Ah, thanks.
What the hell? Did the pages of your platitude a day calendar get stuck together? Let me help you. This bad. That’s what we’re getting currently. Get it?
Thanks for proving my point.
Wow, the newbie offence. And earlier, we had Dex with the, “I haven’t read the thread, but here’s my opinion anyway.” If we can just get someone in here claiming to have emails from anonymous supporters, we’d have the trifecta of Chickenshit Non-Arguments in this thread.
And don’t you dare talk back to me, Garfield. I have way more posts than you do, which obviously makes me the better poster, if not better all-around human being.
Actually, the point of my post wasn’t “You’re new, so shut up.” It was “I’ve been here for seven years, and I’ve kept my nose clean the entire time. Please, someone who hasn’t been around as long as me tell me what else should I do to ‘earn’ resepect. Maybe throw the administrators an annual ChrismaHanuKwanzakah party?”
(Note: See, when asked for a clarification, I provide one. I guess if I was following by example, I would just not respond to you.)
Trying to weasel out of what you said. Great way to earn respect.
I said what I meant, then I clarified it. You can choose to believe me or not.
Odd parallel to the reason for this thread, eh?
Twice I have tried to read this thread. I just can’t do it.
I understand anger and the need to express it. For a long time I was a very angry person and I didn’t express it in constructive ways. No one can decide for you what you should say and what you shouldn’t.
So if having an apology is important to you, then fight a losing battle. But you will feel like a loser. Taking a stand without demanding anything may make you feel better. Letting the mods know how you feel when one calls you a liar is fair.
And if you do not regret saying anything you’ve said, silence is appropriate. If you have not abused your position of power, silence is appropriate. If you have not tried to intimidate, silence is appropriate. If you implied that someone lied and she did, then your silence is appropriate. Otherwise, your silence should tell you something about you.
Pardon me if I just can’t understand a community of intolerance right now. This is a total hijack. Forgive me. I’ve been keeping this stuffed:
On April 2, a tornado stuck the town where I grew up and what will always be “home” in my heart. It destroyed a church I loved and damaged over one hundred gravestones that dated back to the early 1880’s. My grandfather was buried there. I’ve had no word of the condition of loved ones’ graves. The cemetery is in shambles, but part of the great magnolia tree still stands.
Another tornado destroyed the community where my mother grew up and damaged the churchyard where my maternal kin are buried. There are almost no houses left on the seven mile road.
Twenty-four people died within a sixteen mile radius of my childhood home. Four of them were from the familyl of a childhood friend. And F-3 (almost F-4) tornado passed within a mile and a half of the house where my parents lived for fifty years. I received a report today from a friend that nothing was touched at my old homeplace. The damage began 7/10 of a mile away. It’s taken a month to find out.
I return you now to your demand for apologies and perfection and veiled threats. I acknowledge that this is an inappropriate off-topic post, sort of.
Catsix, I apologize for formerly forming opinions about your “tone.” I’m bad about doing that. The “Dude” really did make me smile and put you in a new light. You have a clear slate with me and I hope that you will do the same for me if I’ve pissed you off.
Jenny, I gave you as honest an opinion as I’ve given any mod at the end of the year in email. I didn’t hear from you, but that was cool. If you didn’t receive it, however, I would want to know because I think you would want to read it.
For the rest of you who have muddled through this post, I apologize. I finally got the newspapers and the pictures of the destruction today. I needed a place to cry. You are my other home community.
Additionally, Muffin, tell me how one ‘earns’ respect in your world? Like I said, I’ve been here seven years. I don’t recall ever being on the wrong end of a moderator action, except I think once early in my years here when I posted too much of something that was copyrighted. I’ve answered questions in GQ and ATMB, helped new folks figure out what’s going on, etc. That’s not enough? What is?
I would think, since we’re trying to attract and keep paying members, the Administration wouldn’t even do something like that to a guest, let alone someone who’s been around a while. Maybe it’s 'cause I’m only good for half the full membership rate every year.
On preview, Zoe, I’m sorry for what happened to your town. I live in a tornado-prone area as well. One of my most vivid memories of childhood was being rushed to the neighbors’ basement, then emerging to find most of the neighborhood ok, but one single house just a few blocks away completely destroyed.
“I’ve been here a long time,” is a valid defence. But that’s not what you said. You said, “I’ve been here longer than you.” Which is chickenshit, and doesn’t prove a damn thing, especially when you’ve only been here a year longer than the person you’re flinging that at. Also, I don’t think those last two sentences can reasonably be infered from, “You should shut your fucking mouth until you know what you’re talking about.” I’m all for deep subtext, but that’s a reach.
That said, merely not getting in trouble doesn’t earn you respect, either. Making regular, valuable, positive contributions to the board, in the form of reasoned argument, unique insight, or reliable knowledge is what gets you respect. I’m not saying you haven’t done that; I honestly don’t know. I’m just saying the “keeping your nose clean” is simply meeting the basic expectations of being a poster here. Respect is earned by exceeding those expectations.
At least, that’s how I see it.
Ok, how about this: It’s obvious my post didn’t convey my message well. I was pissed off when I wrote it, because someone was telling me I didn’t deserve respect at a board I’ve actively participated in by asking questions, answering questions, helping new people, and starting and participating in debates for seven years. I know this board means a lot to a lot of people, because I’m one of those people. Imagine being around this place, exposed to these views and this level of intelligence during your formative high school years. I was. I’ve met some great people through this place, and had some great times. I’ve contributed some, and learned a lot more. That’s why this is important to me, and that’s why the comment that I don’t deserve respect here pissed me off so much.
I apologize for not taking the time to cool down and think about how best to convey my thoughts.
That said, I disagree with Muffin’s assertion that I got as much respect as I deserved, not only because (IMO) I have done those things, but because I and others were treated with less respect than I feel even guests should be treated with.
Fair 'nuff.
From Garfield226’s pursuing TubaDiva a year ago: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5945513&postcount=61
And again today, in his ongoing pursuit of TubaDiva:
So let’s have it. Precisely what occured between June 1999 and November 2000 that is of such magnitude that it would be appropriate that I now should keep my “fucking mouth” “shut”. Let’s have the citation.
That was about respect too. Several people were saying that the objections to her return were meaningless since they were coming from folks who were new. I added my voice to show that at least one person who had been around a while disagreed with the action then.
If you didn’t notice, I apologized for my comment and explained what I meant. Otherwise, I have nothing else to say to you. Unless, of course, you’d care to answer my question…
I trust that you will stop pursuing TubaDiva, now that you recognize that you too make hasty posts.
Ah, but the difference is I did not threaten you, and even if I had, I’m not in any position to carry out any threat you may have percieved.
I also clarified my post when asked, and apologized since it was warranted.
You may have an excellent posting history Garfield, but you don’t deserve any respect in this thread, based on your behaviour in this thread. Regardless of the rights or wrongs of the boards administration, you are coming across as a shrill, whining, idiot, who doesn’t have the good sense to know when to stop banging their head against a brick wall.
Why don’t you just stop? It has been clear from the very first post that you will not get what you are looking for.
Stop. Just stop.
Considering I asked TubaDiva the question well before I started this thread, I’d still say I have a claim.
Anyhow, as I’ve said, you’re welcome to your opinion as I am to mine. I’ve paid my money just as you have, and I intend to post my opinions until I’m no longer allowed.
A claim to what?
One way to earn respect is to treat others with respect, and behave courteously when exploring differences and working toward resolutions. The manner of the extended pursuit of TubaDiva by you and catsix has not reflected this.
Look back trough this thread of yours. Has it brought anything to the attention of TPTB that had not already been thoroughly aired? No. Has it antagonized one or more mod to speak harshly? Yes. Therefore what have you accomplished? Nothing. That is an example of how you lose respect.
What it all comes down to is that people speak hastily when they are antagonized. From over a year back, you and catsix antagonized TubaDiva, such that when she spoke hastily a few days ago, you and catsix played it for all it was worth. In the last few posts in this thread, I have pressed you, causing you to speak hastily. You have demonstrated that you are unwiling to offer the same consideration to TubaDiva and other mods that you hope to receive for yourself. That is a further example of how you lose respect.
Quite frankly, you have a lot of growing up to do.