crandc
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2008
- Messages
- 23,534
- Likes
- 30,465
- Points
- 113
Which no one needs to read. And mods may delete if they wish.
I was away a few days and all hell broke loose. Yesterday I finally read the Papa G banning thread, but by the time I got to the end it was closed. So although called out repeatedly I could not comment. And I wish to. Like I said, no one has to read.
Back on the old ESPN board more than a decade ago, Papa G started a thread saying Pat Tillman had been killed by the Taliban in Iraq. I asked, how could this be, the Taliban does not operate in Iraq. When repeating breaking news sometimes a detail is wrong, and of course Tillman was actually killed in Afghanistan. Asking the question does not deny his sacrifice or the tragedy of all the deaths. But Papa G lit into me. I was called hateful, lacking in compassion, vicious, and a few more I can't recall. I thought it was odd since it was so personal and so out of line. Over the years, if I had a dollar for every time Papa G called me hateful, usually after some innocuous post, I could retire. At no time, however, did I call him hateful. Or bitter. Or vicious.
And if I had a dollar for every time I've been insulted on this board I could retire rich. The misogyny on this board is so pervasive probably most of you guys don't even notice it (but Spud sure did; there is a reason the women all leave), that's just the way it is. It's hard to find a single thread without some sexist comment or reference. And the antigay insults are if not as numerous even more nasty because they are deliberate.
I don't like insults and name calling; when I see a thread that uses terms like "McMuffin" or "Obummer" I skip because I figure if someone can't make a point without reverting to junior high name calling it's probably not worth reading. But calling something (as opposed to someone) by its name is different. When someone says (often in deliberately offensive language) that some people, specifically including me, are disgusting, unnatural and undeserving of the rights they expect for themselves, IMO it is not out of line to call that bigotry. Because it is.
I reread the thread about the homecoming queen. Many people tried to explain the issues involving transpeople and were met with contempt. What struck me was that not one person said that while they personally may find transpeople strange or even disgusting, no one should tell a teen to commit suicide. Instead they said she deserved it. I was not wrong to say this is bigotry, but wrong to put names to the bigots.
I have bit my virtual tongue almost daily on this board. But we all have our raw nerves. For me, it's saying that my loved friend deserved to die of AIDS because he was gay. And sexual. I asked then if the poster had ever driven too fast or eaten a doughnut. Because we have all done risky and sometimes dumb and sometimes careless things. And sometimes found out too late. It's called being human. I believe some well known man once said something about not casting the first stone, right? For my comment, I make no apology and will not until I receive one.
And that's all I wish to say on the subject. Thank you for your time and attention.
I was away a few days and all hell broke loose. Yesterday I finally read the Papa G banning thread, but by the time I got to the end it was closed. So although called out repeatedly I could not comment. And I wish to. Like I said, no one has to read.
Back on the old ESPN board more than a decade ago, Papa G started a thread saying Pat Tillman had been killed by the Taliban in Iraq. I asked, how could this be, the Taliban does not operate in Iraq. When repeating breaking news sometimes a detail is wrong, and of course Tillman was actually killed in Afghanistan. Asking the question does not deny his sacrifice or the tragedy of all the deaths. But Papa G lit into me. I was called hateful, lacking in compassion, vicious, and a few more I can't recall. I thought it was odd since it was so personal and so out of line. Over the years, if I had a dollar for every time Papa G called me hateful, usually after some innocuous post, I could retire. At no time, however, did I call him hateful. Or bitter. Or vicious.
And if I had a dollar for every time I've been insulted on this board I could retire rich. The misogyny on this board is so pervasive probably most of you guys don't even notice it (but Spud sure did; there is a reason the women all leave), that's just the way it is. It's hard to find a single thread without some sexist comment or reference. And the antigay insults are if not as numerous even more nasty because they are deliberate.
I don't like insults and name calling; when I see a thread that uses terms like "McMuffin" or "Obummer" I skip because I figure if someone can't make a point without reverting to junior high name calling it's probably not worth reading. But calling something (as opposed to someone) by its name is different. When someone says (often in deliberately offensive language) that some people, specifically including me, are disgusting, unnatural and undeserving of the rights they expect for themselves, IMO it is not out of line to call that bigotry. Because it is.
I reread the thread about the homecoming queen. Many people tried to explain the issues involving transpeople and were met with contempt. What struck me was that not one person said that while they personally may find transpeople strange or even disgusting, no one should tell a teen to commit suicide. Instead they said she deserved it. I was not wrong to say this is bigotry, but wrong to put names to the bigots.
I have bit my virtual tongue almost daily on this board. But we all have our raw nerves. For me, it's saying that my loved friend deserved to die of AIDS because he was gay. And sexual. I asked then if the poster had ever driven too fast or eaten a doughnut. Because we have all done risky and sometimes dumb and sometimes careless things. And sometimes found out too late. It's called being human. I believe some well known man once said something about not casting the first stone, right? For my comment, I make no apology and will not until I receive one.
And that's all I wish to say on the subject. Thank you for your time and attention.
