A thread just for Mercury, but all others are welcome.

[_Mercury]

How can I reply to you when any criticism is "an insult" instead of you constructively analyzing what we present to you?

[_charity]

Merc, the deal is, you respond to the IDEA. You don't hit at the poster. And I was talking about your whole history of response to me, not just to a single post.

And about the pm? Don't say anything you don't want others to hear. It sure keeps life more simple if you don't have to remember what you said to whom

So present an idea to discuss. Don't keep whacking at me personally. You want me to discuss something with you. Let's try to discuss an IDEA.

[_Pokatator]

And about the pm? Don't say anything you don't want others to hear. It sure keeps life more simple if you don't have to remember what you said to whom.

We've been through this before with Charity and personal emails and behind the scene gossip.

[_Tori]

Charity, for what it's worth....I don't see your posts here as a "hate speech". I don't know you at all and my participation here has been at a minimum so I'm certainly no authority but what I see when I read your posts is someone that is doing their best at defending a religion that they love. I'll be honest. Sometimes I'm quite amazed at the things you will say. But then....I understand where you are coming from, completely. I, for most of my 52 years defended the LDS Church with just as much passion. I took it very personal. If someone attacked my faith...it was an attack on me. That's the way I saw it.

I said it before on the other thread last week and I'll say it again. I take no offense at what you say. Sometimes, surprised...but certainly not offended.

Mercury, I can relate to also. I understand completely where he's coming from. Finding out that something a person has believed in, put much time and money in.....is a lie, can tick a person off. I find that the most vocal EXMO's, the most passionate EXMO's were the most devoted and valiant members. They now feel betrayed, angry and yes......offended.

There are many people that are pretty angry with the LDS Church and forums such as this are places to vent that anger. It would seem that Mercury is taking full advantage of this forum for that reason. I'm just assuming, of course.

Last week, he said something to me that was quite rude and I could've taken personal. But, I try to understand where someone is coming from. How they are viewing their world from their perspective. You view it from the Mormon defender, he is viewing it from the betrayed former member.

What amazes me, is how you worry so much about what these people think or say on these Message Boards. It's kinda obvious that these boards are an important part of your life. At least it appears that way with the amount of time you spend here and on the MADB. Try to remember that it's not real life. It's just an online anonymous, community of people.... These people should have no effect on your life or who your are. I mean....when you are going about your normal life do you give one thought to this board? Do you really care what Mercury thinks?

One thing I can say about Merc. He is an equal-opportunity insulter. He does not discriminate against posters on this board. He'll attack whomever he wants be they EXMO or Church defender. You've just made yourself quite an appealing
target with what you say on here. These boards are really just entertaining and much of what you say is the entertainment.

[_moksha]

Where in my comments do I use scatalogical invective?

You ask this after Liz hoses down your enclosure on a regular basis?

Come on, shoot Charity some questions.

[_charity]

Careful, Tori, calling this entertainment. I once did that and got back a lot of shocked respones that I wasn't taking this seriously.

And about how much time I spend here. Probably too much, but it looks like more than it is. I am at my computer probably 80% of my waking hours. I write an column for an on line magazine, I write novels, I have an enormous correspondence on an e-list, plus family and personal correspondence. So, what I do is pop in once in a while between other activities. Which is why it is so annoying that this message board software won't let you stay logged on, and keeps kicking me off.

I think you know where I am coming from better than most here.

[_Moniker]

Tori, you and Ric had things said about your personal life and how you raise your children by Wade. That didn't faze you? I'm thinking it fazed Ric since he replied to Wade repeatedly about the matter -- attempting to give Wade his reasonings behind your decisions and defending both of your choices. That's simplifying it -- yet, it occurred. Did your "blood boil" when you read a thread on here about drug abuse?

What people say here does sometimes sting. It just does. Perhaps it's because you don't participate often that you don't see the veiled insults, the hidden jabs, the petty swipes, and the more aggressive posters that absolutely do say heinous things that get under skin. I've had to thicken my skin considerably to stay on these boards.

I read newspaper articles and I can have an emotional response. I can read a history book and have an emotional response. I can read a novel and have an emotional response. Saying that this is not "real life" doesn't quite cut it for those of us that do read print (most days of our lives) and understand that speech is powerful and the effects of that speech does inflict great harm or good for those it persuades. Should people calm down? Yah. I'm attempting to do that. Yet, to be flippant about some of the emotions seen on this board really goes against most of our nature, I'm assuming. I'd bet that you've weeped at something in a novel or a movie that's not "real life", no?

Charity, it doesn't look as though Mercury gave you permission to post that PM.

[_Mercury]

Charity, it doesn't look as though Mercury gave you permission to post that PM.

That would be correct.

[_charity]

Charity, it doesn't look as though Mercury gave you permission to post that PM.

I didn't appreciate his going off board to continue to insult me. I was specifically not replying back to his insulting posts on the board, and he was getting mad not knowing if I was even reading his insults. So he got in my face with a pm. Well tough luck. I generally believe that the only person damaged is the one doing the insulting. Although most people who throw insults around are being bullies and thinking they are causing harm. So, I think bullies should be "outed."

[_Mercury]

So, I think bullies should be "outed."

Why do you think I call attention to the shenanigans you pull?