Quote:
Originally Posted by matthew330
I really don't want to revive this thread and don't intend to post again but I said I'd answer punkmusicfan so here goes:
First off - I really read your name as "punkrockmusicfan21". I wasn't making fun of you, I was being slightly dismissive when I called you punk rock person, but when I finally called you punkrock and you still got pissed, I was slightly confused - so know I know your punkmusic fan. Yeah - I had little jabs in that post, but relative to what I was getting, they paled in comparison.
You have to understand that I'm talking to 7 to 8 people, most of which are ridiculously sensitive to any point being made that contradicts their own. This thread wasn't about "what does everyone hate about America", it was on a more personal than that. If America is seen as arrogant on the world scene, but American individuals themselves aren't (which seemed to be the general consensus here), then why is it acceptable to approach Americans outside of their country as if the individual was responsible? What further surprised me was that this person couldn't defend his own dislike for America when challenged about it. Were they looking for an apology from me - that to me is arrogant.
Anyway, because I'm talking to multiple people, all of whom expect me to respond to each one of their points, and many of whom are calling me (indirectly or otherwise) idiot, asshole, and douche because I haven't caved into what they think is some end-of-story point right off the bat, you really have to separate yourselves from the "pack". Up until that last post - you were just part of it.
The thread was being taken where I didn't think it should go (a meta-thread as someone called it about what's wrong with America). As the responses related to my specific point, it was justifying this guys behavior.
Not only did I not find it necessary to respond to specific reasons why America sucks, your 2nd to last post about America putting itself at the forefront and expecting for people to look aside, was so ridiculously vague and off-topic that there really is no response to that.
Rude, unfriendly, cocky, and condescending are appropriate descriptions of the posts on this thread - but they weren't coming from me for the most part. The tilted left in my opinion has perfected the art of responding to dissenting opinions in this manner and then acting disgusted and offended if anyone responds in kind (even to IMO a much lesser degree). God bless AceVentura, but I'm not him. You look at the shit that guy takes from every angle with almost every post and he just keeps trucking. Sorry - I can't do that, that's why I don't post often, but on a rare occasion I find myself not being able to resist....and regretting it pretty immediately, but fighting it out nonetheless.
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Thank you. And I agree for the most part. I can see that if you feel like you are on the outside of the majority that TFP would represent this daunting and often tedious task; conversations would be an uphill battle. And I know that mud was thrown here which isn't appropriate but since it came from both sides I'm going to take that out of account. I can see that this might have been a personal post, in fact I even mentioned in my last post that if this was pent up resentment then you should of taken it elsewhere and I still think that's true; not away from TFP but to a blog or journal. You're opinion wasn't so much unwelcome, as it was misunderstood but if what you wanted was to say your piece and bow out then you shouldn't of posted it in Politics because a) people here can get very fervent (which is true for most political convictions) and b) it's for discussion. I see what you're saying but I hope you can see why people responded like they did.
However, the irony of your last post is kind of overwhelming. Talking about TFP majority, about how all of our posts needed to be responded to, that everyone expected answers, etc. That we are, in a sense, all the same. We aren't though, and people only respond when they have something personal to say. Everyone expected answers because you created a discussion, and they responded, and in turn wanted answers of their own; just like you. Our responses had nothing to do with attacking you or the united states, but the simple fact that we disagreed with your original statement. You made it seem as if he were wrong (yes, agreed), but that you're whole country, on the other hand, is open. That implies a couple of things, including another irony in you making a broad positive statement about EVERYONE but being upset by the broad negative statements and calling them exactly that; broad. The others read this, I'm assuming, and disagreed.
The thing is you took it at a personal level (reacting as if we were that dick in the bar, who is a dick btw) when really we were saying "It sucks that you're seen this way, but we FEEL you are and this is why we THINK that's so". And you reacted as if we had said something completely different: "America blows; here's why". My list, which seemed to be very controversial, was mostly stereotypes and jokes, which I stated, was what you're country (thanks to the powers that be) further everyday on the world stage. I followed by saying "but your not" and then quoted you and followed with "You're making them sound right. Don't do that if you don't want to be seen that way". That is me being honest; I do the same thing with anyone I care about. And unlike the sweeping "TFP majority" (which I agreed with when stating that I seperated from because I did get caught up) I care about everyone on here; I'm not part of any other discussion group and this has become kind of a home for me, which makes you my family.
And not to justify the name calling, you should realize that all of that had to do with your response (ie how you worded them) and not with the actual substance that had to do with this topic. I see where you're coming from. But what you posted, where you posted, and how you posted all read discussion, and because it's kind of an "elephant in the room" conversation for most people between American's and those affected by "America" it grew.
I say feel very free to post. Just don't prod, pull, or twist people until they twist back. And don't expect to say something very bold and not expect a response.
Good luck man; and thanks again for the honesty. If I would of gotten that two pages ago then you would of saved a lot of typing.