Seriously, I think anything posted in a public forum is ground for dissection and discussion. Simply introducing it into the debate makes it fair game.
I realize that people might want to vent steam but is it really proper to do so?
In your example (which in no way should be used to attack anyone)(and I better not see it pop up six months from now quoted out of context to prove that Esprix hates straights, get me?) I think if I’d posted that (or something like it) I would later be ashamed of myself for doing so. Better by far to realize that it’s not an issue worth getting worked up about and move on.
If there is a thread that I disagree with then I will post my opinions. If I agree then I will post my opinions.
However, if someone has an opinion different from mine I want to hear their specific arguements as to WHY. I don’t want to hear how I’m an idiot or since I’m Southern I must be white trash or since I hold to some religious principles I must hate anybody different than me, etc. Tell me why you agree or disagree with me.
I know it’s the Pit and all, but does everything have to result in a “me against you” trying to insult each other the most thing if we don’t agree?
I have read many threads where I originally didn’t agree but after the poster gave their arguements or other people weighed in I actually could see the OP’s point.
I’m much more open to hearing someone else’s opinion if they give valid arguements and don’t resort to insulting me, my family, my dog, my mother, my spelling, my grammar, etc.
Aries28, I agree with you 100%. I think people post their rants for commiseration. However, as you say, once given other opinions/points of view, the OP can then see things a different way and maybe “understand” why what happened happened.
Enough of this bullshit “me against you”. I would like to think “If you don’t have anything beneficial to add, don’t post.” But of course, that’s not going to happen.
And before anybody else can do it…
This is the lamest post ever.
I just KNEW this was going to be another of your breeder-bashing, one-trick-pony rants!
Just ribbing you, kid. I agree with you, even your “example rant.” (Goddamn wedding and baby showers! Giving details of giving birth that I’d happily live without knowing! Making me pretend every antic of your inbred spawn is “cute” or that I give two shits about your relationship with your juvenile delinquent teen because I have to work with you!)
I’ll admit that I’m not the sort to rant publicly without expecting (hoping for) discussion and disagreement, especially since I generally disagree with everything I say, but I can see why some people would like to use the Pit to blow off some steam. And not everybody has a live journal to do it in, and a single rant is hardly worth starting an LJ over.
Anyone who’s paid attention to Exprix’s recent pit threads will know exactly what the OP in this thread is really getting at: “I don’t want anyone to challenge my POV on an issue when I’m ranting about something.”
I call bullshit on that. If you take one little incident and proceed to pit all straight people over it, then I’m gonna take you to task, and (to use your phraseology), you shouldn’t be surprised about it.
You know, I’ve never ever ever seen a straight person on the SDMB pit all gay people because of the actions of one or a few of them. If someone did do that, they’d at least get piled-on, maybe banned.
As others have said, if you don’t want any comments on your point of view, then get a Livejournal. I for one will continue to tell you to stuff it when you say all straight people suck just because a particular straight person did something to get on your delicate nerves.
Depends. Occasionally people are ranting and feeling sorry for themselves based on a mischaracterization of the situation, outright falsehoods, or no reason whatsoever. If you want to supply links and discuss specific threads, we can do that, but I can’t agree to just nod in agreement with every gripe that pops up.
Unfortunately, even when you qualify, people ignore it and/or it doesn’t help.
Here’s a question - what if you post something questionable, come back the next day and say, “Hey, folks, I apologize. I was just venting steam. I really don’t think that AT ALL and it came out wrong, and it was said in anger/frustration.” Can that be accepted, or will this forever besmirch them as “we finally saw what you really feel?”
Michael Ellis, I hate you, you clever twit.
And for the record, I have a LiveJournal and use it regularly. I enjoy, however, venting to a much larger audience and getting helpful, supportive feedback here.
Another point - AFAIK, you can’t swear up a storm in MPSIMS like you can in The Pit, so that’s why a lot of mundane pointless rants end up there.
Oh, and leave it to my new bestest buddy TaxGuy to pop in and be a dick. You rock, buddy! But no, I’m not going out on a date with you, so stop hounding me, you big lug!
I would tend to think it would be perfectly acceptable, Esprix. In fact, many of us have done so and have been met with a fairly comforting response. It does depend, however, on where you post your apology. If you post it in the Pit, you will always get some people who don’t take you at your word and who will throw your earlier thread up in your face. If you post it in MPSIMS (which is probably where it ought to be), you will most likely be received rather warmly. I’d think people would gain respect for you for having begun that apology thread.
And of course it also depends on how nasty your original thread became (by “you,” of course, I mean “anyone,” not Esprix). If you had this long, drawn-out thread in which you insulted everyone over and over, people might be loath to accept any apology and would be hesitant to believe you’re sincere.
