Controversial Topics: Yea or Nay?

Blacksword wrote: threefates wrote: Intense discussion can be good for the soul sometimes... I agree. But some people are not able to be disagreed with, and resort to being offensive.

Also the ones that are replying with humor are mistaken because of the ones you mention.  It makes it difficult not to lash back or question then the whole point of the humor is missed.

  Not to be too "pedantic," but this poll (and some of the subsequent posts) takes the position that one can simply "choose not to read" offensive material. The problem with this, of course, is that I don't know if the material is offensive or not, until I read it.

Let's assume it is offensive (it happens). Of course, I CAN choose not to respond, but now I have read the offensive material, now my dander is up, and now I am likely to respond in kind, and escalate the situation. Insults get traded, someone leaves. (I miss you, Stormcrow.)

All I'm asking is that people think before they post, much as we should think before we speak. If you really don't give a damn how many enemies you make in this life, by all means, blaze away, but if you do care about such things, and the feelings of others (even disembodied strangers with pseudonyms on a web forum) then "put brain in gear before engaging mouth" -- or finger.

That being said, if I'm constantly confronted with fighting, insults, and/or offensive material from the web when I come to this forum (and I'm not, by a long shot), I will just leave -- as will many others. (Apparently, this is often a big problem at other forums -- I wouldn't know, as Prog Archives is my first, and only. Does that make me monprogamous?)

As I've said elsewhere before, this stuff goes worldwide, (and represents this site, like it or not) so if you wouldn't say it for all to hear on a crowded bus, or in a crowded bar, why say it here? If you wouldn't say it to my face, don't write it to me either.

Is that such a "Big-Brotherly," pro-censorship position? I think NOT.

As Danbo rightly implies, it's not so much WHAT you say, as HOW you say it.

"I don't like the prevalence of handguns in America, and the official Republican party stance on the issue"  is surely less offensive than "Americans -- especially Danbo and Gdub -- are all a bunch of knuckle-dragging, slope-browed, bloodthirsty, gun-toting, shoot first- ask questions later, amoral degenerates."

Americans -- especially Danbo and Gdub -- are all a bunch of knuckle-dragging, slope-browed, bloodthirsty, gun-toting, shoot first- ask questions later, amoral degenerates."

many a true word spoke in jest?

12 Ways to Lighten up

Approaching your life with a non-serious attitude gives you a clearheaded view of problems and the energy to deal with them. Problems are easier to solve, people are more cooperative and you feel more relaxed. You probably live longer as well.

Think of your life as a game. Give yourself permission to play the game, to have fun with the game, and to win.

Try these techniques until you find one that lightens you up.

1. Deliberately turn a molehill into a mountain. Make a big deal out of a little problem. "I would feel much better if these papers were stacked exactly like this! Not like that! Like this! Not this! This!"

2. Ask yourself, "Is getting serious about this situation really going to improve it?"

3. Focusing on the positives. Repeat these questions until you feel lighter, "What is right about this picture?" "What else is right?" "What else?"

4. Consider a complete, major change. Why not become an airline pilot? Why not move to Idaho? Why not retire for a few years and then begin a new career?

5. Ask yourself, "When I’m on my deathbed, will I be glad I was so serious about _______?"

6. A challenging game is much better than no game at all. So consider losing all aspects of the problem. Examples: You feel serious about family problems. You ask yourself, "Well, what if I had no family at all?" You feel serious about your investments. You ask yourself, "What if I had no money to invest?"

7. The size of your problem may match the size of your game. So get a bigger game. For example, if you get uptight about paper clips being in the wrong drawer, your game size is tiny. Double your amount of responsibility. Set some huge goals. Think much, much bigger.

8. Stop trying to solve the problem that is making you so serious. Certain types of problems solve themselves if you leave them alone. Your problem may be one of those.

9. Compare what you are doing to other careers. Imagine being a septic tank drainer or an IRS agent.

10. Make everyone around you lighten up. You will soon feel more cheerful.

11. Look at bizarre solutions. What is the craziest way you could solve your problem? What solution, if it worked, would make you laugh out loud?

12. Act stupid for a minute. Let down your hair. Stop being so darn important for a while. Be a goof!

Jim Garten wrote: that silly Swedish person wrote: Act stupid for a minute How many minutes are there in 41 years exactly????

21,549,600

Time for a lot of stupidity, I think..

Blacksword wrote: Reed Lover wrote: Americans -- especially Danbo and Gdub -- are all a bunch of knuckle-dragging, slope-browed, bloodthirsty, gun-toting, shoot first- ask questions later, amoral degenerates." many a true word spoke in jest? Reed!!!! Thats how it starts, dude!

I didn't say it! It was that sh*t-stirring Canuck. He hates you all really-he told me. Least I think it is him- every time I think nasty posts he appears on my shoulder, in a pansy dress with wings and a halo and says "be nice Reed-I know they are all hateful thick-headed knuckle-draggers but be civil.They are but lesser mortals than you and I "

Honest. He did do that!