woof wrote:
You know, I've posted almost 500 times here since July and have generally found it a friendly and tolerant place. But if I can't say I respect your right to shoot and hunt with what you please but I might not want to join you without being attacked this way, then maybe I was wrong. Congratulations, you have alienated me. And believe it or not I "was" on your side. I wonder how many people you alienate every day like this? I've sold four guns here and bought several others in these few months. But I give you your way and I permanently withdraw from THR. I will not post again and I will PM mods and ask that my registration be cancelled.
woof, that's your choice. I would hate to see you leave, but I do have to say this.
Whether you wish to acknowledge it or not, when you make a statement such as
That said, if I meet you out in the woods and you have a military style semi auto, I'm getting away from you quickly because (sorry) I do think you're a rambo wannabe.
YOU invite the responses you get. And
YOU become an agent of alienation, not those you alienate.
I do not buy the "hypothetical" angle. Frankly, I fail to see how it would be. Sure, you did not mention a specific person-- but you do not have to do so.
You gave us a simple cause-and-effect scenerio of what you will do:
I see you with a military style rife = I am getting away from you [because] I think you are a Rambo-wannabe.
Nothing hypothetical about that.
You voiced an opinion, and you were met with the responses of those who that opinion categorizes. Your freedom of expression has been met with the Marketplace of Ideas.
Tolerance is a tough arguement to make after making a statement like yours. It is akin to a Klansman getting upset that the Rainbow Coalition does not tolerate his views. Sure, he can say what he thinks, but he cannot expect his statements to go unanswered.
And he really doesn't have the right to make anyone feel guilty for answering him.
I do think you've been "on our side." But that doesn't make you immune to criticism of stereotypes you've made. Those stereotypes themselves are alienating in nature-- yet you accuse others of alienating you.
I wonder how many people you alienate every day like this?
It is fair to ask the same question of you, my friend.
This was an opportunity to learn-- a failed opportunity, it seems. Sadly-- if rightfully so-- there was no real opportunity to push forward with those comments sitting around like the 800 pound gorilla in the room. You made some statements past that were more "tolerant" and "insightful," but you still felt some compusion to defend your postion on "Rambo-wannabe's." I don't know if it was an ego thing, or if desire not to "lose" an arguement, but it seemed that you held onto it like a squirrel holding the last nut on earth.
I can imagine a scenerio where this could have gone very differently if you'd have said something like "You know, I've seen a lot of differing postions and examples where that stereotype just doesn't hold. I should probably retract my statement."
Then, like magic, we could move on. But you see, with that statement hanging there, no one can. With that positon continually being defended, the debate HAS to continue. You wouldn't expect a person who you just tossed a racial slur at to simply let it pass while you defend that slur to the end, would you?
So in short, do not gloss over your own complicity in any alienation that has occured. It is not a guilt you should be placing upon those you slurred.
All the best to you.
-- John