The internet for me is for fun (with the blog) and the occasional political debate on the CCC which can get heated at times.I have been anonymously threatened myself so I am aware a threat is scary, especially that I may have exposed my family to something that they are completely innocent or aware of. I had thought about revealing my identity at one time, but with the current state of some of the local blogs and forums there is no way I would reveal who I am. And there are people online that I actually would like to meet. I think we could be friends, I feel like I know some of your personalities pretty well and would enjoy your company, but there is no way in this climate I could take the chance of jeopardizing my family. And that's a shame...
Those who continue to write personal, ugly remarks about individuals, I won't mention any names , you know who you are....Come on this can be fun, lighten up on the vile remarks, they only make yourself look bad.....
That's just HT's Opinion
Very thoughtful commentary, HT.
ReplyDeleteboy HT, I couldn't agree with you more. A new low was hit.
ReplyDeleteHT I am an avid reader of blogs, particularly local ones. They are a great way to get to know new people and read some very interesting ideas. Unfortunately I must agree with you that things have gotten particularly ugly of late and that is unfortunate. I really hope that cooler heads prevail and we can all get beyond this becaue as a person who has no vested interest in the conflicts between individuals this kind of thing makes me uncomfortable. I think that the good news is that the people involved all seem to be reasonably intelligent and they all have the ability to move on from this. My fear is that there is always a new low that can be reached. I hope for the cooler heads to prevail. I expect no less than cooler heads prevailing from friends I see in person every day and I expect it from cyber friends I may never meet but with whom I talk to online.
ReplyDeleteBrian Coffman
Actually, Goliath, the lowest low was hit a few weeks back in the comments on your forum. You know what I'm talking about. And it was as revolting as, and certainly more alarming than, anything Kato posted. The question is, what can be done about it - and who is actually willing to do it?
ReplyDeleteHave I missed something during the practically 4 days I have been off line due to my virus? Anyway I have been online for over an hour now and I am shocked (that my computer has not frozen up yet) and thrilled (that I can finally read and post again)all at the same time! I thought I was gonna die without my internet!!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - if the prostitutes were issuing personal insults, slanderous attacks and threats to people on the local blogs and forums you might have a point.
ReplyDeleteBut they're not.
So you don't.
I have to say you're the man tonight HT!!
ReplyDeleteAnd Brian's right when he says everyone involved is very intelligent and hopefully capable of moving on at some point...But I know when words are said and emotions run high that can be very very hard to do, even for the most saintly of people...It's human nature to want to defend yourself against verbal attacks...And very hard not to come back if you're the one who's been hurt last...But someone has to be the first to let remarks pass, and given time I think that will happen...When people are ready...Fingers crossed anyway.
Jules
Anon. that's "alleged" prostitutes they are innocent until proven guilty. I just thought it was cool they have their own FB page and are on Youtube.Pretty resourceful and savvy thinking in my opinion. Let some of the "Johns" help them out... makes sense to me...
ReplyDeleteCindi, I am sorry to disagree with you. I saw some things getting out of what I consider correct for GAW and I intervened. But I'll be damned if I am going to play censor/monitor for all the adults all the time on GAW. The Kato post is, in my opinion was the lowest. It is a pornographic attack on a person. Then comes the justification it is done to protect children. My god, do we have to point out, of course, AN has children and grandchildren too? Who is concerned about them and what people may say to them about their mom/grandma? That's just cover in my opinion for writing a very nasty bit of work. Then the Falwell story as, what, justification? Larry Flynt is a champion of free speach and all, but this is hardly the example of Voltaire. The whole thing (from both sides) is tiresome and crude. So...in the end, as usual, I agree with Jules. AN made a lot of mistakes. I don't hold with many things she has said and she can be impossible. But take a look at where she is coming from.
ReplyDeleteAs for Amy. Well, she is certainly in a unique spot and it's a little rich to see kato lecturing her on speaking out against evil.
Does anyone doubt the sincerity of the belief she holds? She may be wrong in her opinion...but I believe she is sincere.
So, Cindiloohoo, I appreciate that what was said on GAW was, in your view, worse than this. It is ALL too personal and wrong. I am sorry you were hurt and or offended by something written on GAW or GCF.
I am trying to keep it away from such stuff.
Wow, I couldn't be more proud of you Goliath. I love it when a person can take a stand and not feel pressured to go along with the crowd!
ReplyDeleteI join with AN in saying that you are a genius!
I believe in calling black, black, and white, white.
I wasn't hurt, Goliath, but I was, in no uncertain terms, (as you well know), threatened with actual physical violence, called a vile, profane epithet several times, had my love and dedication to my own child called into question, told that it was hoped that I was a miserable human being because nothing would make some people happier, etc., etc., etc., and it got worse from there. And that, in my opinion, is at least as bad as Kato's post. I'm not trying to "defend" Kato here, since she's a grown person and can both defend herself and take responsibility for her own actions. But I AM going to point out that one person is where this all started and that one person repeatedly refused to stop stepping WAY over the line. Now, sad to say, that one person is going to feel encouraged and emboldened to be even more aggressive with the insults, slander and threats, both public and private, because one of the long-term targets momentarily lost it and is now being chastised for it. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out.
ReplyDeleteI'm just sitting here scratching my head. The criticism of Kato along with the defense of AN and Amy is hypocritical and more than a little bizarre. I'll admit Amy didn't really get into the vulgarity quite as much as AN, but Amy has repeatedly been threatening and hurtful to her ex-husband and his family - if that is sincerity, I would not call it a virtue.
ReplyDeleteThose of you who are defending AN and Amy now might want to actually read AN's blogs and Amy's local forum posts over the last several months before you stick your neck out to defend either of them.
I can empathize with Kato's hope to put an end to it with a counter-attack, but hope she realizes that her agitator just isn't worth her time or attention.
Why does it always have to come down to picking sides. We are adults people, not 7th graders. Two wrongs have never made a right, isn't that what we teach our children. EVERYONE has had their fair share of being mean, vile and downright "threatening"..everyone has had a part. AN, Amy, CLH, Kato, HT, Goliath, many many have all made their bad choices. Just saying someone isn't worth "time or attention" makes you another agitator. Everyone has their own worth and everyone has feelings. I am about sick and tired of all this he said, she said, they started it crap. Friends of AN, friends of Kato, I know you want to defend your buddies, but the best thing you could do for them is say STOP!
ReplyDeleteCindi, that "one" person did not draw "first blood" from the beginning. Just remember that.
ReplyDeleteHT thinks it time to end this discussion. As I said before I won't take sides or mention any names. I will say there is a strong urge to retaliate once attacked personally. But then it escalates to the point of Where does it end ?? We've reached that point.
ReplyDeleteNow it really doesn't matter of "who drew first blood." And it's a cliche to say "It takes a better man(or woman)to walk away, but it's time.
There will always be disagreements and debates politically and ideologically. Hopefully these can be debated without reaching out to a personal level....
I also wanted to thank everyone for their comments especially Brian and Jules. I thought their comments were very well put....
ReplyDeleteGood choice HT. You're a class act.
ReplyDelete