Self awareness is a sign of intelligence. Someone who is self aware is more likely to fret over their imperfections and mistakes than someone who simply thinks they are always right. So mental illness among intelligent people makes sense.
This comes so close to my own moderate convictions I wanted to respond to @insuragator 's post from that perspective. Reading the content of his post comes close to confirming the model where the blame originates and from where the smug sounds of back slapping are heard. I'm right with @insuragator until the blame is laid squarely and apparently exclusively on "you liberals." And if you agree with it - perhaps you should give deep self introspective consideration to any part, large or small, in how your hate filled targeting, be it insults or mocking, intensifies and prolongs the animosity building between the deeply divided factions. Read it again with the specific political label removed - "That is some of the dumbest shit ever spewed on THFSG. I feel dumber for reading this. Is it all you -------- do is try to slap each other on the backs and feel like you are smarter than everyone else. YOU are the problem. There is never a cool, calm dialogue where you listen to the other side and [[[consider they could / might]]] possibly be correct. I challenge myself all the time to open up and listen to other points of view. I have never learned anything from someone that agrees with me." One who listens with an attitude and intention to learn, can learn unexpected things from unanticipated sources. And never forget, the source for accusations projected onto others frequently is found within one who wrestles with the same.
This is what I was afraid of. My gradual shift over the years from being a "liberal" to being a middle-of-the-roader was apparently due to a decline in intelligence or a loss of brain cells. I just hope I stay put, as a further shift toward the right could mean the onset of dementia.
You cannot read these posts without knowing the history of each poster. Why do you continue to excuse the condescension from the libbies is sad. Talk about self awareness issues.
Couldn’t hack it as a liberal so you had to downgrade to conservative. No shame in that as long as you gave it your best shot. Not everyone can perform at this high level.
Makes sense to me. Based on the condition of the football team and the amount of beer needed to get through a game it stands to reason brain cells the last few years have been wiped out. I predict a steep move to conservative ideology based on this year's impossible schedule.
Learned a long time ago when someone tries to proclaim their Bonafides over and over it’s because the opposite is true.
So for instance, by calling yourself ATLGATORFAN, you are telling us you hate the Gators and live in Tallahassee
How do I "excuse .. condescension from "the libbies"? Does an individual who regularly mocks and denigrates his political opposites have a legitimate position to stand on when criticizing the political positions of others? Or are you influenced by your own prejudices? Your generous dispensation of 'Come on Man's' and other similar deprecating labels places you in a 'special class.' I'm not perfect; have never claimed to be. On occasion I have regrettably failed to use my better judgment to mock and criticize right wing posters who stray so dangerously close to the MAGA right's precipitous point of no return. These failures disturb me almost as much as the current disastrous state of the former GOP. I don't want to be that person and I am working to counter those regrettable deficient tendencies. This forum and other graveyards of ideas are presently and similarly derailed by people who apparently lack sufficient critical thinking skills, the sort who favor classless Tee shirts reading 'Let's Go Brandon," and trick their acolytes into finding or creating genough material to justify and cover their own short sighted failures. Yes, I am bothered more by the offenses of the right wingers on this board as they are the ones whose derailment more personally offends me. My home was wrecked by squatters who sneaked in, stealing and occupying what is now the shell of the former GOP. You and some others of your political persuasion who mock and ridicule and insult are the sort I was thinking about when I previously posted. I don't think you have much incentive to achieve acceptable and workable compromises. Certainly not as much as the questionable gratification you evidently attain insulting "the libbies" or the just for kick thrills you've apparently enjoy when dispensing your daily doses of derision. Don't dare tell me I should not be so hard on your brand. Just as a parent is more concerned with the misbehaviors and social offenses of members in their own family, I have every right to take stronger issue with fomer Republicans now turned MAGAtites. Am I tougher on right wing extremists? Likely so. They ripped the rug out from under moderate, sane, and reasonable conservatives like me and others on this forum who were equally shocked, then the MAGAtites usurped the party's resources all the while stoking bias, anger, and hate. I've watched you and others drive divisions since 2015 when Trump entered the scene, taking a once respectable Republican party and distorting it into something ugly and unrecognizable to reasonable conservatives. The arguing, sniping, insults and mocking are a contemptible waste of time and energy that could be put to much better use building bridges and finding common ground and mutually compatible agreement. But if you think my duties and obligations as a moderator are influenced by my own political leanings, you are dead wrong. I'm not blind to the insults some on the left direct in your general direction just as I am aware of the dirty dealings you and your cohorts instigate towards them. My nose is not immune to foulness equally projected by the left onto the right. You don't read the discussions between moderators, nor are you burdened by unending reports from the easily offended. You are only aware of corrective actions on the right side of the divide, unaware of the penalties and time outs issued fairly against the left when and as needed. That's the game you play on this forum. You don't appear to care much for discussing solutions to worsening problems. It appears your participation on this forum is solely for the entertainment value it brings you intentionally irritating "the libbies." Contemptible.
First of all, thank you for taking the time to respond. Secondly, I am sorry that I seemed to have upset you. Lastly, I seem to have a problem with treating people the way they treat me. I think you’ll find that I get along with a few libbies on the board just fine. Some days better than others. Maybe you’re right, I only see the crap spewed out by the extreme libbies here. It stands out to me. And I find that Tilly and Wes are really the only ones to handle both sides with level heads. One last point… If you can’t find entertainment from the craziness in here, you’re missing out.
