What the heck...?

[merimask]

I feel like everyone took their crazy pills this weekend.

 

Aside from the weather being perfectly shitty, I'm trying to stay busy & productive & keep making pretty things.  Being an emotional, feeling critter, it's been increasingly difficult to do this weekend because I feel beset by irrationality at every turn.

I can barely watch the news anymore because fully half of what I hear makes no sense to me at all.   Between Rush Limbaugh spewing hate & getting applause for it, Proposition 8 continuing to be the most evil little bit of legislation I can think of that's been passed in this country in a long time, and President Obama being blamed for the mess the economy is in by the very same people who happily supported deregulation & the trickle-down free market economy run by greedy shortsighted thieves...it just makes my head hurt.

LJ remains a quiet refuge for me to share my art & my thoughts, & even here I am blindsided by idiocy.  In a friend's journal, responding to a political entry (where I basically said no more than "yes, this." because politically we are similarly-minded) I got dogpiled by a raging right wing dittohead who's opinions were as infuriating as his inability to figure out how Spellcheck works, exactly.  So I did something I've never done before and banned the SOB.

Unfortunately I can't stop him in my friend's LJ where he continues to rage unchecked, attacking everyone in her journal who responded favorably to her entry (while not exactly attacking her or her entry).  It leads me to wonder what I would do if such a flame war broke out in my own journal.   It's not my business to tell other people how to conduct matters in their journals, but this is a social networking community.  If people start flinging sand, I see no reason why they shouldn't be kicked out of the sandbox.  I think this is why I'm so careful & selective about who I actually have on my f-list.  Everyone here behaves civilly towards each other...everyone is rational.  I know for a fact that there are people on my f-list who have opinions both religious & political that differ from my own, but we have too much mutual respect to pick fights in each other's journals (or with the people who reply there...which seems incredibly rude to me).

I resented the attack so much that I almost de-friended her...not because I was upset with her but because I feel that if her LJ is stalked by close-minded ScaryPerson, I'd rather not make myself available as a punching bag to said idiot.  In the end I didn't de-friend because I hate doing that, & frankly I like her.  However, I dislike drama.  I'm not here for drama.  So after banning Rush Jr. I decided that if I don't comment in her LJ anymore, he can't "get" to me anymore.  Why open myself up to unlooked-for and unsolicited attacks?  It seems foolish on my part to do so.

So, there's a new addendum to my own personal "no drama" policy.  If I get bitchslapped in your journal, that's the last time I'm ever going to comment there.  It seems fair enough to me.  Furthermore, if people who comment in my LJ get attacked by someone on my f-list, that person is off my f-list.  I'm not saying we all have to agree all the time about everything; I'm just saying it's rude and uncalled-for and there are other ways to debate an issue than to start a flame war in someone else's journal. 

 

Anyway, these are of course only my opinions.  Your mileage may vary. 

 

Comments

[golden-meliades.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I didn't see any of that. Don't want to, either! I've had my bubble firmly in place. It keeps getting poked at, tonight, but I'm reinforcing it stubbornly. I go through life unaware of most of the 'issues' out there. (I thought for most of my life that racism basically went out with the 50s, only to find out well after I was old enough to be moved out of my parent's place that actually, it hadn't. Also, I still don't really understand the different between extreme left and extreme right in politics and...well, it's basically everything.)

Maybe it's irresponsible to not deliberately delve into this stuff and educate myself on the way things actually are. But I flat out refuse to change, at least in one part because if everyone cared as little about these topics as I do, no one would ever fight about *anything*...other than whether bell-bottoms are cool or not or other such minor topics. I don't do much good in the world, but I don't do any harm, either, and it's the only way I can stand being alive.

Anyway, DST was wonderful, wasn't it? Well you said the weather is bad...but it was sunny, here, and in the plus temps, if just barely, so I'm happy with that, at least.

Sorry someone was horrible to you. There's no way you deserved it because you're a sympathetic and reasonable person.

[golden-meliades.livejournal.com]

PS: Would you like to borrow my Kyoko icon? :D (It's my fave, though I rarely have excuse to use it.)

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I love that icon & it would be appropriate. ^_^

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I like your bubble idea. It doesn't work for me, but I do like it. I guess I just hate it when someone picks a fight with me in a place I don't expect to have a fight start up, is all. There's a reason I don't have any militant angry conservatives on my f-list...I just don't get along well with them. So to get blindsided by one kind of irritates the heck out of me.

Also, my iron pills are making me sick. Woe.

And yes! Now we are back to "normal", daylight-wise. My car clock is right again, at least for a while.

[ramblinsuze.livejournal.com]

Seriously, WTF has been going on this weekend? It's been nothing but crazy and wank from all corners of the interwebs. Cabin fever, maybe? I'm just keeping my head down and hoping it all passes quickly. Yikes.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I guess. Cabin fever, sour grapes, people losing their houses/jobs/retirement funds. All of the above? Beware the ides of March, and all that good stuff. :-/

[zannachan.livejournal.com]

Wow. Talk about a turbulent weekend. :(

I know what you mean about the news--it got so painful to watch after 2000 that I find it hard to bring myself to follow the news in any form, even though I know as a responsible citizen I should. But sometimes it's so hard, especially when it seems that "discussion" has been largely replaced by flame wars.

I don't want to have to restrict myself to "safe" topics, and so far I have been lucky, I guess, in my on-line communities, because I have relatively rarely had problems with flame wars. I don't agree with everyone on my friends list, and I know that they don't always agree with me--and why should we? We disagree sometimes passionately on subjects near and dear to our hearts, from books to politics. But I treat my friends with respect, and expect to be treated the same, and I expect them to treat each other with respect.

I can't imagine anyone on my friends list attacking anyone on my journal, though now I have this dread that I've now jinxed myself and someone will snap some day and chase you away.... unlikely though that is!

[merimask.livejournal.com]

My Dad always said that I should never talk about religion or politics with anyone...then he'd follow that up with "but it's pretty much impossible to avoid". I make the mistake of thinking that if I'm in a forum where I'm responding to a like-minded person it's ok. But I forget that this is a public forum and ANYbody can read this stuff unless you block almost everyone.

I don't like filtering my entries because my bro & sis (who are not on LJ) like to catch up with my news here...but yeah sometimes I realize that it's not all "friendly" out there & it creeps me out.

Heh...you're one of the least contentious people I know & I plan to be ultra-careful from now on anyway. Except in here 'cause it's my sandbox... ;-)

[thegeminifactor.livejournal.com]

Lemme get this out of the way: I'm right there with you, politically. Seriously, Republican Party: Rush is your best guy? Seriously? Moving on.

Here's my take on things; take it for what it's worth. Yes, LJ is a social networking site. However, each person is allowed their own page, their own journal, and they should be able to regulate how others use it as they see fit. It might be a little different if everybody was contributing to the same page, but they're not. They're coming to see what you or their friends have to say, and striking up conversations accordingly. It's your sandbox, you paint the sign that says RULES on it. That's how it goes.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I don't understand how it's anti-patriotic to question a war that was started for dubious reasons (seriously...they sent poor Colin Powell to the UN with drawings of what a truck full of WMDs might look like...a drawing), & yet it's perfectly fine & patriotic to say that you hope the President fails in his attempts to repair a flagging economy & stop the bleeding. Ummm...WTF?? And I'm the crazy one?

Honestly, I understand that this is a public networking forum...but we DO list our "interests" for a reason. So it upsets me when I have a run in with a person I'd normally never cross paths with. I'm not saying I won't debate with folks who are respectful & yet have differing opinions from mine...that's how we learn & grow. I'm just not getting into a shouting match with unreasonable people who've already been told what they think. It's a battle I won't fight.

[alexkrycek42.livejournal.com]

Well that was sad to read, but I would fully understand. I take my digs for choosing to post publicly and not friends locking my LJ into Ft. Knox.

No matter what, I think you're great, inspiring, and someone I always like to read what you have to say. I will continue to comment here as long as its okay with you. <3

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Well, I really like you & I hope you do continue to comment here. ^_^ I just won't subject myself to attacks because I really hate online drama...there's never a good resolution.

It's partly my fault...I need to remember that even a "me too" kind of comment outside of my own journal is still a political opinion being shared & thus subject to scrutiny.

[alexkrycek42.livejournal.com]

I don't really think its anyone's fault. I haven't locked my journal for years for a similar reason to yours above - my Dad reads it and often emails and calls with comments, so I can tell he REALLY enjoys being able to do so - but he's not real tech savvy so I havent had the heart to tell him he needs to get an LJ account or he can't read it anymore. That being said, it does mean that I sometimes get random people commenting on things. One of those commenters I don't even know who it is!

That being said, this incident (although I don't consider it all that dramatic, just annoying) has made me realize if *my friends and people I like* are afraid to comment on my journal, its time to put the ole' Friends Only lockdown on it. I would much rather be surrounded by people I like than strangers and meanies.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

The "ban this user" option is a wonderful thing. I mean...unless that person is a good friend who just went off the deep end & you don't want to ban him. I'm not the only person in your LJ that he picked a fight with, & his language towards you was appalling. That way you lock out the nasty people while not locking out everyone (including your Dad).

I've never used it before either but it's a great alternative to locking everything. I'm an optimist & prefer to think that there are friendly people out there that I'll never get to meet if I just lock all my entries down.

[kijjohnson.livejournal.com]

I have a million friends, but I read very few of them regularly and some of them I never read at all (I am using "friend" loosely, obviously; the public posts to my LJ are at least partially promotional). If someone's LJ is a problem for me, it drops off my default list. I would like to clean out the dead wood, but who has the time?

I promise I'll never go all batshit crazy on you! :-)

[merimask.livejournal.com]

You are one of the last people I would expect batshit craziness from. ;-)

Anyway I feel safe in your LJ...your f-list seems populated by thoughtful people. They can have differing opinions without being militant because they are an informed bunch, in general. At least they seem that way. Too polite to pick fights in your sandbox.

[empath-eia.livejournal.com]

Believe me, if anyone attacked you in my journal they'd be defriended and banned faster than they could sneeze. Not that I have any right-wing dittoheads on my flist in the first place, but just so you know.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Same goes for you, sweetie. ^_^ Anyway, it's partly my fault for "going there" in the first place. Dad always said not to discuss religion or politics. I just keep forgetting...

[oraien.livejournal.com]

Politically speaking... I'd rather not :P But my own no-drama policy includes drama for other people. If one of the few friends I care to share my journal entries with attacks someone that I have invited to be there for what is apparently NO REASON, then they have a problem with ME.

Sorry though, that this had to happen to you. I know how icky people can make you feel, even when you might never be exposed to them again.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

That's how I feel. My LJ is like my house & you all are my guests. It's okay to have fun, but no one gets hurt in here or out the door they go.

Everyone is allowed to get drunk & knock the lamp over one time, though. ;-)

[chibi-kaz.livejournal.com]

I like to think that politics are like cigars and onions -- either everyone in the party does, or everyone does not. It should be the height of impoliteness to start a dust-it-up political fight if not everyone there is in the mood for such.

Now, I frankly sometimes rather enjoy a good revivialist political debate, Parlimentary style, but again, only if all parties are into it. And I certainly like to be able to have a beer with my opponent afterwards.

It sounds to me like this "Rush Junior" fellow was a troll, period, whether or not he had a legitimate ideological beef with the subject. Trolls are the kid that likes to stomp into the sandbox, kick around the sand, force all the nicer kids to leave, and then insist on his superiority for controlling said sandbox. (They're usually the doofus who's older than the other kids, because he got held back in school... and they're almost always "he"s also.)

Frankly, I just go find another sandbox.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I think there's a place for political discussions but I also think that it's a subject fraught with peril. My beliefs are very clearly stated in my LJ, & I know how most of my friends feel, and if we have similar opinions we tend to say so. If we don't, we politely avoid the subject, because we respect each other.

The problem is when a stranger from outside this community of friends decides to go on the attack. Frankly it turns me right off. There's no point in having a rational discussion or debate with someone like that, because they are firmly entrenched in their opinion & unwilling to listen to the other side (or else, obviously, they'd just read & absorb & not start a flame war). Someone like that gets kicked off my LJ in a trice from now on. It hasn't happened yet but if it does...

[ren-tigger.livejournal.com]

Well, I was born and bred republican, but I was young and foolish then. I am now firmly entrenched in the middle of the road, and I am open to ideas from both sides, and avidly avoid the raving lunatics from both sides. (But I love to chat and I have some kind of "Rave at me" sign on my back.)

As far as I am concerned, Bum Rush Limbaugh is a truly defined Hatriot, and one of the signs that the end is near. However, everyone is enititled to an opinion, as well as everyone is required to show respect whether it be virtual or real word. It really sounds like the individual that caused you to start this post firmly earns the credential of a poo flinging monkey.

When it comes to drama tho, I agree with you and created a pin and plaque a few years ago (one of the most popular items I have at faire.)

http://tigger.to/ndz.jpg

Feel free to take it, use it the way it is, adapt it, or change it any way you want to use to get the point across when it comes to drama. Be warned tho, sometimes the pin causes people to think you h ave extra padding on the shoulder and brings on the tears.

Now back to your regularly scheduled program.

[fantasyforever.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way- my parents were flatly Republican (I don't think either of them have voted for a Democrat in all their lives) and raised us the same in a town of largely Republicans. But college has a way of taking off the blinders and opening minds, and it did that for me :P

Now I call myself an Independent- I'll accept ideas from all parties, then vote according to which I feel is best. Which irritates my parents to no end- I just tell them that I think for myself and that I don't need a party to tell me how to think ;D

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I love that pin!

I think there is a place for political discussions, & certainly when something happens in politics that affects us all, I like to be able to chat about it. I see a disturbing trend towards "it's us or them" lately, though, and it makes rational debate difficult when people have their political beliefs confused with their ideologies. It all gets too personal at that point. Time to get out of the sandbox.

I also see a trend towards people being TOLD what they ought to think by pundits who often sacrifice facts for the sake of a catchy sound bite. If you like your opinion fed to you in tiny opinionated sugary spoonfulls, you obviously aren't willing to have a discussion & once again, rationality goes out the window.

Fortunately, there's this ability to filter those folks here on LJ...I wish people had "ignore" buttons IRL. ;-)

[paynesgrey.livejournal.com]

Ugh sorry to deal with that. I know how hard it is to avoid political wank. I tried my best too in my journal with LJ-cuts and filters, and even that doesn't work. *hugs*

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I guess annoying people get through the filters at least ONCE before we shut them down, at any rate. Live & learn I suppose.

[rumdiculous.livejournal.com]

Wow...I'm glad I'm lazy and haven't been checking my flist because this kind of bullshit would turn me straight off of LJ. I got enough stress from home, I don't needed useless arguing here. If something like that happened in my journal, I'd just close down the article and lock the posts. Hell, if I was feeling reaaaaaaaal vindictive, I'd go under and edit all the posts to something really stupid.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Yeah...I like my LJ to be shiny & full of pretty things if I can help it. Or, at least a friendly place where I feel safe sharing my thoughts. Who needs drama? I don't invite obnoxious people over to my house & I don't want them in my journal, either.

[fantasyforever.livejournal.com]

...Right now, I'm actually glad we can't afford cable and the channels come in fuzzy. I don't watch TV. So I miss out on all this political drama O_o

I just wish the stupid people would stop breeding! Then they would slowly die out as a species >.> (And that is directed to stupid people on all sides, just to be clear)

At least we had pretty weather in Virginia :D;; And I agree- having a bitchfest in someone's journal is just rude. Polite debate or discussion sure, but if you want to bitch at people, do it in your own journal.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

The news in some ways isn't all bad...I actually feel more hopeful than I have in years. What makes me sad is all the resistance to progress that I see. I have a hard time imagining that there are people who are really happy with the way things have been in this country for the last 8 years, but they're out there & they scare me to death. :-/ I suppose if they knew someone who'd been renditioned, or knew someone who lost their home because of a usurious ARM loan, they might feel differently?

Anyway, my LJ is like my house. You're all guests. I'll try to keep things pretty & happy in here, but if something upsets me, I reserve the right to bitch about it...& then I'll get back to "pretty & happy" right quick. ;-)

[tricia612.livejournal.com]

It's your sandbox and you make the rules. If someone can't play nice, they're kicked out. End of story. Life's too short to put up with crap like that.

I will be on iron pills for a while. Taking them every other day right now (slow release ones) but have added fiber pills on the days I take them. Also adding dissolving fiber in my smoothies. HATE the side effects of iron but the fiber really seems to help. Good luck.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

*hug* You still sound pretty banged up. Watch the swelling on that knee! I'm worried about you.

I've tried four different kinds of iron pills including the same kind I took last year...they all make me sick. No matter what I try, I get a really upset tummy. It really sucks. I've decided to just eat a LOT of spinach and have red meat once a week. Not crazy about red meat, but I LOVE spinach & I've been eating it all day like Popeye!