Cue up the Rod Searling lead-in music . . . de de da da de de da de de da.
“This is the fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area we call the Twilight Zone.”
I’m here in the Twilight Zone. I know I’m here, I must be. I have this eerie feeling that I’ve gone back in time, back to a place I’ve been before. A place I never wanted to go back to.
I’M BACK AT THE PANAMA CITY NEWS HERALD FORUMS!!!!!
A place where a post is met with derision and hateful remarks, a place where chain emails are accepted as fact or justified as a “point”, and offensive humor has become acceptable to most. A place where gang intimidation rather than citing is used to prove a point, a place where name-calling and offensive nicknames are commonplace. A place where several claim to be Christians, yet the F bomb and other profanity is dropped with impunity.
Is this what we’re becoming? Is this what The Rio Norte LIne wants to be and have other readers see? Is this what we’re degenerating into?
I want to come back, back to the present, where courtesy, respect for differing opinions, and facts are considered. I, for one, don’t want TRNL to become the NH Forums.
First of all, there is no “we”. There is only one owner of the site and that is me – judge and jury.
You asked to join this site, I allowed it and if it doesn’t meet your standards then you are just as welcome to withdraw.
Speaking of citing, you stacked up a bunch a accusations in the post, how about some examples with backup?
I’ll agree that the jokes are risque but I don’t censor…period. I don’t ban commenters, either – I call them out and expose the language and prove that you can mount an effective response without expletives.
Try not to take it personal, Mike. I understand where he’s coming from. I understand your post to. We all know the door swings both ways.
I think at time we’re reminded of the place we all abandoned for whatever reason. Mostly to get away from somethings or someone. I guess instead of putting what he was thinking into multiple replies to others’ posts, he decided to put up and article to see how others feel. Or simply to express how he feels.
I guess now he knows how you feel.
Me, much of the time I feel like he feels. So I scan the articles and will only open them if I see certain people have commented recently. That’s just the way I handle it. But I appreciate you allowing me to post my comments here as I’m sure FC does.
My post wasn’t intended to be personal, wm. It was intended to get everyone to check up a bit and maybe reconsider some of the harsh PERSONAL comments being made here. Very few of us know each other personally. You don’t know that I’m an “asshole” or I’m not, you (not being personal here) judge me by what I post. If you don’t like what I post, just say so. I’m a grown man and can take it. “FC, I disagree with your post and here’s why . . . . ” We can debate that. When you say, “FC, you’re an asshole because of your opinion/beliefs, whatever . . . “, and you can’t back it up other that have someone jump in and say, “Yep, FC is an asshole.” , then it has become personal (in my opinion
)
.
Understood.
I was just saying that when someone owns something, and feel like someone is criticizing it, they tend to take it personally as it reflects on them. Out in Cyberspace it’s known as Utah’s blog so maybe he feels he has to defend it.
Just my opinion.
William – first of all, I am not mad. What I don’t like is the broadcast of accusations that are more of a whine than fact. Go ahead and address it directly in the comments, challenge the post or the comment – if you don’t like it, say so. I don’t read them all, so I can’t speak to every situation but I’m not aware of situations that I would call “attacks” and I’m not aware of posts using profanity – except for my occasional use of it or when we are called “racist fucks”.
I do not agree with some of the posts from my own side of the aisle and I do believe that there is a higher form of rhetoric but I also know that everybody does things a different way. If I see a direct attack that I feel needs addressing, I will email the participants and ask them to settle it off this blog.
This blog, for better or worse, is open to all. Maybe I should start moderating posts and comments but I just don’t have the time and I will not start passing judgement on an individual’s right to speak, even though the thought expressed may be the dumbest damn expression known to man.
May not be the right way to do it but there it is…
Now you have pissed off Utah. I have worked for Utah. You shall ( will ) not disappoint, disrespect nor not meet the expectations he expects from you. There can be repercussions. That is what makes him a great boss and leader.. He expects and demands “A” players; if your a “C” player move on.
Thanks, Ross, but you have never seen me mad. I get all green and shit and rip out of my clothes.
Oh well, at least you didn’t burst out of my screen and grab me by the throat.
Truly, that’s the response I figured I would get from you, utah. I did ask to join the site. I follow it and usually enjoy it, but to ask for a little civility is too much? No, I’ll stay, but I figured my invite to leave was coming.
“First of all, there is no “we”. There is only one owner of the site and that is me – judge and jury.”
“We” can’t have expectations for the site? Just curious.
I didn’t invite you to leave. I simply listed the options.
Each poster and commenter has a responsibility to police themselves and also to back up what they post. If they can’t – it is between them and their opposition. I’m not going to play kindergarten cop and police the spats that go on here.
This is also primarily a right leaning site, so simple math says that there will be “ganging up”. If we disagree, then we say so.
You can certainly be concerned with the quality but none of us are professional writers or journalists, each has a different threshold for what to post and this site is representative of that. The majority of the work is actually pretty high quality, better actually than many blogs – but even premier publications miss sometimes.
Your participation is valued but if you are going to stand on a barrel and yell out accusations, then you better be prepared to back them up.
Sorry guys, while I was writing this and commenting on the other post, this was posted. So I’m gonna just copy it from the other thread, as I believe it fits here too.
As for this being Utah’s, it is. He can invite, or fire whomever he wants. So be it. I agree on the personal attacks, however, people are more apt to get “personal”. It’s just an emotional reaction sometimes. Sometimes people don’t realize they are getting personal. And sometimes, they get personal on purpose. That’s how life is.
As for everyone “here”, I hope, and like to think, WE COULD ALL HAVE AN AFTERNOON PICNIC ONE DAY AND ENJOY EACH OTHER’S COMPANY, REGARDLESS OF OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS. (now on to my comment from the other thread):
My lovely spouse has been a great “mirror” for as long as I have known her. She taught me a lifelong lesson I have never forgotten on our first date. I was impressed with her for not jumping to conclusions. She was impressed with me for being open to constructive criticism.
She “showed” me when I voiced, non thoughtful, condescending or sarcastic thoughts: the “understanding” I intended was translated by others completely differently than my intent and the kind of person I am.
Many times, NOT my intended message. And not accurate. That is how the world works.
We should ALL understand, with the words we choose, that WHAT many others would or will, understand or see, may be EXACTLY the opposite of what one intended. And then USED against you to discredit “you” personally, and your ideas/ideals, no matter how accurate and valid.
That IS how the world works in the warfare of ideas.
Excellent post.
FC,
For what it’s worth, I tend to agree with the sentiment of your post, and will even willingly accept the deserved condemnation for my part in this decay. Though I’ve never claimed innocence, I’ve seen this myself and have remained silent. I’ll work on it, but it doesn’t mean I’ll censor what I write about, only that I’ll try to cut way back on my commenting — which is where I think the majority of the harm is done.
I think we all can benefit by the 30 sec rule of not pressing the send button while posting pissed. We should all police ourselves accordingly.
We can’t bitch about Rez and buggerthat if we’re acting just like them.
For what it’s worth B3, you’re not alone.
:*)
Thanks, black. I appreciate your recognition of the issue I broached. We can all tone it down a notch and that’s all I was pointing out.
Np: when you’re right, you’re right. :-/
“We can all tone it down a notch.”
Amen.
“I tend to agree with the sentiment of your post, and will even willingly accept the deserved condemnation for my part in this decay.”
I couldn’t have said it better about myself. I, too, will work on it.
I love you FL, and you mustn’t leave. I shall protect you from the bullies. Unfortunately, I have the mouth of a sailor and that does seem to shine through at times….
Interesting that you mention the NH. I think the site sucks now. It was far more entertaining with diverse opinions….kinda got my gray matter sparked. It’s also very difficult to post there now as well.
Perhaps Wills can be the RNL Civility Policeman. Who am I kidding? Wills doesn’t love me anymore. (He shall pay for his insolence as will you!) You have been warned…..
I say; how does WC Fields and Mae West sound for tonight?
Civil? Me?
Yes William, you. You didn’t assume incorrect ideas and values with once of my posts before….
I believe if it’s the truth it’s the true. If you post the truth you’ll never hear anything contrary from me.
That’s why I blame or credit Bush and Obama.
I’ve never had any reason to assume anything immoral about your values or principles. If I feel like you’re straying in a territory that I know a little more of and which you may know a little less I may try to add. But I’ll never disrespect a law abiding American citizen that is a productive member of society. That in itself commands respect from a fellow American in my book.
William, you and B have caused me to re-evaluate my beliefs as to R’s and D’s.
I now realize, they have both been sucking the life out of Lady Liberty for decades, all the while pointing at the other . . .
Meanwhile, America and Americans lose….
“they have both been sucking the life out of Lady Liberty for decades, all the while pointing at the other”
That’s exactly how I see it. We’ve been settling for too long instead of demanding because of partisanship. If a person believes in individual rights, a limited government, and fiscal conservatism then that person is a conservative. No necessarily a republican. If he believes in far reaching government, collectivism, and wealth redistribution then that person is a progressive, but not necessarily a democrat, since all a person has to do is “say” he’s one or the other.
As long as a person says, “I’m voting (whatever your party of choice is) regardless then we suffer. I just try my best to evaluate a candidate by his actions not his words and if their values and beliefs are similar to mine then that’s who I’ll vote for. Party affiliation has not value in my decision making.
Amen brother
Sounds good to me, kells. You know my penchant for red, though!
What is NH? I’m not up on all the cool kid lingo and abbrieviations you cats use these days.
Okay Utah I have never seen you mad; but I have seen you ” concerned”; and that scared the the ” hell” out of me.
Stop kissing ass Ross.
There you go . . . you said ASS! Citizen’s arrest! Citizen’s arrest!! ROFLMAO
Utah, your devotion to the principle of free speech shines through like a searchlight. I commend both you and B for providing open forums, where ideas can be exchanged and challenged.
Can we get to a level where ideals can be exchanged without all of the nastiness that comes with it? I’d like to think so.
I am sure that James would agree … this world of politics has become a cesspool of nastiness, and we have all become attuned to it. Each of us (myself especially) has a defensive mechanism in place. We also all have our own pet peeves. I will pick on myself for example:
I absolutely loathe it when I see bashing by one side, and condemning the same that is offered back by the other. Have I engaged in it? You damn well better believe I have, and to be perfectly honest, I will likely engage it in it again, and again every time I see it happening. For myself, I generally try to avoid that type of argument, but lately it’s just all that seems to happen. So I will call a cease fire first.
Thanks for the reality check … everyone.
“this world of politics has become a cesspool of nastiness, and we have all become attuned to it”
Amen.
Between now and November the best is yet to come.
Those who have nothing but disdain for our political system, and who actually despise our system of government, realize if their true intentions were known, they would be defeated quickly.
When the facts and reason & common sense are not on your side, attack the opponent personally….
I get my hackles up when i see posts that say “all liberals” are [insert despicable quality]. Or other posts of similiar negative sterotyping. That type of sentiment does not welcome a refined or polite response in most cases, nor should one be expected. When i do that in my posts i tend to be spoiling for a verbal fight, i expect people to come at me, and i will meet them with my words. Now if my colleagues are all behaving rationally and posting thoughtful remarks I feel like a tool posting something completely pissy and try to maintain the more mature atmosphere and dialogue, but i do like to add a touch of sarcasm even in my “nicer” postings.