Lowering myself to their level -
By Qaeyious
@Qaeyious (2357)
United States
January 1, 2011 5:02am CST
OK, maybe I shall change my mind, kind of. I usually don't make resolutions, but this came up recently, and I gave it much meditation. And I choose to begin now.
Despite the insistence of the far right radicals here, I do have a set of values. And I find I have a very bad habit in abandoning civil behavior when I am grossly offended expressing those values. Like claiming I approve of rape when I express disapproval of gun use. Yes, that actually did happen here.
I tried to find the "discussion" but it must have been deleted - I wonder why .. 
I will end with this. Opinions and views are not facts. They are the quality of thoughts in every individual. They are used as a personal guide of behavior for every non-hypocritical person. They do not apply to any other person unless you are a parent. Once you start applying your values to some other adult, you are interfering with that person's rights.
State your views and opinions; there is no need for offensive labels to those who have different values.
I will end with this. Opinions and views are not facts. They are the quality of thoughts in every individual. They are used as a personal guide of behavior for every non-hypocritical person. They do not apply to any other person unless you are a parent. Once you start applying your values to some other adult, you are interfering with that person's rights.
State your views and opinions; there is no need for offensive labels to those who have different values.5 people like this
4 responses
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
1 Jan 11
"Despite the insistence of the s here"
"there is no need for offensive labels to those who have different values."
I guess my first question would be how do you reconcile these two sentences?
I would suggest in the future (friendly suggestion) that you shouldn't premise a thread on the evils labeling - by labeling what you consider the opposition. Not only have created an already confrontational atmosphere before you have even gotten through your 4th sentence, it contradicts entirely with the point in the sentence you finish it with.
I don't believe we have ever spoken, so none of this comes out of malice. It was merely an observation. Please don't be offended by it. I feel I must ask though, what exactly is a "far right radical"? Or is that beyond the scope you wish to apply to this particular thread?
1 person likes this
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
2 Jan 11
"State your views and opinions; there is no need for offensive labels to those who have different values."
Isn't the above statement of yours your way of, "applying your values to some other adult," and aren't you also, "interfering with that person's rights"?
@Qaeyious (2357)
• United States
3 Jan 11
So I should have added, "... in my opinion?" I have seen that used so often on other discussions, but not this board (thank heavens!) I think it clutters up the communications horrendously if that is said for every single little statement. It was popular in previous years with IMO and IMHO and seeing that at least once per response make me want to go elsewhere.
Of course it is my opinion. Whose other opinion would I write but my own, unless I was quoting someone else?
I don't have the power to enforce what I have expressed. And I would be a hypocrite if I didn't practice what I preach. So it applies more to me than anyone else.
If anyone want to rant at my discussions and responses and call me names and be offensive, they can go ahead. Heaven knows I should be used to it by now. So they should not be surprised if I stop adding to the "discussion" with no further comment. There is no valid comment after that happens, I can just start arguing about the response, and I am getting tired of it. And I would need strength to just walk away to start - hopefully it will get easier.
In my opinion, of course 
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
1 Jan 11
Looks like a good resolution to me! Some of the others who have responded to this discussion seem to think you've more or less contradicted yourself by referring to "far right radicals here" and then writing, "there is no need for offensive labels to those who have different values". I think I understand what you were getting at, you were mostly referring to the person that claimed you approve of rape.
I think it's a resolution we should ALL make, or all of us who frequent this interest to be more specific. I think Jon Stewart's "Restore Sanity" rally signs are a good example of what we could all use as a guideline. "I disagree but you're probably not Hitler" is one of my favorites.
Annie
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
1 Jan 11
But what is your resolution? I see only that you resolve that others should amend their ways. I am not saying they shouldn't - I agree there is no need for people to attack each other personally over differences of opinion. I do realize, however, that I can't make them stop doing that. If you are resolving to behave as you wish everyone would, I commend you. It won't change the way others behave but at least you will be able to respect yourself. It's too easy for people in a virtual world to abandon civility.
However, in resolving to practice civility and reasoned discussion, you have already called an entire section of the Mylot population "radicals". Not a good start.
@Qaeyious (2357)
• United States
2 Jan 11
I had no idea "radical" was a negative term. I voted for Ron Paul because he expressed radical opinions that I thought were good ones, like getting rid of the Federal Reserve and sending ALL service people home from foreign lands. I even call myself a radical in that I haven't voted Democrat OR Republican since the 80s - except for 2004 when I did vote Democrat in my part to get a certain person out of the White House. I get called left wing radical a lot (funny since I voted for Ron Paul)
Look up "radical" in myLot discussions. It is used a lot, for a lot of different things. And all of a sudden I use it and my first three responses claim it is offensive? Then there are a lot of offensive posts on myLot, and the few I looked at made no mention of it being offensive.
I will need to study more before making an official policy, but I will take note that some are offended by the term.
Ah, yes. I mentioned the habit was abandoning civil behavior when I am offended. The resolution was not to do that anymore, and to be more accepting of other views and opinions. The last part was to me as well, and I don't expect everyone would follow it. It was just my view.
