Yeah, I think I'm gonna like this!

Smacked around by bloggers!

Published on June 10, 2004 By GeoATL In Life Journals

Well, nothing says welcome like a swift kick in the balls! Yesterday I attended a conference in Atlanta entitled "Nonprofit Summit". It's basically an annual event that attempts to gather the leaders of nonprofits to share resources, ideas, and solutions to some of our society's most pressing problems. I have dedicated by entire life to nonprofit work. Rather accidentally at first - but in the last 10 years and for the rest of my life - it's been quite intentional. Anyway, while at the conference, I heard a speaker on the topic of Public Journalism. He brought up a topic that I've heard about and studied a bit - blogs. And I finally decided to join the revolution. But on the side of the left. I've decided that rampant intolerance to anything non-conservative, non-Christian, non-right wing, simply can't go unnoticed and unattended to.

So, in my second day of posting, I commented on what I view as a tad overdone activity around the Reagan State Funeral. And boy... people came right out of the wood work to attempt to shut me down. Sadly for them, it didn't work. As I've stated, I've spent my entire professional life in the nonprofit arena. I have been witness to some of the most troubling issues and concerns of our society. What's more troubling than the issues themselves - is a lack of compassion in addressing this issues. So... get used to it those of you on the "right", I will not stop talking about the need for tolerace. Your intolerant, rascist, homophobic, classist, and arrogant remarks will not go un-checked.

But during the process, I hope that you'll maintain some civility - I will challenge your opinions and certainly your data. And I expect to be challenged as well. And I'll admit when I'm wrong - and will hope you will do the same. In the long run, who knows... maybe we'll take a moment to consider someone else's point of view!

Cheers.

Comments (Page 2)

GeoATL

on Jun 11, 2004

KarmaGirl, debates shouldn't include insults - and I simply won't tolerate it. If folks can't discuss the issues without calling eachother names - or being smar asses then I'm not interested in it. They will be blacklisted, or I'll remove the article, or I will stay out of that debate. That's what's wrong with this country and increasing the level of intolerance between the left and right. Yesterday I was insulted with nearly each and every post. And I'm going to point that out to folks a few times - and if they don't get the fact that I welcome their criticism of my debate, but not insults of me, then I'll take action. That damn simple. The example you site is equally unacceptable. No matter which side it comes from. And simply saying it's the state of the room is to give in. I challenge each every person to elevate the dialogue as Draginol and BakerStreet did (albeit with a few insults). We can disagree... even passionately, but we don't have to think the other person is less of a human being because they have indications liberal, conservative or otherwise. My thin skin has a sliding scale, trust me. I'm a passionate, loving, caring person - capable of great fun, humor and introspect - but I grew up one of seven children in the rural appalachian mountains (the caves someone referenced yesterday, lol) and I can defend myself. So, it may sound like I'm belly achin'... but I'm not. I'm am however, going to relentlessly point out when people are attacking me instead of my arguement. And I hope if I slip and do the same to someone else, they will call me out on it.

Poetmom99

on Jun 11, 2004

if anyone disagrees with me tell me this, what would you have said if Saddam had died in the war?....I bet you wouldnt have thought it too disrespectful to talk about his warts. I will no doubt be roundly abused for that one likening Reagan to Saddam....

I believe that when someone dies, out of respect for those who ARE sad, and ARE mourning them, you either say something nice or say nothing at all....after the mourning period is over, then that changes. So, anything negative that anyone wants to say about Reagan. why not save it until tomorrow, and show a little respect during this solemn week? Is that too much to ask??

Poetmom99

on Jun 11, 2004

Poetmom, the man accepted public office and with that comes inordinate scrutiny of every detail of one's life. I don't share your opinion of him. I will not turn a blind eye to his failings and prop him up to be something he was not. End of discussion.

You don't know if you share my opinion of him or not, as I have yet to state it....I would be just as fanatical about my belief that you show respect during the mourning period no matter WHO the President was that we were burying....I've seen five of them buried now in my lifetime, and I have felt this way about all of them...leave the negative out of it until after he's buried and the ceremonial stuff is over. End of discussion? Not likely.....

MasonM

on Jun 11, 2004

I was quite amused when I read this article. In the process of stating:

debates shouldn't include insults

you include, in the same article:

Your intolerant, rascist, homophobic, classist, and arrogant remarks will not go un-checked.

I suppose you don't view this as an insulting remark because it isn't directed at YOU??? It's a very insulting remark.

I went back a re-read the oringinal article and I found it interesting that you were the first one to hurl a personal insult at someone:

This is exactly how people like you spread lies. Congrats!

Directly calling someone a liar. A personal insult of the highest order. Now I do acknowledge that you did later apologize for it and said it was a "poor choice of words", but it doesn't alter the fact that you were the first to insult someone. If you don't want your thread reduced to insults, don't do it yourself.

Another example of an insult hurled by YOU

I said nothing of McDonalds? Please continue to elaborate on topics that I didn't mention, your attempt to obfuscate the matter proves my point that you'll do anything to run from the truth.

This was in response to someone siting an example to illustrate their point, which was in response to a point you mentioned. I don't recall them saying you did mention McDonalds, it was an illustration. You used it as an opportunity to hurl a personal insult.

Now, I agree with you that one should not stoop to personal insults. Anyone doing so in any thread of mine has their comment deleted as soon as I see it. And that is whether the insult is directed at me or anyone else in the thread. I do not use personal insults in any of my posts, unless of course it's a humorous posting and the other person knows (hopefully) that I'm kidding.

If you don't don't want insults in your threads, don't use them yourself. Kinda like the pot calling the kettle black. You may or may not have actually intended the insults as such, but they were. This only invites return insults. See my point? Or am I just spouting

intolerant, rascist, homophobic, classist, and arrogant remarks

???????

bakerstreet

on Jun 11, 2004

MasonM: *nod*

I noticed the same several times in the other discussion too.

GeoATL: Get used to it. That is about as civil as you'll get.

GeoATL

on Jun 11, 2004

Let me restate for those of you just joining - you may attack my argument, but you may not attack me. The following statement I made - "Your intolerant, rascist, homophobic, classist, and arrogant remarks will not go un-checked." is NOT an insult, it's stating a fact. Read the complete thread above an you will see clear and distinct insults aimed at me that fit into each othese categories.

Reply By: MasonM Posted: Friday, June 11, 2004
I was quite amused when I read this article. In the process of stating:

debates shouldn't include insults

you include, in the same article:

Your intolerant, rascist, homophobic, classist, and arrogant remarks will not go un-checked.

GeoATL

on Jun 11, 2004

With all due respect, I chose not to "get used to it" but challenge it. And if we could all agree to keep the insults out of the discussion - and we're all human, it's hard not to respond to someone who tells you that you lived in a cave, don't have a grasp of the English language, etc - but if we can focus on the topic the debate, we're much likely to all get more out of it. But then again, some aren't here for the debate I suppose, they're just here for the "punch and run" as I call it. I'll do my best to truly engage the conversation with those who challenge my argument and do so without trying to kick me in the balls in the process.

Reply By: BakerStreet Posted: Friday, June 11, 2004
MasonM: *nod*

I noticed the same several times in the other discussion too.

GeoATL: Get used to it. That is about as civil as you'll get.

MasonM

on Jun 11, 2004

If you can't see how that is an insulting remark, I don't know what else to tell you. You obviously have your own conception of what constitutes an insulting remark. Basically, anyone who's viewpoint differs from your own would find that a highly insulting, not to mention condescending remark. Perhaps it's only insulting if it is directed at you and those who hold your views?

Your intolerant, rascist, homophobic, classist, and arrogant remarks will not go un-checked

I would ask anyone else reading this thread to answer this one. Does anyone else find that to be a condescending, insulting remark?

mikimouse

on Jun 11, 2004

Death is no reason to sugarcoat the guy's past. Dead or not, he was a bad guy.

GeoATL

on Jun 11, 2004

Mason, let me ask you... did you see any remarks made toward me that meet any of those classifications above? If so, am I not warranted to establish the fact that the remarks were made and that I will not tolerate such personal attacks?

MasonM

on Jun 11, 2004

Wrong thread miki. You still asleep???

David St Hubbins

on Jun 11, 2004

Your intolerant, rascist, homophobic, classist, and arrogant remarks will not go un-checked.

You forgot ageist, sexist, xenophobic, sizeist, and mysogynist.

Seriously, you can't just wing around extremely damning words like "rascist" without knowing how to a) spell and

use them correctly. Personally, I am tired of hearing people making blanket and unsupported accusations like this. If I were king, I'd put the onus of proving racism on the accuser; racism is such a horribly disgusting and defaming thing to be accused of that a false or insufficiently proven allegation of racism should net you 30 days of jail time.

GeoATL

on Jun 11, 2004

David,

Did you read all of the involved threads? Regardless, if that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. But when someone tells me that I lived in a cave, barely have a grasp of the English language, and living a irresponsible lifestyle, accuse an entire population of people living in an era of entitlement, then I feel completely justified in responding that I will not accept attacks on me. And until your King of the world, I'll be just happy living up to my own standard of definitions and not yours. Good day to you, sir.

David St Hubbins

on Jun 11, 2004

OK, I closely read the other thread looking for racist stuff. All I see is a false unsupported accusation of racism levelled by you against...greywar? Hmm...you're new around here...normally when greywar blacklists you and calls you son, it's an admission of defeat on his part, but like a blind squirrel who occasionally finds an acorn, his point (culture of entitlement = lack of personal responsability=bad) in this particular thread is actually good and utterly devoid of racism. Your false allegation of racism will not go unchecked.

GeoATL

on Jun 11, 2004

David, the mere use of the phrase "culture of entitlement" is rascist. Shall you come visit me in Atlanta, GA and let me walk you around the City - hell, visit your own city and ask if that's rascist. Provide some factual basis for that remark if you're (graywar) gonna throw that kind of thing around. If you don't agree that "culture of entitlement" is a rascist remark, the you and I disagree on the definition of rascism. And because it doesn't meet your definition doesnt' make you correct.

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