Possible rules changes for 2009

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ajmc

MikeL, I've never seen myself in the role of a teacher, especially not with something as basic and as important as normal manners and respect. Those are things your parents were supposed to teach you, although I don't fault them for the results they attained with you. For any type of learning to happen, it requires some level of interest and intent to be taught on the part of the student.

There are some things, that if you fail to understand by the age of 10 or 12, you just may never get.

I would say then your parents did not teach you very well if you think this is about manners. For one this is a place to discuss things. Secondly, there is nothing in manners that requires everyone to agree with a person or not have an opinion. If we were talking about politics, people would have an opinion about the people involved and the positions they take. This has absolutely to do with manners; you really need to stop acting like it does.

Peace

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This has absolutely to do with manners; you really need to stop acting like it does.

Peace

Perhaps, therein lies the problem, we're talking about two different things. You keep trying to pull my comments back into a discussion about the A-11 Offense. As I've often repeated, I'm not arguing with your opposition to this offense.

I have never hinted, much less suggested, there is anything wrong with disagreeing with someone, holding or advocating a different viewpoint or forming and defending a different opinion. Going way back, when several posters started to get way off the track and crossed the line of honest, civil debate, I simply suggested some drifted a little too far.

Shouldn't have been a big deal, but some apparently hold themselves way above even the suggestion that they may have erred and apparently cannot accept any possible criticism, or even suggestion of such.

You've (that's a collective "you") been trying to cover, what started as some innocuous excessive language to defend your position, with a WW III defensive effort that has detoured down multiple roads to nowhere, climbed mountains of righteous indignation and all sorts of anncillary BS, rather than simply consider what you originally stated, and respond accordingly.

To all of you, easily offended contributors; if you want to bellow and bark and make stupid, unfounded accusations and toss childish insults annonimously, or by name, at people you will never meet, knock yourselves out, but do it on your own.

However, when you readily and willingly identify yourselves as "officials", to add credibility to whatever your argument is on whatever subject you care to comment on, your presentation casts light on the rest of us who lay claim to that title. If you want to speak as some jerk, you are free to do so, but be good enough to do so on your own.

When, however, you choose to speak from under the umbrella, of being an "official", you should understand you're speaking with a level of gravitas that has been provided by a lot of other people, over a long period of time and you owe it to all of them to act responsibly and respectfully, which several of you have failed miserably to do on this particular subject.

Sadly, I've ignored sound advice I've been given about, "never argue with fools", so I'm done . If your parents failed to teach you proper behavior, and you haven't figured out how to recognize it by this stage of your life, I'm sure as hell not capable or interested in correcting you. Either you get it, or you don't, but if you don't all the denial and BS is not going to make a difference or hide a lack of class.

[JRutledge]

amjc,

Here in lies the only problem.

If you do not like the nature of the discussions, you do not have to be here. No one is putting a gun to your head to be here. No one honestly cares if you are here just like they do not care if I am here.

I have said this several times, if you do not like the way the conversations go here, there are a few ways that will keep you happy. Because no on is going to change just because you are upset. I know I am not changing a damn thing. If someone wants to not be accused of anything, they never had to make the comments in the first place.

Peace