Y’know, I can understand people have widely differing opinions on subjects, especially political ones. That’s the way of the world. And I can, somewhat, understand that the expression of opinions by one person will, occasionally, cause people who strongly disagree with that opinion to have a very low personal estimation of the speaker. That’s also the way of the world; it’s a little more ignorant but nevertheless correctable.
[post=5077770]This[/post], however, is inexcusable, IMO. Using a disagreement in GD to snipe at another user who’s not even involved in the debate. That’s fucking low. And, for me, it’s the last straw.
This board isn’t overwhelmingly conservative, nor is it overwhelmingly liberal; any poster who wanders through the boards as a whole and not just threads on their pet subjects or peeves will see that in a New York minute. What this board has increasingly become for me, personally, is ugly. All the fun has been sucked out of it - even the heated debates.
I leave with no small amount of regret - I’ve made some decent friends around here and had some great times hanging out with you in RL. But I feel I need to leave.
I’m not going to ask you to “Don’t Go!” or anything, O, but I hope you leavel yourself the option of returning. Don’t burn any bridges, friend. I’ve had to take breaks from the ugliness before, too. Other stuff keeps bringing me back.
I know I’m not the only one who respects what you have to say. Take it easy but don’t stay gone, please. (Anyway, how you gonna feel a few weeks down the road knowing you cited a post from New Isk as the one that broke your back? You’re so much better 'n that, man.)
With all due respect, Olentzero, perhaps you just need some time away from here. I know that has helped others. It has also helped me on a different board - I went back and am enjoying it once more after taking a break from it.
Is it too late to say “Consider the source”? I mean, really, inane crap is that poster’s specialty.
Why not take a vacation from the board, then check back in when the sour taste of that bit of crud is gone? If you left for good, I’d miss you (but not the poster who dropped that last strawman on the dromedarian back).
I don’t understand people “leaving” the boards like some of you do. It’s not a job; you don’t have to “quit.”
I don’t think I’ve ever consciously decided to take a break or leave the boards altogether. I’ve unconsciously drifted away and not posted for months on end due to one reason or another, but I can’t imagine saying “That’s IT! NO MORE SDMB!”
I guess all I can say is…don’t feel like you can’t come back. You paid for your membership.
But the phrase “fighting Olentzero’s lies” makes you sound so … important! And dangerous! It makes me want to know more about you. It makes me want to find out what you’ve been saying and why someone would feel the need to “fight” whatever you’re saying, as opposed to merely refuting or contradicting whatever you’re saying. I tellya, that post is great advertising for you.
Wouldn’t “Fighting Olentzero’s Lies” make a great movie title? Whether there are lies or not is immaterial – it just sounds dramatic.
Eh. I’ve “left” for semi-long periods of time on a few occasions, and it was no big deal. I never made a big deal of it; I just stopped posting for a while. In my case, I got sucked up with some other pressing project and just didn’t have time for the boards, and it was okay.
While I don’t blame you for being upset by what someone said about you, my advice is to just get involved deeply in something else for a month or two, don’t think about us, and then return when you are less busy. No biggie.
Trust me, staying away is a nice thing. Clears the head. Things that really upset you at the time seem inconsequential after a few days or weeks. So, once again, eh. Don’t sweat it. Just get distracted with some other project. Learn a new language. Learn a new computer language. Write a web page about your favorite hobbies (that’s what gets me going ;)), or just something. But whatever you do, don’t think about us for a while. Our feelings won’t be hurt.
Well, I am. We need diversity of opinion around here more than ever. Even if I don’t always see eye to eye with you, I think you add something unique to this place. I can certainly see needing to step away from the keyboard for a bit, but I hope you’ll reconsider. Peace.
Take a break. Try swearing off until after Labor Day. By then the general electorate should be a-stirring and the world will seem a little smarter. If you’re letting stuff like that get to you, your nerves are perhaps rawer than they should be.
Go, or don’t go, as you wish, but IMO your contributions here have been of considerably greater value than those of the person who’s comments you say are driving you off.
It’s just a bunch of mooks on a message board, some of whom specialize in assholery. Try not to take it personally.
That’s it? That’s all it takes, wussy-pants? ('Scuse while I scratch my…aaaah, that’s better…where was I? Oh, yeah, that wimp-ass Olent…) Look, pussy-willow, you fade now and New Ick will put a notch on his keyboard and go after something he can’t handle. Like me, for instance. And you would be responsible for his acquiring an auxillary asshole.
If it was easy wearing the white hat, more folks would do it. Besides, Timmy has fallen down the well, and that kid in the hospital is waiting for you to hit that homer, just like you promised. If you don’t get on that board, you’ll be sorry…maybe not now, but soon, and for the rest of your life. Shane! Shane!
Olentzero, I’ve known you for nearly four years now, and you’ve been unfailingly a gentleman who defends unpopular points of view with great grace and scholarship. If you decide to let this sort of thing drive you from here, you will indeed be sorely missed.
People like you are a part of what makes this board interesting and fun.
Acrimony is heavy in election years – remember 2000 and its aftermath? I second the motion that a break, perhaps until after the election, and not total departure, is the wise move for your peace of mind at the moment.
Don’t be a part of Gresham’s Message Board Law – that "bad posters drive out good." That would be a violation of your social and ideological principles!
