Welcome to Thunderdome

I submit that silent hatred versus open hatred is what has kept western civilization afloat for all these centuries.

Silent hatred fuels revolutions. It also fuels paranoia, subterfuge, and corruption. I don't count it as one of the tenets of civilization.

Open warfare is so much better, because at least then we're actively trying to kill people.

You'd prefer to live in ignorance of people's actual feelings about you? Do you think your extended family magically starting snapping into irrational states of mind overnight or might they have been that way all along?

Look at me arguing social moors with Malcolm. I'm priceless.

GORDON wrote: Look at me arguing social moors with Malcolm. I'm priceless.

I'm finding it interesting how you think silent hatred holds society together while you liked Drumpf for being the dude who was "at least honest" about being an asshole.

Malcolm wrote:

GORDON wrote: Look at me arguing social moors with Malcolm. I'm priceless.

I'm finding it interesting how you think silent hatred holds society together while you liked Drumpf for being the dude who was "at least honest" about being an asshole.

Oh, was I? I thought I didn't care about any of them. But yeah, I prefer an honest asshole over one who is two-faced, I'll admit that.

social mores? that doesn't look right. i could have googled it by now but fuckit.

But yeah, I prefer an honest asshole over one who is two-faced, I'll admit that.

So you prefer when your relatives tell you how insane they think your politics are instead of fake-smiling and swallowing their rage? And if you follow the "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" rule, you'd give them the same courtesy.

Malcolm wrote:

But yeah, I prefer an honest asshole over one who is two-faced, I'll admit that.

So you prefer when your relatives tell you how insane they think your politics are instead of fake-smiling and swallowing their rage? And if you follow the "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" rule, you'd give them the same courtesy.

Ah, excellent response, I was thinking only about politicians, not my relatives. I certainly seemed to prefer my relatives civil and two-faced over the alternative, didn't I.

I guess the difference is that I never spent christmas eve with donald or hillary. Hillary already called me a Deplorable, it would be pretty funny to watch her smile at me over cranberry sauce. DOnald would probably just talk about the turkey at his place, it was really excellent, yuge, etc.

I guess the difference is that I never spent christmas eve with donald or hillary.

Assholes at a distance, but repressed rage reminiscent of The Ref when in close ... got it. This also implies you want to spend the holidays with your relatives.

Never saw The Ref. DOn't understand the reference.

GORDON wrote: Never saw The Ref. DOn't understand the reference.

Criminal Dennis Leary drops in on the WASPish holiday feast of Annette Benning and Kevin Spacey's family and holds them hostage while they all insult each other.

That doesn't sound like a pleasant evening.

Uncle Jethro and his nephew are the problem, not the tool they are using.

I think you're missing my point, and it's probably the way I have expressed my argument. I'm not blaming social media. I don't blame guns or cars or booze or drugs, etc. However, I do point to it as what has enabled us to change our behavior.

So to sum up: Social Media cannot go without blame, but it's still the person who ultimately is responsible for their behavior.

GORDON wrote:

Malcolm wrote:

You can argue about a hastily conceived example, but you'd be insane to try and argue that social media hasn't had an effect on human interaction.

If you're defining "manners" as "silently hating on someone but never having the spine to admit it to their face" then at best social media just gives you more opportunities to crack the paper-thin facade that holds your troubled circle of acquaintances and relatives in imaginary harmony.

I submit that silent hatred versus open hatred is what has kept western civilization afloat for all these centuries.

To an extent, yes.

I think people just need to learn how to adjust their communication style now. Eventually, I would think this will lead to better days. Perhaps we need this shit show to get to a place where people can publicly express an opinion and not be crucified?

Silent hatred fuels revolutions. It also fuels paranoia, subterfuge, and corruption. I don't count it as one of the tenets of civilization.

By the way, someone around here (me) has been pointing out that as folks are forced to take their true feelings private, it will eventually led to violence. The more you tell people they're stupid for thinking a way you don't, you more you tell them their beliefs are dumb, the more you take away their jobs, the more you force them to comply, the more explosive the powder keg will become.

If everyone can collectively get their shit together, yes. If we keep enabling and verbally supporting all of the divisive insanity, no. I guess it isn't too productive to spare someones feelings when they do something stupid. That is enabling.

And I don't mean keeping your political opinions to yourself. I mean, if you feel the need to share them, not telling your family and friends 5 times a day how deplorable they are, and thinking they don't listen to what you're saying. That makes you not a political person, it makes you a fucking asshole. It causes problems.

not telling your family and friends 5 times a day how deplorable they are

You're so dumb Gordon. How else will people convert morons to see their point of view? So, so stupid. It's people like you that are destroying this country. You're a Nazi and a racist and I'll bet you think global warming is fake.

Leisher wrote:I'm not blaming social media ... Social Media cannot go without blame

I'm getting some mixed signals.

No, I get your point, but I disagree. Social media is no more able to be an asshole than a gun is able to kill someone; it is the user (or, misuser) that is entirely to blame.

EDIT: Although I would agree that some other people can also be to blame, like parents that fail to teach their children not to be an asshole, that sort of thing. But it always comes down to people.

Inciting a riot is already a crime. Hasn't social media already helped to incite riots? Yeah yeah, and a hammer can be a deadly weapon. I'm just saying there's a conversation to be had.