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greenspun.com : LUSENET : Beyond the Sidewalks : One Thread

Folks, things are getting pretty ugly around here, and I've just about had enough of it. (:^(

The world is an ugly place, and current events are arriving 'at the speed of light' via the Internet, but . . .

Can't ALL OF US just kind of lighten up, and catch our breath? A lot of us have been corresponding on this bulletin board for a LONG time, but we sure haven't been treating each other like that. Maybe because of that length of time, we feel comfortable expressing ourselves a little more forcefully (I am a fan of speaking one's mind), but some of our posts are taking our friendships to a breaking point.

I've been lurking for the past couple of weeks, hoping to see it cool off, but it seems to be getting worse. And it isn't just here, the other websites I've been at have also been a little slow, and a few exchanges have become mean spirited.

So please take some time and think about others feelings when we post - I don't want to see a good group of people just bitch and moan about crap in the world (I can see that on Jerry Springer), that is going to happen with or without our take on the matter.

'Beyond the Sidewalks' didn't start out that way - lets try and regain some positive thoughts - energy - kharma.

Does that sound okay with you?

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2002

Answers

Sounds most excellent to me, j.r. Like Sheepish said..."this is the only sandbox left in town." And I like this sandbox :-)!!

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2002

Me, too. Remember: It's not kitty litter... 8-)

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2002

jr, I'm sorry if I've been a part of the problem. However, there is a limit to how much a person can ignore.

When you get statements like those of Jay, I believe I'd be remiss in letting it stand without expressing my outrage.

Also, when we ARE facing a madman like our Pre$ident $elect, I believe we need to be discussing the unpleasant issues.

For instance, I have heard no evidence as yet to show that Bu$h wasn't in the know before the 911 attacks. I'd like to hear some, as I'd like to believe that all the evidence I've heard thus far is not true, or that there is some reasonable explanation for the events of that morning.

If we can't discuss these unpleasant topics, we will be unable to do anything more than listen to, and perhaps believe, the seemingly government approved "news" that's being broadcast by the corporately owned median.

However, I'm open to suggestion. If this is not something that folks want to discuss here, I will discuss it somewhere else, I guess.

Folks, what's your pleasure?

JOJ

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2002


JOJ, I'm the last one to be pointing fingers at anybody; I'm as guilty as anyone when it comes to ranting . . . see my pointless insurance rant a couple of weeks ago (reading it now, I don't even know why I posted about something neither I or anyone on this forum have no control over - was that dumb of me or what?).

I just wanted to stress that discussing our differences in opinion sometimes goes a little far. And I don't want to see some permanent hard feelings over a simple difference of opinion. Like the song goes . . .

So lets leave it alone . . . 'cause we can't see eye to eye . . . there ain't no good guy . . . there ain't no bad guy . . . there's only you and me, and we just disagree.

Discussion - good. Education - good. Arguments / bad feelings - bad.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2002


I understand your request, jr, and agree with them. Except I don't know what you would consider a proper response to Jay's statement that he's into killing "in our name" anybody, anywhere, just to enrich himself. I can't think of anything to say that does not involve total outrage. Please give me a more suggestion than not to "argue" or express my "bad feelings". OK?

And I don't think you were pointing anything at me, or leastways I don't have hurt feelings behind it. (at my age, it 's hard to hurt my feelings, at least over the internet:)

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2002



I'm not really sure what you are saying here, jr. Certainly I agree that we should always speak to each other with a civil tongue, and hopefully with compassion, whether others do the same or not. I do not agree, however, that it was "getting worse," but that it was working its way through a rough patch, teaching us all along the way another in the continuous lessons we need in how to get along with our fellow humans.

I get annoyed when folks try to limit what we should talk about here; my feeling is we should be free to discuss whatever we like, and others may contribute to each conversation which interests them to do so.

I do agree some harsh words were spoken out of shock and outrage, understandably so. It's a difficult, coninuous lesson to learn to remember that hardened hearts are never softened by rage, name- calling, and vitriol; those things only serve to harden hearts all the more. Only love can cure hurt, anger, and fear.

Anyway, nice to see you here, jr; wish you posted more often! How are those sweet little babies of yours?

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2002


JR, just don't open anything with any Middle East country name, any derivative of GWB or anything that smacks of politics. It's what I've had to learn to do; just like I learned to walk away from the TV set years ago. My mental health is too important to me to risk it!!

There are some things that have been posted here while I was offline that I wish that I hadn't read, because reading them has changed my perception of some of the folks here. So, I'm going to follow my own advice and quit reading things that I won't like. (Sheesh - this is my ENTERTAINMENT!, not my penance.) I'm certainly not going to state my opinions - not only because I am now quite aware that they would be offensive to the majority of posters; but also because I am not going to try to defend them. Being a great believer in the power of denial, I'm just going to forget that I read the posts that upset me; and I'm going to go on posting my silly little stories about what I did during the day.

FWIW - I participate regularly on 4 sites and read several others; seems like there is a lot of unrest on all of them. I plan to just hang on and play nice for a while, and see if it all blows over. Sure hope so - I'd hate to lose the friendships, however tenuous, that I've made here. Missed y'all while I was gone!

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2002


EM: my kids are doing great, although the older boy is getting too rambunctious for his day care. He has always been really rough (the kind where he gives you a big slap on the back and takes off). He isn't doing it out of meaness; he is just so enthusiastic. He is the type that will run at you and take a flying leap into your arms (ready or not, here I come).

That behavior isn't tolerated at his day care - I don't blame the day care facility, he is a LOT to handle. So we have to start looking for another facilty. Too bad; this place was pretty nice - two full time employees for 11 children (12 max.)

The little girl is really cute, but is getting attached to mom's constant attention - too much as far as I am concerned. Mom hates to hear her cry, and won't leave her in the crib crying too long. I hate to hear her cry also, but the girl has to learn that she has to keep herself entertained too. Otherwise, she is crawling all over creation, puts EVERYTHING in her mouth, is a drooling all over us and her self, and is trying to stand by herself. Basically, she is a typical infant - so cool.

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2002


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