DankDude, I did a LOT of reading before deciding to jump in, register, and respond. I have yet to see Vi use any of the same tactics I see MM using. Sure, I may have a lot more reading to do, but in the month that I read before joining, I never saw it. I cannot, however, say the same thing about MM. And in my experience on other sites it is
very common for the self-proclaimed "liberals" and "progressives" to be so completely intolerant of the viewpoints of others as to make THEMSELVES exactly what they decry.
Medicineman is such a perfect example of this as to make him a textbook case. That is NOT to say that it is a brush with which I would paint ALL liberals or progressives, just as I cannot say the same for all "conservatives".
For yourself, I very much appreciate that you endeavor to use FACTS and debate to make your point, instead of using the tactics that, clearly, neither of us appreciate. I just don't see Vi doing what you're saying he does to anyone else except MM after he's worked some of his special magic. I mean, I don't know about you, but if I get poked often enough, there's a chance I may poke back.
(P.S. Good on ya for looking after your mom, it's a very difficult thing to do.)
Hmmmmnnnn, ad hominememememememem, I get it. I'd jusy like to know why you've made me your little project. I may disagree with you but so far have refrained from calling you names. I call Vi names to piss him off, it works. Would it piss you off to call you names? You've called me a liar, uncontrollable, obfuscating and Probably some others that I haven't the time or inclination to re-read. So maybe it is you who are caustic and defiling. Are you tight with Vi, do you adhere to his right wing drivel. Whats up with the condescending attacks on me. It's obvious you don't want to play nice. So be it. I will address you as you address me, just like I said in the beginning, You might need an attitude adjustment.
Ooo.. I can hardly wait, MM.
Look, if it makes you feel better, if you think that you've found my button, work it.
You're the one who declared that you don't smoke after Dave said he hasn't smoked in 29 years. Then you went on to say that you do smoke.
What do you call that..?
I call it lying.
What do you call someone who does that (says one thing, then another)?
A liar.
It wasn't me who made you post what you did, you're the one with all the control, or lack thereof. In my world it doesn't take "many" lies told to make a person a liar, it just takes one. Once they lie, then
everything they say is suspect. Are you now going to say that you didn't first say you don't smoke and then go on to describe your latest smoking experience? You've already been hit with the quote gun, so you've got a lot of reading and editing of your posts if you're gonna try to squeeze that one by.
I do my best to answer questions without attacking the person posing them. You, on the other hand, do not. That's pretty simple for anyone here reading to add up. I address ideas and concepts. If they are something I disagree with I state why. I don't obfuscate by making an attack on the person, I don't try to change the subject by attacking the person. Yet this is
exactly what you do.
You won't ever catch me lying because I don't lie. It makes things SO easy! No worrying about what I've said, to whom I've said it. No getting nailed by the quote gun, then questioned about what I meant. No backpedaling, no making excuses. None of it. Makes life much easier, for me at least.
And, I don't call names, you do. So, you've.. what? Done me the "favor" of not calling me names?
Have at it, the ship you sink will be yours, MM, not mine.
How about this?
How about instead of attacking people who have different ideas than you, you ALLOW them to have their ideas, eh?
How about instead of calling names you simply refrain?
How about telling the truth or not saying something at all?
How about.. How about learning to control yourself?
Acting in a respectful manner?
Earning respect instead of demanding it from those who owe you nothing?
You asked me to address you directly, which frankly stunned me because I see you doing exactly what pissed you off when you were on the receiving end. So, how about doing what you're asking of others, eh?
As I stated before, there are some things upon which you and I disagree (often vehemently) and others on which we agree. The difference is that I won't attack you for having a difference of opinion. I won't twist your nick, tempting as it may be (and I happen to be really good at it). I see you as a Marxist socialist, and that, to me, is anathema to what the U.S. was founded upon. I see you as an angry, bitter man, but that's not my life to live. I see you as a person intimidates and obfuscates via vitriol, and who probably has a real soft spot but it can't be gotten to because you're so angry. I understand that people have lives, they have issues, they have baggage. I do my best to wrap my head around them, sometimes successfully sometimes not. So, there are some aspects to you as a personality that I don't yet fully understand.. but I will.
