"Thank You Hater"

Glad you enjoyed it... it certainly made me smile when I first saw it!

Good attitude!

HA! Agree with you on this uni, sometimes it is just hilarious. Oh, and I love the "have a word with yourself" from the clip, too funny.

I like your “It's all for fun, and it's all a lark...get a life” attitude.

But on re-reading, I just wanted to say that I don’t entirely agree with your premise that people attack others because they are “unable to handle the truth”. Might it not be that the attacker is equally convinced that s/he is the one in possession of the “truth”? Isn’t that precisely what causes the conflict in the first place?

One obvious example is ANY thread about the death penalty, Any article about it is guaranteed to produce lots of emotional arguments and counterarguments.

If, for example, I state that I am opposed to the death penalty (I am) – it is only a matter of time before someone inevitably counters me by insisting that the death penalty is a necessity – and will undoubtedly hold this to be the Truth. Then, after going through all the usual arguments – justice, fitting punishment, deterrent, financial considerations – the next step is usually a personal attack... it usually starts with “bleeding heart liberal” and escalates from there to the unprintable.

Now, I personally believe that my view of the death penalty as a barbaric and deeply flawed form of “justice” is indeed the Truth. But I also recognise that my opponent is equally convinced that s/he is in sole possession of the Truth, and is deeply frustrated at being unable to persuade me otherwise.

What then?

Why does my opponent get angry and abusive, while I don’t?
Isn’t that just a personality trait, rather than any measure of my moral superiority or “truthfulness”?

In short: isn’t it exactly the opposite of what you posit? Isn't it just that those who are too inflexibly convinced of their own Truth get incredibly angry when others refuse to accept that Truth?

Isn’t the real problem intransigence and unwillingness to listen to each other?

Yes, there are. One of my favorites is when a Left-winger wished cancer on me. That was even more creative than the Liberal who, when I casually mentioned to someone that I was taking a trip, wished my plane would crash.

I have seen similar and equally cruel attacks by people of all political persuasions. I don't think it's a "right vs left" thing. It's just an inability to articulate a viewpoint or counter an argument.

Possibly, but there are underlying beliefs, values and principles that drive people. We can get any "data" to suppose almost anything. But people refuse to really look at their underlying belief system.

The fundamental view of human nature, society and what is achieveable is dramatically different with Left-wingers and Conservatives. These fundamental differences result in policies.

Errm... Iooks like they've chosen to post to my PM box instead

:-(

shame of those left-winger liberals....they should have told you to have a good trip....actually, a good trip would probably do wonders for your political point of view. ;-)

Your post is very revealing.

oh damn, not revealing again....and here I thought I was being covert. d'oh!

Ah -- now that's what I call getting into the spirit of things..!

Well you know :)

Wow, 3 hours have passed and none of your pals have shown up over here! Never mind, I'm sure they'll be all over this post by tomorrow :-).

Pwr 2 the prudent progressive independent LEFTIES!
GUILLOTINE MEDIOCRITY in all its forms!

It doesn't really matter which commenter made such a threat... hearing the exact same things that I have occasionally seen on forums such as this repeated almost verbatim in the video really takes the edge off them and shows how silly they are. Well, that's how it worked for me anyway.

people who say vile things like that to others are often already harboring their own cancer....sad

Metaphorically speaking, yes.

I'm going to miss you Kenny & Congaboy going at it

It just won't be the same! :)

I'm not really sure what happened, I got a PM from one of the posters letting me know!

...and what a blessed day that was! 1 puppet-pal troll less!

Agree! Wish I knew the laundromat in question, send them a thank you card!

The good news is that's one down -- 10 gazillion left to go :-(!

Hell yes! :)

Are you claiming that I have a sockpuppet (or am one)? Please be clear, thank you.

Some Left-winger actually sent hate mail to my Current email address.

Can you imagine that?

I don't know why they just didn't send it to Jerry Springer! :)

Now see there? I think you like me quite a lot :-) ... why else would you drop everything and run right over here? I suppose I could learn to like you too :-).
And about losing the sock at the laundromat -- I could have been wrong -- maybe you have your very own laundry room in your house; or maybe you send your laundry out to be done by someone .... The bottom line is you misread what I said, I would never dream of accusing you of something you would never do!

Pwr 2 the prudent progressive independent LEFTIES!
GUILLOTINE MEDIOCRITY in all its forms!

So, you refuse to answer the question. I wrote it as succinctly and clear as possible. Why not just answer it? You accused me of something, so why not answer and clarify it?

Some Left-winger actually sent hate mail to my Current email address.

Why do you think the Leftist would do that? Any guesses?

"...why else would you drop everything and run right over here?"

Perhaps simply because I sent a PM notifying him of this post -- and I did so because I recalled that he had mentioned recently that someone wished cancer on him... one of the threats mentioned in the video.*

I have no issues with people expressing different political viewpoints.
It's insults and incivility that are the problem -- as I think the video makes clear.

*EDIT to add: So I was hoping for his input based on this personal experience, and am glad to see he accepted the invitation and turned up to comment

If anyone is banned for violating clear-cut guidelines, that’s up to the site moderators.
If anyone is banned for their political views, that’s bad news.

Missed that - got booted?

Yup, thats what I've heard!

I don't think it was his political views, more like his constant ridiculousness of poking fun at Liberals with outrageous posts! He was also a very racist person, and probably a sock for someone as well. The efforts to get rid of socks are on going, don't be surprised when it is found out that some of the regulars around here have been sporting more than one account!

Oh well -- I guess we'll never know. I have to admit this is not a name that I had taken any note of (probably posted on topics I wasn't really paying any attention to.)

I'm aware that socks aren't part of the dress code around here and that this seems to be quite strictly enforced. I'm fine with that, as it's a pretty clear-cut rule: barefoot is best. ;-)

What constitutes "abuse" seems to be dealt with more subjectively, though.

{What constitutes "abuse" seems to be dealt with more subjectively, though.}

For Left-wingers, not coddling and agreeing totally with them is considered abuse.

because you would flag it then try to her band from the site.

I noticed that -- what happened???? I mean in the grand scheme of things, congoboy wasn't any worse than any of the others (like mishima, dcrog, ahiguy:-). Does that mean mishi lost one of his socks at the laundromat?????
AND ... I posted this vid to twitter and fb -- did my part to get it going viral :-)!

I have tried in a number of comments to put my answer as succinctly as possible -- I honestly don't know what more I can say that will clarify it any better. And before you consider insulting my choice of words or description of nothing more than losing a sock (Goddess knows I have lost my share of socks over the years -- there just seems to be something about some washing machines that just sucks them right up :-) I would think carefully as you wouldn't want to do anything that would insult me personally, would you????

Pwr 2 the prudent progressive independent LEFTIES!
GUILLOTINE MEDIOCRITY in all its forms!

I agree, Mishima.

What? Did they boot him, or did he tire of us?

they are trying to convert you. be strong. do not give in to the temptation to be rational. it is a disease.

Booted!

sighhh....I will actually miss him. He could be fun at times, and he wasn't afraid to laugh at himself occasionally....something tells me he will be back under a different avatar though....

I don't believe it for a second, anyone who did he would have had them flagged and banned immediately.

I prefer to think he's crushin' on me :-)!

I agree. And I think that is exactly what Isabel Fay is saying in this video.

I subscribe to Ivana Trumps' ideal -- "Don't get mad, get everything Dahling!" Or, don't get mad, get even :-)!

Okay, I'm giving it a shot.

So, if I don't get mad what can I do? Looking for alternatives I enter a Google search "Don't get mad get *"

Some popular responses

5. Don't get mad get money. I could use money.
4. Don't get mad get glad. That sounds like an advertisement.
3. Don't get mad get everything. Overachieving a bit?
2. Don't get mad get naked. I'd rather someone else get naked.

and of course the number one answer.

Don't get mad get even. While I've never advocated for revenge you will never know.

Any better responses out there?

Yes, reason helps. Hate usually starts from personalizing posts.

How about "Don't get mad, get maddening!"

Or from de-personalizing posters

"Or from de-personalizing posters"

Yes.

Now, there's the rub.

I have received abusive comments from people right across the political spectrum for my outspoken views on certain divisive issues.
The tendency to attack people of opposing views is not a right/left thing. Both are guilty.

There seems to be a tipping point, in debate, at which someone (anyone) who feels out of their depth and is no longer able to articulate their views on some specific topic just lashes out with a personal insult, or (really scraping the barrel here) with a visual such as an offensive video or image.

Again -- I emphasise that I do not believe this has anything to do with their political viewpoints, left or right... it is merely an expression of personal frustration by people who cannot bear to be on the losing side of an argument... something we surely all know from personal relationships.
The main problem (and I think the video reflects this nicely) is that people posting online tend to forget that there is actually a real person behind the keyboard.

Please, everybody: bear that in mind when you get angry.

Okay, now you're speaking my language. If that continues you might find yourself getting along here.

Yes, by devaluating them.

Beautifully put, Mollie. :-))

{There seems to be a tipping point, in debate, at which someone (anyone) who feels out of their depth and is no longer able to articulate their views on some specific topic just lashes out with a personal insult, or (really scraping the barrel here) with a visual such as an offensive video or image.}

You hit the nail squarely on the head. Yes, it happens both left and right, and in non-political issues, of course.

I will related a personal irritation: It is when people state something definitively, and then are not able - or even willing to try - to defend or explain it. You know, the, "That person is rotten to the core!" "Why is that?" "He just is." "But please explain it. I saw him helping some children." "You are a hater, too. You just want to help him in his rotten behavior!"

That sort of thing.

These people do not write, "I think" or "it seems." They assert something strongly, but when asked about it, there is absolutely nothing.

Even if a policy or an assertion "seems" right, then let's explore it. Answer question. Suppose you think, say, the French are very nationalistic. Well, maybe I will ask you simply why and to explain what you mean by "nationalistic." Why should that be looked at as a personal attack? Maybe I know about the French and think that they are no more nationalistic than most other people.

You have gotten negative votes, even though you have not attacked the Liberals.

Do you know why that is? It happens on EVERY forum I visit. Every one.

It is because you are not attacking me. For Liberals, if you are not part of their LEFT-WINGER BORG, you are the enemy. They do not want to have exchanges with me; I have been branded the enemy. Therefore, any person who is not attacking the enemy of the LIBERAL BORG becomes an enemy.

I gave you a votes up. I know you do not care, but just to let them know.....

Yes. F. Scott Fitzgerald was around these Left-wingers quite a bit. His comment about the Old Left whom he encountered is quite apropos:

"[W]hatever you say, they have ways of twisting it into shapes which put you into some lower category of mankind…and disparage you both intellectually and personally in the process."

Ooh-ooh I could wear my Madden Girl heels when I get maddening :-)!!!!

Pwr 2 the prudent progressive independent LEFTIES!
GUILLOTINE MEDIOCRITY in all its forms!

I agree with you wholeheartedly (including your examples)... so I look forward all the more to disagreeing with you on some political issue. ;-)

Yes, sweeping generalisations and intransigent stances make for dead-end conversations. What intrigues me – and what I feel I can genuinely learn from – is when someone with an opposing political viewpoint is actually able to explain to me how they have arrived at this particular opinion.

Now, admittedly, I may still disagree with them after that... but it certainly helps to know where they’re coming from. I don’t need to have my political views confirmed. I do enjoy having them challenged, though. Sometimes that strengthens my resolve on an issue. Sometimes it makes me rethink my own views.

Hm. Could be. I never did figure out the up/down-voting here.

Voting is VERY important to Left-wingers. They have their community and like reassurance and praise.

" I don’t need to have my political views confirmed. I do enjoy having them challenged, though. Sometimes that strengthens my resolve on an issue. Sometimes it makes me rethink my own views."

Same here. I have been to Conservative sites, and they are boring for me. I prefer to challenge and be challenged. I had two friends who were card-carrying members of the Communist Party: One was an American, and the other was when I was in Europe. We had great exchanges. I went to a "Party" meeting in America - he was trying to convert me.

I think the key was the confidence in their conclusions that both had. The American helped me to understand cognitively and emotionally HOW people can arrive at the conclusion that Communism is desirable.

Trying to trick me into writing "gibbon" are you?

I've never heard of a gibbon. Something tells me I should back up my hard drive before I google such a thing...

LOL -- it won't hurt. Trust me. Just another primate. I think the phrase may be simply a reference to the gibbons' known talent for brachiation. You'll be fine as long as you don't google the "w"-word. Now that might cause problems. ;-)

Ha! Made me lol! :)

Not sure whether to thank you or wish some dreadful plague upon you for that kind remark, wynne.
;-)