Occupy crackdown

The right wing has used some very inflammatory remarks towards Niki in the past, more than any I can recall she's used at them. They are not deserved, but I can also see how she might personally ruffle their feathers, beyond just the viewpoints she has in contrast to theirs.

It's a matter of what buttons get hit and the impressions that get made, and how it's gone about. Social dynamics between two conflicting groups are such that someone inevitably makes themselves into a target. The impression is accidentally given that they are an outspoken "true believer" usually through a long process that involves defense of a figure or idea overshadowing any objections they might have (which do exist). This impression is often erroneous, and members of both sides may be surprised when the person seems to deviate from expectations, but these instances of common ground are quickly forgotten.

As the usual arguments go on and escalate into dog piling and name calling, some instances worse than others, it results in a true division between both sides. Each side believes everything the other side says seems to be lies and falsehoods, and that the other side seems to be deliberately trying to provoke them. It becomes difficult to determine who started any single argument, and it appears that it's really just one very long multiple year fight stretched out over many threads. Both sides genuinely dislike each other, and think it would be better if the other side were just gone, and try their darndest to chase their opponents off.

It has happened on many boards that I have seen, and I imagine it sounds similar to all of you. As a neutral party, I actually don't believe that any of you are here to simply cause strife (though I admit I have thought so in the past, to my shame), and so I will not join in on any shunning or mockery of anyone, and will and have defended anyone subject to it in the past.

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Quote:

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Originally posted by AURaptor:

so I must be demented , and therefor mocked & shunned.

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How's the view from your cross?

Also, many of us mock you becuase you're an idiot. Not that you're expected to grasp this.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

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I got an e-mail today which explained why someone is rarely here in the same way others who have disappeared have explained it to me off the board. It also reminded me of something I want to put out there. Nobody's noticed, but I stopped saying I would ignore Raptor quite some time ago. I still say and will continue to say that I think things would be much more interesting here if everyone (or most everyone) did, or at the very least chose, not to engage him over and over. That isn't intended to try to control anyone or tell them what they "should" do, it's just my opinion. I know from private communication that we have lost some of our best "voices" because everything seems to end up centered around him, which is the major reason I keep fighting my lonely fight.

But I don't ignore him, and stopped doing so when I made the decision to proceed as I do now.

--I don't read all his posts, and when I bother to read and it starts out the way I know it's going to go, I usually pass over the rest.

--But I will continue to remind people of what I am firmly convinced is his sole purpose in being here: to provoke others into attempting to debate him, so he can create a back-and-forth which MAKES him the center of attention.

--I will continue to clarify what I believe are misstatements or out-and-out lies on his part.

--I will continue to agree with those who see through him sometimes, and

--I will continue to mock him.

I say all this because it's getting a bit irksome to have people saying over and over that I vowed to ignore him yet am not ignoring him, so I hope this clarifies my position. It's only a bit irksome, however, and I have NO problem with people reminding me, castigating me or anything ELSE about my stance, it's my choice and we each decide how to deal with the problem.

The fact remains that yes, it IS a problem. We have lost good voices, or voices which now only pop in now and again, because of the "Raptor problem", and for that reason alone. That is simply a fact. It bothers me a LOT--totally selfishly--that one person can make a place so unpleasant, because I value getting to know people who want to communicate--after all, that's what we're here for. I know the bottom line is "if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen", but that doesn't excuse that nastiness, condescension and just plain meanness of the person who makes people want to leave and, I believe, does it solely for the sake of getting attention.

So I will only say this once: I am not ignoring Raptor. I have explained what I AM doing; people can take it or leave it, like it or not, but it's one thing which keeps ME from giving up on this place and leaving myself, and I have as much right as anyone to express my opinion, AND to go on dreaming...

My apologies for threadjacking and making this about me, I just wanted to clarify a misconception I think people have of my intentions.

ETA: Byte, I understand what you're saying and I respect your desire to defend people you feel need defending. I always try not to be as vicious as some have been to me, and I think I've succeeded for the most part. It's actually quite easy; I like to communicate more than I like to attack others, and I don't want to feel about myself the way I would feel if I were as visious as some have been to me. Certainly I fail and no doubt will do so in future, but at least I do try. The only other thing I will say is that I don't wish to see any "side" or any one disappear per se; I wish all those who honestly want to get to know others and discuss things were part of this group, and I'm not trying to chase anyone off...not that I could! My intention is just to hope that if enough people see what's really happening, there oculd at LEAST be fewer threads ending up the way so many do now. That's all.


http://i25.photob

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