Something that's been bothering me lately...

[JimB]

How do I miss all the good stuff?
:-)

[Panache]

You're quite correct, as always. It was, in fact, an attack on one of your opinions (that I happened to agree with) that inspired this thread in the first place.

Nighthawk,

Well if I didn't bother to notice it I don't see why anyone else should!

For some time I have been a Moderator of XMTS and very outspoken in how much I value this forum so my opinions have been attacked for quite some time.

When I respond I try my best to rise above the antagonism and get to the real issues.

I fully believe that honesty and politeness are the best way to go through life. If others can't, then perhaps my behavior will be the mirror that reflects their conduct to them (hopefully they just might learn something).

How do I miss all the good stuff?
:-)

Jim,

You are a gentleman and it's amazing what unpleasantness a gentleman seems to always avoid by his impeccable timing and ability to disregard poor behavior!


Cheers to both you gents!

ith: :blimp: :ootd:

Jamie

[Big Mikey]

When reading some posts, I remind myself that what I am seeing is merely the written word. I have not had the opportunity to see the individual whom has posted. Though we may use "smilies" to try to convey a particular trait, we can't see the tongue planted firmly in cheek nor the subtley raised eyebrow or the mischievous gleem in an eye. There are words that may stir up our emotions, raise our hackles or give us cause to pause and reflect but without benefit of face to face communication, we are not completely informed. Without that, we can't truly understand what an individual is trying to say. We don't always have to agree with what a fellow member is saying but we should readily accept his/her opinion.

[Dan R Porter]

Really? I don't think so. I think there are some well informed, well educated people on this forum. I also think there are some people on this forum who, for a whole variety of reasons of their own, can't hack it when it comes to a civil exchange of ideas or opinions. But what I know is that the overwhelming majority of members aren't intolerant trolls.

By and large we, all of us, tolerate the rantings of the few screwballs who ocassionally post something so off the wall that a thread gets locked down. In the two plus years I've been active on this forum I've only seen one or two jerks 86ed, shown the door, and kicked off the site.

Sounds to me like we are a pretty tolerant bunch, so I'm sure you'll forgive me if I don't join you, sitting around the campfire singing Kumbiya, trying to heal the intolerance that doesn't exist.

Nice kilt...

[Tony Miles]

Dan you're cracking me up

Nighthawk maybe it's just us folks from the Peoples Republic of Colorado that are bothered by it - we do have those coed bathrooms after all

[Nighthawk]

We don't always have to agree with what a fellow member is saying but we should readily accept his/her opinion.

This is exactly my point. There are those among us who have a problem with that. That's really what has me frustrated. I've been blowing it off for months- even avoiding posting in some threads because of it- but that's just not right. I know from responses in this thread and from PM's that I've gotten that I'm not the only one feeling this way. I say that I'm Celtic, and not Scottish or Irish, and I get jumped for it. I say that I like modern kilts as well as traditional ones, and I get jumped for it. There's no tongue in cheek in some of the things I'm talking about. I can let a lot roll off of my back. I just got to a point last night where I was tired of worrying that my opinion would start a fight and get a thread closed because someone somewhere can't show a little respect to differences of opinions.

Dan you're cracking me up

Nighthawk maybe it's just us folks from the Peoples Republic of Colorado that are bothered by it - we do have those coed bathrooms after all

You make a good point!

[Nighthawk]

Nighthawk,

Well if I didn't bother to notice it I don't see why anyone else should!

For some time I have been a Moderator of XMTS and very outspoken in how much I value this forum so my opinions have been attacked for quite some time.

Cheers to both you gents!

ith: :blimp: :ootd:

Jamie

I can see your point. Things were said that were just extremely judgemental, and were direct attacks on what I personally believe. You said a lot of the things that I think, and were not just disagreed with- you were out right attacked! As a mod, I'm sure you don't see it. I usually let those kinds of things go myself. But this was a case that I found to be not offensive, but so closed minded that it bothers me.

And here's the real heart of the matter- If you disagree with my way of thinking, then fine. You're entitled. I don't begrudge anyone that. The problem is people who not only disagree with you, but try to force you to agree with them, or they get very condesending and tell you that you don't agree because you're uneducated or uninformed. If I were to tell you that there was Civil War action in the Rocky Mountains, you might not know about that and may argue it with me. I can then get on google and look up the battle of Glorieta Pass and give you facts and information. On the other hand, if I were to express a preference towards being called Celtic as opposed to Scots or Irish, there are people who would not wish to- and then tell me that I shouldn't either. And the argument is "Because I said so." It's the "You're wrong because I said so" thing that is starting to get on my nerves.

This is one of the comments that really bothered me:

"... the self-justification of those people who feel that it is their right to alter Highland traditions to suit their comic opera perceptions of a pseudo-Celtic world that exists only in the world of delayed adolescent role-playing, Larping, and fantasy video games."

I'm not Scottish. My grandmother was. We are not in Scotland. I am in Colorado. It is in fact our right to not alter, but to allow to evolve, the traditions of our ancestors. "Comic opera perceptions?" If it's so offensive, then don't go to the North American games! But why directly attack and disparage us for making the traditions something unique to us? This is the exact closed off, "my way is the only right way" kind of thinking that got me bothered.

[ShaunMaxwell]

To prove your point by arguing with you... Isn't Glorieta Pass in New Mexico? And on the southern tip of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains?

[Tony Miles]

. The problem is people who not only disagree with you, but try to force you to agree with them, or they get very condescending and tell you that you don't agree because you're uneducated or uninformed.

Exactly - again well said. Even worse they have no idea what you know or don't know nor do they in a reasonable manner try to have a bi-directional conversation. Quite a bit of self-aggrandizing pontifications from those who by reason of years alone should be sharing wisdom in a peaceful manner instead of bitter animosity

[macwilkin]

To prove your point by arguing with you... Isn't Glorieta Pass in New Mexico? And on the southern tip of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains?

Indeed it is -- but Colorado troops were responsible for the defeat of Sibley's Texans there. Huzzah for the Pike's Peakers! *

http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/arc.../civilwar.html

*No offence meant to my Texan friends -- my wife was born in Dallas.

T.