Fear of the Left . . .

[_Jersey Girl]

Hey Ceebs,

Before I run off to read the article from the OP and get some stuff done around here, and at the outside chance that you're reading here... Maybe you were disgusted with the folks on the thread or it also occurs to me that you could have been disgusted with yourself. Maybe you felt embarrassed by some of your posts so you left and took your asininity with you. If that is the case, never do that.

Leave your asininity where you can see it again. When I returned here I could have erased the posts that I made the just before I was banned. Nope. They're still sitting there for all the world to see. Even me. It serves of a reminder of what a mess I was dealing with in real life and how much it affected me. It's also a reminder of how it's not a mess any more.

Maybe you think the guys here are asshats. Of course they're asshats. You're an asshat. I'm an asshat. We all take a turn at it. If people like us weren't asshats, we wouldn't think we needed God. ;-)

I just do know that this thread went to hell and there's usually more than one reason that a thread does that. It would help future interactions if you'd come talk it out here. Decades old friendships can be had with greater understanding. So can decades of learning from each other.

In any case, if something is going on that's a mess. We're here. I'm here. Put it in a PM or throw it up in Prison where you can say anything you want. It's okay if it sounds insane. Sometimes life is insane and takes us with it.

K, I'm reading the article that you posted. I hope you see fit to come in and detangle this ball of yarn.

[_Jersey Girl]

honor that article uses the term "mob" twice and also refers to what could be described as a mob. Is that why Ceeboo used the term in one of his last posts?

[_honorentheos]

honor that article uses the term "mob" twice and also refers to what could be described as a mob. Is that why Ceeboo used the term in one of his last posts?

No idea, though being able to read ceebs' mind would have helped the discussion quite a bit.

If I were to take a stab at doing so, my personal guess at what ceebs intended would go something like this:

Dennis Prager wrote an article that gets at how I (ceebs) also feel when talking to liberals. That being, they shame my views of the world and refuse to acknowledge that there are legitimate reasons for why I don't agree with them. But Prager also remarks this isn't really liberal thinking. Rather, it's "leftism" that has commandeered the liberal tradition and is attacking free speech, demanding things that are driven by a taker mentality rather than an earner mentality, and trying to force socialism onto America by shouting everyone down so they can't think straight.

I happen to know where a number of liberals hang out on the interwebs, and maybe if they knew leftism was this pernicious thing doing damage to liberal political views they'd recognize that they and I share a common enemy in leftism. I'll share that article with them and see what happens.

Hmmm, everyone responding to the article is reacting like they are being targeted by Prager. Of course, anyone who is a leftist would think that. Let's ask a question to see if most people here are leftists more than liberals.

Hmm, people seem to think this is really about Trump. I didn't like Trump, didn't vote for the guy, and don't own him. But this is supposed to be about leftism and how they are turning liberals into a real threat to the American way.

Let's see, I know. Here's a different question about earner v. taker as it relates to social justice issues. That's a good way to know who the leftists are and who is just a liberal while sorting out who is just into calling people racists and Nazis.

Hmmm, only one or two people seem to agree with my take on this. Lets, WAIT, WHACK WHACK LEFTIST BASTARD! (page after page of whack-a-leftist based on racial crap)

(After whacking leftist bastards) Let's see. There were a couple of comments about how crazy this thread is, yet all one has to do is read this board to know the M D B is overrun with an infestation of leftist propaganda.

Alright, I'm done. This board is clearly filled with hateful leftists who just want to shout conservatives down rather than dialog about the differences in our beliefs. Let me go BBQ and tell the neighbor friends about the latest craziness at the M D B.

[_Jersey Girl]

I just finished reading what's left of this entire thread. That's right, all 27 pages of it. I also read the article from the OP. I either deserve a gold medal or a 5150, take your pick.

Ceeboo you should come back here and try this again. That's all I'm saying.

[_Chap]

I don't feel Schmo was really out of line even if it wasn't the words I'd use. I don't care for passive aggressive behavior and when it gets countered with aggressive aggressive behavior, I generally view it as of a kind.

Yup. I said something like that myself in an earlier post, and I think honorentheos sums up the situation quite well. I would not have posted as Schmo did, simply because I am not him. But I quite understand why he felt moved to do so.

Ceebs posted a clearly polemic piece for an O P. He had every opportunity to show he was legitimately interested in engaging people over its content. It wasn't just that he was being overwhelmed that he didn't respond. He clearly wasn't interested in a good faith conversation, and seemed mostly interested in people validating whatever beliefs he already had. It gets old being asked a question, offering up a response with intent to dig into them a bit to only get a, "Thanks for playing!" That's not being nice. That's being a dick in a different kind of way. I'm sorry if it is offensive to say this, but frankly the quality of content in his posts went up after he erased them. That's how little actual content was there before.

I strongly agree with the bolded part. Ceeboo seemed to want a licence to say or post whatever he wanted, however offensive - and the OP was very offensive - ignore any attempts to debate it by giving silly dismissive responses, and then go all 'Who, nice little me?' when someone finally calls him out in the only way he can't ignore, which is to go volcanic.

I have to say that a part of me suspects that Ceeboo left the discussion having got what he wanted, like the member of the couple who continually needles and provokes their partner until they are enraged, and then says 'See It's your anger issues that are the problem in our relationship. Poor little me!'

By the way, I think that in time he will be back. Frankly, though, I think he might have a better experience if he tried out a sock puppet with a more engaged approach to dialog with people he does not agree with. He might find that experience both enjoyable and interesting. Then if, despite everything, he can't do without being Ceeboo (and I do have a certain affection for the cow avatar), it will still be open to him to go back to that.

[_Maksutov]

I think perhaps that Ceeboo did not have memes or countering links ready to hand and did not feel confident in his own powers of expression. This board is a very challenging place, which is great if you're ready for it but not if you aren't. It's like running whitewater. You're going to get bounced around, have to change direction, learn or drown...but if that's still okay, you will often enjoy the ride. If not....

[_Chap]

I think perhaps that Ceeboo did not have memes or countering links ready to hand and did not feel confident in his own powers of expression. This board is a very challenging place, which is great if you're ready for it but not if you aren't. It's like running whitewater. You're going to get bounced around, have to change direction, learn or drown...but if that's still okay, you will often enjoy the ride. If not....

Well, you know ...

[_Jersey Girl]

I think perhaps that Ceeboo did not have memes or countering links ready to hand and did not feel confident in his own powers of expression. This board is a very challenging place, which is great if you're ready for it but not if you aren't. It's like running whitewater. You're going to get bounced around, have to change direction, learn or drown...but if that's still okay, you will often enjoy the ride. If not....

Well, you know ...

Ew, I knew someone would say that eventually. We can't have a conversation without turning up the heat? I think it's okay if the kitchen is hot. It's probably not okay if we turn it into a crematorium.

;-)

[_Jersey Girl]

No idea, though being able to read ceebs' mind would have helped the discussion quite a bit.

If I were to take a stab at doing so, my personal guess at what ceebs intended would go something like this:

Honor I forgot to acknowledge that I did read your post last evening. Following that I read the entire thread. It's a little difficult to discern exactly what took place. I don't know, for example, if Ceeboo was in support of the article in the OP or was simply throwing it out to the masses for comment. I'm not entirely sure what the goal was.

I did see some comments from Ceeboo that I felt were concerning or at least not conducive to sorting out the topic, where I would have liked to see the entire post in context.

It's really not my business.

I just wonder what exactly he was responding to and why he responded in the fashion that he did. I'd been in and out of the thread reading while it was in progress. I can see, after reading it, that I missed some of the interaction. I'll be darned if I can piece it together though.

In any case, we can't really know what Ceeboo was thinking during the thread or when he chose to exit, unless he chooses to discuss it.

I don't like discussing a poster after they've left particularly when it seems like they left in the heat of the moment, but I think that in this case, it might be instructive to Ceeboo if he looks in here.

[_Ceeboo]

Yeah - I already tapped out a while ago.





I will not reply to any of the recent opinions, accusations, implications or motives directed at me. In addition, I will not offer any reason as to why I decided to delete my posts in the thread - Like every one of us who post here, I do so on my own accord and I need not defend/explain/elaborate.

What I will say is this:

I have been on this board for 8 and 1/2 years and have over 7,000 posts. As I look at my history in total, I am comfortable with how I have handled myself on the board and, for the great majority of the time, I am satisfied with how I have treated my fellow human beings. Yes, I do have some posting regrets during my time here but I would imagine that I'm probably not alone in that regard. For the most part, I have completely enjoyed my time here and I treasure the countless laughs, wisdom and banter that I have been fortunate enough to be a part of over the years. To be clear, these personal gifts that I have been able to take from this community is directly because many of you who were willing to give such gifts. For that, I thank you.

Should I decide to stay (or post in the future) it will be my decision and my decision alone. Additionally, If I decide to post again , I will continue to post under "Ceeboo" and I will do so proudly.