon Blackburn would argue that is the only time ethical practices are stymied; when the conversation stops, so do our morals.

[DG]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 3:36am

"when the conversation stops, so do our morals."

And opportunity flies right out the window.

But we can always find another window to open - hence, this thread!

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 5:31am

What I meant was, I remember a time where we would have discussions about religion or politics or whatever and we ACTUALLY had discussions and not pointing fingers or snapping at someone because they didn't believe the same thing you did. Also, I feel that a lot of the new people don't get a chance to feel at home here like a lot of us did when we first joined. If a newbie says one thing that majority of the board disagrees with, that person is humiliated and sometimes they don't come back. And another thing, which I will admit to doing this, people hold grudges for way too long. There are some people that attack others in a thread for the sheer purpose of hurting their feelings because of something that was argued about a long time ago. I remember coming here and having a blast talking to people who thought like me and liked the same things I did. But, honestly, it is getting harder and harder to read things on the message board. There have been a few times where I almost decided not to come back because of things said. I am glad I stayed because I cherish the moments I get to talk to people here, because like I said in another thread . . . I don't have anyone around where I live to talk about these things to. The message board has always been a place where I can say things that I am not able to say in my everyday life due to the fear of what people will say or treat me like. But, sadly the message board is turning into just that for a lot of people.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 6:19am

Question: If someone complains about a thread is it automatically deleted? Or do the moderators read the whole thing first before deciding? When someone finds particular viewpoints "offensive", but they are legitimate points nonetheless, can't they just tell the complainer not to participate in that thread?

I'm not being sanrky, I am asking in all sincerity.

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 6:52am

Kudos to both DG and etoile. Well said.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 7:30am

Let's be honest here, it wasn't the content of the thead that bothered most people, it was the the thread title.

[DG]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 7:33am

Absolutely, SOMMS - which had been acknowledged and discussed in the thread. In fact, that was a major reason there turned out to be such enlivened discussion. But all my opinion applies to that, as well.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 7:40am

i find it sick and disgusting that you people are honoring what was a slap in the face to sensitive people everywhere, the unthinking work of an 'orrible, 'orrible brute. i take solace in the fact that this thread will soon go the way of that terrible affront to humanity and the bww community as a whole. the fact that such a heinous piece of bitter bullying lasted as long as it did and engendered so many comments and thread views is a sad commentary on the sickness prevalent on this board.

[DG]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 7:54am

"sad commentary on the sickness prevalent on this board."

Oh, that list is looooooooooong - and probably headed by the mere fact of my presense!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 8:03am

I have nothing to say, well nothing that has not been said.
I shall only acknowledge my complete agreement.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 8:08am

Wait-we are talking about RobbO's "Beckham's penis thread" right?

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 8:10am

Well, I certainly was. And you'd best use pee pee instead of p*nis or someone might complain.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 8:12am

Oh, I'm so sorry. Should I go back and edit?

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 8:15am

Well, this isn't a police state. Oh, wait ...