Jester;1086545 wrote: I wouldn't and dont think I ever said it was wonderful, but it is certainly necessary, and vital, and an honest opinion of it is fine by me. And I wouldn't expect you to pull a punch about it and I wouldn't ask you to. Thats my point, there are some of you out there that express anti-american positions, and thats how you feel, which is fine as I have said, but just dont expect me to stay and listen to them.
I was aying to another person today that its kind of like the donut shop I used to frequent, great coffee and company there until there were two very annoying people who said the same stuff day in and day out, stuff I disagreed with, I slowly stopped going there as often. It wasnt my place, it wasnt my right to tell them to leave instead of me leaving, my only option if I didnt care to hear it was to not go there when they were there, which happened ot be the time frame I frequented there.
Just a fact of life, not every place is welcoming and freindly, then not every place that is stays that way.
I do not understand why you equate being against the war started by Bush and Blair as being anti-American. It is not, it is anti-the war and all it stands for. Unless you consider the war to be "that which defines America" then the two are totally different.
As to being anti-the war being anti-the troops. During the First World War they fought over the same half mile stretch of ground for over three years. The Generals sat in their Châteaux tens or hundreds of miles behind the lines sending the troops over the top in wave after wave whilst sipping their wine and enjoying the social life. One, Ludendorff, promptly had a nervous breakdown after he had to visit the front line for the first and only time. I find it very easy to support the troops and admire their bravery whilst damning those that send them there to the hell they deserve.
I'm not going to try to be a peacemaker here, but this thread has turned into a everyone bashing everyone else for their opinions and beliefs. I do not believe that was the initial intention of Ac's thread. Just because some of us Americans feel like we are being continually bashed has nothing to do with this damn war. There has been so much bickering here it's ridiculous. I know I've read more than one thread that seems like total anti-Americanism that have nothing to do with the war or the leaders...and it seems like it is almost always the same people. NO, I'm not going to look for examples or name names...I know what I've read!! It seems as though if it's bashing America it's ok, yet no one else will sit still and let their country be talked about like ours is.
Why don't we Americans try bashing the other countries represented on these boards? Because we don't do that. There, I've said my peace(intentionally misspelled)...do with it what you must, but I see no reason for anyone from any country attacking another. I do not believe that is the intentions of FG and is NOT the way to attract new members.
shelbell;1086626 wrote: I'm not going to try to be a peacemaker here, but this thread has turned into a everyone bashing everyone else for their opinions and beliefs. I do not believe that was the initial intention of Ac's thread. Just because some of us Americans feel like we are being continually bashed has nothing to do with this damn war. There has been so much bickering here it's ridiculous. I know I've read more than one thread that seems like total anti-Americanism that have nothing to do with the war or the leaders...and it seems like it is almost always the same people. NO, I'm not going to look for examples or name names...I know what I've read!! It seems as though if it's bashing America it's ok, yet no one else will sit still and let their country be talked about like ours is.
Why don't we Americans try bashing the other countries represented on these boards? Because we don't do that. There, I've said my peace(intentionally misspelled)...do with it what you must, but I see no reason for anyone from any country attacking another. I do not believe that is the intentions of FG and is NOT the way to attract new members.
Very well said. The war is just an excuse by some abusive people to be abusive. A poster can discuss their dislike for the war without bashing. It only an excuse and not a very good one. As far as Americans bashing other countries....well it is just not something we care to do in general. And you are right, it does not attract new members and furthermore its a good way to get rid of current members.
wildhorses;1086629 wrote: Very well said. The war is just an excuse by some abusive people to be abusive. A poster can discuss their dislike for the war without bashing. It only an excuse and not a very good one. As far as Americans bashing other countries....well it is just not something we care to do in general. And you are right, it does not attract new members and furthermore its a good way to get rid of current members.
Thanks for the support WH...but I'm still expecting to get flamed for this...unfortunately.
It seems irrelevant whether I offer an opinion or I don't offer an opinion, the threads still go to hell in a handbasket. That's almost comforting since people were always telling me it was my fault.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left. When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious. Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
imo, if people stay or go it has little to do with who the active members of ForumGarden are. It may seem like it has everything to do with that at the time but, if things are well in a person's life, it doesn't bother them if they encounter someone who annoys them.
There are times when I haven't written on the site in weeks and no one starts a "where are you?" thread. Yet if I get into one debate after a long absence I'll hear about how I drive members away from here.
Don't take it personally, spot. If someone wants to use me as an excuse as to why they are unhappy, I humbly accept the role of scapegoat. We live to serve.
Jester;1086858 wrote: I agree, so I'm done here, Ive said all I can say here and I'm getting to where I'm angry all over again about it, thats not going to do the situation any good at all.
For the record this isn't something thats going to go away, its the way the group dynamics are, so folks have no choice but to live with it or leave. But hey thats the way life is all over the world, why should FG be any different.
I'm hoping you don't mean you're done here as in you're leaving FG....we need to stick together. :-5
spot;1086868 wrote: It seems irrelevant whether I offer an opinion or I don't offer an opinion, the threads still go to hell in a handbasket. That's almost comforting since people were always telling me it was my fault.
Jester;1087196 wrote: Shellbell it took me some time but I think I figured it out, my 'home' has changed too much for me to call it home anymore.
FG used to be an predominatly american board with an international group visiting, now its a predominatly european board with some visiting americans.
The EU ideology is social-liberal in nature (according to the liberal ideology of the US-GMC-that was for you).
When political discussions come to the for front, the EU ideology is the main thought on the board, only a few americans here are willing to fight it out, and its a losing battle. There is just too many of the EU types visiting the political threads and oscar is right, americans for the most part stay out of British discussions- why bother we dont live there is most americans thought, I think.
The latest breaking news is ALL politics, this board discusses that with an intense british-EU mentality.
Either that or its fluff that, pretty much every body plays in.
Nothing wrong with fluff, but the strong EU-Brit discussions I don't agree with, and you can say what you want in them, but, were just passed off as 'americans'.
Yeah- Shel, Im lookin for a new home.
That's the reason you should stay Jester...we need all of the Americans we have to fight this bad rap we've been given. One other thing I'd like to add to this thread is:
I LOVE AMERICA AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT TOUGH!! GO BARK UP SOMEONE ELSE'S TREE.
You're making martyrs, Jester, I'm just spelling it out.
First spot gets blamed for making Americans unhappy with his views then, apparently, you are actually leaving because you don't like Europeans.
That's how it translates, honest.
So... the POV is that certain Brits don't like Americans, implying they have character flaws ie)bloodthirsty, vain, ignorant and your'e leaving because you find their POV vain, ignorant and bullheaded. Show me the difference. What you just said is that you don't like FG because there are too many Europeans here now... contrary to the OP implying that the Europeans are the ones with bias.
Odie;1087260 wrote: ya better love us Canadian's sis, or your gonna have a rile on your hands..but you can have our government!:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl
Steven Harper, our Prime Minister, sucks the big one!:mad:
I don't pee on anyone's tree!:guitarist
I really like this avatar Odie...:-6
I expressly forbid the use of any of my posts anywhere outside of FG (with the exception of the incredibly witty 'get a room already' )posted recently.
Folks who'd like to copy my intellectual work should expect to pay me for it.:-6
Jester;1087196 wrote: Shellbell it took me some time but I think I figured it out, my 'home' has changed too much for me to call it home anymore.
FG used to be an predominatly american board with an international group visiting, now its a predominatly european board with some visiting americans.
The EU ideology is social-liberal in nature (according to the liberal ideology of the US-GMC-that was for you).
When political discussions come to the for front, the EU ideology is the main thought on the board, only a few americans here are willing to fight it out, and its a losing battle. There is just too many of the EU types visiting the political threads and oscar is right, americans for the most part stay out of British discussions- why bother we dont live there is most americans thought, I think.
The latest breaking news is ALL politics, this board discusses that with an intense british-EU mentality.
Either that or its fluff that, pretty much every body plays in.
Nothing wrong with fluff, but the strong EU-Brit discussions I don't agree with, and you can say what you want in them, but, were just passed off as 'americans'.
Yeah- Shel, Im lookin for a new home.
koan;1087233 wrote: You're making martyrs, Jester, I'm just spelling it out.
First spot gets blamed for making Americans unhappy with his views then, apparently, you are actually leaving because you don't like Europeans.
That's how it translates, honest.
So... the POV is that certain Brits don't like Americans, implying they have character flaws ie)bloodthirsty, vain, ignorant and your'e leaving because you find their POV vain, ignorant and bullheaded. Show me the difference. What you just said is that you don't like FG because there are too many Europeans here now... contrary to the OP implying that the Europeans are the ones with bias.
Perhaps we can let spot off the hook?
Jester;1087253 wrote: Im not buyin what yer sellin and you cant hit what Im throwin.
What part did I get wrong?