PLEASE, Help me open my mind!!!

[RoadToad]

Thank you BG, you are the first to actually point out that I was being sarcastic. It seemed like the only way to communicate a bigger picture.

Sarcasm on a message board like this is virtually always misunderstood. Even face to face, it can be hard to recognize sarcasm from someone you don't know. On a message board it's practically impossible. And the fact that you said, "Really, I am serious..." doesn't help.

Maybe I'm being obtuse, but even knowing that you were being sarcastic, I still don't really understand what "bigger picture" you're trying to communicate. Do you mind just spelling it out in black and white? I'm not trying to start a fight or anything; in fact I THINK I might agree with some of your points. Really.

[HiDefFisherman]

RoadToad, you are right, I was wrong to be sarcastic and say I was serious, but actually I was. It is a paradox, and not one easy to explain, even when you understand it, and that is why I say I was wrong to do it.

The bigger picture was simply that so many started to call for restrictions being placed upon innoccent Americans, whose only "crime" is that they share a religion with Zealots who are lunatics. By the same logic, one could say all Catholics should be prevented from holding any job that has them interact with children, and basing that stance upon the actions of a few Catholic Priests.

When I first began defending the rights of these Americans I was attacked. I asked only that the attackers keep an open mind. They did not. So I decided maybe I could ask them to help open my mind to their point of view. Apperently they could not do so, as they attacked me again. I can only take away from this action that they have no defense for their stancs.

I am sorry I ever tried to protect any group from being prejudged, and being treated unfairly... OK, OK... I am being sarcastic again.

I am glad to see that the attacks so far have not yet crossed any of Grumpy's rules, or gotten too personal. No that is not sarcasm. I have defended the rights of people on here to disagree without descending into out and out profanity. I have obviously not been listened to, as those threads remained locked at Grumpy's decision.

I am also sorry that the one guy that responed felt he was ... sorry don't remember the adjective he used, but I did not intend to insult anyone's intelligence. I did only ask that they present me arguements that would support their cries for limiting certain individual's rights based upon religion. Now I've had my alligence to the country I live in questioned.

Oh Well... I have a philisophical question, one that would tell a lot about each person who answers it, but I doubt that it would be accepted as a true question, and I also predict that many would refuse to answer it without really considering the true ramifications of what the question means. Again, not questioning intelligence, but I am saying that most seem to react only with a closed mind, and won't even consider the broader implications of a topic.

If you would like to discuss this, please PM me, and we can do it via email. Or if you like, you can email me directly at [email protected]

I do honestly thank you for a considered response.

HDF

Sarcasm on a message board like this is virtually always misunderstood. Even face to face, it can be hard to recognize sarcasm from someone you don't know. On a message board it's practically impossible. And the fact that you said, "Really, I am serious..." doesn't help.

Maybe I'm being obtuse, but even knowing that you were being sarcastic, I still don't really understand what "bigger picture" you're trying to communicate. Do you mind just spelling it out in black and white? I'm not trying to start a fight or anything; in fact I THINK I might agree with some of your points. Really.

[DJD]

RoadToad, you are right, I was wrong to be sarcastic and say I was serious, but actually I was. It is a paradox, and not one easy to explain, even when you understand it, and that is why I say I was wrong to do it.

The bigger picture was simply that so many started to call for restrictions being placed upon innoccent Americans, whose only "crime" is that they share a religion with Zealots who are lunatics. By the same logic, one could say all Catholics should be prevented from holding any job that has them interact with children, and basing that stance upon the actions of a few Catholic Priests.

When I first began defending the rights of these Americans I was attacked. I asked only that the attackers keep an open mind. They did not. So I decided maybe I could ask them to help open my mind to their point of view. Apperently they could not do so, as they attacked me again. I can only take away from this action that they have no defense for their stancs.

I am sorry I ever tried to protect any group from being prejudged, and being treated unfairly... OK, OK... I am being sarcastic again.

I am glad to see that the attacks so far have not yet crossed any of Grumpy's rules, or gotten too personal. No that is not sarcasm. I have defended the rights of people on here to disagree without descending into out and out profanity. I have obviously not been listened to, as those threads remained locked at Grumpy's decision.

I am also sorry that the one guy that responed felt he was ... sorry don't remember the adjective he used, but I did not intend to insult anyone's intelligence. I did only ask that they present me arguements that would support their cries for limiting certain individual's rights based upon religion. Now I've had my alligence to the country I live in questioned.

Oh Well... I have a philisophical question, one that would tell a lot about each person who answers it, but I doubt that it would be accepted as a true question, and I also predict that many would refuse to answer it without really considering the true ramifications of what the question means. Again, not questioning intelligence, but I am saying that most seem to react only with a closed mind, and won't even consider the broader implications of a topic.

If you would like to discuss this, please PM me, and we can do it via email. Or if you like, you can email me directly at [email protected]

I do honestly thank you for a considered response.

HDF

So you have to take this victim role huh? Come on man....How many times you gonna use that?
People attacked you? Your just being sarcastic but being honest? We have closed minds because you don't like what we say? Your gonna aploogize for our reply's?
Don't feel the need to worry about me or my thoughts...I do very well with how I look at this world and with the people I meet in business and in my personal life. If you don't like different takes on your questions then just open your mind a little more or don't ask.
It will be ok, the Sun should come up tomorrow....we will still be fighting a war, Radical Muslims will be killing people and your opinions will be yours. Have a wonderful day!

[RoadToad]

I do honestly thank you for a considered response.

HDF

You're welcome.

RoadToad, you are right, I was wrong to be sarcastic and say I was serious, but actually I was. It is a paradox, and not one easy to explain, even when you understand it, and that is why I say I was wrong to do it.

Huh?

The bigger picture was simply that so many started to call for restrictions being placed upon innoccent Americans, whose only "crime" is that they share a religion with Zealots who are lunatics. By the same logic, one could say all Catholics should be prevented from holding any job that has them interact with children, and basing that stance upon the actions of a few Catholic Priests.

When I first began defending the rights of these Americans I was attacked. I asked only that the attackers keep an open mind. They did not. So I decided maybe I could ask them to help open my mind to their point of view. Apperently they could not do so, as they attacked me again. I can only take away from this action that they have no defense for their stancs.

I am sorry I ever tried to protect any group from being prejudged, and being treated unfairly... OK, OK... I am being sarcastic again.

I am glad to see that the attacks so far have not yet crossed any of Grumpy's rules, or gotten too personal. No that is not sarcasm. I have defended the rights of people on here to disagree without descending into out and out profanity. I have obviously not been listened to, as those threads remained locked at Grumpy's decision.

I am also sorry that the one guy that responed felt he was ... sorry don't remember the adjective he used, but I did not intend to insult anyone's intelligence. I did only ask that they present me arguements that would support their cries for limiting certain individual's rights based upon religion. Now I've had my alligence to the country I live in questioned.

Oh Well... I have a philisophical question, one that would tell a lot about each person who answers it, but I doubt that it would be accepted as a true question, and I also predict that many would refuse to answer it without really considering the true ramifications of what the question means. Again, not questioning intelligence, but I am saying that most seem to react only with a closed mind, and won't even consider the broader implications of a topic.

If you would like to discuss this, please PM me, and we can do it via email. Or if you like, you can email me directly at [email protected]

Nothing personal, but I'll pass on the PM/email exchange. Anything I have to say on the subject, I'd prefer to share with everyone on the board. And just because you predict you wouldn't like the responses you would get is no reason not to ask a question. You might be surprised, unless you've already passed judgment, which to me it seems you have. In fact, when I re-read your post, and then think back to a statement you made in another thread about how you don't think you're liked "because you like to think logically," I can't help but think that you consider yourself somehow superior to the rest of us.