Topic 31: Polemic
Jun. 25th, 2012 04:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
java_fiendOnce again, I lay my entry on the altar of the mighty Idol gods. This should be an interesting week...
WARNING: The entry below may contain strong thoughts, excessive snarkiness and feelings that you may or may not agree with. If you find yourself easily flummoxed, flustered, offended, confounded, perplexed or bordering on tears, cries of anguish, rending of garments and gnashing of teeth when exposed to worldviews that may not conform to your own, please stop reading now. Go back to your bubble and think warm happy thoughts about rainbows and puppies!
Breaking News: People with strong opinions who don’t necessarily think exactly the way you do exist on the internets. High Drama at eleven!
I know. Knock me over with a feather. I was shocked too.
I’ve been around these here internets long enough that I’ve taken part in quite a few food fights. I’ve taken my share of lumps and handed out a few of my own. Some have led to some very productive discussions about issue X while others have been a “strap on the armor and break out the flamethrower” type of free-for-all where no holds are barred and no punches are pulled. There really is no point to those as the combatants more times than not, walk away virtually-bloodied with hard feelings, bruised egos and plots to burn their opponent’s house to the ground.
Personally speaking, I prefer the former. I enjoy a spirited discussion, debate and exchange of thoughts and ideas. I enjoy hearing the thoughts that others bring to the table. I enjoy learning and broadening my mind. I enjoy the viewpoints of others even if it’s steeped in a belief I don’t necessarily agree with. But sometimes, I find a new way of looking at an issue or gain a piece of information I didn’t previously have that casts it all in a whole new light for me. Honest, open discussions and debates can be thoroughly enlightening and enriching experiences. If you have an open mind and let them be.
WARNING: Mention of primates and bodily functions below. If you have been traumatized by a primate, have a weak constitution and are easily squicked out, grossed out or entirely heebed out by mentions of any manner of bodily function or fluid, stop reading now!
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case and it seems that more times than not, when a food fight breaks out on the internets, it resembles a pack of out-of-control chimps squawking at the top of their lungs, not listening to one another or comprehending what is even being said. It seems that some are simply content to sit back and fling poo at anybody who happens by their cage.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is where I find myself today… inside the monkey cage, covered in about fifteen pounds of monkey crap. Having endured my share of slings and arrow over the years, some very well deserved and some not, I long ago learned to pick my battles. And there are simply some hills I’m not willing to die on. Sometimes, it’s best to just lay out and wait for the waters to calm down a bit because it’s simply not worth the effort or the irritation.
This would not be one of those times.
WARNING: The word “politics” is used below. If you are easily triggered, offended, flabbergasted or otherwise put off by the use of the word “politics” even when it’s in a non-political, non-debate setting, please stop reading now!
See, contrary to common wisdom, I have no problem with anybody taking issue with anything and/or everything I rant about. In point of fact, I encourage discussion about the topics I am writing about. Anybody who knows me knows that I’m an incredibly passionate person and that I tend to express myself… well… rather passionately. Politics is one of the passions I hold dearest to my heart and I will talk to anybody about anything and everything on the political spectrum. Discussion and debate, sharing our ideas and our stories… those things can help us grow as people, they help our thoughts and beliefs mature and evolve in any endeavor, be it religious, political, creative… anything. You cannot grow if you exist inside of a bubble. Even if that bubble is totally awesome and is filled with unicorns, fuzzy puppies and magical, shiny thoughts.
Some might be content with living inside of a shell where outside thought and opinion cannot penetrate. Some might be content to live a life devoid of new ideas and evolving thought processes. If that’s where you’re comfortable, I say good on you. I’m in no position to tell you how to live or what to think. But that sort of existence isn’t good enough for me. Not by a long stretch.
But that’s just how I roll.
Where I *do* have a problem however, is when somebody who is clearly not interested in an honest intellectual exchange of ideas, decides to toss out a passive-aggressive cruise missile and then use a pack of lies, distortions and misinterpretations to paint me as a horrible person. When my character and integrity are unjustly called into question… well… that is a hill that I AM willing to die on.
I’m sure that some people are wondering just what in the bloody hell I’m rambling on about. Well, it seems that a couple of my recent posts have created quite the firestorm in some circles. A few people took extreme exception to my views and thoughts. Which, as I’ve already mentioned, I don’t have a problem with. What I do in fact have a huge problem with is how it’s been characterized. I won’t go into too much detail but there were just a couple of things I felt needed to be touched on.
WARNING: The word “religion” is used below. If your faith is so entirely fragile that it can’t withstand me using the word “religion” in a sentence in which I don’t actually discuss the merits of your religion, please, stop reading now!
My most recent entry was pretty much classified as an all-out, flamethrowing, bomb-dropping, Godzilla-stomping thermonuclear assault on the Christian faith. Please note, the word “religious” was used ONCE in that entire entry and it was NOT used in a way that denigrated or belittled said faith.
If it was the other entry being referenced as the aforementioned Godzilla-stomping, well I admit to including several sentences in that post that discussed how the Christian faith is being used as a tool of oppression by some members of a certain political party, this is true. But an all-out attack on the Christian faith and the Christian faithful? Hardly. It takes a stretch of epic proportions to come to that conclusion.
But as I said in BOTH of my entries… don’t take MY word for it. Please, go read both entries and judge for yourself. I once again submit Exhibit #1 and Exhibit #2 for your examination.
I feel that the second point that needed to be mentioned was in which I was referred to as a name-caller in my entries. And this is how myth is allowed to morph into fact if left unchallenged. Nowhere, in either of the posts that some have found so offensive did I in fact, call anybody names. Not once. If I had, it would have looked MUCH different, trust me.
WARNING: In which, I give an example of name-calling but this is not a reflection of any reality in my works. There are bound to be words some might find offensive or entirely all icky so if you don’t like oogy words, please stop reading now! Also… the standard disclaimer that this is a work of fiction, any similarities to persons dead or alive are entirely coincidental applies here.
Now, if I were to go on a name-calling jag, it likely would look something like this… “You are a drooling, mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging troglodyte with the intellectual capacity of a Skittle.”
See? See what I did there?
If you’ve read the posts in question, did you actually see anything that looked even remotely similar to that? If not, there’s a reason you didn’t… it never happened.
Yet the label “name-caller” was attributed to me regardless of the fact that I actually never called anybody any names. People scrolling by the threads I am referencing might see those remarks, have no context for the situation and simply conclude that I’m throwing bombs, bashing Christians and calling people names because I’m a big ol’ meaniehead monster.
Which is entirely unfair and thoroughly reprehensible because in fact, I did neither.
The only realistic conclusion I can personally draw from this whole clusterf**k is that some folks didn’t like my politics, don’t like my message and don’t like the fact that I will speak plainly and without sugarcoating things. For whatever reason, my opinions threaten them and so they launch attacks upon me. Attacks that have no basis in reality, mind you. And attacks that they didn’t actually strike at me directly with. All of the attacking being done was actually in a very passive-aggressive, indirect manner. Never once did I receive a comment that said, “hey, you’re sort of a douche and here’s why…” Never once did I receive a comment that said, “I totally disagree with point X, Y, Z…” No argument to the substance of my posts was ever offered but there was an outpouring of outrage over how I presented it. Nope, it was all whispered behind my back but done in a way that anybody who happened by could only conclude that I am simply a horrible human being who enjoys eating babies and kicking puppies.
At least I have the courage of my convictions to state what I feel and what I believe in public, for everybody to see and am willing to stand in and take the blows that come with it. I don’t besmirch somebody’s character and then scurry back into the woodpile to hide.
You may not agree with my politics or the messages I am endorsing. And that’s fine. As I’ve stated many times, I have no issue at all with disagreement. But I don’t suffer fools. And if you’re going to purposefully misconstrue my words, falsely attribute words and actions to me and paint me to be something horrible that I’m not? That's beyond the pale and makes you not only a coward but one ginormous hypocrite.
You're entitled to your opinions but you are not entitled to your own set of facts. And I call absolute bullshit on using lies and distortions to call my character and integrity into question.
Damn... and I promised my cat that I wouldn't get off on another polemic rant this week.
This has been my entry for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
therealljidol Season 8, Topic 31: Polemic. As always, thank you so much for supporting me. Sorry that this one got a little touchy, but it was very personal to me. I appreciate you all so much for stopping by to give me a read, guys. It means a lot to me. Don't forget to swing on by the polls... if we have a poll... read some of the other fantastic stuff and spread a little voting-love around!
WARNING: The entry below may contain strong thoughts, excessive snarkiness and feelings that you may or may not agree with. If you find yourself easily flummoxed, flustered, offended, confounded, perplexed or bordering on tears, cries of anguish, rending of garments and gnashing of teeth when exposed to worldviews that may not conform to your own, please stop reading now. Go back to your bubble and think warm happy thoughts about rainbows and puppies!
Breaking News: People with strong opinions who don’t necessarily think exactly the way you do exist on the internets. High Drama at eleven!
I know. Knock me over with a feather. I was shocked too.
I’ve been around these here internets long enough that I’ve taken part in quite a few food fights. I’ve taken my share of lumps and handed out a few of my own. Some have led to some very productive discussions about issue X while others have been a “strap on the armor and break out the flamethrower” type of free-for-all where no holds are barred and no punches are pulled. There really is no point to those as the combatants more times than not, walk away virtually-bloodied with hard feelings, bruised egos and plots to burn their opponent’s house to the ground.
Personally speaking, I prefer the former. I enjoy a spirited discussion, debate and exchange of thoughts and ideas. I enjoy hearing the thoughts that others bring to the table. I enjoy learning and broadening my mind. I enjoy the viewpoints of others even if it’s steeped in a belief I don’t necessarily agree with. But sometimes, I find a new way of looking at an issue or gain a piece of information I didn’t previously have that casts it all in a whole new light for me. Honest, open discussions and debates can be thoroughly enlightening and enriching experiences. If you have an open mind and let them be.
WARNING: Mention of primates and bodily functions below. If you have been traumatized by a primate, have a weak constitution and are easily squicked out, grossed out or entirely heebed out by mentions of any manner of bodily function or fluid, stop reading now!
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case and it seems that more times than not, when a food fight breaks out on the internets, it resembles a pack of out-of-control chimps squawking at the top of their lungs, not listening to one another or comprehending what is even being said. It seems that some are simply content to sit back and fling poo at anybody who happens by their cage.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is where I find myself today… inside the monkey cage, covered in about fifteen pounds of monkey crap. Having endured my share of slings and arrow over the years, some very well deserved and some not, I long ago learned to pick my battles. And there are simply some hills I’m not willing to die on. Sometimes, it’s best to just lay out and wait for the waters to calm down a bit because it’s simply not worth the effort or the irritation.
This would not be one of those times.
WARNING: The word “politics” is used below. If you are easily triggered, offended, flabbergasted or otherwise put off by the use of the word “politics” even when it’s in a non-political, non-debate setting, please stop reading now!
See, contrary to common wisdom, I have no problem with anybody taking issue with anything and/or everything I rant about. In point of fact, I encourage discussion about the topics I am writing about. Anybody who knows me knows that I’m an incredibly passionate person and that I tend to express myself… well… rather passionately. Politics is one of the passions I hold dearest to my heart and I will talk to anybody about anything and everything on the political spectrum. Discussion and debate, sharing our ideas and our stories… those things can help us grow as people, they help our thoughts and beliefs mature and evolve in any endeavor, be it religious, political, creative… anything. You cannot grow if you exist inside of a bubble. Even if that bubble is totally awesome and is filled with unicorns, fuzzy puppies and magical, shiny thoughts.
Some might be content with living inside of a shell where outside thought and opinion cannot penetrate. Some might be content to live a life devoid of new ideas and evolving thought processes. If that’s where you’re comfortable, I say good on you. I’m in no position to tell you how to live or what to think. But that sort of existence isn’t good enough for me. Not by a long stretch.
But that’s just how I roll.
Where I *do* have a problem however, is when somebody who is clearly not interested in an honest intellectual exchange of ideas, decides to toss out a passive-aggressive cruise missile and then use a pack of lies, distortions and misinterpretations to paint me as a horrible person. When my character and integrity are unjustly called into question… well… that is a hill that I AM willing to die on.
I’m sure that some people are wondering just what in the bloody hell I’m rambling on about. Well, it seems that a couple of my recent posts have created quite the firestorm in some circles. A few people took extreme exception to my views and thoughts. Which, as I’ve already mentioned, I don’t have a problem with. What I do in fact have a huge problem with is how it’s been characterized. I won’t go into too much detail but there were just a couple of things I felt needed to be touched on.
WARNING: The word “religion” is used below. If your faith is so entirely fragile that it can’t withstand me using the word “religion” in a sentence in which I don’t actually discuss the merits of your religion, please, stop reading now!
My most recent entry was pretty much classified as an all-out, flamethrowing, bomb-dropping, Godzilla-stomping thermonuclear assault on the Christian faith. Please note, the word “religious” was used ONCE in that entire entry and it was NOT used in a way that denigrated or belittled said faith.
If it was the other entry being referenced as the aforementioned Godzilla-stomping, well I admit to including several sentences in that post that discussed how the Christian faith is being used as a tool of oppression by some members of a certain political party, this is true. But an all-out attack on the Christian faith and the Christian faithful? Hardly. It takes a stretch of epic proportions to come to that conclusion.
But as I said in BOTH of my entries… don’t take MY word for it. Please, go read both entries and judge for yourself. I once again submit Exhibit #1 and Exhibit #2 for your examination.
I feel that the second point that needed to be mentioned was in which I was referred to as a name-caller in my entries. And this is how myth is allowed to morph into fact if left unchallenged. Nowhere, in either of the posts that some have found so offensive did I in fact, call anybody names. Not once. If I had, it would have looked MUCH different, trust me.
WARNING: In which, I give an example of name-calling but this is not a reflection of any reality in my works. There are bound to be words some might find offensive or entirely all icky so if you don’t like oogy words, please stop reading now! Also… the standard disclaimer that this is a work of fiction, any similarities to persons dead or alive are entirely coincidental applies here.
Now, if I were to go on a name-calling jag, it likely would look something like this… “You are a drooling, mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging troglodyte with the intellectual capacity of a Skittle.”
See? See what I did there?
If you’ve read the posts in question, did you actually see anything that looked even remotely similar to that? If not, there’s a reason you didn’t… it never happened.
Yet the label “name-caller” was attributed to me regardless of the fact that I actually never called anybody any names. People scrolling by the threads I am referencing might see those remarks, have no context for the situation and simply conclude that I’m throwing bombs, bashing Christians and calling people names because I’m a big ol’ meaniehead monster.
Which is entirely unfair and thoroughly reprehensible because in fact, I did neither.
The only realistic conclusion I can personally draw from this whole clusterf**k is that some folks didn’t like my politics, don’t like my message and don’t like the fact that I will speak plainly and without sugarcoating things. For whatever reason, my opinions threaten them and so they launch attacks upon me. Attacks that have no basis in reality, mind you. And attacks that they didn’t actually strike at me directly with. All of the attacking being done was actually in a very passive-aggressive, indirect manner. Never once did I receive a comment that said, “hey, you’re sort of a douche and here’s why…” Never once did I receive a comment that said, “I totally disagree with point X, Y, Z…” No argument to the substance of my posts was ever offered but there was an outpouring of outrage over how I presented it. Nope, it was all whispered behind my back but done in a way that anybody who happened by could only conclude that I am simply a horrible human being who enjoys eating babies and kicking puppies.
At least I have the courage of my convictions to state what I feel and what I believe in public, for everybody to see and am willing to stand in and take the blows that come with it. I don’t besmirch somebody’s character and then scurry back into the woodpile to hide.
You may not agree with my politics or the messages I am endorsing. And that’s fine. As I’ve stated many times, I have no issue at all with disagreement. But I don’t suffer fools. And if you’re going to purposefully misconstrue my words, falsely attribute words and actions to me and paint me to be something horrible that I’m not? That's beyond the pale and makes you not only a coward but one ginormous hypocrite.
You're entitled to your opinions but you are not entitled to your own set of facts. And I call absolute bullshit on using lies and distortions to call my character and integrity into question.
Damn... and I promised my cat that I wouldn't get off on another polemic rant this week.
This has been my entry for
therealljidol Season 8, Topic 31: Polemic. As always, thank you so much for supporting me. Sorry that this one got a little touchy, but it was very personal to me. I appreciate you all so much for stopping by to give me a read, guys. It means a lot to me. Don't forget to swing on by the polls... if we have a poll... read some of the other fantastic stuff and spread a little voting-love around!
