bluesmama wrote:
> Okay, let's see if I've got this straight.
>
> If I agree with what you say, I'm enlightened and informed.
>
> If I disagree with what you say, then I'm either hate-filled or
> uninformed.

You are largely missing the point. I think that I am on solid
ground in saying that the main thrust of the comments here were meant
to remind you that in an unmoderated usenet discussion group a sensible
poster responds to postings that interests him or her and ignore the
rest.
In a place like Soc Men, there is no "we". There is no generally
shared anything because most people who visit this group do not read
more than a few of the postings. And it is not actually possible to
shout in a stone silent medium of communication.
On the other hand, in a place like this, it is possible, on a good
day, to be priviledged to get to hear what some very bright, mature
people really think about some important issues. 95% of postings are
crap. So what. You have permission to ignore them utterly. They are
ignoring you. But there are those 5% which can be quite valuable. If
you notice a topic that interests you, jump right in and say exactly
what you think. This game is played entirely with abstract, disembodied
ideas. Even if we wanted to, there is no way to squeeze facial
expressions or voice tone thru the tiny wires in our computers. But
there are things that most sane people do have in common and appeals to
those shared values and perceptions can sometimes push back the
darkness.



>
> Sure cuts down on having to actually listen to, and consider the
> possible merits of, a dissenting opinion if you can just call it
> nonsense because it doesn't fit into what you already believe. How
> comfortable it must be to have things all figured out in such a
> clear-cut, black & white way.


Rather than saying that you have dissenting opinions, why not just
say those opinions?
It is taken for granted that every poster is a dissenter. Otherwise,
why bother.


>
> I don't agree with you - that means that I haven't done my "homework"
> or am not willing to listen or am being a womanfirster or whatever
> other silly names you can come up with? No, sorry, sugar, if I
disagree
> with you it doesn't mean any of those things. What it means is that
> after listening to your argument, I think you're wrong.

It is assumed that every poster is here to disagree with some other
poster. It is a little silly therefore, or self-aggrandizing, to
posture as the brave, lone dissenter.


>
> I want us all to get along? Oh how foolish of me. Let's just stick to
> men oppressing women and women oppressing men, and keep this vicious
> cycle going for a few more generations, shall we? Cause that seems to
> be working so well for everyone.

In general, I prefer to take protestations of good will at face
value. But the fact is, getting along in Usenet-land is totally,
effortlessly easy. Much easier than in real life. All one must do is
avoid insults and sarcasm. Around here, there is no point of view that,
if expressed as an idea, will get as a response anything more violent
or emotional than a counter-idea.
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