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You have to admit that some are just begging for it and It's quite rewarding to be charitable from time to time. I have noticed though that those who beg the most seem to be on YOUR side of the political fence.
I haven't noticed that, myself, but then I'm usually on their side, I guess, and I also tend to take everybody seriously. It's very rare that I try to "tweek" people.
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Some folks seem to take the opinions of total strangers who can't possibly have any effect whatsoever on their lives way too seriously. These are the one's who go off on enraged tangents and start calling names and slinging insults. For some reason that's a red button that I sometimes can't resist pushing.
Agree. That's why I was glad that I got "punked", as I described earlier. It taught me to not take everybody's posts so seriously.
I've also discovered that I can find someone's posts highly offensive on one topic, but then on another topic, I might be in complete agreement with them.
You have to admit that some are just begging for it and It's quite rewarding to be charitable from time to time. I have noticed though that those who beg the most seem to be on YOUR side of the political fence.
Some folks seem to take the opinions of total strangers who can't possibly have any effect whatsoever on their lives way too seriously. These are the one's who go off on enraged tangents and start calling names and slinging insults. For some reason that's a red button that I sometimes can't resist pushing.
Ok, but I don't understand the enragement. I go on this board to learn about people's opinions while expressing my own, not to express my unresolved anger issues!
I try not to push people's buttons. The poor poster's already got high blood pressure and I'd hate to make it worse.
You have to admit that some are just begging for it and It's quite rewarding to be charitable from time to time. I have noticed though that those who beg the most seem to be on YOUR side of the political fence.
Some folks seem to take the opinions of total strangers who can't possibly have any effect whatsoever on their lives way too seriously. These are the one's who go off on enraged tangents and start calling names and slinging insults. For some reason that's a red button that I sometimes can't resist pushing.
I completely get it and the temptation is often too hard to resist. It's just, I don't know, without really knowing anything about someone, I've posted some really sarcastic or "button pushing" comment . . . only to see that person talking about their grandkids or something later on.
Oh yeah, I really told grandma on that thread about national determinism (or whatever) -- I am quite alpha.
Although I might disagree vehemently, I would never lash out, taunt, or be as sarcastic to a person significantly younger or older than I am in person.
How would you know how old the poster is?
I never assume someone who sounds wise is old, or someone who sounds immature is young.
I completely get it and the temptation is often too hard to resist. It's just, I don't know, without really knowing anything about someone, I've posted some really sarcastic or "button pushing" comment . . . only to see that person talking about their grandkids or something later on.
Oh yeah, I really told grandma on that thread about national determinism (or whatever) -- I am quite alpha.
Ok, but do you actually talk this way in person? Are you sarcastic and pushing buttons when you're in conversation with people? Or do you just do it here?
Because frankly, I write the way I talk. I am the same person. Just curious about others....
I never assume someone who sounds wise is old, or someone who sounds immature is young.
That's the thing, you often don't (and I agree, there is not relative "wise" or "immature" way of writing that would necessarily give away a person's age). Sometimes, though, you kind of get an idea.
Sorry to disagree with you, but not everyone who posts here is deserving of respect. For instance, posters who are disabused of false notions, but steadfastly continue to spew the same debunked lies don't deserve even a modicum of respect, and I flat out refuse to give them any. I actually think it can be dangerous to respect all opinions, or even to treat all opinions as if they were worthy of reasoned debate. Not all opinions are created equally but oppositely. Some of them are just crap.
Ok, but do you actually talk this way in person? Are you sarcastic and pushing buttons when you're in conversation with people? Or do you just do it here?
Because frankly, I write the way I talk. I am the same person. Just curious about others....
It depends greatly. At work, I am very constrained in what I can say and I keep topics like religion and politics out of my work conversations (which is maybe why this is an outlet to vent/be sarcastic/etc). Otherwise (not picking on the elderly as noted), I tend to talk about the same things in the same manner in person (although, by my tone, people can usually tell that my intentions are levity and laughing with them rather than just trying to antagonize them) I like trying to deflate self-important people, though.
Sorry to disagree with you, but not everyone who posts here is deserving of respect. For instance, posters who are disabused of false notions, but steadfastly continue to spew the same debunked lies don't deserve even a modicum of respect, and I flat out refuse to give them any. I actually think it can be dangerous to respect all opinions, or even to treat all opinions as if they were worthy of reasoned debate. Not all opinions are created equally but oppositely. Some of them are just crap.
I do see a problem, however, when the OP says, for example, "Global warming is a money making scam" and the response is "You're a big know-nothing poopyhead!" or "You're a dumb (fill in the blank) listener/watcher/reader." The subsequent opinions should address why global warming is or isn't a money making scam not the character of the messenger.
I have noticed that political analysts (both parties) are sometimes the biggest dodgers. The host will ask them a question like:
"Senator John Doe (D) said he will support an amendment to kill school vouchers for DC's school children. What is your opinion of that? And the Democrat analyst (in this example) will respond, "Senator John Doe favors strong educational programs and most recently came out with an amendment to put more money into bettering school science programs."
It in no way addresses the original question but plucks out the subject of education and allows the analyst to spout their preferred talking point. Both parties do it and I've seen that strategy applied here.
Oh nonsense. It's perfectly within the definition that the personal views, attitudes or appraisals of all of the following are opinions unworthy of respect by any reasonable person. . .
Put your dictionary away and come into the real world where idiotic opinions abound.
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