Uniting not dividing: Adopt an "opposition" Doper

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

In light of all the partisan bickering that forms the vast majority of these message boards, it’s time for a little civility. So here’s what I want you to do.

Choose a board member who holds a contrary view to yours on a significant issue but who you otherwise find to be pleasant, intelligent, well-spoken, thought-provoking, funny (in a positive way), or who otherwise you might actually enjoy having a face-to-face conversation with. Tell us who they are and why you like them. You don’t have to gush or fawn; just a few complimentary words will do.

A few ground rules are in order:

1) No backhanded compliments or thinly-disguised insults, by which I mean stuff like this:

“Despite being a godless hellbound pervert who should be castrated for his depravity, RimBeau often makes me laugh.”

or

“KerryOn has shown himself to be much less mentally defective than most liberals.”

This is not to discourage good-natured ribbing, but if it might look mean don’t say it. And don’t use this as an opportunity to trash their position either; we get enough of that elsewhere.

2) No taking potshots at other posters like so:

“Unlike BushTucker who clearly only has one DNA helix, RepubliBob often presents a rational defense of his views.”

3) Try to pick someone whose views are genuinely different from your own. Not like this:

“LeftButt might only want the Democrats to ban firearms instead of guns, knives and pointed sticks as I do, but she has shown herself willing to listen to other views.”

**4) By significant subject I mean politics, religion, gun control, abortion, that sort of thing. ** Topics such as whether Jar-Jar Binks should be boiled alive or disembowelled and then boiled alive, or whether Keira Knightly or Scarlett Johannsen is hotter, are not significant topics for the purpose of this exercise, no matter how strongly you may feel about them.

5) If you genuinely can’t say anything nice about people with other views, don’t say anything at all. And get some perspective, goddamit.

BTW names used in the above examples were created for illustrative (and comic) purposes, and were not intended to represent specific board members. If by accident I’ve used a name that is actually in use, I offer my sincerest apologies.

Let the healing begin.

2

And to begin with, I’ll pick ExTank as someone who, despite my disagreement with his political leanings, has often presented coherent, intelligent and sometimes quite funny posts on a variety of topics. His observations on gun control have made me reconsider some of my long-held beliefs (not necessarily change, mind you, but reconsider nonetheless), and despite his attempts to persuade me to eat cold beans has been most genial wherever I’ve encountered him.

Right: who’s next?

3

Which side is Liberal? I want Liberal to be my buddy! (Hopefully he is of the “opposite” stripe from me: I’m almost annoyingly left-leaning, at least around these parts people find it annoying [see my location for the state I live in :):)])

I suspect that although Liberal might profess to be from the “opposite” camp, we have a lot of beliefs in common. I often find his posts to be insightful, humorous, and to express a viewpoint that others in the same thread seemingly have not even thought of.

-ggurl, who is probably destined to remain anonymous on these boards for some reason, although in real life she sticks out like a sore thumb. :smiley:

P.S. [fanclub chick] Ummm, does this mean that we could be penpals now, or IM each other, or something?? [/fanclub]

4

heh, those were good fake names.

5

Despite having a head like a testicle and no political sense or manners whatseover, I find Gyrate to be… er, no, gotta rethink this.

6

Ha! Head like a testicle. I’m gonna say that to him all the time when I see him next.

7

Boys, boys…grownups are talking here. Go play outside.

A few added points for the OP:

The person you choose doesn’t have to be someone you’ve personally gone head-to-head with, just someone whose views you disagree with (on whatever topic).

And you can mention more than one if you’re feeling particularly magnanimous.

8

Quiet, Testicle head, Mommy and Daddy are hijacking.

9

Sorry, “Mommy”.

So much for peace and reconciliation. Does anyone actually want to respond to the OP, or should I give up and just go thump paul?

10

Well, it’s not like you don’t know where i’ll be tonight and most of tomorrow, Spartacus.

11

Brutus has a wonderful sense of humor. As long as we stayed off politics, I could easily imagine enjoying having a beer with him.

12

And by the way, my responding to the OP should not be taken as an indication that I disagree with your plan to thump paul.

13

I married mine.

14

Does he have a head like a testicle?

:slight_smile:

15

Oh, goody. Early in, and there is such a range of choices still available. Hmmmmmm…

OK. I dibs Reeder! I admire his passion, and we can talk cars if all else fails. We are both older than most of you young whippersnappers, although not as old as DavidSimmons(!), so we can sit back, pop a brew, and snipe at all the young fools these days. :smiley:

16

Darn. Liberal and Brutus have been picked. Their political and religious views are as far apart from mine as possible, but I admire both and think they have a great sense of humor.

ummm…

Got to think some more.

17

gobear is an atheist, which I am not, and I find him smart, fair, funny, and good.

18

How funny! I’d scrolled down thinking I’d take vanilla, and there she went and put herself handily on the side I’d meant to put her on. :slight_smile: She’s an outspoken Christian, entirely unlike me, and we’d disagree a lot about ethics, morals, and appropriateness in many areas, but she’s thoughtful and kind and seems like a good mom. I’m sure in person she’s very sweet and nice to be around.

19

Crap. I thought for sure no one would have picked Brutus this early. In that case, I’m adopting Starving Artist before EddyTeddyFreddy shows up. He’s a genuinely good guy, despite being wrong about everything. :wink:

20

I came to this thread specifically to adopt Brutus. A dollar late and a day short…

While Brutus and I hold similar conservative views, he’s anti-gay marriage and I’m not. But he’s funny as sin and I like a sense of humor.

I wonder what Trunk’s political views are. If he’s a liberal, maybe I’ll adopt him.