Steve, just as you are trying to point out to me that I may unintentionally be coming off as mean, I engaged in this thread with the very same purpose. The only difference was instead of only trying to inform just one person of it, I was trying to inform anyone interested in learning more about social tolerance that may share the opinion of Howdy, which I believe to be many- at least around this area.
I'm not sure what you meant about people wondering about my intentions, but everything I post is written exactly as I feel about it. I'm not a beat around the bush kind of gal, and being more descriptive about why I have the opinions I do usually only adds to their relevence to other people as far as I'm concerned, so it doesn't bother me at all. I wish you guys had a way of knowing how many people have been on the verge of entering into discussion on the mc.com threads, but have decided not to because they saw how quickly others that try are driven away. Another thing I've mentioned: people can disagree on stuff without creating a complete war zone, and although there are certain people's posts that I take issue with more often than others, it's always because of what their recent post contained, and not the poster themself. The same people I acknowledge when I agree with and appreciate a post they furnished. Another interesting factor I should mention, too, is that they are all guilty of the same as me, regularly, to others that don't have the energy to put up a fight about it- and from what I have seen, for things far less deserving of critical response than their own opinions and beliefs on some pretty important issues. They just get away with it because of the comradary between certain people on this forum, and because frankly the stuff they say usually isn't appealing enough for people to follow closely enough to even notice when it does happen.
Whether I'm intentionally or unintentionally being mean, I try and make very clear. People unintentionally are naiive and I think it's ridiculous that they get the tolerance of others and 'waiver of liability' but I get scolded for trying to help, unable to just let it continue and be represented unquestioned, to anyone that glances at the thread and it's progression. God, if people are gonna spend a bunch of time on here, don't you think it would be nice if they learned a little about the stuff they feel is important enough to post about? That's why I have started every thread I have, and can't really see any other reason to.
Buck says 'essay for college course ending in 100'- and he is right. Consider the audience. (no, not all you regulars, I'm not calling you all dumb. The other people that silently follow the activity on this forum.) I'm sure you are all too warped to see it, but there's a whole bunch of people watching this stuff. I know I keep saying it, but it's true. Everything I might say to Howdy might be disregarded by all of you as me just being mean, but for many other people it's not, and rightfully so. Each of my responses to anyone on here are in direct response to another post, with no other association I am factoring in, of any sort. I'm self-indulgent? How about all of you for making this forum virtually unapproachable to others unless they have the luxury of knowing all of the little games constantly being played, and exactly the right time to get involved, and all of the previous thread topics and the content in them. How great it must feel to be included in something so many others fail at trying to involve themselves in.
Everything is so personal, sheesh! Here I thought we were talking about something worth a crap.
[This message has been edited by AshleyDawn (3/1/2012)]