pan6467

This is MY opinion and MY opinion only. It is not fact but how I see the world today. Perhaps, it is how the world is, or perhaps it's just my own perception of reality.

There is a thread "What has happened to TFP?" I have read it and posted in it and since it's inception I have watched posts, applied those observations to the media and then people in real life.

I have come to the conclusion what is wrong with TFP, is the same thing that is wrong in our society today. That is a lack of diversity, understanding, tolerance and the build up of angst, hatred and the "you either agree with me or fuck you, you are ignorant" extremism.

No longer is there any middle ground. If you are a "Dem." you are a fucking liberal, freedom hating scumbag, who hates America". If you are a "Rep." you are a fascist, prejudiced, intolerant asshole, who believes Bush can do no wrong."

It's not that those labels are remotely true it's just the way perceptions are today and unfortunately the hatred stemming from politics has bled into every other aspect of society and life.

Everyone is now of the opinion you must agree with them, if not then they must attack you because their belief is the only way there is.

We, as a society, and here in TFP have made EVERYTHING a black and white issue, a battle ground of opinion of right and wrong, and of hate, prejudiced and bias.

When someone comes along and says there is a gray matter and that there is truth to both sides or offers an alternative not A or B.... they are dismissed by both sides as being flippy floppy, uneducated or just ignored. It seems we have become a nation of 2 choices and that is it. Anything else cannot nor will not be tolerated. If you take one side for one issue then you must take the same prejudged view for everything.

I have stated once in politics that it seems we have become a nation of extremists GOP, Dem, Lib. because being extreme is the only way to be heard and everyone wants to be heard. Noone wants to be ignored.

The above view on politics, I believe, has now imbedded itself throughout our society not just in this country but possibly everywhere else.

Instead of letting world leaders be peace makers and work on compromises, we have to have leaders that refuse to bend in any way or we view them as weak.

Instead of having friendly discussions on any range of subjecrs from education, sexuality, even nonpolitical headlines and sports, people are taking sides and saying "you either agree with me or fuck you".

In the end it seems to me that TFP and our society is coming to a very serious crossroads. We either accept differing opinions, stop the attacks or we face a perilous end.

But even that observation leaves no middle ground, although I am sure there is, and someone will point it out and demand that they are right and how dare I make such a close minded statement and blah blah blah.....

I was always taught life is full of compromises and yet lately, I am seeing from our leaders down to just the minions like ourselves that we are becoming increasingly less compromising and more filled with anger, hatred and intolerence.

It's time to find ways to stop this runaway train. TFP can be a great place to start. We once prided ourselves on it..... now we have lost those diverse voices, the civility and understanding..... let's try to get them back. Not just here but in the part of society each of us touches.

If enough of us regain the civility, truly listening to each other and not just hearing what we want, and the idea that everyone can contribute ideas and perhaps there can be compromise, maybe we can change that little part of the world we touch, and in turn others who see us do it can change their little parts and someone sees them and so on and so on.

What have we got to lose? It is becoming more and more apparent that all we accomplish now is hatred, prejudice and negativity.

PS..... I do not want anyone to believe I am trying to be pious or self righteous. Just in case I am adding this addendum to the above.....

I am just as guilty and moreso at times of the above as anyone. I want to believe in what I believe and I can only see black and white and I will get defensive and may not need to, but do just because I felt threatened.

So, when I say the above I may have ione finger broadly going around the room, but I truly recognize I have 3 fingers pointed back at myself.

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I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"