USVI-On-Line

tell jorge i said "hi, hope all is well"!

Me too Rick...what the heck, I'll just email him myself )

It was said that only people who agree politically with Ruth are agreeing with her post.

I will say that I have got to be one of the most conservative people on the forum (believe me, I am) and I agree with Ruth.

This is mostly repeats... so move on if in a hurry - you've heard most of it before.

Almost three weeks ago I was in an accident. Each day I relive the crash, the spin, the slide, the second crash, the slide and then the stop. I was so lucky; I was only bruised and given a knot on the head.

Often threads on this off topic forum leave me feeling like I have just gone through an experience much like that accident. Even so, I generally read, and occasionly make a reply to, almost every post. Your ideas and activities interest me; I love the who, what, why, how, when....
It is the mood and mode of the communications that often send me spinning.

I do agree with Ruth's opinion on bullies.

Sunday night I was questioned as to my remarks on a post about the meaning of the forum... all this was resolved in a friendly fashion, but it shows how easily we can misunderstand or become defensive:

GinaXOXO wrote:

lprof wrote:
Only two personalities on this board really make me burn and they have been quiet for the past week of so.

Ruth, this is what I was talking about. I am not sure who Iprof is talking about or the reason. I believe that most people on this board are very nice and very helpful. I have seen it before when people take a political difference personally. I just don't like seeing people start disliking each other because they disagree. How limiting, really.
If you only talk to people who agree with you or only allow people to post who you agree with you are limiting yourself.
Gina


My response was:

Wishing to move past these last two controversial "Off Topic" threads, I had nothing to say beyond my initial post. In fact, it was only by chance that I read GinaXOXO's posting.
It was not the stands these two persons have taken, or whether we agreed or disagreed, or even what they said that led me to say
"Only two personalities on this board really make me burn"
it was the manner in which they have often communicated... very rudely - in my opinion, and it was my opinion that I expressed.
For those who are playing the guessing game - these persons do not always show up in the same places and not necessarily on the political threads. Two out of the 2391 who are registered forum members tonight is a pretty small number... I guess that would leave 2389 who, in my opinion, are "nice"... something akin to saying "most people on this board".
Futhermore, I can and have agreed with ideas expressed by one of them, maybe even the other one too... I just burn at the rudeness they throw out, as if looking to disturb the dialogue of the forum. And... I usually attempt to avoid them - unless they step on my toes.
And no, GinaXOXO, I was not referring to you.
I apologise to everyone.
My original post here:
As I see it...
I don't care what topics are chosen for discussion... I can read the ones of interest to me.
I don't appreciate being hijacked. I find it to be a rudeness to take control of someone else's thread... the rudeness then affects all trying to follow the original poster's message.
Sticking to the subject isn't too hard for most folks.
I generally can remain polite even when annoyed.
Only two personalities on this board really make me burn and they have been quiet for the past week of so. If someone dislikes or is uninterested in my message, ignoring me is fine. If someone disagrees with me, tell me; I'll live.
For me, participating on these three forums is simple... I'm here to learn, share, and laugh... in a respectable manner.


On another of these spinning threads I posted:

From Wikipedia:
Civic virtues are personal habits and attitudes that are conducive to social harmony and group well-being.
Generally, civility is a social virtue that involves self-control or moderation and contrasts with pride, insolence, and arrogance.

Lately, the press has reported a lack of civility in our society. I am seeing expressions of such many places around me. I have yet to see a positive result from such behavior....


Of course, I readily admit, I was trying to nicely say, that in my opinion, some forumites are not always behaving with civility.




Subtle comments have not been heard. It is not the views you hold; it is the boorish vehicles you use in sharing them.

I do not feel angry or self-righteous... only saddened by all this clamour.


While writing this I have learned that a good friend and best man in our wedding has died just as he was taking a picture while touring China. In one moment lives can change. I suggest that we all reset our tolerance gauges, smile and remember that we are all in this world together... please.

Are some folks hypersensitive and have almost zero tolerance for almost anything that Sox says? Yup.

Is that unfortunate because then it makes THEM seem intolerant and make it seem like the conservative POV is being squashed here? Yup.

Can it be argued that those feelings about Sox can be more than justified for his past use of what many perceive to be overly harsh/highly provocative metaphors, words and tone that have been well documented here? Yup.

And can it be argued that it is Sox who frequently takes advantage of almost any post dealing with current events to comment about the current administration, Democrats, Liberals, etc. to the point where folks are loath to comment about any news item that can possibly be used by him as an excuse to drag out his soapbox? Yup.

Has all of this caused irreparable damage to the OT forum? That’s in the eye of the beholder.

THESE are the things folks are upset about – NOT that Sox or others who come to his defense have dissenting points of view, are conservative, etc.

Likewise, it can be rightfully argued that folks with a liberal POV that decide to fight fire with fire are taking that same low road and are also subject to being called out, further eroding the civility of the board.

Think about that before you engage in a “rude” fashion. Instead, if you are compelled reply (or “rise to the bait” as I like to think of it), at least try to take the edge off and make it semi-amusing by using some light sarcasm or self deprecation. Save the rudeness for your PMs to your like minded buddys!

Augie: I don't wish to take away from the good points you made in your post.

There is just one comment I need to make to you, and others, not to single you out. My comment is sincere and not meant to inflame but it is something that I want you to think about.

Sox was not the only person the went off topic in the thread about seeing the First Lady and he wasn't even the first one to go off topic and "hijack" the thread. Why is Sox being singled out?

Just think about that.

augie wrote:

soxfan22 wrote:In other words, if you do not agree completely with the OP, then you have hijacked a thread.

You seem to be intelligent enough to actually understand the difference, but also come across to me as condescending enough to think that I (we?) aren't smart enough to know what you're really doing when you do, in fact, "hijack" every thread that provides you with the slimmest opening to repeat ad naseum the same things you've been saying for months on this forum.


A good message board rule that everyone would be well advised to try and heed is, when debating a point, attack the message, but not the messenger.
tonight so that I can post on your new food thread!

Gina: That's a fair point. I used Sox's example because he's the one that said that stating a difference of opinion was being called hijacking. I pointed out some examples of what I would consider stating a different opinion, then one of highjacking.

It would have been just as valid to point out any other thread hijacks (I'm sure I could have done a search and found examples of them that I've been guilty of), but his was an easy one that sprung to my mind.

Does anyone else feel like all this highly inflamed partisan bickering, both here and in the real world, all really started back in the 90's when we somehow decided being disrespectful was ok?

To me it seems that ever since Monica-Gate and the Contract with America era, all civility in discussing politics has gone to hell. It used to be an enjoyable topic that has now evolved into a big finger pointing match. The whole time this is going on, nothing gets accomplished except the rich get richer and the rest of us get screwed. If half the energy spent bickering, went to problem solving, we'd all be a lot better off.

That said, I agree with Ruth, bullies suck regardless of their political affiliation.

Wow, I just went to get a mani/pedi, and I come back to all of this. Can't we have a serious debate, or does is all have to be a about recipes and what to do in "whatever city"? If you know you don't like what a certain person is going to write (because we're pretty clear on who is who), then don't read it. Go back to the regular forum and read about STJ and all the stuff we agree on. We're all adults here, and I would think we should be able to handle a good debate about something as important as this country without getting lectured on being a bully. There's plenty of that to go around on both sides, so why just pick on Sox? Sometimes passions run really high on this topic and both sides have said things I'm sure they wish they had worded differently. Let's put on our big boy and girl panties and stop acting like a bunch of whimps. Do you ever watch The View, or O'Rielly? Now there is some bullying.

CID: interesting. Maybe? I don't know. It really bothered me when "people" made personal attacks against Bush. I am not going to say anything about Obama's character that is negative. It isn't right.

When we were in Venezuela we got to know a few of the locals. Clinton was our President at the time. They told us that they could not believe the horrible things that we being said in the American news about our own President.

They were very poor yet they loved their President. There were pictures of Hugo Chavez everywhere. They said that in Venezuela there were only two classes the very rich and the very poor. Yet they held no anomosity. What gives?

Cid wrote:Does anyone else feel like all this highly inflamed partisan bickering, both here and in the real world, all really started back in the 90's when we somehow decided being disrespectful was ok?

To me it seems that ever since Monica-Gate and the Contract with America era, all civility in discussing politics has gone to hell. It used to be an enjoyable topic that has now evolved into a big finger pointing match. The whole time this is going on, nothing gets accomplished except the rich get richer and the rest of us get screwed. If half the energy spent bickering, went to problem solving, we'd all be a lot better off.

That said, I agree with Ruth, bullies suck regardless of their political affiliation.

Cids comment about less bickering and more problem solving reminded me of something I often wonder....why is it that so many on this forum have so much time to post at work. Don't you have work to do? Does your employer not care if your goofing off? I don't see most of you on here on weekends, when it's your own time. I'm a stay at home mom, at least for now, so I have that luxury, but I would think most of you, especially the men, have jobs. Maybe I need to find out how I can get a job like that and get paid to goof off. (I am writing this with a little "tongue in cheek" and not trying to be a bully.) Just wanted to clarify that.

cypressgirl wrote:Cids comment about less bickering and more problem solving reminded me of something I often wonder....why is it that so many on this forum have so much time to post at work. Don't you have work to do? Does your employer not care if your goofing off? I don't see most of you on here on weekends, when it's your own time. I'm a stay at home mom, at least for now, so I have that luxury, but I would think most of you, especially the men, have jobs. Maybe I need to find out how I can get a job like that and get paid to goof off. (I am writing this with a little "tongue in cheek" and not trying to be a bully.) Just wanted to clarify that.

I believe it was Lex who raised this question last fall.

I would think most of you, especially the men, have jobs.

Now that is sexist, cypress.

Alright, I'll get back to work.

I admit it. I'm bored and I have a job. It's part- time, about 27 hours a week, but I could work 1/2 that amount and still get everything done.

Does my boss know? He knows that when we're not busy, we goof off, but there's nothing else to do!!

BTW, looking for a new job that will keep me busier.

cypressgirl wrote: Don't you have work to do? Does your employer not care if your goofing off? I don't see most of you on here on weekends, when it's your own time. I'm a stay at home mom, at least for now, so I have that luxury, but I would think most of you, especially the men, have jobs. Maybe I need to find out how I can get a job like that and get paid to goof off.

Get back in the kitchen!