I didn’t want to hijack any other thread, though I know there are a number of them going on right now. There have been a number of camps firmly entrenched on one side or the other in the Pay for posting debate over the last 48 hours. I’ve been caught in the crossfire. No, no one’s mentioned me by name. But I’ve read a great deal of the threads while the shit has been slung and I am a member of this community. When you say “Fuck all those that are staying,” or “Fuck all those that are going” it does affect me.
I feel like I’m in that Dr. Suess book and I have no clue whether having a star on my belly is the cool thing today or not. Or maybe the better analogy would be those fucking East and West monsters who refuse to see the other side, who refuse to yield or move to the side.
Well, allow me to get in the middle and yell at all of you. You may account for more than one category.
To the people who are leaving because of a monetary situation
When your “opponents” say that you can afford it, you just choose not to, that’s what they mean. The language they use is overly harsh, but they speak the truth. You CHOOSE not to shell out $20 to post here. What you all seem to fail to grasp is that no one is blaming you for this choice. If I had to choose between, say, food or internet, I’d…hmm… well, it would be a tough choice, but I like to eat.
You’re saying “X is more important to me than Y” Look, no one is blaming you for your choice. Well, if they are, then they’re assholes. But you’re choosing nonetheless. We all make choices and I’m sure this is a difficult one.
I’m sorry you can’t stay. You will be missed.
To the people who are yelling at the people who are in the first group
Jesus Christ. Stop trying to pick a fight here. You’re debate semantics. You know what they mean, just let it go. And if it’s not a semantic debate, if you truly thumb your nose at those who have financial difficulty, then fuck you. You aren’t helping the situation at all.
To the people who won’t pay because others aren’t paying
Last I checked, lemmings couldn’t type. Make a decision one way or the other, but make YOUR decision. If you want the board to continue, then help to continue the board. If you don’t, then don’t. But if everyone jumps ship because everyone is jumping ship, then all that’s left of the SDMB is a self fulfilling profecy and a whistful memory of what once was.
**To the people who say “If these are the people the new SDMB are going to be comprised of, I don’t want to be a part of it,” **
I’m not an elitist. I’m not laughing at those who refuse to join. I’m not in a clique and I don’t think I’m better than you. I find it insulting that you’ve grouped me into the same category as posters X, Y, and Z whom you happen to be upset with. Yes, you have grouped me in with them. I am a member of the SDMB and when you insult it, or when you insult those particular posters as representative of the whole, then you insult me. To say that one or two people suddenly equal the whole of the group is the height of ignorance. I thought you learned more during your stay here.
To the people who refuse to pay on principle:
Sometimes I think you’re the most rational of the bunch. You’ve weighed in with some good alternatives that I hope the mods and admins consider them. Other times I think you’re the dumbest. If this board comes crashing down, your principle ain’t gonna hold it up. If you want to leave, then leave. But stop bitching about having to pay. Lunchtime is over and the bill has arrived.
Who did I miss?